A Scenic Corridor Worth Preserving

A Scenic Corridor worth preserving

Save El Paso's Franklin Mountains. Sign the Petition.

Yesterday I showed maps of the PSB land east of the gas line road and north and south of Trans Mountain - land which abuts the Franklin Mountains State Park. Today I'll post pictures of the scenic natural corridor which some want to bulldoze and scrape, killing all wildlife and destroying all ecosystems, in order to put up big box stores, strip malls, apartments, large homes just to pay for water and sewage for perhaps one or two more generations.

When I say PSB land, I mean public land - land that belongs to all El Pasoans together but managed by the Public Service Board for us. The final authority for public land is the public through its elected representatives on City Council. Always keep this in mind.

Here are the pics:

Arroyos and rolling hills just east of gas line road

TxDOT right of way marker east of gas line road. Note the scenic view in the background. That scenery along with the remarkable plant and animal life is what you will lose if these plans go through.

Winter snow emphasizes the beauty of the scenic corridor

The policy to sell land for development in this scenic corridor is short sighted and promotes a policy of unsustainability.

Here's another thought: recreation and eco-tourism would bring in millions of dollars to our community. Does PSB have a land management policy for open space that includes recreation and eco-tourism. It does not. In fact, the only land policy it has was one it recently passed as a CYA for using open space dollars for plants at Saipan - a policy in total contradiction of ordinance and a policy passed after bids were taken and the Saipan project was begun. (More on this tomorrow.)

Texas Agri-Life Extension Recreation, Parks and Tourism Science quotes research from the Outdoor Industry Association:

According to a study from the Outdoor Industry Association, nature-based tourism has a large national economic footprint (please note that the numbers below reflect national totals): For more statistics and studies, click here.

• Contributes $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy
• Supports nearly 6.5 million jobs across the U.S.
• Generates $88 billion in annual state and national tax revenue
• Provides sustainable growth in rural communities
• Generates $289 billion annually in retail sales and services across the U.S.
• Touches over 8 percent of America’s personal consumption expenditures—
more than 1 in every 12 dollars circulating in the economy

Supporting this is a report from Headwaters Economics - The Economic Benefits of Southern New Mexico's Natural Assets: Tourism is New Mexico's second largest industry bringing to New Mexico more than $5.7 billion annually.

Want some money for water and water infrastructure? Isn't it about time that we conserve our scenic natural resources, make ecotourism and recreation a priority, and insist that the PSB develop (with the assistance of the City of El Paso Open Space Board) a solid land use policy for open space that includes recreation, conservation and eco-tourism?

The question, of course, is rhetorical. It is time. In fact, it is past time . . . it is high time.

Save El Paso's Franklin Mountains. Sign the Petition.

Save the Franklin Mountains: Sign the Petition

First of all: Save El Paso's Franklin Mountains - PROTECT SCENIC TRANS MOUNTAIN CORRIDOR IN NORTHWEST EL PASO. Sign the Petition! Spread the word.

Let's return to the issue of the $80 million freeway to be built from Interstate 10 to the entrance to the Tom Mays unit of the Franklin Mountains State Park. I have called it a greater threat than any quarry - that is, the part beyond gas line road. I've also mentioned the fact that powers to be in the City and EPWU want that fourth overpass at Paseo del Norte (east of gas line) because they want development in the foothills and arroyos abutting the State Park.

Why develop the land? The policy of CEO Ed Archuleta is to sell developable land in order to have the revenue for upgrades and the like to our water infrastructure. Developable land is more valuable than land kept in its natural space. By selling this land, they can keep your water bill low. There's the trade-off. You don't have to pay as much upfront for infrastructure. Unfortunately, the policy is not sustainable over two or three more generations. A keen observer told me just today that our water bill is too low and does not reflect the real value of our scarce water and the infrastructure that provides it to us.

If we don't develop the land and keep it public natural open space, how much will that raise our monthly water bill? Probably not that much. As far as I know no one has done the math and perhaps an independent consultant could help but certainly not the financial people at EPWU or any friendly "independent" consultant they might find. Just imagine how expensive water and the infrastructure will be one day when water and land are considerably scarcer. Your grand-children may thank you for taking responsibility now.

Besides, selling the land in the Northwest (Westside) Master Plan for development destroys the last remaining scenic corridor in El Paso: our Trans Mountain corridor. Here are the plans:

Click to enlarge

You can see the entire Master Plan here.

The map above is good because it shows you the area of land that we are talking about. You can see gas line road (El Paso Natural Gas Co. Row) to the left of the red box. To the upper right of the box is a gray line that represents the park entrance. The dotted line inside the box is Paseo del Norte. Now here is the proposed layout of land for development. Get ready to scream:

Click to enlarge

Do enlarge the map and see what is planned for commercial, residential, office, apartments, etc.

Here are two things you should know:

• City Council makes the final decision about zoning - not the PSB and not Ed Archuleta. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
• The zoning on the color map above is just a plan - that land is now zoned PMD or R-3. Zoning commercial or anything else for development is not inevitable.

If the area is to be kept as scenic natural space, it should all be rezoned NOS - Natural Open Space. That is why you should Sign the Petition.

More later. This is a big subject and there are plenty of documents and pictures to share.

Walking on Air

Imagine sitting in a comfortable and magic chair that flies. You take the chair up and down beautiful arroyos and alluvial fans. You dance above stalks of sotol, limestone and rhyolite. You see trails you've been on and follow them to places you've never been. You see places your heart will always remember and where you are sure to return - on foot - on a hiking adventure good for soul and for sinew.

I sat in such a chair today. It was a seat in Stanley Jobe's yellow helicopter. He took me for a ride around the Franklins from Scenic Drive to Trans Mountain to Hitt Canyon to Hondo Pass over McKelligon Canyon to Cristo Rey and back to the airport. He piloted his craft all along the mountainside west and east and up and down arroyos. I now have a dozen or more hikes that I must take and some old hikes in order to look for new things.

He talked about the beauty of the mountain . . . his love for hiking and his hiking adventures . . . his deep appreciation of Mr. Bowen whose stewardship of the land that he leases for ranching has kept that land so pristine and so good for wildlife. He talked about mining in the Franklins and he seemed to know much about old prospectors and broken dreams.

I'm glad that I made the trip. Mr. Jobe's company gave some money to the West Texas Urban Forestry Council. As President of that organization this year, I thanked him and then came an invitation to ride in the magical chair. I told him that it reminded me of those dreams one has of flying when one is fast asleep and marvelous odysseys unfold timelessly before the eyes of the soul to see. After we landed, I thought that our whole trip had been less than thirty minutes. In reality we were gone for over an hour. One loses track of time while gazing on beauty - especially that which we have so much of in our Franklin Mountains.

It was good to get to know Mr. Jobe if even just a little and it was good to talk - guy talk. We didn't solve the problems of the world and wouldn't have wanted to waste our time that way. I'm increasingly realizing that finding shared values is the best way to go. "Environmentalism" and "business" doesn't have to be an us versus them. We may learn that we all love trees and mountains, and value the vast desert vista. Life is give and take - not just between folks but between us humans and the rest of creation. May we each and all together learn to be better stewards and better friends to each other and to the wonderful world which we share with so many fellow creatures.

Flow Control Passes City Council

It was Representative Beto O'Rourke who asked the decisive question. After well articulating the pros and cons to go with Flow Control or maintain the status quo with Waste Connections and the Camino Real Landfill, he asked Environmental Services Department Director, Ellen Smyth, "Can El Paso do flow control?" "Are we ready, do we have the resources, the expertise, the wherewithal?" Ms. Smyth answered: "Can do." She said that we have the resources, the expertise, the wherewithal.

And so, by a 6-2 vote (Robinson and Lilly dissented), City Council embarked the City on course that some believe to be an $18 million crap shoot. Others, though, feel that by taking responsibility for its own waste, El Paso will set course to a more sustainable future of reducing, recycling, reusing and composting.

El Paso is also taking responsibility for its own waste rather than dumping the problem (sorry to say the pun is intended) on its poorer neighbors in Sunland Park who have for years protested against the Camino Real Landfill saying that it is the cause of illnesses (including a greater cancer incidence among the population) and toxic water pollution.

Retired attorney Taylor Moore, a Sunland Park resident and member of the Sunland Park Grassroots Environmental Group, articulated the dangers of putting on top of the water table a landfill where industrial wastes are still buried and deadlier toxic wastes in the past were once taken in the dark of night. He spoke about the water table flowing to the Rio Grande was being compromised and that water from the Rio Grande is pumped from the Canal Street station to Sunset Heights to Brown and beyond to the entire city.

EPWU official, John Balliew, refuted Mr. Moore's claims when he said that particulates found in water tested upstream at Borderland, Canutillo and Vinton were consistent with what was present in the water tested at the Canal station. However, the question for Mr. Balliew is "Who does the testing? An independent?"

After a summary of Waste Connections proposals by Lee Wilson and a convoluted speech by Representative Robinson, the Council voted in favor of Representative Byrd's motion (and Quintana's second) to commit to flow control as outlined in the enabling ordinance without a deal with Waste Connections.

As Robert Ardovino said: "Responsibility is promoting sustainability." El Paso has decided to become sustainable - at least with waste if not with water and sprawl and building ugly freeways on a beautiful mountain corridor.

El Paso City Council, Waste Management and Environmental Justice

Last Tuesday, the El Paso City Council voted to turn down a contract with Waste Connections, Inc. which owns the Sunland Park, NM landfill and direct City attorneys to rewrite the ordinance to direct commercial garbage to city landfills. Tomorrow that amendment will be introduced to Council and Council will consider spending $18.5 million to re-open the McCombs landfill.

Recently I read an op-ed piece in the Albuquerque Journal by Nat Stone. Nat is an "unaffiliated" researcher who documents water contamination and control issues throughout the Rio Grande Basin. He lives in Zuni, New Mexico which is just outside of Gallup along I-40. That piece Does Waste Come Before Water in State's Priorities? discusses the possible pollution of the water table from the Sunland Park landfill. He mentions the grave concerns of the Sunland Park Grassroots Environmental Group, the disposal of toxic Phelps Dodge wastes at the landfill, and the realities of life near the landfill that result in illnesses and suffering.

Stone reports that amazingly NMED (New Mexico Environmental Department) has said that the landfill does not sit above the Mesilla Bolson, one of the two major aquifers supplying El Pasoans, when it does. He asks, "Should we bury our waste with our water?"

Stone sent me this op-ed piece to be published on the day before City Council meets to hear the introduction of a complete revision of the solid waste ordinance:

Flow Control

Obliged to affordably remove the collective waste of its 700,000 residents, the City of El Paso has rejected a private landfill’s discounted contract offer and moved toward burial of all city waste in city-owned landfills.

Formal adoption of this “flow control” ordinance would conclude a two-decade chapter of Sunland Park history, whose 14,000 residents have repeatedly protested a New Mexico permit for a California corporation to dump nonhazardous waste – 90% from El Paso – in their community. Forced by a succession of permits to “host” El Paso’s refuse, Sunland Park residents have warned that the site, where hazardous waste was illegally dumped, lies above the Mesilla Bolson, a key water source for the 2,000,000 residents of the greater El Paso region.

Opponents object not only to the location of the landfill, but also to a pattern of contamination in Sunland Park that magnifies health risks, stunts economic potential, and bruises pride. Over nearly a century, emissions from a nearby copper smelter rendered Sunland Park the most lead-contaminated community in New Mexico. The smelter then illegally incinerated hazardous waste from military weapons manufacturers.

Also burned were human body parts and other medical waste sent to the landfill’s medical waste incinerator, later closed in the wake of community protests.

Support for flow control gained traction in El Paso in 2008 after the landfill, anticipating a ten-year permit renewal from New Mexico Environment Department, was instead issued a 1-year permit that implied the possibility of subsequent closure. Reopened by a series of legal volleys, the case remains undecided by NMED.

Meanwhile, ever less certain of the Sunland Park option, and increasingly intrigued by the potential environmental and economic benefits of a strengthened recycling market, El Paso City Council now seeks to manage the liability of its own waste.

Having paid millions of dollars annually for an out-of-state corporation effectively to bury El Paso’s waste over the City’s own water supply, the City Council tomorrow will vote on an antidote to that failing plan. Flow control would keep those millions in El Paso, direct waste to City-owned landfills that do not threaten groundwater, and promote recycling and its offsetting revenues to fill those sites as slowly as possible.

Here also is Stone's video about the landfill:

City Staff Says Paseo del Norte Must Be Built

I have learned that City staff would still recommend the overpass at Paso del Norte even if the City owned land (YOUR land) isn’t developed. Mr. Esparza of TxDOT contradicted that in answering a question yesterday after the Open Space Advisory Board was adjourned supposedly for lack of quorum. He said that, if the land is not developed, the project would have to be remodeled. Chuck Berry has seemed to confirm that by saying that they have to let project by December. Since the Paseo del Norte overpass is in the design, any changes to the design would delay the project. Berry's tact is a bit coercive - but coercive enough to make some on Council believe that they have no choice and El Pasoans are stuck with the overpass.

Mr. Esparza and Mr. Uribe from TxDOT were to give a presentation on the Trans Mountain project to the Open Space Advisory Board yesterday at a regularly scheduled board meeting. There was supposedly not a quorum so their presentation has been re-scheduled for next Wednesday at 2 p.m.

(Staff informed Chairman Wakeem that a quorum consists of 5 people. However Mr. Wakeem learned differently and sent this message:

"Yesterday was the first OSAB meeting that adjourned early due to a lack of having a quorum. I reread the OSAB enabling ordinance and found that we have been misinformed. Section 2.22.030 Paragraph B states: "A quorum of the Open Space Advisory Board shall be a majority of the total number of the board members who have been appointed by city council at the time of the board meeting; provided however that a quorum shall not be less than three." (See attachment) We've been told that it takes five to make a quorum no matter how many vacancies there are.

I blame myself for not paying attention to this ordinance more carefully and trusting the "experts" to provide us accurate interpretations of the ordinances and statutes. Since the mayor's appointment is vacant and there may be at least one more vacancy due to excessive consecutive absences, we did not need the five present to conduct a board meeting as we have been told."

Staff's opinion was mistaken but I don't think it was more than that. I only wish that certain members of Council would have the humility to have more respect for the people whom they serve and, so, take their responsibility of appointment more seriously.)

Nevertheless, here is the TxDOT presentation:

Loop 375 Trans Mountain West OSAB

You can get a good idea of the overpass construction, frontage roads, connection with I10, proposed landscaping, and the encroachment on the hills east of Pipe Line Road.

Again, Mr. Esparza did concede that, if the public land is rezoned Natural Open Space, then there is no need to do anything with Paseo del Norte. He said that the plan would have to be "remodeled". It is this remodeling that could hold up the project according to Mr. Berry and that is the coercion that seems to be enough to compel staff and Council to go along.

I have never seen such road construction do anything but encourage development. Should the overpass be built, expect Council members to wring their hands and say that they must make the best of a bad situation and allow development on the foothills of the Franklin Mountains abutting the Franklin Mountains State Park along a scenic corridor known as Trans Mountain.

Do not think for a moment that this is a decision to be made by TxDOT, the PSB or anyone but City Council. zoning designation in the City owned property including PMD and MDA overlay is totally controlled by City Council. The PSB must get approval for any zoning changes, land studies, master plans, or land sales from City Council. The Attorney General of Texas has ruled that PSBs are only managers of their city's property. Even if they purchase or sign land contracts they do so only as an agent of the municipality they serve.

Texas State Senator Tati Santieseban successfully fought this battle with El Paso's PSB years ago when he set aside City owned PSB managed property for the Franklin Mountains State Park. To the benefit of everyone he won.

Now we all realize what a great asset the Park is. That was an important fight to win!!

Trans Mountain Road is equally valuable and unique. Now it's this Councils turn to lead and make a decision to create a beautiful scenic area or condemn a future City Council' to a "no win" scenario.

Trust me on this: Ed Archuleta and friends are lobbying hard in the background and Mayor Cook will keep telling Council that they must talk to Mr. Archuleta before they do anything. My advice is for Council to give Archuleta his marching orders even if that means giving him his packing orders.

There's more to this. It has to do with trip counts. Stay tuned.

A Greater Threat Than Any Quarry

When it appeared that Avispa Quarry would swallow a portion of FEMA 41A, the arroyo long designated as the mountain to river corridor, there was an outcry not just from environmental groups but all those who desire to preserve the natural beauty of the Franklin Mountains. The Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition began an information campaign and promoted a petition. The issue was finally resolved and quieted when Stanley Jobe worked with the GLO to grant an easement to the PSB that would preserve the arroyo as it passes through the land that Mr. Jobe had leased for mining. It appears now that the Jobe quarry was a far smaller threat than what is being proposed by TxDOT and quietly promulgated by Ed Archuleta, the President and CEO of the El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board.

On Tuesday, the City Council agreed to an $80 million TxDOT plan to convert a portion of Trans Mountain Road into a freeway that would include 4 overpasses. For the El Paso Times story, go here. Also, check out the excellent slide show presentation given to Council by Open Space Advisory Board chairman, Charlie Wakeem. I will refer to certain slides in this post.

Transmountain - Wakeem

As slide 3 shows, the first 1.5 miles of land from I-10 going east on Trans Mountain is privately owned. Those landowners have vested rights and can develop under the ordinances in place when they applied to develop. However the land also had a mountain development area overlay which allowed some concessions for developing this area. These concessions mean that land must be re-vegetated, well landscaped and there must be a hike and bike trail that matches the Pat O'Rourke Trail along Resler. Although TxDOT does not have to follow those conditions, I have learned that Chuck Berry of TxDOT has pledged that he will.

But here is where the real concern is: beyond that first stretch of 1.5 miles is another stretch of 1.7 miles most of which falls east of the gas line road. Mr. Wakeem pointed out that the gas company picked a good place for the road as it navigates flat land for the most part. It is beyond that point that we come to beautiful foothills on PSB land below the Franklin Mountains State Park. Also just beyond the gas line road to the east is Paseo del Norte - a "line" that could become a major thoroughfare with a freeway overpass built where it intersects with Trans Mountain as part of the $80 million project.

Take a look at Charlie's slide 8. It looks east along Trans Mountain and he has identified where gas line road is. Note the lovely hills just beyond that. Now imagine plenty of residential areas and some commercial all lining the Paseo del Norte thoroughfare serviced by a 24 to 28 foot freeway overpass. Say goodbye to the beautiful Franklin Mountains. Now, when people enjoy the view from the Upper Sunset Trail or Mundy's Gap, they will look down on rooftops and concrete and asphalt and interchanges and more. It's all part of the Northwest Master Plan (See slide 4) and the Archuleta plan to make more money for the utility (to buy more water outside of El Paso because it won't be that many more decades when we will have to find more water because we are encouraging unsustainable sprawl and destroying our natural mountainside in the process.)

To prevent the PSB plan from going further, City Council Representative Steve Ortega proposed on Tuesday that the entire PSB area beyond gas line road be rezoned NOS - Natural Open Space. That immediately got the reaction from Ed's buddy, Mayor John Cook, that they would have to run that by the PSB first. Really? What about the Open Space Advisory Board? What about CPC? What about the fact that the decision is really City Council's. Ever hear of the tail wagging the dog?

But here are the real rubs: Nothing has ever been zoned NOS and Ed Archuleta has always opposed a Natural Open Space zoning designation. There is no bigger threat to his plans. I have learned that already some on Council are backing off the idea of rezoning the PSB land NOS. If that is the case, why are OSAB members wasting their time reviewing this matter per their charge to do so under ordinance, when it appears that members of Council will capitulate anyway?

Note that the proposal for a freeway never came before OSAB in the first place even though its enabling ordinance clearly states that it has purview over all MDA cases. In addition, one wonders how well this TxDOT freewau would fit into the overall plan that is being developed by the one of the best consulting firms in the country, Dover Kohl: Plan El Paso. A presentation by Representative Byrd revealed that she understands modern traffic planning. However, others didn't quite seem to get it. But let's keep spending big bucks for excellent consultants and just not do what they suggest. I can hear it now when Dover Kohl comes back with their plan - "Oh had we only known this before the freeway vote!"

I sincerely hope that a line will be drawn in the sand - Gas Line Road and nothing beyond it that is public land can ever be developed which means there is no need for an overpass at Paseo del Norte. Besides, imagine how much traffic will be generated if the Berry/Archuleta scheme goes forward. Also consider that fact that, before the $80 million, there was no need for doing anything at Paseo del Norte. Suddenly under the new plan, something must be done; after all, we have $80 million to spend.

It would be good for the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition to muster its forces again and launch another campaign to save the mountains. After all, a bigger threat than the Avispa quarry is before us now. A threat, by the way, that will soon be duplicated by the powers to be on Castner Range - count on it.

Free Movies at McKelligon Canyon Amphitheater

Click image to enlarge

Why I Mentioned Archuleta and the PSB

Some have asked why I mentioned Archuleta and the PSB when discussing the zoning change along Trans Mountain.

The back up for council states rezoning a small parcel to C3 from PMD. The only zoned land that's PMD is in the NW Master Plan (PSB). See http://www.elpasotexas.gov/muni_clerk/agenda/08-17-10/08171014B.pdf from Item 14B.

It's the small print and I don't recall this idea being vetted publicly anywhere. It certainly needs to go before the Open Space Advisory Committee before going to City Council. How quickly some in City management forget the enabling ordinance.

Take the $80 Million and Shove It

Subtitle: PSB Land Is OUR Land not Ed Archuleta's Land

Subtitle: It Looks Like and Smells Like a Closed Door Berry-Archuleta Meeting (Sub-sub title: More of that great transparency we keep hearing about.)

Here's the email going around:

Subject: URGENT ALERT - PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE on Monday – FLASH – Critical Decision Pending - FORWARD THIS TO OTHERS

PLEASE - Make at least ONE CALL on Monday and ask your City Council Representative to vote NO (AGAINST) allowing commercial zoning along Transmountain Drive from I-10 to the Franklin Mountains State Park entrance (west side of El Paso). This is a 100 million dollar tax give-away including four overpasses to allow roads and development into the remaining natural setting of the Franklin Mountains adjoining our beloved State Park.

See items 14A and B on Tuesday AGENDA (postponed from 8-10-10) that begin: ...to initiate amendments to zoning conditions placed on properties
abutting Loop 375/Trans-Mountain Road located
between Highway 54 and Interstate 10..."

[although reps voted against this earlier this month it was postponed to this coming TUES for ANOTHER VOTE . If this zoning goes through this week, then that entire transmountain road from I10 to the state park entrance will have access roads, bridges and cross-roads to allow several housing developments and other commercial enterprises access through the remaining natural land.]

For more background see the items on the City Council Agenda for tomorrow. Also, here's the El Paso Times Saturday editorial chastising the City Council for not voting to rezone 4 miles of land along Trans Mountain as commercial.

Revise Subtitle: It Looks Like and Smells Like a Closed Door Berry-Archuleta and El Paso Times Editorial Board Meeting

Here are the facts: the land south of Trans Mountain and east of I-10 is zoned commercial. North is residential. (Can't change what is private property zoning.) PSB land as part of the Master Plan is proposed to be zoned commercial although it was Planned Mountain Development - the toughest zoning. Archuleta would like nothing more than to sell that land as commercial to get a higher rate for the utility. To do this the MDA overlay must be changed. (Don't change it, Council.) Note to Archuleta: That land is OUR land and we want to preserve the beautiful NATURAL SPACE. So, re-zone but re-zone as NOS - Natural Open Space. Afterall, (and here is the kicker, folks), 500 feet on either side of Trans Mountain is Mountain Development Area. This also means that, before anything can happen, it needs to be reviewed by the Open Space Advisory Board and others and then go to City Council. (Top staff seems to have missed this one which, as we know, is not exceptional.)

Finally, so what if TxDOT and Chuck Berry have come up with $80 million all of a sudden. Go spend it somewhere else - perhaps on deliberately and immorally over appraised land at Loop 375 and I-10. Besides, in all of those public input meetings (you know meetings where they are supposed to have heard the public) TxDOT never spoke about a high rise freeway from I-10 past the entrance to the State Park. If they want another idea for their $80, build underpasses INCLUDING animal corridors - something they said that they didn't have money for.

Finally, I think I'll file one of those Open Records requests that asks for Archuleta's calendar when he met with Chuck Berry and vice versa and requests any notes, emails or whatever that came out of that meeting.

It's OUR land. Have I said that enough? Perhaps we all need to start saying it more frequently.

So, yeah, call/email - go visit your City Representatives and the Mayor. Tell them to vote for NOS zoning for your public P (as in PUBLIC) SB land and tell Ed to take a hike - one in the Franklin Mountains State Park might do him a world of good. Where it is private property with commercial zoning (even if once PMD) and vested rights, there is nothing that can be done now except get a trade-off: no signs, plenty of trails that connect with open space, protect the scenery, landscape as nicely as the Pat O'Rourke Trail, etc., etc. This can be done. Make the best of this situation.

El Paso City Council Directory

Mayor of El Paso, John Cook
Phone: 915-541-4145
mayor@elpasotexas.gov

District 1 Representative - Ann Morgan Lilly
Phone: 915-541-4151
district1@elpasotexas.gov

District 2 Representative - Susie Byrd
Phone: 915-541-4416
district2@elpasotexas.gov

District 3 Representative – Emma Acosta
Phone: 915-541-4515
district3@elpasotexas.gov

District 4 Representative – Carl Robinson
Phone: 915-541-4140
district4@elpasotexas.gov

District 5 Representative - Rachel Quintana
Phone: 915-541-4701
district5@elpasotexas.gov

District 6 Representative - Eddie Holguin Jr
Phone: 915-541-4182
district6@elpasotexas.gov

District 7 Representative - Steve Ortega
Phone: 915-541-4108
district7@elpasotexas.gov

District 8 Representative - Beto O'Rourke
Phone: 915-541-4123
district8@elpasotexas.gov

P.S. It's good to be back. What a storm to fly into on the way back to Elpasonaturally.

Save This Date for Chihuahuan Desert Conferece

Click on poster to enlarge