El Paso was one of the most prosperous cities in the Southwest for about half its existence, from its founding with the railroads in the 1880s until the middle of the 20th Century. But as we entered the 21st Century, …
One of the most-sought-after elements to building our Medical Center of the Americas is close to the stamp of approval. With enormous state Legislature support, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center here is about to become autonomous — be a …
Gun rights advocates experienced a win Tuesday when the Texas Senate voted to allow students to keep guns in their cars on college campuses. The bill passed in a 27-4 bipartisan vote, with 19 republicans and 8 democrats voting in favor, …
The Texas Tech Health Sciences Center campus in El Paso is one step away from officially becoming a stand-alone university. The bill was passed by the Texas House of Representatives Tuesday and just needs to be signed into law by Gov. …
AUSTIN, April 30, 2013 — Today, the Texas House passed S.B. 120, authored by state Sen. José Rodríguez and sponsored by state Rep. Naomi Gonzalez. The bill, which establishes the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso as …
Last week started off in the best way possible, with a celebration of sportsmanship. Two young El Paso men, from opposing schools, provided one of the year’s best sporting moments back in February. Mitchell Marcus and Jonathon Montanez, on opposing …
Dear friend, Last week the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee unanimously passed SB 538, a bill that would eliminate an unconstitutional law against homosexual conduct and delete a separate requirement that Department of Health sex-ed materials include statements calling homosexual …
AUSTIN, April 18, 2013 — Yesterday, the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee unanimously passed Senator José Rodríguez’s SB 538, which would eliminate an unconstitutional law against homosexual conduct and delete a separate requirement that Department of Health sex-ed materials include …
AUSTIN, April 18, 2013 — Bills by Senator José Rodríguez would consolidate housing authorities, plan ETJ development, incentivize Downtown hotels, and protect workers from retaliation; bills among nine considered in committee, seven pass to Senate — Yesterday, two committees of …
Dear friend, With only 41 days to go in the session and the pace accelerating, I’m pleased to report upon this office’s recent legislative activity. That includes action from this week, upcoming bills to be considered, and a review of …
AUSTIN, April 16, 2013 — Today, the Texas Senate unanimously passed Senator José Rodríguez’s SB 1708, which allows the Department of Public Safety to lease Fort Bliss property. The bill now moves to the Texas House. “This bill allows DPS …
AUSTIN, April 16, 2013 — Today, the Texas Senate unanimously passed Senator José Rodríguez’s SB 1584, a measure to allow the municipality of Presidio to use sales and use tax for the purpose of financing development projects. The bill now …
A former migrant farm worker, Jose understands that education is the key to individual and community success.
Various measures indicate El Paso, and the State of Texas, rank below national average indicators, for example, per pupil expenditures, teacher pay, and Hispanic high school and college graduates.
Jose firmly believes that the future of the Border is the future of the State (and indeed the nation). But the reality is that Border communities like El Paso have historically experienced a myriad of problems which contribute to slow growth and lack of prosperity, including inadequate funding of education, transportation, healthcare facilities, and job skills training and employment programs.
Access to healthcare is a critical issue for El Paso, the state, and the nation. El Paso suffers from a severe shortage of doctors and other healthcare professionals, a lack of medical infrastructure, and a high uninsured population.
While El Paso is making significant economic gains, its low tax base, high unemployment, and lack of high paying jobs are a barrier to economic prosperity. Young college graduates are unable to find sufficient job opportunities and leave, while other workers find only low wage jobs.
Across the nation, including in El Paso, public corruption has grown like a cancer and tested the will of citizens to reign in those who spread it.
“Pay to play “in the government procurement process, gifts, and other undue influences
Despite El Paso’s designation as the second safest city in the nation, the drug war violence in Cd. Juarez, Mexico has raised legitimate concerns about spill over violence into El Paso. Of particular concern are transnational gangs operating in El Paso that work for the drug cartels.
Adequate transportation and related infrastructure remain a critical need in El Paso; without them, El Paso’s progress will be stymied. State transportation funding has literally dried up and our challenge is to find new ways of generating funds to meet transportation needs.
