City of El Paso public art projects not unique or creative: Reader

El Paso Times
"Bienvenido" is the title of the yellow door art installation in the roundabout near the Plaza Hotel and Paso del Norte Hotel. It is shown Friday, May 14, 2021, in Downtown El Paso. The art piece is 30 feet tall and is part of the city's public art program.

City art projects not unique or creative

How will the entity that selects public art be changed by the diversity of a museum director? The choices that have been made by these people are not unique, they are not culturally unique, they are not even very creative. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent on public art that is neither relevant nor enduring. 

A yellow door that has been reproduced several times, can be seen elsewhere, and the city of El Paso was willing to pay hundreds of thousands for that? Murals? The idea is at the level of a college art project, often repetitive and sophomoric. 

The people involved in the city art decisions do not have the background nor the historical art education to make these decisions as they have shown us over the years.

Maria Rodriguez

Downtown El Paso

Deporting veterans is appalling

Dear President Joe Biden, as a former captain in the U.S. Army, I was appalled that our government is deporting U.S. veterans, as described in a May 5 El Paso Times article. On behalf of Mike Evans, an honorably discharged U.S. Marine deported to Mexico and now living in Juárez, and scores of other U.S. veterans, I am asking you to please investigate their plight and do the compassionate thing. Evans has an 80-year-old mother in the U.S. and cannot visit her. 

Your constituent,

Leandro Gonzalez

Northeast El Paso

More:City of El Paso won't increase property tax rate despite increase in property values

Protest increased property valuations

I'm surprised only 22,000 property owners have placed opposition to the outrageous property value increases by the city appraisal gougers. Inflation hurts everyone, even the wealthy. The cost increases trickle down on everyone. 

Wait for the yell from renters, business owners, everyone faced with increased costs forced on them by the Central Appraisal District. Come on, El Paso, call your state and city representatives to complain. The city, which profits most from these raises, will pay more for everything also. Protest!

Alex Harrison

East El Paso

More:Texas Legislature too often works against us: Commissioner David Stout

Leave property owners alone

So, the El Paso Electric chief executive officer is "sensitive" about the timing of their 13.4% rate increase on residential customers. How nice is that of Kelly Tomblin? I'm sure CAD is sympathetic on their 10% to 20% property tax increase, also. (25,000 protest and counting). The school districts are sorry about raising their taxes, also. The police and fire departments feel badly about increasing their share so they can cover their lifetime pensions after 20 years of service. The water board empathizes with us as they have to increase its rates to cover stormwater issues. Community college is struggling and needs more since the pandemic has hurt them.

Gas prices need to go up to fix our broken infrastructure. Food, lumber and home prices are up because we need to give more to those unwilling to look for employment. What the property owners need is a lot less of these people's sympathies and empathy and more of just "leave us alone." Venezuela, here we come.

John Ferguson

East El Paso

More:Sunland Park Mall in West El Paso welcomes new stores, restaurants

Sun Metro Lift increase would be devastating

Did you know that Sun Metro’s The Lift public paratransit bus service is proposing to raise fares by 60%? Maybe you don’t ride The Lift and have a car. What if your car payment increased by 60% for the car you already drive? If the monthly payment on your car suddenly went from $300 per month to $480 per month how would you absorb that increase in your monthly budget? Imagine if you were like me, living on a fixed income, where my monthly income is not much more than that. 

The proposal to raise fares by 60% will devastate me, and just about every other person who rides The Lift, and I will have to cut back on my rides. If you think a 60% fare increase is unfair, I urge you to email Sun Metro through its website at contact.sunmetro.net or by calling 915-212-3333. Ultimately, the City Council and the mayor, who comprise the Mass Transit Board, will make the final decision. I urge you to contact Mayor Oscar Leeser and your city representative, and to let your voice be known during public comments at City Council meetings.

Brandon Le Master

East El Paso

Poor crash investigation by police

I was rear-ended while on my motorcycle on Zaragoza Road on Mother's Day morning. It was a shock to me that the woman that hit me was found not at fault. This is a normal El Paso Police Department tactic: Blame the biker for getting hit in the rear. Get some accident investigation training for the police, please. They completely ignored all of the facts.

David Theriault

East El Paso