Your views on city stormwater fees

Citizens must pay for city's slip-ups Am I the only person in El Paso to wonder just what the devil is going on with regard to the Stormwater District? Stop and think what's being "advertised" and what we are ...

[Monchis]

PROPOSITION 13 TIME HAS COME!
RECALL ALL CITY COUNCIL! INCLUDING MAYOR COOK!
FIRE PSB HEAD, ED ARCHULETA!
FIRE CITY MANAGER, JOYCE WILSON!
We'e had nothing but escalating fees and taxes since these people were elected and hired. Since they know no other solutions other than to tax and spend, let's rid ourselves of these incompetents!

[walt phillips]

Too easy to blame current officials. Where was the outcry years ago when most every street in El Paso flooded with less than one inch rainfall? Where were the protests when the PSB gave "pre" talks on the proposed (now in effect) rain/storm water fees? Has El Paso become reactionary rather than pro active? Heck, let's just leave things the way they are and deal with more floods. Heck, we might as well leave the "bill" to our children and grandchildren as well.
Instead of so much negative, let's see or read some positive suggestions for dealing with this.

[Anne]

People are obviously misinterpreting the Stormwater commercials. Those are NOT El Paso Water Utility pump stations that have been neglected - those are the CITY's STORMWATER pump stations that have been neglected. Now that the new Stormwater Utility under the PSB has taken over, they are CORRECTING previous administrations' neglect. And while I am not a fan of anyone in the current City administration, I don't see how killing the messenger accomplishes anything. Plus, even if a recall happened and was successful, legally nothing will happen to the Stormwater Utility for 5 years under State law. So then the citizens of El Paso would have wasted the tax dollars to oust politicians and accomplish nothing. Think about that, people of El Paso.

[FEDUP]

Anne, wrong on your assertion that, "ousting the current crop of incompetents at city hall, will have accomplished nothing". By recalling these mendacious, venal grafters, we will have rid ourselves of the climate of corruption that has caused our woes to continue unabated!
It's citizens like you that keep their head in the sand that allows these fools to maintain their positions of privilege, and continue unchallenged!

[MADASHELL]

Mr. Walt Phillips, here's a positive suggestion for you, next time, before you go cast you ballot, study the candidates carefully. Don't be shy about asking the tough questions about what their true intentions are once they get elected! GET INVOLVED!!!
Don't just sit there and say, "well, they're going to do whatever they want"!
Protest, speak out, let them know you care what they do, and that you will be watching their actions closely, and holding them accountable for their incompetence!

[Understand Business]

The bottom-line mistake here is that the city government has screwed up in the past regarding maintenance and now they are expecting citizens to pay to fix the problems in real time.

Under normal circumstances, something this large should be financed over 30 years through the issuance of bonds. This would give the new utility the money they need to get the job done in a reasonable timeline and it would lessen the impact on the citizens.

However, the city government is probably correct that the voters would not approve of the bond issue, so they have found a way to get around it. It's a classic case of covering up one error (diversion of maintenance) with another (forcing us to pay in real time).

We're paying the price for our own lack of focus on maintenance and our inability to plan for the future more than just manana.

[ElPaso community member]

PSB just pulled the wool over El Paso's eyes. Do we need to repair (prepare) storm water systems. No question, just ask anyone that was included in the million dollar damamge total. However, PSB is being excessive with the amounts collected. And then to have any public funded entity, like a public schools have to pay - TERRIBLE! For years we told to conserve water - Now we are being charged for doing it! Perhaps EPISD should think twice before putting astro turf on there fields. So much for saving money!! Guess who gets to pay for it eventually! Why did they exempt UTEP and EPCC but not PUBLIC SCHOOLS that exist only from TAX DOLLARS.

[Gman]

www.recallcook.com