Mr. Mayor, Tear Down that Barrier to City Hall

In my last post, More Than Just One Tree, I explained that Tree-gate is more about the lack of openness and transparency in our city government and the cavalier way that many city departments disregard policies and procedures.

Have you been to the new City Hall since the 2013 elections? We supposedly elected a whole new group that was going to bring more openness and transparency to city government. If you have been to the new City Hall over the past year or so, you will know that it is not easy to visit with the Mayor, your Representative or anyone else. You must first sign-in. A guard/receptionist asks for your destination and they call to confirm that you have an appointment. You then must pass through a metal detector - something that was only required for City Council meetings in the now demolished City building. 

Not long ago I had a meeting with the Mayor at his invitation. Although I made it through gestapo-gate, I was detained downstairs and not allowed to go to the Mayor's waiting area on the 2nd floor until I was summoned. 

On another occasion I went to another city building to get something from a friend who works there. I was confronted by one of El Paso's finest (really?) and had to explain where I was going and why I came through a door supposedly for city officials only. 

None of the check-in procedures represent good customer service or openness. 

I have never been to Mayor Leeser's Hyundai dealership but something tells me that there is not the check-point with the guards that clear you before you can gain entry to see a salesperson.

Not only is the El Paso government our government - they serve us and we don't serve them - we are their customers.

Here's a modest proposal: Move the Mayor and City Representatives and the graduate of the Tricky Dick Nixon School of Government, our City Manager, to offices downstairs, each office having a large glass window. Now that would be openness and transparency. The bunch who got elected because the previous city government and staff were supposedly so secret wouldn't be able to hide behind check-points and intimidating officers. Well - at least not the ones who are accountable enough to be full-time servants available to citizens at all time.

PSB Strategic Planning Meeting

I wasn't able to make today's meeting - the first time not to do so in several years. A friend took notes for me. I'm expecting the slide show presentation from the EPWU's Public Information Office. I will post it for you and continue discussion next Monday.

After visiting with my friend, three general points can be made:

First, the public was missing! What is the biggest challenge El Paso faces? Water. We are in the most serious drought since 1951 when the City was guided by wiser persons. There were two newspapers back then: the El Paso Times and the El Paso Herald Post. Water was their daily front page story. The public positively responded to the creation of an independent water utility. 

But today? The public remains uninformed about the seriousness of the water issue. Besides the Consumer or Citizen Advocacy seat on the Board (now held by Chris Antcliff), the key player to be there for the people is the Mayor. Mayor Leeser was absent.

The second point is that, in spite of the public's disinterest in what the PSB/EPWU does, the PSB/EPWU is strategically planning ahead. I'm not going to go into all of the presentation now. However, it was clear that, under John Balliew, our water utility is making very wise choices. But don't think that you shouldn't be involved. As a first suggestion, ask your City Rep to have all building and landscaping codes reviewed and updated with the conservation of water in mind. Also, let's get a Charter Amendment that takes the fate of the PSB/EPWU out of the hands of City Council.

Finally, all of us in the conservation community need to begin doing a better job of educating the public, our city government and our business community. We've been preaching to the choir too long.