What does make a great city?
by Mayor John Cook

Recently, my daughter Jennifer got a job as a registered nurse in Manhattan. So last month, I took a few days off and traveled to New York City to visit her. As you may know, I’m a native of the Big Apple, but left in 1967 to join the Army.

While some things remain unchanged in those 30 years (for example NYC pizza is still as delicious as I remembered), not every element has stood still. When I left, you could park in a lot in Manhattan for $5 a day. That is no longer true. On Sunday morning, we drove from the Bronx to Manhattan to attend mass at St. Francis Xavier Church. The church, almost 100 years old, features elaborate sculptures and artwork that rival some of the more popular east coast cathedrals. We drove around for almost twenty minutes looking for a parking place. Out of desperation we finally had to opt to leave the car in an underground garage near the church. Seventy minutes later I returned to retrieve the car and was shocked that the bill was $25!

After church, we stopped at a waterfront restaurant for lunch and paid another $20 to park for an hour and a half. After lunch we headed to Chinatown and Little Italy to pick up a few souvenirs to bring back to my staff. The trinkets were $2.50 each, which was a bargain compared to the $35 we had to pay for parking in order to get them. The following day, we decided it would be smarter and cheaper if we acted like native New Yorkers and left the car at home.

As a young man, I spent many hours on the subway system. My daily commute from our home in Brooklyn to Immaculata High School in Manhattan made me a pro at subway travel by the time I landed my first job. And while the subway system itself is relatively unchanged, the ambiance of the subway cars has greatly improved. The trains are free of the graffiti that seemed ubiquitous during my boyhood, modern messaging systems make sure you don’t miss your stop and littered platforms are distant memories.

I would never want El Paso to become New York City. We have our own character and charm; however, there are lessons to be learned as we visit other cities. Great parks and open spaces, great downtowns and great public transportation systems are evident in all great cities. We are working on all of those ingredients and will soon claim our place as one of America’s great cities!

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The Work of Downtown’s Biggest Law Firm
by District Attorney Jaime Esparza

Downtown El Paso is an exciting place to work.

Busy intersections, pedestrian traffic, unique shopping, beautiful architecture, fascinating history and proximity to an international bridge remind us daily of how many different walks of life there are in our community. They also remind us of how important our work is to the continued success and progress of our great city.

There is no greater gift than to live without fear in a safe community.

As the county’s top prosecutor, I have a tremendous responsibility to enforce the laws of our land, seek justice and uphold the Constitution of the United States. I can’t think of a better place to make important, tough-minded decisions than where El Paso began its roots — at the Pass of the North. I can’t think of a better place to locate El Paso’s biggest law firm, the District Attorney’s Office, than in the heart of downtown El Paso.

The District Attorney’s Office is located on the second floor of the County Courthouse, a building that is also home to the Eighth Court of Appeals, state district courts, county courts, county government, the County Attorney’s Office, the District Clerk, the County Clerk and other administrative offices.

Our team of more than 150 lawyers and support staff doesn’t have a view of the city, but we have a view of justice. Daily, criminals are prosecuted and punished. Daily, judges are listening, defense attorneys are pleading, and the walls of justice are standing tall and firm.

Like Downtown, the justice system is fascinating and rich with history. It is in that beautiful building, built and owned by the people in the heart of downtown El Paso, that justice is served. It is there that the District Attorney’s Office works hard to prosecute criminals, help victims and keep El Paso among the safest cities.

The District Attorney’s Office works 24/7, preparing for trial, investigating cases, prosecuting criminals, meeting with victims and their families, doing community outreach, working with other law enforcement agencies, and seeking justice.

Downtown is growing. As the top prosecutors in the county, we look forward to the company, and to the continued success and progress of our great city.

We’re delighted to be an important part of downtown El Paso.