Is El Paso pretty?

[jaxart]

This is from a "native El Pasoan" who lived in the city for 35 years. I last lived there in 1975. I now live 120 miles northeast of El Paso in New Mexico. I travel to El Paso several times a year for various reasons.

I hate it when I'm forced to drive to El Paso for any reason today. It has nothing to do with the scenery, but rather with the traffic situation, the urban sprawl, and all that implies for someone trying to get a list of things done within the span of a day. I simply can't get much done due to both the traffic and the need to drive from one side of the city to the other for some tasks. I now opt for shopping in Las Cruces instead.

I also am no longer able to tolerate even mild hot weather now that I'm acclimated to living in the forest at the 7,000 ft. elevation. So I try to avoid going to El Paso in the warmest six months. In fact I had surgery in El Paso last October, and have scheduled a follow-up surgery for the end of this October in order to not have to also suffer hot weather while there.

As for scenery, El Paso has sprawled to the point where anyone viewing the city from Scenic Drive today cannot see anything but development all the way to the horizon, for 360 degrees. The mountain ranges do break up the monotony of sprawling city views. Most of the smog that plaques the city in calm weather is generated in Juarez, where there are apparently no regulations on air polluting sources. I've seen smog from the El Paso area fill the Tularosa basin all the way to the Alamogordo/Tularosa area, 80+ miles away.

[danieloneil01]

Answer to OP ?


Not really and 3yrs to late.

[tany123]

The problem with this opinion is that it is based on the outdoors (which includes a lot of litter and trash) but for the most part, stores like Target, Walmart, Walgreens, etc. are not clean! This city does not take pride in cleanliness and for the most part is dirty! If you don't believe me go to any grocery store here and find out. Better yet, take a drive anywhere and see the litter strewn everywhere.

[mistabinks]

I'll take that challenge. The Super Target on Joe Battle is clean. So is the Target Greatland on George Dieter. The Walmarts on Gateway East are pretty clean as well. I have had no problem with the Bassett Place Target.

So when you say the city does not take pride in cleanliness, who are you talking about? The Walgreen employees? Customers? Every single El Pasoan? You perhaps?

[danieloneil01]

I'll back up Mista on this one too. That Target is very clean along with Vista Market on Zaragosa (sp?).

Haven't really been in a dirty business. But I do agree on the trash everywhere though.

[malamute]

Clean is kind of subjective. What one person thinks is pretty dirty someone else might think is quite clean, it can depend on what one is used to also. I think the newer buildings here look pretty clean but you can go into some grocery stores that smell pretty bad. Maybe some older buildings are actually clean enough but dingy and old which makes them look dirty.

[jaxart]

Originally Posted by tany123

Better yet, take a drive anywhere and see the litter strewn everywhere.

El Paso may not have any more litter than other places but two things factor in - wind and lack of greenery to hide the trash from view.

The wind carries trash everywhere - especially things like plastic sacks.

Places where there is high grass along the roadsides tend to appear less littered, but if you walk along the shoulders in such places there is just as much garbage to be seen. It's the reason many times signs along the highways can be seen designating a stretch of road the jurisdiction of some volunteer organization that supposedly regularly patrols for litter.

[citizen joe]

el paso texas - Flickr: Search

[Horizonite]

I grew up in a humid climate (sorry San Antonio) so to those of you who fancy yourselves lucky because you have Disney..., Six Flags..., more opera, more clubs, more culture, more attractions, more whatever! I say phooey! You can keep all your attractions along with your high humidity!

Good riddance to those muggy days. As soon as you walk out your front door, BAM, you can barely breathe the air is so thick. And then, just as quickly, the humidity attacks your skin and drenches you without regard to your morning shower and crisp clothes that you now have to unbearably wear for the rest of the day. Arrgh!! That same humidity will freeze your bones in winter, regardless of how many layers of clothing you have on!

I now enjoy living in Horizon! Every morning begins with a quick run through the maze of caliche roads that branch out of the city. The air is fresh and dry and very comfortable for running. Just today I spotted two horned lizards, a bull snake, a cottontail rabbit, a road runner, quail, doves, vultures. All this wild life living among the mesquite bushes, the yuccas, the wild grasses.
I even chased a couple of jack rabbits, ha! Why? Because I could! Did I forget to mention the clear blue sky!

Is El Paso pretty?

No! So don't even think about coming here! Run for your lives! We can't all go running through the desert chasing them rabbits!

[happytooth]

Originally Posted by Muhnay

Oh your one of them 3rd cav guys, funny how our crime rate dropped 80% after you all left for greener pastures. How do you like Carson? Have to park your tank and hardly get to train because you have to pay that stupid rancher out there big bucks to drive a tank 5 feet. I am fully aware that 3rd cav was here.. rumor has it the 3rd cav was tryig to come back here.. Lets just say the 3rd Cav's reputation was not the best in the Army.

And It will nose dive because the city has traffic problems already and with 40K more cars on them, the roads will be parking lots. The schools are already over crowded, with these troops comes families, where will there kids learn when classrooms are already at 35-40 students in them. Where are e-4 and below gonna live, housing is not there, where are the single soldiers gonna live?

You seem pretty bitter and unhappy regarding your situation. Where in the US and the World have you lived? I disagree with your comments. I will be able to see the situation first hand. I have lived with and without military communities and they can thrive also. Change is inevitable and sometimes positive outcomes occur. I live in a community without a base and at the moment the crime rate has increased, the gang rates have increased, and unemployment has risen. Gangs are coming closer to the suburbs and attacking families that are not involved with "gang activity" due to what I was told the "poor economy". I live in the SouthEast. I actually lived in Colorado Springs, CO/FT Carson- loved it. Lived at FT Hood- (the largest Army base) and it was fine- but boring. Housing was actually nice and built up due to the "Army" influx. Same thing going on at Fayetteville, NC. If your City does not have room for the influx there are two options: build bigger or suffer. The problem is when there is "no where to move". I am going to focus on the positives....