Poverty Levels in El Paso (Fort Bliss: insurance, schools, college)

[Logan]

Interesting story in Sundays El Paso Times. 200,000 is a lot of Poverty for a city like El Paso. All the Statistics paint a rather bleak picture for El Paso.
Unlike Phoenix El Paso has failed to capitalize on any opportunities. Glad that these writers had the guts to write a story that a lot of us already knew.

[holmes]

Yeah, read that article.. eye-opening to say the least.

[malamute]

I would have been surprised if an article implied otherwise. I've been to grocery stores where they almost don't know how to handle checks or cash --- everyone is using food stamps.

I'd guess that well over half the population is on food stamps, the schools have a high rate of free lunch recipients. Most people don't have private insurance -- something like 30% do.

If the federal government doesn't follow through with the base realignment, the biggest bailout El Paso could ever hope to have -- then I think the economy of El Paso could start collapsing.

[lipbalm]

I agree. I think El Paso is putting all it's eggs in the military/base realignment basket. Sooner or later it will downsize and then what?

[Muhnay]

Originally Posted by Logan

Interesting story in Sundays El Paso Times. 200,000 is a lot of Poverty for a city like El Paso. All the Statistics paint a rather bleak picture for El Paso.
Unlike Phoenix El Paso has failed to capitalize on any opportunities. Glad that these writers had the guts to write a story that a lot of us already knew.

This is what I have been saying all along.. and have been told I am wrong.. And then the few who have said so also tout how great El Paso is.. I love when I am right!

[malamute]

I don't know where else it can go -- with the violence of Mexico and the extreme poverty -- any cuts to welfare and food stamps and no military base expansion -- yes it would be quite serious.

The high birth rates to unwed girls who expect to be always kept on welfare programs is a serious problem.

The interesting thing about those articles -- the women lacked an education -- but also lacked husbands. It's just about having baby after baby -- confident that the handouts will continue, no personal responsibility whatsoever.

Well -- hopefully the millitary is moving in and there will be some money. The current tax base isn't going to hold up much longer.

[Chuco]

Well, Ft Bliss is going to expand, the expansion plans have been approved by everyone including congress and the Pres. so there is no going back thank God.

I am happy that people are writing stuff like this because it needs to get addressed and things need to change to get better. El Paso needs to fix itself but we aren't the only ones, lots of other cities need major improvements as well, but El Paso definitely has its problems especially since its a border town. El Paso will get better it will just take some time, but it will get better.

[lipbalm]

Originally Posted by Chuco

Well, Ft Bliss is going to expand, the expansion plans have been approved by everyone including congress and the Pres. so there is no going back thank God.

I am happy that people are writing stuff like this because it needs to get addressed and things need to change to get better. El Paso needs to fix itself but we aren't the only ones, lots of other cities need major improvements as well, but El Paso definitely has its problems especially since its a border town. El Paso will get better it will just take some time, but it will get better.

Be careful in making it sound that Ft. Bliss expansion will end poverty in El Paso. I said it before, the expansion will help very few, and the rest of the population wont see any drastic change. I mean when only 2.2% of the population has college degrees (20.14% national average) there are some deep, serious problems that must be delt with first.

[Muhnay]

Originally Posted by lipbalm

Be careful in making it sound that Ft. Bliss expansion will end poverty in El Paso. I said it before, the expansion will help very few, and the rest of the population wont see any drastic change. I mean when only 2.2% of the population has college degrees (20.14% national average) there are some deep, serious problems that must be delt with first.

I agree, everyone seems to be putting thier eggs in the fort bliss basket. Fort Bliss is laying off people, not hiring them. And remember that any jobs created on Fort Bliss goto Military Spouces first, then Active or retired Military, then to the general population. Why do you think I left El Paso, and moved to Mississippi.. JOBS. I agree lipbalm.. with the red text a whole bunch.

[malamute]

Downsizing the military would be a disaster for El Paso. With the welfare rates so high with the very high levels of poverty -- and not much industry moving in --- it would be time to get out. It's amazing but this town has less than a third of the population covered by private insurance -- the rest are Medicaid, Medicare or Emergency Medicaid.