Just a Thought

Duncan Black who writes the Eschaton blog recently made an astute observation about government and crises such as the BP oil spill and the meltdown on Wall Street in his post
"Partners":

". . . much of our difficulties to date stem directly from the idea that the way to fix problems is to partner up with industry--the NSA with the telcos, HHS with the insurance and drug companies, MMS with the oil companies, Treasury and the banksters--to deliver 'private sector' solutions. "

Rather than being a regulator, rather than making sure that the right thing is done, government as a partner has often allowed the wrong things to be done and/or happen. We see this in Texas with the TCEQ which has brought them in conflict with the EPA and now with the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club over proposed provisions that "would weaken protections from bacteria pollution and undermine efforts to keep or make Texas water bodies clean enough for swimming, boating, wading, canoeing, kayaking, and other recreational activities." There are still questions about the TCEQ oversight of Jobe Material's Avispa Quarry compliance with air pollution standards.

However, my thought is this: in El Paso, the "partnership" between developers (and industry) and some City staff continues to be not just a reality but a roadblock to a truly cosmopolitan community and an environmentally caring culture. This is not to say that Council with the help of citizens hasn't developed some visionary master plans, development ordinances and currently a plan to encourage builders to do more infilling. Nevertheless, the struggle that often occurs between those who want conservation to be a guide to development and staff members in various departments has to do with how much business and industry should get their way. In short, a good old boy system still functions and is the source of the biggest push back against the Open Space Advisory Board. Changing this culture of partnership will probably help El Paso go a long way toward the greater wealth of being an attractive city environmentally. Slowly some are coming to the realization that property and community value increases when care for the surrounding environment increases. Beautiful amenities even as simple as a nice parking area for open space trails at the Palisades adds to the value of the neighborhood and the city. Goodness. El Paso may even find itself more often in the pages of Sunset Magazine.