Group forms in support of ballpark bond

There remains staunch and vocal opposition to El Paso City council’s proposed baseball stadium downtown, but now, one group is making sure they’re heard in support of the ballpark.

Bring it El Paso, consists of mostly young El Pasoans who are not only in favor of a baseball park downtown, but also the passing of a nearly $500 million Quality of Life bond.

The organizer said that’s the pathway to keep young talented professionals in El Paso.

“It is very important for us to get involved right now because we’re at a pivotal point and in order for us to be a competitive city in the future, we really need to enhance our quality of life and that will allow us to bring companies from out of town to El Paso who will in turn give us better opportunities professionally, that’s why we felt very passionately about this cause,” said Luis Talavera on Friday.

The proposed $473 million bond will be used for at least five new parks throughout the city, the expansion of a senior center, massive zoo improvements, a Hispanic cultural center and a multi-purpose performing arts center downtown.

The bond will also go toward a a children’s museum, a veterans recreation center, new libraries and new pools.

Taxpayers with homes valued at $100,000 would pay an additional $40 a year in city taxes.

City Council on Tuesday may vote to issue more debt, some of it related to the ballpark plan, which is separate from the bond initiative.

An item on the agenda states the council will vote whether to issue up to $81 million in certificates of obligation or revenue bonds for things like buying new buildings for moving City Hall.

When asked if such growth sustainable for our taxpayers, Talavera said it’s a necessary investment to increase El Paso’s commercial tax base so that there can be less of a burden on residential property owners.

He said this can be accomplished by attracting business to the city with the passing of the quality of life bond.

“It’s going to allow us to attract industry, allow us to attract other companies that in the future will be providing toward the tax base. So it is an investment right now. Again nobody likes to pay taxes but we fill this is necessary right now just to be competitive with other cities,” Talavera said.

The group is trying to get 1-thousand signatures by that big vote on Tuesday.