Our city leaders are trying to give El Paso all the soul of an airport food court.
That’s bad, but it’s not the worst part of their misguided policies.
The worst part is that it’s not going to work. We’re not going to get new industry because we look like Ames, Iowa, or Omaha. If a company wants to move to a place like Omaha, they’ll move to Omaha. Aping the other cities in the United States is no game plan for success.
But don’t take my word for it. Look at the results of our policies.
Since 2012, the population of the City of El Paso has only grown by 1.1 percent. Over four years.
Last year our median household income declined.
The proof, as the say, is in the pudding, and our pudding looks a lot like gruel.
Instead of trying to erase our unique features, we should celebrate them. We should tout our bona fides as the Ellis Island of the Southwest. We should turn our gaze south instead of north, recruiting every Mexican company that wants a toehold in the U.S. We should promote our biculturalism with more than call centers.
The disconnect between our “leaders” stated goal (economic development) and the results (a collapsing tax base) is glaring and galling.
I have to think they’re either lying or stupid.
If the question is whether they’re lying or stupid, then I would say both.
I disagree about more call centers. The jobs are not career based. They’re more of a temp, no ambitions, non qualified to just enough to buy some entertainment. But, I have to agree it’s better than nothing.
The Hood should be cleaned up a bit, perhaps even a duty/tax free zone to cater to tourists that want that Mexican feeling but no desire to travel to Juarez. Juarez is not doing well with tourists any well. Why should we lose because of Juarez. Maybe it would force Mexico to start reforming and for once help the citizens.
How about this. How about we embrace Juarez and start looking at it like an asset. It was 30 years ago. How about we cooperate with each other and try to capitalize on our shared interests. How about we demilitarize our border and insist on professional and well trained CBP agents instead of the mean spirited and petulant kids we have now.