November 19, 2007
The Inner Loop 11.16.07: HACEP, Again
Mr. Parra is a brilliant young man and has a lot to offer the Housing Authority. He would be an asset for that position. We need some bright, intelligent people that want the best for our community. I worked with him for one year and I learned a great deal from him. -- Gloria Alvarez
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1st, we need to stop referring to the company that wants to start that giant smokestack in the middle of the region as aSARCO. It, they, them, need to be referred to as Groupo Mexico, Los Fantasticos, or wait for it, -- The Carlyle Group. That's right folks, we have world renowned Sham-stirs in our mist, or haze or smog or whatever it is the TCEQ will be calling the brown air that replaces our blue air.
2nd Soooo ---- how was the "Go Green Expo"? Did you (Groupo Mexico) and the 25 or so attendees get the good PR or what? I assume it took a good $30K to put that on.
That's over a $1,000 per-person, education (PR) lucky participants! Wow, come to think of it, this mega conglomeration might just be good for our border economy after-all.
-- Robert Ardovino
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I think there is way too much personal emotional involvement on both sides. It's now about "winning" and nothing else. -- DavidK
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You go, ACORN! Thanks for bringing out some truths ASARCO would just as soon keep swept under the rug. If ASARCO's permit 20345 is granted to emit 7.69 tons per year of lead into El Paso's air, ASARCO El Paso will have the dubious distinction of having the most emissions of lead at an industrial site of any location in the entire United States. Not to mention that ASARCO will also push El Paso further into noncompliance with EPA allowances for particulates, as ASARCO plans to emit TEN TIMES the particulates of the next highest source in El Paso. For backup of these facts, please see http://www.ci.el-paso.tx.us/_documents/article%20-%20Why%20Asarco%20-%20longer%20version%20for%20website.pdf And if you want to stop ASARCO, contact Governor Rick Perry and ask him to use his influence over his appointed Commissioners to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, to deny ASARCO's permit 20345. Here's Gov. Perry's contact info: Office of The Governor P.O Box 12428 Austin, TX 78711-2428 Fax # (512) 463-1849 -- Fred
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I am just a lay person drinking my coffee while reading your article, mulling as follows:
Besides Ms. Teresa Montoya's job, how many people does ASARCO employ directly in the El Paso area?
What law firm(s) represent ASARCO before the TCEQ and locally? What sort of tax incentives has ASARCO been provided, if any. What is the tax base for their facility and what are the comparables?
Next set of questions, but not as easily answered: How many people have endured respiratory conditions related to the emissions? What are the costs involved in their medical treatment and who is (are) the payors? How many children's IQs are affected by the stream of lead or other emissions? Are affected children able to make it through high school and perhaps college or is the impact on their learning ability/IQ so profound as to impede their full development? What are the costs resulting from affected children's behavioral issues? Do these children have more "brushes" with the law thereby effectively relegating them to non-licensed vocations and a probable decreased earnings projectory during their life time.
Seems to me, there are some very interesting questions out there. Last time I even thought about the topic was about 37 years ago, sitting at the kitchen table of Dr. Allen O. Baylor, a UTEP statistics professor, following my visit along with other students to the little village "Smelter Town" below the bellows of ASARCO. Soon after I learned ASARCO plowed down the village and removed several feet of the village's topsoil to dispose of its misdeeds, a pretty shushed affair.
...and here we are close to half a century later, still discussing. In the end, my friends, it's all about money...and it appears that El Paso cannot really afford to have the bellows of ASARCO operating, despite the well-funded entreaties. Close your checkbook, El Paso. -- Janet
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what these fancy press releases fail to dictate is that the lead and arsenic ifrom asarco-"previous" is laying in wait. the soil at utep, and in kern place is toxic. (lets not go to the toxic indications in juarez in this particular "rant"). by firing up asarco the leftover epa designated toxic waste no longer requires clean up. (thank you govt. loophole). it now weighs in to quantity "allowable" WASTE. this waste affects the brains of your children. anybody listening? jobs can't pay for this COST. your children deserve more. el paso deserves respect. money is money, but then throw your baby in the mix..... -- Leslie
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A follow up:
With regards to the health hazards presented by lead pollution, Asarco has posted the research by "Dr. Phillip Landrigan according to the New England Journal of Medicine, the El Paso City/County Health Department, the Texas Department of Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (http://www.asarco.com/elpaso/bloodlead.htm).
The blood lead studies conducted by the Texas Department of Health bring to light a critical question: why was the majority of the testing conducted in the 79905 zip code compared to the affected 79902 area?
In the study cited by Asarco, approximately 3100 samples were taken in 79905. Out of those, 105 samples turned up with abnormal lead levels in the blood system - the highest number in the city. But in the 79902 area, out of approximately only 1300 samples, 80 came up with high levels of lead - the second highest number.
Break that data down and find a ratio. You will see the evidence that the 79902 area has a higher concentration of lead pollution. This is the same area located within a few miles of the Asarco smelter.
We need the City and County to not only promote the need to remain in attainment status for lead, but to invest in a thorough lead blood screening program. One that will not be subject to Asarco's paid science team and the likes of former City-County Health Director Dr. Jorge Magana. -- Dave
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Sutton Announces Aldrete-Davila Arrest
Those agents should be prosecuted for lying , but so should the drug smuggler for his crimes. Law enforcement should be applied equally across the board. -- NormaJ
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I think that this is a ploy designed to make Aldrete-Davilla unavailable for a hearing associated with the appeal Ramos and Compean have filed.
Sutton should be disbarred and sent to jail for as many days as Ramos and Compean will end us serving.
He has lent new meaning to the Criminal Justice System - heavy emphasis on CRIMINAL. -- Andy
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Aguilar Says He is Quintana's New Lawyer
I think Rep. Quintana made a smart move in replacing Ms. Caballero with a less confrontational attorney. -- KenG
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just wondering, we haven't heard a peep about/from Jaime Perez, in such a long while, what ever happened to those political classes he was teaching?, did anyone show up?, please, inquiring minds and all . . . -- Donna
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Media Watch 11.16.07: Michelle Valles
Kisses to KINT for their week long coverage on Immigration and Border Security. Exclusive inside look at the Immigration detention center, an interview with a woman held there who lost her baby while detained and had to keep it insider her body for a month because of inadequate medical attention. Taking us inside the center, border patrol academy and the border area of Ft. Hancock where drug runners run wild. Tierra de Nadie -- TV
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