John Sproul, the Manager of the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, is upbeat in the latest (January 2014) "Rio Bosque News". About winter water, Sproul reports:
"At Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, the wet season is here. Water is flowing the length of the old river channel in the park. The wetland areas are flooded. Over 2,500 waterfowl are present. It's a great time to visit Rio Bosque!
"On Nov 3, ElPaso Water Utilities (EPWU) began discharging treated water from the Roberto Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Riverside Drain, through which El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1 (El Paso No. 1) delivers it to the park. Then, on Nov 19, El Paso No. 1 opened the new turnout on the Riverside Canal, sending water fro the first time directly from the canal to the park. Thanks go to El Paso No. 1 and EPWU for making water from these sources available.
"Once the 2014 irrigation season begins, these flows will end; the park will again be largely dry. But as the year progresses, that could change. The new turnout is performing well. If we identify water rights holders willing to assign irrigation water to the park, the turnout makes delivery of that water possible. Also at its Nov 13 meeting, El Paso's Public Service Board gave EPWU the go-ahead to put the planned pipeline from the Bustamante Plan to the park out for bid. Once built, the pipeline will enable water deliveries to the park year-round."
To read all of the newsletter, go HERE. You will find information about events and volunteer opportunities at the park and how you can join and contribute to the Friends of the Rio Bosque.
One hopes that the news will continue to be rosy. There are some concerns:
One week until the next PSB meeting and there is still no bid out for the pipeline from the Bustamante plant to the Bosque. This means that PSB action may not come until February or March and construction 3 months after that. This could mean no water until August. Is there a backdoor deal between EPWU and El Paso No. 1 to stall construction until after the coming irrigation season in order for the El Paso No. 1 to continue to get the extra effluent this year as the drought continues - free of charge, of course.
The current TCEQ permit for the Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant expires in September of this year. Will the renewal contain the third outflow as needed for watering the Bosque?
"The proof is in the pudding." That's what I said to EPWU CEO John Balliew after the last PSB meeting. Let's hope that Mr. Sproul continues to get good news. A healthy, greening, wildlife abundant Bosque is good for our environment, our health and our economy.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Romero Lone Vote for Predators
Although usually quiet at Council proceedings, Rep. Larry Romero today, in effect, supported payday predatory lenders.
By a vote of 6-1 Council voted to support the ordinance passed last year and let it go into effect on January 16th.
The payday lending scheme that victimizes so many families in financial crisis has been in the news recently also because of the CRRMA's contracting with the North Texas Tollway Authority which uses ACE, a payday lender. (elpasonaturally blog post HERE.) Disgust has been voiced with our regional mobility authority for a plan that will introduce some of El Paso's most vulnerable citizens to loans of up to 533% per annum. At today's Council meeting Lisa Turner, the Conscience of El Paso, criticized CRRMA's contract that allows a payday lender to collect tolls for the newly completed Border Highway.
The issue has even spilled over into the Texas gubernatorial race. Senator Wendy Davis, the likely Democratic candidate, laid blame on Greg Abbott, the likely Republican candidate.
*BTW, does Rep. Romero still live in District 2 as he has not resided with his wife at 2630 Savannah Avenue for most of his term now. Can the Municipal Clerk certify that he is a resident of District 2?
**Also BTW, if you can't attend City Council or watch it on digital television (there is no other way to watch it), then I highly recommend that you follow Karla's tweets HERE.
Monday, January 6, 2014
No CRRMA Meeting on Wednesday
The Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority will not meet this Wednesday, January 8, in spite of the fact that they publicly advertise a schedule of their regular meeting dates. (Their web site flashes in red that they meet the second Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m. on the 1st Floor of City Hall.)
The word is out that they may meet on Wednesday, January 22nd, or wait until their next "regularly" scheduled meeting date which is February 12th. elpasonaturally will keep an eye on this and let you know in plenty of time so that you can attend and speak out regarding their use of a predatory lender to collect toll tags paid in cash by those without credit cards - the perfect victims for predatory lenders.
By law, the CRRMA must give 72 hours of advanced notice prior to a meeting.
The Huffington Post may be listening to elpasonaturally because they devoted a story about the El Paso situation. I posted a link to it on Facebook, but go HERE to read it.
Tomorrow, at its regularly scheduled meeting, the El Paso City Council will review a delayed ordinance which would "regulate" payday predators such as the business contracted to do the work for the CRRMA. The current Council delayed the beginning that ordinance would take effect to January 16th. The ordinance had been introduced by progressive, Susie, Byrd, during her last term on Council. The current and more reactionary, recidivist Council (and atavistic judging from their behavior) may decide to rescind the ordinance. They can and hopefully will allow it to take effect on the 16th. The El Paso Times story is HERE. Read yesterday's editorial board piece urging Council to affirm the payday loan rules already passed. Also read today's excellent guest editorial by Larry Garcia. Garcia well chronicles the advantage taken of families in financial crisis.
So, while we wait for the CRRMA to meet again, we can do better than reading their canned responses to the public. Let's enjoy instead a dramatic reading of the immortal poem, The Spider and the Fly:
The word is out that they may meet on Wednesday, January 22nd, or wait until their next "regularly" scheduled meeting date which is February 12th. elpasonaturally will keep an eye on this and let you know in plenty of time so that you can attend and speak out regarding their use of a predatory lender to collect toll tags paid in cash by those without credit cards - the perfect victims for predatory lenders.
By law, the CRRMA must give 72 hours of advanced notice prior to a meeting.
The Huffington Post may be listening to elpasonaturally because they devoted a story about the El Paso situation. I posted a link to it on Facebook, but go HERE to read it.
Tomorrow, at its regularly scheduled meeting, the El Paso City Council will review a delayed ordinance which would "regulate" payday predators such as the business contracted to do the work for the CRRMA. The current Council delayed the beginning that ordinance would take effect to January 16th. The ordinance had been introduced by progressive, Susie, Byrd, during her last term on Council. The current and more reactionary, recidivist Council (and atavistic judging from their behavior) may decide to rescind the ordinance. They can and hopefully will allow it to take effect on the 16th. The El Paso Times story is HERE. Read yesterday's editorial board piece urging Council to affirm the payday loan rules already passed. Also read today's excellent guest editorial by Larry Garcia. Garcia well chronicles the advantage taken of families in financial crisis.
So, while we wait for the CRRMA to meet again, we can do better than reading their canned responses to the public. Let's enjoy instead a dramatic reading of the immortal poem, The Spider and the Fly:
Friday, January 3, 2014
The Friday Video: 365 Grateful
This video was published on September 12, 2012. I first saw it New Year's morning when Upworthy posted it on Facebook. The video is by Aussie Hailey Bartholomew. See her 365grateful.com and her page on Flickr. Although the video shows her using a Polaroid (I have one of those stashed in a drawer some place around here), Upworthy introduces the video with this title: "You Take Zillions Of Photos With Your Cellphone ... Why Not Try Something New With Them?"
You know, if each of us does no more than finds one thing to be grateful about each day of the year, I bet a lot of sustaining and conserving and preserving would get done.
The video:
365grateful.com from hailey bartholomew on Vimeo.
You know, if each of us does no more than finds one thing to be grateful about each day of the year, I bet a lot of sustaining and conserving and preserving would get done.
The video:
365grateful.com from hailey bartholomew on Vimeo.
CRRMA Issues Canned Response
As many of you are now discovering and telling me, the Board members of the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority (CRRMA) are responding to your email concerns about their relationship with a predatory lender with a canned response. Here it is and you will recognize it:
"Thank you for your email and your feedback – I intend to put the issue of how the tags are distributed and tolls are paid on our January Agenda and we will discuss and make any changes at that time. We have been discussing the possibility of other physical locations to process tags or accept payments and I hope to have an update at that meeting as well –
"Since our inception in 2007 we have been involved in over 400 Million dollars of regional projects and our board has always worked and will continue to work to make the best decisions for the region -
"Below is a bit of information on the CRRMA and our relationship with the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA)–
"The CRRMA is a small, relatively young organization that is opening its first toll facility on January 8th– the Cesar Chavez Express Toll Lanes, which consists of a nine-mile, managed lane in each direction on El Paso’s Loop 375. While developing this project, we looked to partner with a tolling agency in Texas to provide back office services (essentially, the toll processing and collection services associated with transponder transactions). In the end, we partnered with the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) - a tolling entity with over 850 miles of toll lanes in the DFW area, processing over 1,400,000 transactions a day. This partnership simply means that the NTTA will process only those transactions occurring on the express toll lanes that arise from the use of a transponder (i.e. TollTag).
"We asked the NTTA to provide online, mobile app, phone and cash alternatives for El Paso transponder users. The NTTA has an existing relationship with ACE in DFW, which provides a cash payment option. So, in order for El Paso users to be able to pay cash for transponder transactions in El Paso (as opposed to payments online, by phone or mail), ACE was the only option available to us – just as it is for users in DFW. The CRRMA does not have a direct partnership with ACE – rather, ACE will be providing these services through their relationship with NTTA, but only as they relate to transponder transactions paid in person with cash.
"You can find more information about the various alternatives at www.epexpress.org -
"Thank you again for your email and your feedback – I do appreciate you taking the time to provide your comments."
To be fair, they may be receiving quite a few emails regarding their policy to sell toll tags through a predatory lender. However, it shows that, as a Board, they are circling the wagons.
It is true that they did not directly contract with the predatory lender. They contracted with the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) which contracts with the lender. That, however, is no excuse. The CRRMA's actions still result in people who are (for whatever reason) vulnerable financially. Would these same Board members send people into the clutches of a human trafficker (read slaver) or a crack cocaine or meth dealer? Of course not. Yet, morally, there is little difference.
Their canned response says that the predatory lender "was the only option available" to them so that those who pay only with cash can purchase the tags. This just isn't true. In the City of El Paso there are a number of supermarkets, convenience stores, dollar discount stores, etc. that take cash!
Although there is no published agenda for next Wednesday's meeting, the canned response does read: "I intend to put the issue of how the tags are distributed and tolls are paid on our January Agenda and we will discuss and make any changes at that time." (I guess each board member intends to put the matter on the agenda.) It will be good for many of us to be there next Wednesday morning, to speak to that agenda item and to hold their feet to the fire. Information about that meeting can be found HERE.
In the meantime, boycott the purple lanes:
Also, know that the El Paso City Council will revisit its ordinance limiting predatory lenders this coming Tuesday, January 7, 2014. It is Item #5 on the Regular Agenda. Know that the CRRMA is a BOARD of the City of El Paso created by an ordinance passed by City Council. They are no different than the Open Space Advisory Board or the Parks and Recreation Board. They are a Board appointed by your City Council. You may want to address City Council on the subject of predatory lenders during the discussion of Item #5.
One last suggestion, if you have received the canned response or get one eventually, reply by sending an email with a link to this post.
If you want to contact a CRRMA Board member, go HERE.
"Thank you for your email and your feedback – I intend to put the issue of how the tags are distributed and tolls are paid on our January Agenda and we will discuss and make any changes at that time. We have been discussing the possibility of other physical locations to process tags or accept payments and I hope to have an update at that meeting as well –
"Since our inception in 2007 we have been involved in over 400 Million dollars of regional projects and our board has always worked and will continue to work to make the best decisions for the region -
"Below is a bit of information on the CRRMA and our relationship with the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA)–
"The CRRMA is a small, relatively young organization that is opening its first toll facility on January 8th– the Cesar Chavez Express Toll Lanes, which consists of a nine-mile, managed lane in each direction on El Paso’s Loop 375. While developing this project, we looked to partner with a tolling agency in Texas to provide back office services (essentially, the toll processing and collection services associated with transponder transactions). In the end, we partnered with the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) - a tolling entity with over 850 miles of toll lanes in the DFW area, processing over 1,400,000 transactions a day. This partnership simply means that the NTTA will process only those transactions occurring on the express toll lanes that arise from the use of a transponder (i.e. TollTag).
"We asked the NTTA to provide online, mobile app, phone and cash alternatives for El Paso transponder users. The NTTA has an existing relationship with ACE in DFW, which provides a cash payment option. So, in order for El Paso users to be able to pay cash for transponder transactions in El Paso (as opposed to payments online, by phone or mail), ACE was the only option available to us – just as it is for users in DFW. The CRRMA does not have a direct partnership with ACE – rather, ACE will be providing these services through their relationship with NTTA, but only as they relate to transponder transactions paid in person with cash.
"You can find more information about the various alternatives at www.epexpress.org -
"Thank you again for your email and your feedback – I do appreciate you taking the time to provide your comments."
To be fair, they may be receiving quite a few emails regarding their policy to sell toll tags through a predatory lender. However, it shows that, as a Board, they are circling the wagons.
It is true that they did not directly contract with the predatory lender. They contracted with the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) which contracts with the lender. That, however, is no excuse. The CRRMA's actions still result in people who are (for whatever reason) vulnerable financially. Would these same Board members send people into the clutches of a human trafficker (read slaver) or a crack cocaine or meth dealer? Of course not. Yet, morally, there is little difference.
Their canned response says that the predatory lender "was the only option available" to them so that those who pay only with cash can purchase the tags. This just isn't true. In the City of El Paso there are a number of supermarkets, convenience stores, dollar discount stores, etc. that take cash!
Although there is no published agenda for next Wednesday's meeting, the canned response does read: "I intend to put the issue of how the tags are distributed and tolls are paid on our January Agenda and we will discuss and make any changes at that time." (I guess each board member intends to put the matter on the agenda.) It will be good for many of us to be there next Wednesday morning, to speak to that agenda item and to hold their feet to the fire. Information about that meeting can be found HERE.
In the meantime, boycott the purple lanes:
Click on image to enlarge.
Also, know that the El Paso City Council will revisit its ordinance limiting predatory lenders this coming Tuesday, January 7, 2014. It is Item #5 on the Regular Agenda. Know that the CRRMA is a BOARD of the City of El Paso created by an ordinance passed by City Council. They are no different than the Open Space Advisory Board or the Parks and Recreation Board. They are a Board appointed by your City Council. You may want to address City Council on the subject of predatory lenders during the discussion of Item #5.
One last suggestion, if you have received the canned response or get one eventually, reply by sending an email with a link to this post.
If you want to contact a CRRMA Board member, go HERE.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
We're on Facebook!
The first big news of 2014: We're now on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/elpasonaturally is where you will find us. Please visit the page and "Like" it. The more likes, the better the promotion and the better all of us will be at getting the word out about sustainability and becoming more earth and animal friendly in our daily lives and in our government, organizational and business policies.
Please visit the page often and like and share its posts. Facebook is a powerful tool for dispersing good information about why caring for our land and water and developing new and cleaner energy is better for us today and will provide a brighter future for many, many generations to come. Our alternative based on sustainability is in an uphill struggle with those who base their decisions on cheap real estate, cheap labor, sprawling, and transportation and food systems that are modeled on the rapidly depleting resources of oil and gas. Their way of doing things may stuff the pockets of a few today but will leave more empty homes and mouths tomorrow.
I started elpasonaturally on December 17, 2008. It has evolved since then but the core value of sustainability has remained. I will continue with this blog but am excited by the new Facebook venue.
Please visit www.facebook.com/elpasonaturally. And, again, please "Like" it and keep sharing its posts.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Earth and Animal Friendly Resolutions for 2014
We all know the joke: New Year's Resolutions are our To-Do List for the first week of January. Like many morning dreams, they disappear from our minds quickly. Nevertheless, resolutions can be great values clarification tools. It's helpful to write them down and look at them now and then and see how we are doing. Resolutions should be flexible enough to change as we better judge our time and ability to commit. If we decide that something is a deeply held belief or value, then we should try to live more accordingly while remembering the words from Max Ehrmann's Desiderata: "Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself."
I'm not going to share my list of resolutions, but they really fall under two bold sub-headings:
Also, as you think about your resolutions (and each time that you review them), here are some places with some ideas about resolutions to be more earth and animal friendly and live more sustainably:
Sierra Club's GoGreen 2014
Green Living's Resolutions
Biological Diversity's Resolutions (You'll love the one about Hump Smarter. Be sure to visit endangeredspeciescondoms.com.)
Fair Trade Resolutions
Expect some big changes with elpasonaturally that I hope will be helpful to all of us as we try to live more sustainably. Look for a new venue in the next few days.
You will notice that I have removed the list of blogs and links on this page. Many will be back. But it is time to re-e-value-ate.
Happy New Year!
I'm not going to share my list of resolutions, but they really fall under two bold sub-headings:
- Live a more sustainable, earth-and-animal-friendly life in which I make more things myself and greatly reduce my carbon footprint.
- Live my Quaker faith of simplicity, community, integrity, peace and equality. (I don't have to say "Quaker", because my faith is my faith. I'm responsible not an organization. But I do belong to a community of people who have historically and continuously tried to bear certain values as personal testimonies while working for justice and peace. That witness gives me context for e-value-ating myself.)
Also, as you think about your resolutions (and each time that you review them), here are some places with some ideas about resolutions to be more earth and animal friendly and live more sustainably:
Sierra Club's GoGreen 2014
Green Living's Resolutions
Biological Diversity's Resolutions (You'll love the one about Hump Smarter. Be sure to visit endangeredspeciescondoms.com.)
Fair Trade Resolutions
Expect some big changes with elpasonaturally that I hope will be helpful to all of us as we try to live more sustainably. Look for a new venue in the next few days.
You will notice that I have removed the list of blogs and links on this page. Many will be back. But it is time to re-e-value-ate.
Happy New Year!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
