Where Was Larry Romero?

Photo by Rose Aguilar, El Paso Inc. See other photos and Inc. story HERE.

Yesterday I blogged about the recent meeting between residents of Newman Park and also the historic district of Manhattan Heights with representatives of the El Paso Electric Company regarding a project to place new forty-five foot poles from Wheeling to Frankfort Avenue along Elm Street. (Full disclosure: this is my hood.) EPEC's route along Elm creates the huge risk of tumbling poles during major floods. Elm Street becomes a "river" during downpours. Flooding plus the deterioration of a 1920's sewer line but six inches from the polls threatens to undermine the sub-surface and cause a pole or poles to fall especially since EPEC is planting the poles at 5 feet and not the standard 6.5 feet.

Residents are up against a powerful utility. Often the only hope is to arouse enough public opposition to either cancel or modify a project. Unfortunately, the City Council representative for District 2 is Larry Romero. He declined even to attend the public meeting on August 11, 2015. As heard from a good source, it seems that Larry believes that the matter is a lost cause and doesn't merit his time. Afterall, this part-time representative has a business to run. His predecessor, Susie Byrd, would have been there to support her constituents. Larry doesn't care about the health, safety and welfare of those he serves on city council. 

In another matter, King Larry, without asking for public opinion or consent, had a roundabout removed simply because he doesn't like them. The result - a serious accident at Tumbleweed and Mathias. Read the story HERE. (Thank you, David Crowder of the El Paso Inc.) This is just one more neighborhood in District 2 that is poorly served by this dud of a city representative.


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El Paso Electric Doesn't Care about Historic Districts or the Safety of People

Flood on Elm Street. Arrow points to the new location of a power pole. Insane - right?

El Paso Electric Company doesn't care about historic districts or the safety of people. Here's the story:

The El Paso Electric Company without prior approval from the El Paso Historic Landmark Commission has proceeded to erect new electrical poles from Wheeling Avenue to Frankfort Avenue. These forty-five foot poles are higher than traditional poles, higher also than neighborhood trees. Approval was based on reaching a compromise with the neighborhood associations, particularly the Manhattan Heights Neighborhood Association, an historic district. There was no compromise reached at an August 11, 2015 meeting at the Memorial Park Garden Center.

Members of the historic district as well as Newman Park Neighborhood Association to the north have real concerns about the contruction of the new poles. It's not just that they are ugly and that this diminishment of aesthetics reduces home values and the quality of life of the neighborhood. It is also a matter of safety.

Presentation by Engineer, Saul Arriola, showing the dangers
of the project.

The poles are being planted a mere six inches or less from a very old and decaying 1920's vintage sewer line not twelve inches which is the industry standard. Moreover, poles are buried just 5 feet into the ground rather than the standard 6.5 feet. A recent rupture in the sewer line was repaired with a cement patch demonstrating the precarious condition of the pipe line. In addition, Elm Street has traditionally been a stormwater path. If there is a significant rain (as we have this time of the year), Elm Street becomes a river rushing powerfully downhill. The possibility of erosion or a sinkhole caused by flooding or a sewer leak is high and, therefore, the probability of a pole falling down increases. Imagine the danger that has to residents, motorists and first responders. 

View the slide show above.

EPEC seems to be motivated by the cost-factor. They want to do the job as cheaply as possible. They are ignoring what is called "Failure Mode Evaluation and Analysis". What is the severity of the failure? (Electrocution, damage to structures, death) What's the probability of failure? (an old sewer line rupturing and worse a flood) What's the likelihood that failure will go undetected? (the concrete sidewalks mask the impending failure of the sub-surface)

The reason for putting new power lines through any part of the neighborhood is the increased demand caused by more people using central air. (I do cherish my evaporative cooler.) EPEC says that they will evaluate alternative paths in terms of cost. Neighbors will only have their word on it. 

What usually happens? The utility will finish the job that they have begun because afterwards there is little recourse. 

Do read the public comment and view the pictures about this project as well as view the pictures in this document.


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