Max Powers

Nobody Is Talking To Claudia Ordaz

El Paso Inc.'s David Crowder has a great write-up about what's going on, or more precisely, what's NOT going on, with City Council.

Apparently nobody is talking to Claudia Ordaz or so she says (Aside: Claudia, you're coming off as whiny, not mayoral).

There are probably a few reasons for that. 

One reason - Stephanie TownsenD.  In her alleged quest for transparency, she has sent communication at City Hall offline. 

Another reason - Lily Limon.  In her effort to exact revenge through open records requests, she has sent communication offline.  

In Ordaz's particular case - Jaime Abeytia.   I mean who wants to talk to Ordaz offline, let alone via email, when what they say might end up on Jaime's blog.  The issue is not so much Jaime having a blog, it's Jaime pretending to be friends with everyone, like City Rep. Michiel Noe.   But then that's really not Jaime's fault, that's Noe's fault for Noe to think that Jaime does not play favorites. 

So what now?

I don't know...River Plate and UANL are playing right now. 

You tell me.

 

 

 

 

Why El Paso Is Hurting

I am sorry, but I am not buying people are leaving El Paso because the taxes are too high. 

When you factor in cost of living, specifically housing, the property taxes are a wash. 

Sales tax? It's the same there as it is about everywhere else in Texas.

That being said, El Paso County does have an unusually high tax rate compared to Dallas County or Cameron County, which is located in the Rio Grande Valley.

But this whole topic about taxes misses the point. 

So why does El Paso struggle?

For starters, Juarez. 

If you are multinational company X and you are looking to build a new manufacturing facility, why build in El Paso when you can go across the river bed, and drastically reduce your labor costs as well as material costs? 

You know those call centers everyone disparages, but hires hundreds, if not thousands of El Pasoans, well, Mexico is in that game too.  So those call centers that you are either mocking or taking for granted might end up moving across the river bed. 

Juarez is El Paso's economic development frenemy.  The money made there, stays there. 

When El Paso economic development leaders are making a sell and push Juarez in that sale, they are shooting themselves in the foot. 

Then there is Fort Bliss. 

I am sorry, but Fort Bliss does not do much for the local economy.  Fort Bliss does not pay property taxes.  Sure some local contractors make some scratch off of Fort Bliss, but military installations are not reasons why companies choose to locate some place.  If anything, their closures mean opportunity for local communities (see Austin's Bergstorm Airport, San Antonio's Kelly USA).  But as long as the Middle East is a hotbed of excitement, Bliss ain't going anywhere.

So if you cannot do anything about Bliss, what to do about Juarez?

A while back the City said it was encouraging EB5 investment in El Paso, and projects like the ballpark or renovations of buildings downtown seem like the perfect fit for EB-5 investment.  Yet for whatever reason EB5 projects have not taken off in El Paso.  Here are some examples of EB5 projects in Dallas: this one, that one.  Granted, EB5 will not solve all of El Paso's woes, but it will at least give taxpayers a break on funding certain private-public partnership projects. 

Wealth Mexican money aside, what else El Paso can do?

Education.  Improving student outcomes will do a lot to bring needed short-term growth to El Paso.  Why short-term?  Families all love good schools.  Improve your school districts people will move to El Paso, and when they move companies will follow.

Look,  I too enjoy bashing County Judge Veronica Escobar and other elected officials from time-to-time, but to blame them for the current state of El Paso's economy is to give them waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much credit. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's Someone After Mary?

State Representative Mary Gonzalez is probably a little nervous for the first time in her political career.

Not only did she piss off an entire county just south of Austin by nearly killing a local bill that that community wanted to become law, she apparently has left those in education less than impressed.  Those in education tend to be organized.

Whoever decides to run against Mary would not be lacking in money.  The folks south of Austin that she pissed off are probably more than happy to write checks to her opponent.   Money tends to respect money, so when that money comes in other people who would be not be interested in her race would get interested.  Couple that with disgruntled organized constituencies, Gonzalez will not be able to rack up more Rapid Rewards from flying home to El Paso for much longer.

Mary's claim to fan was that she was the first open lesbian in the Texas Legislature, and soon as she wore that out, she became the first open bisexual in the Texas Legislature, and when that shine wore off,  she became the first pansexual in the Texas Legislature.  

What the LGBTP? self-proclaimed advocate becomes next is anybody's guess.

That is the other thing.  Now that gay marriage is legal, it hurts, not helps,  Mary.  Mary will say, "There's  still more work to be done for gay adoption and stuff."  While that might be true, folks in Tornillo probably have other concerns which they believe to be more pressing.   Besides the folks in Tornillo, other elected officials in her district, like County Commissioner Vincent Perez, do not care for her at all.

The only thing Mary has going for her is that the political talent pool in her district is weak.  This is after all the district that has sent to Austin Gilbert Serna, Manny Najera, and Chente Quintanilla.

But who knows?

Maybe there is a diamond in the rough out there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Candidate Jose Landeros for House District 77

or is it Jose Lavanderia?

Anyways. 

He was Jaime Abeytia's boss back when Abeytia worked for County Commissioner Vincent Perez.

He's the guy that Jaime said would be a great candidate to run for House District 77, but then said Lavanderia would never do such a thing because Lavanderia would have no influence  in Austin, and the pay sucks.

Well, apparently shitty pay and lack of influence is not stopping Lavanderia from throwing his hat in the ring (unless County Judge Veronica Escobar decides to run).

Since Svarzbein won, Lavanderia must be thinking, "If that fat-bearded asshole could win, I can win too."

This bodes bad for Hector H. Lopez. 

Lavanderia will make mince meat out of Lopez...literally.

 

 

A Potential Candidate for House District 77

County Judge Veronica Escobar.

It sounds odd.

But it makes sense.

Yes, Escobar would be leaving a good paying job, but  for all the stuff she is dealing with, namely UMC and EPCH, the pay ain't that great.

That, and she has name ID and access to money to run a race. 

Just as important, the district likes her.

Come on, who do you think has better job of getting votes in Kern - Escobar, Hector H. Lopez or no-name criminal defense attorney?

Sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward, and this open seat is that step back for Escobar.

 

Sports Stuff

Let's break from the political...

• The Open: Yes, I am pulling for the hometown kid - Jordan Spieth.  But I don't understand why people do not like Dustin Johnson.  He didn't bang YOUR wife, and he didn't snort YOUR coke.  Cut the guy some slack.  Also as far as pulling for old guys, I pull for Ernie Els. 
• Gold Cup: As expected, Mexico has been less than impressive.  Here's hoping Costa Rica finishes the job against Mexico.  On the other hand, Costa Rica has not been that impressive either.  And what?  All of you were all into the women's World Cup, but crickets when it comes to the USMNT.  Truth be told Gold Cup isn't as good as say, Copa America.  So I kinda understand the silence, but man, Jamaica and Trinidad are playing well.
• Tour de France:  Beto O'Rourke will dominate.

Some Advice For Claudia Ordaz

If City Representative Claudia Ordaz wants to run for mayor, she needs to line-up money, not bloggers or issues...and it might be too late for that.

Her would-be opponent, Mayor Oscar Leeser, wipes his ass with ones, and is known by everybody and their grandmother. 

No, despite what John Cook did, you will not be able to block walk your way to victory.  For every volunteer you have knocking on doors, Leeser can hire 10 to do that.  Then what?

Instead of conspiring with her boyfriend on how to maximize Jaime Abeytia, they needed to get in their car  and  head west, and start talking to the money in this town to see what the money thinks of a Mayor Ordaz. 

There's a reason why money in this town backs County Judge Veronica Escobar.  The latest stuff regarding the EPCH and UMC aside, it likes the image Escobar represents - young, aspiring leaders...or better yet, she is not Norma Chavez or anyone associated with Luther Jones, and so forth.

One thing money does not care for is grandstanding.  It understands some grandstanding is required by the job, but it rather avoid something so crass as to what Ordaz did.

By being so crass, she blew her cover, and now Leeser can make the calls around town to make sure people are supporting him.  He can ask  folks, "Look, do we want a mayor who is more interested in seeking favors for her boyfriend than she is about the well-being of the City?"

Now Ordaz will have to answer that from here on out...unless she dumps Vincent. 

 

Where's Beto?

Let me be clear, I think Congressman Beto O'Rourke is awesome.  Call me a homer for Beto.

That being said, and correct me if I am wrong, but I cannot find anything anywhere about Beto's thoughts on President Obama's Iran deal.

Call me biased, after all my father hails from Iran, but I think the Iran deal is a great development. 

Now, I know my Israeli friends think otherwise.  Their is concern that Iran wants to wipe Israel off the map.  The truth is though Israel CAN wipe Iran off the map.  Israel, unlike most countries in the Middle East, has its shit together.  Even if Tehran is capable of developing a nuclear warhead, leaders in Tehran would have to pray that it actually hits its target.  Meanwhile, Israelis could be on the toilet and order a missile launch against Iran like its no big deal.

Iran...closer than ever...

 There has always been noise that Israel would strike Iran, but it does not materialize.  Most of the Arab world would probably throw parties - quietly - if Israel struck Iran.  For all the Arab gripes about Israel, it has even bigger gripes about Iran.  Instead, Israel is playing money ball and is allegedly taking out Iranian scientists.

But let's gets back to Beto.

Why so quiet?

Well, according to a Jewish newspaper, Forward, a while back the pro-Israel lobby set O'Rourke "right".

For that reason, I don't blame Beto if he is not out in front of this Iran issue.  He has less to gain, and a lot to lose. 

Ordaz More About Her Boyfriend Less About You

City Representative Claudia Ordaz's recent hissy fit regarding how transportation dollars at the City are spent (or not spent) has less to do with good public policy, and more about her boyfriend, County Commissioner Vincent Perez, as Chair of the El Paso MPO Transportation Policy Board.

Currently, El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser serves as Vice Chair of the TPB. 

Traditionally, the Vice Chair is elected Chair. 

But this is an instance where Ordaz would like to break with tradition in order to stand with her boyfriend, Perez, to ensure that he remains Chair. 

Ordaz is hoping to bring enough attention to the City's transportation matter that Leeser becomes a casualty in his bid to become Chair thereby allowing Perez to continue to serve as Chair.

 

 

 

 

El Paso Inc. Gets It Wrong

The El Paso Times is not the only publication to get State Senator Jose Rodriguez's legislative accomplishments wrong. 

El Paso Inc. gets it wrong too!

The scene of the crime:

Come on, David Crowder. Why did you fall for that?

 

Yes, it is true that Rodriguez did file 136 bills. 

Mind you, when a bill is filed by a legislator, that means that that legislator is the bill's author.

So it is correct to say Rodriguez authored (or filed) 136 bills.

But it is absolutely incorrect to say that of those 136 bills 71 became law.

Of the 136 bills Rodriguez filed, 46, NOT 71, made it to the Governor's desk.

I broke it down a while back HERE!

If you are into keeping scoring, 46 bills is not bad number.  There's no need to inflate the number.  Forty-six is certainly better than anything his predecessor, Eliot Shapleigh, did.  Then again, beating Shapleigh in bills passed is no hard feat.  Shapleigh was too busy lecturing the Texas Senate instead of passing legislation.  At least Rodriguez has the sense to know that nobody in the Senate wants to hear him speak, so that affords Rodriguez more time to pass bills.