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In this issue of "¿Qué Pasa?" you will learn about El Paso and our "Sister" Cities in an article written by my Executive Assistant, Robert Andrade; Diana Nuñez, my Executive Secretary will tell you a little about my wife's project to feed the homeless. 
Quote of the Day Fair play with others is primarily not blaming them for anything that is wrong with us. Eric Hoffer Sister Cities by Robert Andrade Executive Assistant to the Mayor The city has had many sister city agreements with many different communities in other countries. Unfortunately they have not always been well documented or continued. To date, the history of the agreements, their purpose, and the City's objectives of building relationships with these cities has not always been kept up. A committee for the development of a sister cities organization for El Paso is currently taking place. They will analyze and review all past agreements and look at other potential sister city agreements and ask City Council to renew or take action if necessary. Currently underway is the development of the committee which consists of the Korean-American Association of El Paso, the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, Club de España - Paso Del Norte, German Air Force Command, UTEP, and the Committee on Border Relations. The Japanese Society of El Paso has also been invited to participate. The name of the committee is the International Sister Cities of El Paso. They will eventually become an independent organization that will be the keepers of all agreements and their continued development. The US/Mex Sister Cities Association has offered to assist with further development of this initiative. Last year, the Association suggested that the City of El Paso pursue the International Conference for 2007. The City was fortunate to secure the conference, which is slated for August 15-18, 2007. The committee is in the midst of working together with the Association and hope to minimize and avoid any cost to the City. Currently on record, there are four Sister Cities, three in Mexico (Ciudad Juarez, Zacatecas and Torreon) and one in Spain (Jerez). First Lady's Program to Feed the Homeless by Diana Nunez Executive Secretary to the Mayor The Mayor's wife, Tram Cook, wants to give back to the community that she and John have called home for over 30 years. Each month they visit one of the El Paso homeless shelters and serve dinner to the homeless and those in need on a monthly basis. On Sunday, February 25th, 2007 they served the children and staff at the Child Crisis Center of El Paso. In the past, the Cooks have had the pleasure to prepare and serve dinner at the Opportunity Center, Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, Sin Fronteras, Center Against Family Violence, La Posada Home, Ronald McDonald House and Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home. Members of City Council, some of the Mayor's 100 Teens, and members of the Mayor's staff join them in this worthwhile community service project. For more information, please visit the website at http://www.elpasotexas.gov/mayor/lady.asp The Mayor's 100 Teens by Mayor John Cook As I travel our great community, I constantly hear, read or witness something outstanding that a teenager accomplished. In searching for a way to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishment of these outstanding young people I stumbled on a program that has worked in Colorado Springs called "The Mayor's 100 Teens". Last year, The Optimists Clubs of El Paso and the business community joined forces with my dedicated staff and we duplicated that successful program in El Paso. For the year 2006-2007, 56 teens were selected and they have had the opportunity to participate in community service with me. Some of the programs they are involved in include Feed the Homeless, the Thanksgiving Dinner, and various parades. This program recognizes and praises our youth for their important contributions to the world around them and gives them the opportunity to continue to serve their community in new ways. All of these young people have achieved significant goals even though they have had to overcome many obstacles in their lives. This program provides a forum to recognize our youth and allow them to become positive role model to others. The opening period to submit nomination applications for the second generation of "The Mayor's 100 Teens" program for year 2007-2008 is from Thursday, February 1, 2007 through Friday, April 13, 2007. If you know a deserving teen who has overcome a significant obstacle, maintained a good GPA, and been a role model to their peers please consider nominating them. This program is completely financed with private funds and no tax payer money. Throughout the year, I seek sponsors to donate time, products and/or monetary resources in order to honor these teens. The idea is to reward the teens with free products and/or services from businesses in town. The teens and sponsors are recognized at a banquet in September 2007. Sponsors are thanked with an advertisement in the yearbook that display the entire Mayor's 100 teens and their stories and this is passed out at the banquet: therefore, please submit your company logo via email and contact the Mayor's Office through Diana Nuñez (nunezdx@elpasotexas.gov) or 915-541-4145. If you would like to send a monetary donation, please make checks payable to the "City of El Paso" and mail them to City of El Paso - Mayor's Office, The Mayor's 100 Teens, 10th Floor of City Hall, 2 Civic Center Plaza, El Paso TX 79901. I am thankful to the community; the businesses and the education system for the strong support in making this program a success and for the interest in our youth to make this program a great experience for the selected teens. For more information about "The Mayor's 100 Teens" program, please visit http://www.elpasotexas.gov/mayor/teens.asp. What is The Mayor's 100 Teens: http://www.elpasotexas.gov/mayor/_documents/What.pdf 2007-2008 Nomination Application: http://www.elpasotexas.gov/mayor/_documents/Nomination%20Form%202007-2008%20scanned.doc.pdf Letters to the Mayor In each issue I will be including letters or e-mails I receive from constituents on controversial issues. Hopefully, you will find my responses candid. A constituent writes: Hey Mayor, I do support red-light cameras. They don't bother me because I consider myself a good defensive driver. I do wonder if the light camera at Rushing and Transmountain is really necessary. The maximum speed on Rushing heading north is 35 mph and there are school zones with lower limits on this now one lane street. The intersection with Transmountain presents the driver with six lanes of east-west traffic. Only a drunk or fool will run this light. A $75 fine will be too lenient. My Reply:A constituent writes: I just received a flyer in my mailbox regarding "Private Property Rights Under Threat ". Maybe you've gotten this flyer also. It's pleases me to see your position is to protect the rights of home and land owners. I knew when we voted you into office it was a good decision, Thank You very much for having our best interest at heart! It disturbs me as well as other voters to see that our Mayor is on the fence and still inconsistent on protecting our rights. Just what is he waiting for? If anyone in our city council members should take a position, it should be him! He's stated in this flyer that, and I quote " Why not pass and ordinance that really says what we will and will not use eminent domain for, so this will take it off the table once and fro all ". Why don't we? Then he states that eminent domain is a necessary tool to have in implementation for any plan to upgrade downtown. But he doesn't want to close feasible businesses. Sounds to me like he's in the hip pocket of the PDNG. He can't have it both ways. I was under the impression that the people elected him not support groups. Has he slowly turned to a big business and support group Mayor or has this always been his true colors? I'm all for eminent domain when it's used in order to improve the quality of life for the majority of the local populace, IE: Hospitals, police station, Fire Station or schools. If you would send me Cook's e-mail address and I'll forward this to him or you can give him a copy. There's many retired individuals who have changed there plans about living here and are moving on. This can't be good for El Paso. THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT !!!!!!!!!!! My Reply: Dear Mr. ______: "West Texas Tears" CD Project by Mayor John Cook I have joined together with several friends from the law enforcement community as well as the music industry who have generously donated their time, efforts and resources to produce a music CD that highlights the local talent and will serve to help raise additional funds for Storm 2006 victims that are in need of additional assistance. The group came together the first week in September to start producing the CD and our work was completed at the end of November. Artists on the CD include Robert Maddox (Hurricane Katrina Survivor), representatives from the Fire Department, Border Patrol, State Correction Department, local music artists Mario Otero, Fred Brooks (Hurricane Katrina Survivor), Lettie Gutierrez from Hearts for Worship, Los Toritos de Valente D' Castillo (Mariachi) and representatives from Corral Productions, The Sonic Ranch, CPR & Music and myself. It was very rewarding to hear from the representatives from Wal-Mart and Sam's corporate office who came on board voluntarily to support the project by contributing $10,000 towards the project. The money would in turn provide over 1000 CDs that will be distributed by the Association of the U. S. Army (AUSA) Omar Bradley Chapter at Fort Bliss to our troops deployed or deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. The generous contribution will assist the flood relief fund as well as provide a little bit of El Paso to soldiers that are being sent overseas. Please support the project by buying a CD available for $12.00 at the following locations: City Hall, Mayor's Office, 10th Floor, 2 Civic Center Plaza All That Music (Eastside), 1506 N. Lee Trevino Holy Spirit Christian Bookstore (Eastside), 1830 George Dieter La Guitarra Studio (Westside), 6503 N. Mesa Cactus Café (Westside) 7500 N. Mesa Border Patrol Museum (N. East) 4315 Trans Mountain Any Pan American Insurance Agency For more information, please visit the website at http://www.elpasotexas.gov/_documents/Final%20-%20Mayors%20CD%20release.pdf Red Light Cameras by Police Chief Richard Wiles On October 31, 2006, the City of El Paso's Digital Automated Red Light Enforcement Program (DARLEP) began issuing violation notices to vehicle owners whose vehicles were captured by the system in violation of City Ordinance. Currently the system is installed at 11 intersections with 16 cameras. From October 31, 2006 to February 28, 2007 there have been 4,802 violation notices sent out. Since the implementation of the program, the City of El Paso has seen a decrease of serious collisions at the intersections equipped with the system. National studies have shown that intersections with Red Light Cameras have a reduction in Red light violations by 40-50 %. The studies further show that injury collisions fall by 25-30% and right angle collisions decrease by 24 %. Comparing the three-month period of November 2006 - January 2007 to the same period a year ago, red light violations at photo-enforced intersections are down 39.3%. Collisions with injuries are down 21.4% and right angle collisions are down by 58.8%. Collisions where the contributing factor is a red light violation have decrease by 83.3 %. The following table shows current and projected decreases by percentage in El Paso compared to national averages.
Additionally, collisions of all types are down by 1.6 % at current photo-enforced intersections and are projected to continue to decline by up to an additional 9-12 % over the next 12 months. With a projected decrease of 9-12% per year in collisions at system locations, the City of El Paso can expect a reduction of approximately 86-115 collisions over the next 5 years. This does not include the fact that we are currently experiencing an increase in total citywide collisions of 16.7% and at signal controlled intersections by 7.6%. Based on the program success so far, it has been proposed to expand the system. There are currently 10 intersections on the list for the expansion. Accident statistics at these intersections have been compiled over the past 2 years and show there is a need. Year-to-date, there have been three serious collisions at intersections with Joe Battle, one of which resulted in a fatality. These locations are Joe Battle and Pebble Hills, Joe Battle and Pellicano, and Joe Battle and Bob Hope. Intersections along Joe Battle are on the proposed list for expansion of the system. El Paso is one of several major cities across the State of Texas that has implemented or is in the process of implementing a Red Light Camera System. Currently there are 12 cities in Texas with systems operating. Approximately 20 other cities are in the process of getting a Red Light Camera Program. Austin, the State Capitol, is currently in the process of implementing a system. Red light running is one of the major causes of crashes, deaths, and injuries at signalized intersections. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) support a comprehensive approach to intersection safety that incorporates engineering, education, and enforcement countermeasures to prevent red light running and improve intersection safety. Red light cameras can be a very effective countermeasure to prevent red light running. There are a number of studies that indicate reduction in crashes at signalized intersections due to red light cameras. FHWA is promoting red light cameras as one of its identified priority, market-ready safety technologies. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, red light cameras work. They have reduced side impact accidents by an average of 24 percent. Cameras are intended to reduce accidents, increase safety and re-educate drivers about being careful on the roads. Legal arguments against red light cameras have only been won on a state level and these are in locations that consider running a red light a criminal offense as opposed to a civil one as El Paso does. For more information about Mayor Cook's projects, please visit http://www.elpasotexas.gov/mayor/default.asp |
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