An email I received from District 3 Representative Deanna M. Rocha contained this nugget:
The City of El Paso proudly recognized El Paso Matters with a proclamation honoring its outstanding contributions to journalism. Led by veteran journalists Bob Moore and Cindy Ramirez, the nonprofit newsroom has become a trusted source for in-depth, community-focused reporting.
Recently named Newsroom of the Year by the Texas Managing Editors, El Paso Matters is celebrated for its commitment to truth, transparency, and civic engagement. We thank them for strengthening democracy through trusted, ethical journalism.
Maybe the City of El Paso thought that a proclamation honoring El Paso Matters might earn the City the kid gloves approach.
Then ElPasoMatters.com came out with this story:
When El Paso city leaders unveiled a budget plan that would increase property taxes, they touted an expanded exemption for senior citizens and people with disabilities that they said would reduce the sting for some. What they didn’t say is that the expanded exemption would only save $19 a year for the households affected.
Instead, the city said the exemptions saved $380 per household, without mentioning that longstanding policies were responsible for $361 of that savings.
In unveiling the city budget and tax rate for fiscal year 2026, officials included an increase to the homestead exemption for people 65 and older and those with disabilities, from the current $42,500 to $45,000. That’s on top of a $5,000 exemption available to all those occupying homes they own.
I don’t know what it takes to curry favorable press coverage from El Paso Matters, but apparently it’s not a proclamation honoring its outstanding contributions to journalism
I could be wrong. Maybe the City will honor El Chuqueño next.
They should indeed honor your efforts, Rich. Yours is one of the few sane voices being raised for the benefit of this city. I, for one, applaud you, and thank you.
Thank you, John, but I reckon me and the City are on different sides of the fence.
If you are up to sale your soul and bow down to them, I promise you, they will gladly write a proclamation in your honor. I wouldn’t do it.
EPM has some good reporters but otherwise I just consider EPM as the voice of the Downtown Mafia. Like EP TImes was under Mr. Moore’s editorship.