A Game Changer of Our Own

“Game Changers.”  They are that one event, product, development, group, person, that takes  the situation to a whole new level.

You may have been hanging out in the club but now you are rolling into VIP.  For cities, game changers are needed in multiple fields.

Restoring the Plaza Theatre was a game changer for the arts scene downtown.  The new medical center will be a game changer for the health community.  The Fort Bliss expansion has made a huge impact as well.  There are others, countless others, who are elevating this city to a whole new level.

While our business community is fairly healthy, this city needs to be the early adopter of an industry that will become the next silicon valley. We need to look into the private space industry and alternative energy fields just to name a few. Long term growth industries are key to having a healthy climate for growth and expansion.   I know El Paso can succeed and become a world renown destination….the will to get there lies within this community.    WE hold the key to open the door of endless possibilities.

There are plenty of nay-sayers here but don’t listen to them…they were never going to help in the first place…all we can do is encourage them to give El Paso a chance.  We need to gather our strength into one and let others around the region, state, nation, and world know that El Paso is place that makes great ideas become reality and provides an atmosphere that is conducive to raising a family, starting a business,  growing a business, and visiting.

 

A quick story to share with you.

When I was in college, I  joined a fraternity that was just starting up  Nobody knew who we were and nobody really cared.  I joined because I really enjoyed the other guys that I met.  That first year was so important to our development and future success.  As a group, we were as tight as could be.  We knew that if we were fractured as an organization, we would never see the success we set out for.

The other fraternities made fun of us and the girls could care less about doing anything with our organization.  That was ok because we realized that in due time, our success would be realized.  We participated in every student life event we could find and we made sure we put in 100% effort.

By my senior year, we were one of the top student organizations on campus.  We were boasting a healthy membership, recruiting well, placing at or near the top of the events that mattered, and had finally gotten the respect of other student organizations.

The reason I am so optimistic about El Paso is because I know that what some people think is impossible really isn’t.  The path won’t be easy but the fruits of this communities hard work will eventually be realized and that will be a great day.

Keep up the hard work El Paso and keep checking out LEP because LCP is coming soon….it’s a Game Changer and you are part of it my friends.

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

SPAM…quite entertaining actually

This blog has gotten its fair share of spam over the last couple of years but as of recently, I started paying attention to what was being written.  Yes, there are still those gigantic lists of links to get prescription meds and messages in weird languages but somewhere, somebody, decided to post coherent comments…

I know the spam is random in the posts it chooses but I felt like sharing a few with you tonight.

Aw, this was a really quality post. In theory I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real effort to make a good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and never seem to get something done *this comment was on my post about Baskin Robbins 31 cent scoop night

My favorite one so far:

would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this post. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to start my own BlogEngine blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine example of it. *This beauty was attached to the LEP poll on what was better…green or red enchiladas By the way, the winner were green enchiladas

 

Coming up on the blog, I saw a residential development in San Antonio that I think would work well in the Central area of El Paso…either uptown/downtown or by the new Med Center.

 

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

El Paso Picture of the Day

 

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

Geminid Meteor Shower TONIGHT

Here the facts:

tonight…well tomorrow morning…Get ready for a wonderful display of night sky lights.  The Geminid Meteor Shower is in full effect tonight and if you have dark skies..expect anywhere from 1-2 a minute at their peak.

When should you go check out the night sky….2 a.m. your time!  Bundle up if it is cold outside and bring along a warm thermos of coffee.

 

More info on the Gemind Meteor Shower here

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

Medical Center of the Americas; One Thought

The Medical Center of the Americas will be transforming for El Paso and surrounding areas.  The ball is already rolling with the new med school, children’s hospital and a host of other projects.  Myself, I am a visual person and while I enjoy reading their website, I would like to see some renderings like the following so everyone can see what the future holds.

 

 

 

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

City Ordinance = Safety?

I applaud city council for passing the ordinance that makes it a ticketable offense for drivers who don’t give adequate space to pedestrians and cyclists if said drivers have enough room to move over a lane and choose not to give space.  As someone who used to ride a lot back in Waco, I had many a close call with drivers who were either attempting to “prove a point” or didn’t realize I was there.

 

2005 plan for bike paths in NYC, click pic for link to story

 

 

While I applaud the ordinance, it is one of those offenses, like the cell phone law, that won’t be enforced as time goes by.  There are enough officers on the road to make a significant difference and most drivers won’t even realize that is a ticketable offense.

What this city needs are wider bike/pedestrian lanes where cyclists can ride with some peace of mind and other improvements that are tackled at bikeplan.com (worth the read)

Check out this bike sharing post that I wrote a while back.  This community is moving forward but we need to make sure what plans/ordinances we put in place are effective and truly make a difference in the long run.

I would love to hear your thoughts so please share!

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

You Guys Are Great, Now I Want Your Thoughts…

I was reading through old posts/comments and it brought a smile to my face.  El Paso is filled with interesting people who truly care about their city.

Now that I buttered you up….seriously though, you guys are great….I want your thoughts on the proposed Trans-Mountain Expansion.

Do you love it, hate it, or could you care less?

For those not familiar with the expansion, here are some links to bring you up to speed.

El Paso Naturally

El Paso Times

Refuse the Juice (he has multiple blog posts on this subject)

Thread On El Paso City Forums

 

 

I think the expansion is needed.  As a commuter who uses that route almost daily, I have seen too many close calls on the part that is only two lanes.   Also, the lines to turn left are a nightmare during peak traffic times and our bright sun only compounds the problem.

I understand preserving the integrity of the scenic beauty of the mountainside, but the growth isn’t going to stop; the west side continues to grow and has no where else to go.  There is land that will be developed because that is what the land owner wants and the zoning allows.  Since that is going to occur, I at least want the infrastructure in place to handle the extra cars, buses, etc.

I am worried that the running trail along Resler will be compromised with all of the planned development and I would like to see some renderings of what types of running/hiking/cycling trails that tx-dot will put in place on the side of the expanded freeway…I believe they are doing this.

Other thoughts…does the TransMountain challenge still go on with a 4 lane free way in place? What about Spira’s Fastest 10k?

I’m not sure this situation has a perfect solution, and somebody is going to come out feeling like they lost…sometimes the best outcome is when both parties feel like they lost a little bit but didn’t give away the whole kit and kaboodle.

Even though I support the expansion, I am still conflicted.  I want to hear from you, what are you thoughts on this whole matter?

 

My name is David and I am living El Paso.