If you don’t know El Paso, you don’t like El Paso. I’m okay with that. I don’t want to see El Paso get bigger, or hipper, or more popular. Development is no friend of mine. The superficial benefits are eclipsed by deeper losses.
El Paso is culturally unique, and I don’t want to see that bulldozed to reap the fruits of mass consumption. You can’t fight progress. But we can memorialize the past, and document the present.
When I launched El Chuqueño, I was hoping that it would be a collaborative effort in which various chuqueños would contribute stories and opinions. But I guess I’m not a very good editor. I alienated some writers by not running their stories without telling them what I found lacking. I’ve learned some, but I’m still learning.
There’s more to El Chuco than what I’ve experienced, of course. The real El Paso is more interesting than the pastel watercolor that the Chamber of Commerce shows you. El Paso is a prismatic hologram, a different city for every chuqueño. I’m still interested in hearing from different writers and photographers, and you might be one of them.
Rich Wright
El Chuqueño welcomes contributions that explore El Paso’s culture and counterculture, and tell stories, and give insights, and are fun. Bring it. Chale, homes.
I just have to say that Hope introduced me to this blog site, and while I may not agree with everything you have to say, I deeply appreciate your (comical? satirical? not too sure) view of El Paso and it’s culture. It saddens me every day the lackluster effort of so many in this city to voice their opinions, to be heard, and to take initiative. Now, I’m not saying that blogs are changing the world, but if everyone around opened their eyes and actually spoke their minds, we would get a lot more done.
I particularly enjoy your “About El Chuqueno” section (I’m only 28 and I recall those days in Anapra and I swear that same trailer) and the post on militant byclists. And the one on MUTS was pretty nice too! I will continue to follow your posts, and explore those I haven’t read. And cheers to you for your outspokenness, like I said I may not always agree but always appreciate a good spirited discussion! And above all, thank you for being one of the El Pasoans who realize that our culture is what’s important, above all. I love my hometown and want to see it grow in the best way for all of its people.
“Memorialize the past, document the present.” I like that.
Thanks, and keep it up
cool story i njoy your style i smell the roasted chili in the air ican taste the cinnimon of my horchata and my memory of this old town becomes as real asthe mosquito bites on my arms
Where is your follow-up piece to the downtown ballpark backfiring? You have no vision.
No entiendo, Bil. Which downtown ballpark backfiring piece are you referring to?
Is your boss asking for results, and you’re out of ideas? Do you have no vision?
For an anti-hater, you sure seem to have a lot of animosity built up. Do you drink? Maybe you should start. Or stop, whichever’s appropriate.
It took me a long time to learn to love El Paso. I am 33 and have lived here my whole life (except for 4 years in my early twenties). Only recently have I realized and learned to appreciate the unique city we live in.We have a wonderful selection of good home cooking, shopping and entertainment. It is only when you travel out of town that you realize really how unique El Paso is. Sure, there are border towns all over but none as special as El Paso. It can be difficult at times living here though if you don’t speak enough Spanish or English. Selena’s Dad put it best when he said we have to be more Mexican than the Mexicans and more American than the Americans, at the same time. I was born in America but all of my family is Mexican. I am Chicana. El Paso is where I fit. To Mexicans I am a pocha and to Americans I am a Mexican. Even so, it a beautiful thing to see the product of the mixture of cultures. I am proud to be a Chicana from El Paso, TX.
Vanessa. You seem wise beyond your years. –another proud Chicana Chuquena.
I usually enjoy this blog when it comes up but had never opened this page, glad I did.
So, Rich, where you “bean” all my life? I appreciate a sharp pen and you wield yours with practiced grace. Stephanie Townsend posted one of your articles on Facebook and it was there that I picked you up. I’m a rare breed around here, an old gringo native (who hasn’t left).
I’m also a “Downtowner”, having worked within spitting distance of the Plaza most of my life while living up the hill in Kern-Mission Hills…and, so, your remarks about the redevelopment of same have resonance. More especially since I have a pretty strong career base in commercial real estate.
What’s the solution to the dilemma you posit for thoughtful Downtown re-development? In a nutshell, jobs. Then, affordable chic housing. Then, ancillary services and entertainment. I agree with you, the mom and pop with kids and dogs will not reside there….at least not in the Urban Core, the CBD.
That leaves two ends of the demographic spectrum for this sub-market: young pros and older empty-nesters. Each has a different set of criteria, and real estate projects have to be designed with that in mind. I know a lot of architects who are thinking about this task right now, on various levels, from the Texas Tech School of Architecture (now in the Union Depot), to Helm and his colleagues, to one by the name of Wright (like yours) who first started talking about “live-work” spaces around here well before it became Smart(Code). Ideas…all looking for fertile ground, capital and entrepreneurs to pull them off.
But, jobs precede and supply housing demand, its elemental. Look at any vibrant urban core in the United States, or the world. When employment and housing mix, the synergy grows glorious creations. That’s our challenge, get employers to base operations in the central business district. How? Make it easier, cheaper and more efficient to set up operations there than in other locations. Quit the sprawl, reduce our impact on the outliers.
“Space over time for a price”…the mantra underlying all commercial real estate practice…is the key formula in any business operation’s site selection process.
When we match the correct metrics for the businesses that want to be here on the Border, and we offer a viable alternative in the CBD for their operations, combined with a stock of affordable and attractive housing with convenient services, then we have a shot at creating the vibrant vision for an urban core here in the Paso del Norte.
But, it all begins with jobs…and our track record on job growth is way behind the curve compared with the rest of Texas or the United States as a whole. We can survey the buildings in Downtown any time we want, we don’t need a State Historic Grant….but, what we do need is concerted job growth and attraction strategy supported by the government in Austin and our local politicians.
Dave Etzold
When I read your words: “I don’t want to see El Paso get bigger, or hipper, or more popular. Development is no friend of mine. The superficial benefits are eclipsed by deeper losses,” I decided you just might be what I’ve been looking for. I am vocal and against just about every effort to revitalize, “grow” our economy, or city, in general, and all the other BS that comes under that tired heading of ‘progress.’ Why the hell do we always want to get bigger, or – the line that always pisses me off – attract new business or new jobs, or new whatever? Why can’t we just take care of what we’ve got, and celebrate those things that make this town unique and special? If y’all don’t mind, I think I’ll look around here, kick the tires, and maybe come along for the ride. Just don’t change.
Says a man who has probably never had to struggle his entire life. You don’t want “grow” our economy or “progress” because, YOU’RE comfortable? “It’s ok, I’m retired and I had a good life, I don’t want the city to move forward because, well it inconveniences me.” That’s what I am reading. What about this “town” is unique? The low cost of living is great unless, you are affected by the low wages. Then, you have to get on government assistance and there will be John G Dungan Sr. yelling “these lazy bums need to get off assistance so my taxes can go down!” Well, which is it? Taxes going down or, not progressing? I bet you’re a baby boomer aren’t you? Please engage, I love tearing you a-holes down.
You know what happens when you assume so much about someone you have never met? Yeah, that’s right! You made an ass out of yourself. FYI, I grew up in poverty in the 50’s. The first suit I ever owned was my U. S. Army dress uniform! Where the hell do you think I worked for most of the years to earn the pitiful pension I have to today?! Right here in El Paso! That low cost of living ain’t so great on a pension, believe me. If you had a clue about the history of this city, you’d know why I say it is unique! Of course I’m a baby boomer, dufus! You think we had it handed to us? Have you heard me complaining of anyone who receives welfare, or medicaid, or any sort of government assistance? You want to engage?! Then, I suggest you engage your mind before you open your oversize mouth, next time.
Hi Rich,
The El Paso zoo is running a malware infested website. I think this needs to be reported on/brought to the public’s attention. The El Paso Zoo is running a website that is hacked and is full of malware/spam. They were notified of this multiple times starting a couple weeks ago but still have not fixed it. There are even people who have had their computers infected from using the website.
You can verify this malware on their website by doing a google search for “site:elpasozoo.org”. Not only will that immediately say the site was hacked (as identified by google), but you will also see a bunch of “spam” and garbage links on the site.
I notified the zoo of the hack on February 22. I posted on their facebook account on that day as well as emailed them, so you can scroll down their FB account and see that Feb 22 post. As a matter of fact they said it was fixed then, but it never was. I repeatedly emailed them a few more times since Feb 22 and they said they were still working on it. However it is still infested. I have the email chain showing this as well if you want it.
This is a major security concern and the zoo is actively spreading viruses and malware. I think this story needs to be brought to the public’s attention to limit their risk if malware.
Please let me know if questions and I can send any supporting emails you may need. But you can also confirm this by doing the google search or looking at facebook.
Thank you
Jon McNamara