Your views: Mercado Mayapan impresses visitor

I had the opportunity to spend time at Mercado Mayapan. I am here visiting from Canada and I have to say I was very impressed with the market, the small businesses and the women hard at work.

[citygirl]

Well, John Patrick Anaya, wake up. This 'citizen of the world' bull is a way for the government to strip America of her independence and slowly take away our freedoms. A one-world government is devastating. You and Ouisa need to research before you spew this junk.

[Bull Caca]

How convenient to have a "visitor" from Canada say something positive about Mayapan

[Rey]

Remember Canada is a socialist country so he would like the program. They even have stupid laws that states grounds for termination is speaking english,while doing business, in a french speaking providence and vice versa.

[Get Over It]

Rey wrote:

Remember Canada is a socialist country so he would like the program. They even have stupid laws that states grounds for termination is speaking english,while doing business, in a french speaking providence and vice versa.

Canada is a Constitutional Monarchy. Just because they provide low cost health care for every citizen does not make them a socialist country, whether you like it or not Rey.

[Rey]

Do the research, has nothing to do with health care, it is a socialist country, that's what theyre called when ALL their programs are government run. Drive out of the city limits once in a while.

[Heather Knox]

Try "Google" you'll see that I am a Canadian who really exists and if you look carefully you'll see that I am a "she" not a he. And very proud to be Canadian! Congratulations to El Paso for Mercado Mayapan-we went there again today and it was wonderful! Now homeward bound!

[justvisiting]

Well, interesting comments concerning Canada. Being a Canadian citizen, also visiting your fair city, I am wondering where you find your info about the government of Canada? Being a democracy, Canada allows various parties from the right to the left to run in elections. Currently the Conservative Party is the minority government with Stephen Harper as prime minister. The Conservative Party is certainly not socialist, nor is the governmental framework of Canada - it is as stated a constitutional monarchy. I think you should clarify what is your political opinion from what are the facts.

[whatever]

That's way too funny. I had friends from Houston visiting during the Houston/UTEP football game and not only were they disgusted with the place, they were embarrassed that was the impression of what Mexican food was suppose to taste like.

[Rey]

Re-Read, the PROGRAMS are GOVERNMENT run. They set up like the Euro versions. Except England, which is a mixture.

[justvisiting]

Actually, there are many programs in Canada that are run by charitable organizations (not government funded)that provide many programs, including vocational training. FYI, there are language laws in Quebec, but employees in that province are not terminated for speaking English. Canada is a bilingual country and diversity of culture is encouraged.

[Rey]

Try telling that to people that do business with Canada on a regular basis and listen to the frustrations of trying to communicate because of the language LAWS and that includes signs. Alos tell that to he people that tell you of the penalties involved for violating those laws.

[Joe]

Rey wrote:

Remember Canada is a socialist country so he would like the program. They even have stupid laws that states grounds for termination is speaking english,while doing business, in a french speaking providence and vice versa.

Exactly. If someone wants to go to a Mexican market, then they should do something "real" and go to Mexico and go to a market there that has real people doing real jobs.

The one here is actually as fake as can be. It's an expensive USA government funded version of a Mexican market. Mexican women being paid high American wages to go on like they've never left Mexico. Something for bleeding hearts who are too terrified to actually go to Mexico and see a real market.

[JDC]

whatever wrote:

That's way too funny. I had friends from Houston visiting during the Houston/UTEP football game and not only were they disgusted with the place, they were embarrassed that was the impression of what Mexican food was suppose to taste like.

Your friends are obviously in the minority. Like any city, El Paso has its faults, but the Mexican Restaurant business is not one of them. I have traveled all over the country, eating all kinds of food and IMO El Paso has the best Mexican food in the USA.

[Heather Knox]

Wow! What a group! I am amazed at your ability to extrapolate, assume, presume and draw conclusions from one compliment to your city! Question-do you know the percentage of United States citizens who have passports and have travelled beyond your borders? It’s worth checking out.
FYI-no fear of going to Mexico here, in fact, when I renew my passport every five years, it rarely has a blank page left in it. And 90% of those stamps are anything but USA stamps! When I visit another country I don’t take a cruise ship or stay in a gated resort. I stay or live where the country’s residents are, I shop in local markets and I converse with the people of the country. And in Vancouver I embrace the diversity of individuals from all over the world that make up our richly diverse country that I call home. I respect people regardless of where they come from and am open to learn from all and to encourage them to do their best regardless of their situation.
Something really important to keep in mind about Mercado Mayapan-it is a Social Enterprise in its start up phase. With the proper support and community engagement it can become a business that will eventually support itself. Check out Jamie Oliver’s restaurant in the UK where he works with at risk communities! It’s brilliant and a huge success!

[justvisiting]

Joe wrote:

<quoted text>
Exactly. If someone wants to go to a Mexican market, then they should do something "real" and go to Mexico and go to a market there that has real people doing real jobs.
The one here is actually as fake as can be. It's an expensive USA government funded version of a Mexican market. Mexican women being paid high American wages to go on like they've never left Mexico. Something for bleeding hearts who are too terrified to actually go to Mexico and see a real market.

My interest in Mayapan was to see some social enterprise at work in the US. Considering your high unemployment and huge corporate bailouts, it is amazing to me that there could be criticism of any program, government or private, that gives people an opportunity to be trained for a better job-better life. I thought "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" was important here. Not much of a life or happiness without employment. I saw Mayapan as a hand up, not a handout.

[William Pena]

justvisiting wrote:

<quoted text>
My interest in Mayapan was to see some social enterprise at work in the US. Considering your high unemployment and huge corporate bailouts, it is amazing to me that there could be criticism of any program, government or private, that gives people an opportunity to be trained for a better job-better life. I thought "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" was important here. Not much of a life or happiness without employment. I saw Mayapan as a hand up, not a handout.

Please excuse the rabble rousers' negative comments. They have nothing better to do than sit in their recliner, collect social security checks, and trash others. They are the same people who tend to be angry with the world but do nothing to better their community. These few pitiful souls do not represent the views of 97% of El Pasoans.

[HijoDeSuChinada]

JDC wrote:

<quoted text>
Your friends are obviously in the minority. Like any city, El Paso has its faults, but the Mexican Restaurant business is not one of them. I have traveled all over the country, eating all kinds of food and IMO El Paso has the best Mexican food in the USA.

I definitely have to agree!! I do remember being in San Antonio and the locals there thought their Mexican food was wonderful! I thought their Mexican food was a joke.

I also had a job interview in Missouri and since I am Latino, they treated me to dinner at none other than A Mexican restaurant. Was pleasantly surprised, but still not EL PASO.

[Rey]

97 per cent? I am a transplant and was surprised to hear all the negativitely about immigrants coming from Americans of Mexican descent.

Most Hispanic in other regions usually defend the immigrants.

I am guessing that the difference is, the regions dont have direct cause and effect like they do along the border.

[Joe]

justvisiting wrote:

<quoted text>
My interest in Mayapan was to see some social enterprise at work in the US. Considering your high unemployment and huge corporate bailouts, it is amazing to me that there could be criticism of any program, government or private, that gives people an opportunity to be trained for a better job-better life. I thought "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" was important here. Not much of a life or happiness without employment. I saw Mayapan as a hand up, not a handout.

Mayapan is not about Americans at all, it's all about getting government money to immigrant women, many who have lived here for decades but have made no effort to learn a single real job skill or even learn the language of this country. Meanwhile plenty of more ambitious immigrants are working and doing real jobs because they made an effort to improve themselves.

[Rey]

You got it Joe. I read an article that many of these women return, after the training, to Mexico and start businesses.

Of course the managers of the program fought to keep it going. She was very evasive about her salary but in the end admitted the salary was over 125,000 a year and benefits. Then she attempted to protray herself as a martyr by saying she was working without pay for the rest of the year. Translates to 55000.00 for six months.

The concern was misplaced.