Max Powers

The West Side Bond

The same reason why the EPISD bond package may pass, is the same reason why it may fail.

This bond package might as well be called the West Side Bond Package. 

Given how much - some may say how little - this bond benefits the West Side, you would think the West Side will vote for it. 

But also given the West Side's alleged fiscal conservative bent, it would vote against it. 

So here is what the West Side is getting:

• $47 million: Lincoln Middle consolidating Bond and Roberts Elementaries
• $38 million: Morehead Middle consolidating with Johnson Elementary
• $73 million: Coronado High School
• $21 million: El Paso High

I know El Paso High may not be spiritually a "West Side" school, but it is technically a West Side school.  If we are to play that game, then I can swap El Paso High for Burges.

 

Either way, approximately $179 million of the $610 million for renovations and/or construction will be for the West Side.

 

Some West Siders may think that is not enough, others may think it is too much, and others still will think it is great.

 

Either way, the bond depends on them because let us not kid ourselves, elections are not decided by the Northeast. 

 

 

 

 

 

Charter Schools and the EPISD Bond

I support charter schools. 

You would think more folks in El Paso would too.

El Paso is largely a Democratic town, and Democrats are by-and-large supportive of a woman's right to choose when it comes to abortions.

You would think those same folks would also believe a woman has a right to choose where her child would go to school.

But I digress.

EPISD bond supporters are trying to make it rather clear that they do not support charter schools. 

Which is odd. 

I guess some are concerned that the unused school buildings will become charter schools, which is rather stupid.

Why stupid?

No charter school wants to be in an old school building. 

Way too much overhead. 

Unlike a school district, a charter school has to be rather mindful how it spends its money.  Poorly run charter schools die, well-run charter schools survive. 

With a school district, poorly-managed or well-run, the thing will still live.

But if we are really honest about this, this whole charter school business is a red herring.

If EPISD bond supporters are trying to pitch this bond effort as an anti-charter school effort it is because they want to hide the fact that the bond really is the Dori Fenenbock Bond.  Her district alone will get $112 million out of this deal.   If you ask me, the outcomes of Coronado grads is not really EPISD's biggest issue. 

But hey whatever you gotta tell yourself to vote "yes".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Apodaca Isn't Running for Mayor, BUT...

As we have sadly learned, Michael Apodaca is not running for mayor.

Why, God?

Why?

Well, it turns out Apodaca is too busy running other things like the EPISD bond field outreach.

That's right.

El Paso Rising PAC has paid Apodaca $3,000.00 - so far - for being the PAC's "Field Director".

See for yourself:  Download El Paso Rising Report

Which I am sure some of that money goes to Jaime Abeytia because Jaime likes to bully Apodaca into doing stupid things.  

That is not even the worst part.

Remember Apodaca is a local Democratic party hack. 

Yet, Apodaca is taking Republican money.

An evil oil and gas company, Western Refining, contributed $50,000 to the PAC.

Evil asshole Republican, Dee Margo, contributed $1,000.

The other evil asshole Republican, Woody Hunt, contributed $10,000.

Kids First of El Paso PAC contributed $50,000 to the El Paso Rising PAC.  And you want to know who has contributed to the Kids First of El Paso PAC?  Woody Hunt.  That evil asshole Republican contributed $60,000 to the Kids First of El Paso PAC.  Lesser evil asshole Republicans - David K's parents - contributed $250.

I do not fault Apodaca for taking the gig.  He has to eat and he has to pay Jaime every time Jaime bullies him.   That and he probably has to pay Susie Byrd.  Susie Byrd has her own consulting business, but it is not doing any business.  So what better way to get some cash under table than to tell Apodaca, "I will get you a job with the PAC, but you are gonna pay me under the table 30 percent.  I would ask for 50, but I do not wash my hair so I do not have same expenses as other people and I drink Reunite."

 

 

 

Remembering Larry Romero

Y'all remember Larry Romero?

He had to resign over speed humps.

Of all people and organizations trying to destroy Larry, the El Paso Times was the most vicious. 

Which makes this article all the funnier - "Residents will get relief from speeding drivers".

And it does not stop there.

Jim Tolbert, who pushed for Larry's ouster, voted for these speed humps.

Of course, he had to pretend to be skeptical before he voted for them so that he can avoid looking like a complete hypocrite.

Per the City, some neighborhoods have been waiting eight years for speed humps.

So Romero cuts through all bureaucratic red-tape and gets shit done, and you all run him out-of-office.

And you all elected an alleged saint to replace him, and he does what now?

And then you all ask, "Why does El Paso suck so hard?"

Just look in mirror, or look at Susie Byrd, and you will see why.