Why can’t we El Paso?

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

A look into the past of San Francisco

My dad forwarded me an e-mail with a video that shows San Francisco during 1905.  I want to share it with you today because I believe you will be as fascinated with it as I was.  A few things to look for:

• Policeman
• Lady in a huge dress hopping on a street car
• Young boys running behind the back of a vehicle
• Newspaper boys
• People  taking really large steps

I hope you enjoy it! Also, I have attached a modern day look at the same street shot in 2005.

My  name is David and I am living El Paso.

My thoughts on proposed 2011 El Paso bond election

I like it. 

Quality of life bond proposals can usher in some great projects and with a lack of private investment here, sometimes the city (as in all of us citizens)  has to take that burden on.  I don’t think we should spend money on an IMAX or foot the full bill for an arena though.

Any arena built should be a joint task between the city/UTEP/school districts.  An IMAX should be built by Cinemark.

New parks are great…a la…a westside sportspark??  A city aquarium could be intriguing and that trolley link between downtown and the Zoo is a cool idea.  However,  for El Paso to get the biggest bang for their buck…I think they should do something truly innovative.

What kind of projects would you like to see for the city gain your “yes” vote for the proposed bond election?

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

Dear Oklahoma, El Paso is safe, come to the Sun Bowl!

Any person who thinks that when they get off the plane they will be greeted with gunfire, explosions, people hanging off the back of trucks with guns have got it all wrong.  El Paso is safer than all other major cities minus one.  Let’s take a look at the pain that awaits some of you out of town fans:

• Great weather, Sunny, 60 degree temperatures more than likely
• Beautiful mountains and sunsets
• A one of a kind football stadium
• A population who will treat you right and welcome you to their town
• Culture, history, and great food
• The only loud pop you may hear will be fireworks going off when your team scores a touchdown

I understand your fear, I moved out here over a year ago when the violence in Mexico was spiraling out of control, but this city is safe and if it weren’t for the media, you would never know what was going on over there in Mexico…unless you traveled over there and witnessed something.

We, El Paso, welcome all of you Oklahomans and Stanfordites with open  arms.  If you want, e-mail me and I can give you some advice on places to go visit…heck…maybe I’ll even join you for a beer.

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

“We Are El Paso”

I was looking for El Paso videos on YouTube and came across this one from someone whose username is irimbaud.  I really enjoyed the short video and loved his description even more.  What you read next is his description and after that is the video he made. 

“video about El Paso that I put together. If you don’t like El Paso, no one is forcing you to watch it. I made it to peak interest in our city. Yes, like any city it has its ups and downs– sometimes it seems like more downs that ups. But so many people don’t realise what we were once and what we can be again. I want people to see our potential. I want people to get interested. Care about where you live. Than maybe you won’t complain so much. Why complain about something if you never lift a finger to fix or help progress it? Than who’s fault is it when things don’t go right? Like I said, no one is forcing the naysayers to watch the video. I just happened to have a free few minutes. I was toiling around one day with my computer and found this programme and thought it interesting to see what I might be able to do. So this is my first (and only, so far) product of my discovery. So I hope everyone appreciates it for the novice aspect of it at least. Oh, and U2 has no affiliation with the city or anything. It would be great if they did but alas, they don’t. I just think that this is a great song from a great band. In a way, a bit of the idead came from Gangs of New York which this song was written for. So enjoy, comment, don’t comment, move, shake, get involved, care more, smile at your fellow man and if you want to contact me, you can email me at atomicfantasia@yahoo.co.uk. Thank You.”

So when I previewed this post, I found out that the video is disabled when embedded, which means you have to go to youtube to watch it.  You can do that by either clicking the video below or clicking this link to go watch it…please don’t pass it up, watch it!

 

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

El Paso will succeed

I hope a lot of you read the article I posted yesterday.  While the focus was on San Antonio, there were many aspects than can be true for any city in America today, including El Paso.

We need a more successful, vibrant, livable downtown if El Paso is to ever emerge from its current state of staleness.  The great news is that this is happening!  Our downtown museums are improving, new office space created, great restaurants opening up, more hotel rooms coming online, and most important, downtown housing.

While these are all baby steps, they are steps in the right direction.  We need to create reasons for people from the NE and far East sides to come spend time downtown.  El Paso needs to be the regional hub for a 500 mile radius and it can become that hub if the we grow the right way. 

I understand that this city has let a lot of people down over the years but I ask that you don’t give up…not yet.  The transformation is just beginning and this eternal optimist will be here to watch it happen. 

Has this city dug itself in a hole over the last few decades?  The answer is an easy yes….probably 30-40 years behind the times…however, that doesn’t mean we aren’t emerging from it.  I guarantee that the city you see today won’t be the city you see in 10-15 years.

I saw the same transformation in San Antonio and even Waco…yes, Waco, TX!  For El Paso to reach its potential, it is going to take YOU.  El Paso needs YOU to do your part.  Take personal responsibility for your town, own it like it’s yours…because it is. 

When the city holds community events, go to them and enjoy yourself.  If there is call to action and city leaders ask for citizen input, make sure you go.  The only way to El Paso will emerge is if this community becomes one and focuses on a single vision…a vision created with the input of everyone. 

There is no doubt that the image of this city has been tarnished for a long time and it is going to take a lot of work to fix that. 

This city will succeed, it’s just going to take some time and patience.  Remember this quote from Mayor Julian Castro of San Antonio.  “Downtown is the heart of a city. If your downtown isn’t successful, the rest of the city tends to decay from the middle,”…”As downtown goes, so goes the rest of the city.” 

 

On another note, if anybody wants to go hear some music tomorrow night after Chalk the Block, head on over to the Percolator!  The Thrift Store Cowboys from Lubbock will be playing tonight, along with The Lusitania and others.

I got to check out some of the Thrift Store Cowboys music on MySpace and it was pretty good!  Click here to listen to them.  

Hope to see a lot of people out at Chalk the Block tomorrow!

 

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

Would like to share this with you

When I find a piece of information that I think can be useful to the future of El Paso, I like to share it.  I came across this article in the San Antonio Business Journal about that talks about San Antonio’s leadership wanting to reinvest in downtown.  When I read it, I got inspired and excited because it made me think about the potential El Paso has with its own City Center and how we need to not give up on reinvigorating downtown.

 

Reinvesting in San Antonio’s downtown is priority

Mayor targets HemisFair Park as a key step

San Antonio Business Journal – by W. Scott Bailey

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro believes that the Alamo City is on the verge of a center city renaissance. He says the next 10 years can and should be “the decade of downtown.”

But the key to any such sustained reinvestment in downtown, he contends, is the revitalization of HemisFair Park, site of a World’s Fair more than 40 years ago. Castro says he is convinced that the elements are finally in place for such a historic remake. Click here to continue reading

More to discuss on this issue later!

 

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

Took a ride on the waywayback machine

 I was trying to find some information about the 2000 quality of life bond project out of sheer curiosity and ended up coming across this presentation.  It might take a few minutes to load, but worth the wait.  One of the most interesting slides was watching Cleavland square go from a building with a parking lot to having a museum and library on it.   I believe there might be another bond coming up (possibly) in 2010.

I also came across the TAMU report from 2000 that talks about El Paso reinventing itself for a new economy.  Read it here. 

Finally, here is the most recent article that appeared in the EP Times from a Texas Tech expert who sees El Paso’s potential.

 

All three of the above links are good reads and it gave me a nice perspective of where the city has come from in the last 9 years.

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

Future City: What will El Paso be like?

Ever wondered what the future for El Paso holds?  Ever wonder if the architecture will change so dramatically in 50 years that the Sun City you know now will not be the Sun City your grandchildren know and love?  How will a desert town (with many odds against it) rise out of isolation and truly become a model for others look towards.  What kind of industry should we be trying to convince to relocate here?  Should it be car parts manufacturers, or should we look towards more progressive industries of the future that will define the world?  

Maybe we should invest money now so that we can reap the benefits later…or maybe we should be fiscally conservative and not spend and just hope that future generations will take that 1st step forward.  Will corruption still plague this town and will Juarez still suffer from on again off again drug violence?  Maybe El Paso’s talent will stay here and build their careers instead of leaving?

I guess we will find out in 50 years what El Paso will look like?  What do you think the city will look like?  Do you believe the time is now to shape our future?  

 

My name is David and I am living El Paso.

If you are interested, here is a video on a planned city in the UAE called Masdar.  The city is supposed to rely totally on renewable energy sources.

Hello El Paso, I am Columbus

Hi El Paso,

My name is Columbus, Ohio and I have been wanting to meet you.  Your redheaded friend made a trip up here about two weeks ago for a wedding.   He asked if he could take some pictures and I obliged…although I was a little self conscious at first.  I hope you enjoy them and would love to hear your feedback.  Maybe the two of us can learn from one  another?

Sincerely,

Columbus, OH
Class of 1812

 

A new urban residential project going in downtown

 

Forget your quarters? No problem here.

 

Columbus @ night. Photo by jpmueller99 (click photo)

 

NHL & AFL teams play here

 

Hi Columbus,

Thanks so much for the photos!  That parking meter is kind of cool and would be nice to have so that people who forget their quarters can still park by just a slide of a card.  Also, that new housing project is very unique and I would love to have something like that in my downtown…maybe just not the same style….because I’m not sure how that would look in the desert.  I can tell the red head didn’t take the last two pictures (way above his ability)  but I do like that profile shot of you.

  So I kind of nerded out and had the redhead do some research on you. I read that you are around the same size as me at 747,000 people and also have a major university (Ohio State) located there, like me.  Did I mention that I enjoyed your arena that houses an NHL and an AFL team?  Who knows if our paths will cross again, but thanks for contacting me.  I look forward to seeing where we both are in 10 years. 

Until then,

El Paso
Been around for over 400 years

 

My name is David and I am living El Paso.