Realizing Potential is not Far-Fetched
by Mayor John Cook

I was recently asked to speak at the Texas Transportation Summit in the Dallas area regarding mobility on the border. The engagement also provided me with the opportunity to visit my oldest granddaughter who lives in Fort Worth. Years ago, prior to their downtown revitalization, I found myself in Fort Worth on business. Other than a trip to Billy Bob’s, I was unimpressed with the town. What I found on my latest visit was a complete turnaround.

As the 17th largest city in the U.S., Fort Worth rightfully lays claim to being one of the “Most Livable Communities” in the country. They have successfully harnessed their history as an engine to carry them into a very bright future. Fort Worth, Texas is all about cowboys and culture, and the culture is borrowed not only from the past, but also the present.

With its historic stockyards, rodeo, ranches and Will Rogers Memorial Center, Fort Worth has successfully capitalized on their cowboy cattle drives that put them on the map back in the days of the Chisholm Trail.
Modern day Fort Worth is anything but a dusty cattle town. Whether it is the Texas Motor Speedway, the symphony, opera, and concerts at Bass Hall or the host of museums, Fort Worth has much to offer.

I was especially impressed with what they have done with their downtown. We visited on a Thursday evening and after dinner strolled around until almost 10 in the evening. Tourists and locals alike crowded the streets of Sundance Square and when we left, it didn’t look as if they were preparing to call it a day.

Walking around downtown Fort Worth, I could not help but think of the potential for our own Downtown renovation. From distinctive architecture and a variety of cultural venues to a rich and colorful history to build on, El Paso already has in our inventory all the components needed for successful rejuvenation.

Someday, in the not too distant future, my granddaughter will return to her birthplace and see a new city with a vibrant downtown that accommodates El Pasoans and tourists alike. She will not see a replication of downtown Fort Worth, but something even better - something more exciting and different than any other city in the U.S. She will see an El Paso Nuevo – the largest international borderplex in the world – and she will want to return to participate in our dream.

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First Ward Needs our Help
by District 8 Rep. Beto O’Rourke

The success of Downtown is dependent on the health and security of the neighborhoods within and around it.

Chihuahita, the First Ward and oldest neighborhood in El Paso, lies at the foot of the Paso del Norte Bridge, a stone’s throw away from Juárez, Mexico. It is a true urban neighborhood: small, compact homes without setbacks from the narrow, short streets a park and recreation center that sits on the edge of El Paso and looks across the river at Juárez and a mixture of neighborhood zoning uses (single-family homes, duplexes, apartments and residential retail).

There are also some challenges that come with living in Chihuahita. First among them is a rail line that carries trains from Juárez, Mexico through the neighborhood and into a rail yard each night and morning. The rails cross Canal Road, the only street going into and out of the heart of the neighborhood. That means that when trains are crossing the street, residents are stuck inside or outside of their neighborhood, unable to get to work or home, see their families, or in worst cases, respond to an emergency. Sometimes children, in an effort to be on time for school, will climb between the rail cars blocking Canal Road.

Unfortunately, the city has very little jurisdictional control over the railroads, and despite our best efforts in working with the rail companies (BNSF, which crosses Canal Road, and UP, which has a by-pass line that parallels the Rio Grande), the Congressman’s office and even the ports director who oversees international rail crossings, we have gotten nowhere with this issue. It is further complicated by the Mexican government, which regulates crossing times for rail cars that originate in Juárez. We will continue to press for a solution to this very dangerous problem.

Another transportation and traffic issue that plagues the neighborhood involves a local bus company that has illegally operated at the entrance to the neighborhood for years, boarding and unloading passengers in the middle of the street. Much like the train crossing, the neighbors are forced to wait at a standstill while buses load and unload before they are able to enter or leave their neighborhood. They also risk hitting bus passengers who congregate in the street in the process.

We have had more luck with this issue, successfully shutting down the bus line and preventing them from operating in the streets. To prevent this from happening again, and to provide a safe, comfortable and attractive facility like the one air travelers are used to at the international airport, we are also investing in a first-class bus terminal that will most likely be located at the Union Depot. This bus terminal will be a central point of arrival and departure for over the road carriers like Greyhound and the many independent bus companies that operate dangerously in the neighborhoods in and around Downtown El Paso.

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Many Hands Lighten the Load
by Bill Coon, CPO Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso

I have just returned from Billings, Montana, for the Southwest Regional Conference with the Southwest Region “Rookie of the Year” award from The Boys and Girls Clubs. I am very humbled to receive and to be recognized for this award. I am also reminded that I did not do this alone. Many board members, employees, and community organizations have helped in this time of need. I want to share the name of some of the agencies who helped us when times were tough and have unselfishly continued their support.

The United Way of El Paso County has continued to serve more than 40 local agencies in El Paso County. Boys and Girls Clubs of El Paso are blessed to be one of the agencies that are a member agency. United Way has been committed to our mission to serve the youth of El Paso. We are part of the Compassion Grant written by United Way. The Compassion Grant collaborates with nine local youth-serving agencies to build our capacity to address the needs of youth in underserved communities within El Paso County and to improve the quality of youth development services. We are also involved with AmeriCorps. This is the Peace Corp within the U. S. Six members come to three of our facilities to make a huge impact on the lives of our members through a character development program.

Did you know we are in the United Way of El Paso County Campaign? United Way touches thousands of lives every day. I am sure that each company has at least one employee who has used the services of a United Way agency. United Way helps El Paso. If you have a giving campaign at your office, thank you very much; if you do not, then you need to start one. Please call the United Way and set one up today. El Pasoans need you.

The West Texas Food Bank is another great community organization. Do you know that the West Texas Food Bank collects and gives away more than 5 million pounds of food per year? The Boys and Girls Clubs of El Paso serve more than 200 healthy meals a day at our four clubs without a cost to our members. We have also begun serving snacks to our members at 3:30 p.m. Kids cannot study if they are hungry. With the help of West Texas Food Bank, our members go home with a full stomach. West Texas Food Bank will be having a food drive during October and during the Sun Bowl Thanksgiving Day parade. Please help. For more information call Joe Daubach, 915.533.4416.

You, the community, have had the most impact. Your donation of time, talents and treasures are so valuable to El Paso and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Giving back by taking time out of your busy lives is worth more than money. It is worth the life of a child. We cannot do what we do without a giving community. You do this for one reason… a better tomorrow. Thank you!

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Get Ready Downtown
Texas Economic Developers Coming to El Paso in 2008
by Bob Cook, REDCo President

The El Paso Regional Development Corporation (REDCo) spends a lot of money to participate with the Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC, headquartered in Austin) promoting the advantages of doing business in Texas. Over the past 12 months, REDCO has joined with TEDC partners to play host to companies and consultants in Philadelphia, Orlando and The Woodlands. It is with great delight that REDCo announces that TEDC has selected El Paso for its Spring Conference in April 2008.

Back in January, our partners at the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) asked for our support in bringing the event to El Paso and our combined efforts were successful. As you know, REDCo works with dozens of Texas communities throughout the course of each year to promote our state to potential new businesses. It is our particular pleasure to bring our counterparts from the rest of the great State of Texas to El Paso for this event, as the conference has not been held here since the late 1980s.

Why is El Paso a perfect location for the conference? We feel our region offers something that the rest of the state can’t - an opportunity to experience the best of three states, two countries and the Army’s most valuable installation - all within an arm’s reach. Blending efficient meeting and networking opportunities with unique hospitality venues is one of our community’s strengths. We echo the message that the CVB sends, which is that the attributes of the borderplex are like nothing found anywhere else.

And Downtown El Paso will clearly be the best venue for this group of 200 economic development experts. Delegates will be lodging at the Camino Real and using meeting space at our own Judson Williams Convention Center. We envision a tremendous amount of foot traffic through our Downtown museums, the library, and of course, shopping for cowboy boots, hats and other items that will be a lasting remembrance of their time spent in El Paso.

“The TEDC state conference will not only infuse money into our local economy, but will also provide us the opportunity to showcase our Downtown area to over 200 economic development professionals from across the state who will witness first hand El Paso’s renaissance,” comments Terrie Todd, assistant general manager at the El Paso CVB.

As plans for the conference are made, we intend to bridge our corporate relationships here in El Paso to TEDC. REDCo promised $10,000 in sponsorship funding from El Paso businesses and if your business would benefit from statewide exposure, please contact our Director of Marketing & Communications, Alix Duchouquette, and she’ll get you any information you need about sponsorship. We’ll be making the first “pitch” to our statewide colleagues at the TEDC Annual Meeting in Dallas later this month, and we are looking forward to a great turnout. Get ready Downtown!