COMMENT BY
Gerardo from El Paso, TX
COMMENT ABOUT PLACE
El Paso, TX
COMMENT
Too much wrong, and not enough right
El Paso has been my home for the majority of my life. I have raised a family here, and have most of my relatives here in town. Through the years, I have noticed how EP has made some moves in the right direction, but many in the wrong, perhaps typical of any city (small or large). I believe the problem with the city is the mentality, and leadership, again, probably typical. However, the fact that EP is a border city with Mexico, the largest border city in the USA with Mexico, it makes EP a bit more unique with the progress or lack of. EP is a very ignorant city beginning with its leadership. Whether its the mayor, or the representatives, all play a big role with the poor decisions and moreso the inability to govern a large city. EP is not like any other city in TX, be it that it is a border city, yet local leadership want to force the idea that EP can become a city like Austin, Dallas or even San Antonio. Truth is, it cannot, for the simple fact that EP is a border city, and unfortunately the ignorance amongst EP is far greater than any of the cities the leaders want EP to become. There is potential in EP, but again, EP will require more astute leadership. It is true that EP appears more and more dirty, from I-10 (TXDOT) to city streets, and it don't matter what part of town, you see the neglect more in all parts of the city. Newly developed subdivisions, with beautifully landscaped views, and private drives look perfect for the first 6 months, but soon after, they are over-run with trash, weeds, and patches on the streets from poorly coordintated street construction. The city will contract a company to construct a new road, or re-pave or overlay a road, just to have it cut up by utility companies within months for install of utility lines of some sort. These utility companies "patch" the new roads and then the deterioration begins and the new roads look awful and potentially cause damage to vehicles. Taxpayers pay for this over and over again, including when the city builds street medians with beautiful landscaping, all for the city to neglect the care and upkeep of them. Within months, the medians are a trash collector and weeds are the new plant specie that take over what once was nice landscaping. Hilariously, the city will cry that they don't have the manpower to maintain these landscaped areas yet continue to build them at taxpayers expense, yet, the city does have the manpower to drive around town citing private owners of their landscaping that may be a bit dirty or have weeds. Poor leadership, lack of insight and training, old-fashioned mentality, ignorant, incapable, wasteful, no common sense, inability to see beyond the norm and be creative is exactly what EP has become. Change the leadership, and perhaps EP can for once begin to reach its highest potential and sustain a city where people may want to continue to live in, and/or visit.