Pubdate: Sun, 01 Mar 2009
Source: El Paso Times (TX)
Copyright: 2009 El Paso Times
Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/formnewsroom
Website: http://www.elpasotimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829
Author: Steve Ortega
Note: Steve Ortega represented Eastridge/Mid-Valley on City Council.

REJECT PUTTING TROOPS ON OUR BORDER

Over the last couple of years, our community has engaged in an 
intriguing debate as to how El Paso should be branded.

Some thought that curiosity should be piqued with "El Paso -- You 
Have No Idea."

Others sought to capitalize on our location and culture with "El Paso 
- -- Capital of the Border."

Some loyalists remained committed to the nostalgic "Sun City" designation.

Undoubtedly, El Paso holds many assets deserving of promotion and 
celebration. While the branding debate is fun, telling, and at times 
touchy, there is one brand that wields tremendous danger, damage and 
is injurious to this city: "El Paso -- Militarized Zone."

Ironically, in the midst of these trying economic times, El Paso 
continues to see significant successes. Many assert that El Paso is 
in the midst of municipal renaissance.

While there is still much work to be done, El Paso's unemployment 
rate is lower than the national average for the first time since 
1972; unparalleled expansion at Fort Bliss has sustained the 
construction industry; the opening of the medical school will be 
complemented by new investments at Thomason Hospital and will have a 
multi-billion-dollar effect on the local economy; UTEP and El Paso 
Community College are experiencing record enrollments; the property 
tax base is being dramatically augmented by the unprecedented 
investment taking place Downtown; the recently passed Comprehensive 
Mobility Plan will result in over $1 billion of 
transportation-related investment; and several months ago, The Wall 
Street Journal profiled El Paso's strides and labeled us a "success story."

Just as El Paso is undergoing resurgence, Juarez is spiraling into 
the epicenter of narco-related violence. While most analysts feel 
that Mexican President Felipe Calderon is putting forth a bona fide 
and noble effort in combating the drug cartels, the facts remain that 
in Juarez, few of the thousands of murders and kidnappings that have 
taken place have been resolved.

Cartels now dictate who is not acceptable to lead the municipal 
police force. And, members of the Juarez government are not living in 
the city that they govern.

The No. 1 function of municipal government is protection of public 
safety. To that end, the law-enforcement sector in El Paso is 
world-class as this community is consistently rated one of the safest 
in the nation. Case in point: in 2008, there were 18 murders in El 
Paso and over 1,600 in Juarez.

Currently, this community's No. 1 priority is ensuring that the 
violent crimes taking place across the border do not spill over here. 
High-profile spillover would kill the progress and momentum that El 
Paso is currently experiencing and will invite reactionary and 
short-sighted proposals -- such as the militarization statement made 
Tuesday by Gov. Rick Perry.

Protection of the public safety is paramount and therefore, federal 
and state government must provide additional law-enforcement 
resources. Additionally, federal assistance is needed to assist local 
government in defraying the costs of protecting the community from 
narco-violence.

But, we must remember that it is the function and training of law 
enforcement -- and not the military -- to protect and enforce local 
laws. A military response should only be entertained when local, 
state, and federal law enforcement have been exhausted and failed -- 
and we are not there and hopefully never will be.

Finally, sincere American policy proposals for dealing with the 
Mexican cartel-related violence must confront the fact that there is 
a reason that the destination of many of these drugs is the United States.

Simply put, Americans have an insatiable appetite for drug 
consumption. As long as that market is lucrative, its needs will be 
met. Enforcement-centric proposals that ignore demand issues are 
doomed for continued failure because they ignore core issues.

El Paso's leadership must summarily reject militarization proposals 
and should actively shape the border violence dialogue in a way that 
addresses law-enforcement solutions and honestly confronts demand realities.

Whatever El Paso's long-term brand turns out to be, it should embrace 
this region's qualities and aspirations while encouraging community 
investment, growth and prosperity -- "El Paso - Militarized Zone" 
does none of the above.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom