El Paso County judge, commissioners don't deserve 16% raise: Letters to the Editor
County judge, commissioners deserve no more than a 4% raise
As our county judge and commissioners give themselves 16% raises, consider this:They are chasing equal pay with counties that are far wealthier than El Paso. The average household income in Tarrant County (Fort Worth) is about $72,000; Bexar County (San Antonio), $60,000; Dallas County, $66,000; Travis County, $83,000.El Paso County’s average household income is $49,000. When we get El Paso’s average household income up to $60,000, then we can talk about a 16% raise.For now, they shouldn’t take more than the 4% raise other county employees are getting.Ed Shugert
East El Paso
More: El Paso taxes: County proposes tax rate increase, gives elected officials pay raise
Remember pay raise at election time
The county commissioners really value themselves, and other elected officials, to the utmost maximum. The 16% raise was outrageous. The amount of the raise is why El Paso has such high taxes, and the squeezing of El Pasoans is detrimental to the viability and affordability of the city.
The comment made by County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, that El Paso needs to pay to attract upper caliber individuals, is the same nonsense used for the city manager.
El Pasoans need to remember these officials at election time, the voters need to remember.
Norma Salinas
East El Paso
More: El Paso businessman, longtime community leader Mike Dipp Jr. dies at 81
Mike Dipp, El Paso’s brightest sunshine
Dear El Paso Times,
I’m deeply sorry for your loss — two months ago our hearts broke with the news of Mike Dipp’s passing. You lost your biggest customer, and El Paso lost its brightest sunshine.With a warm “Buenos días” and a huge smile, he always welcomed anyone willing to sit down for a cup of coffee.Mike never wasted an opportunity to make our days. He would get up as early as the sun, enjoy breakfast with friends, and be at the office by 7 a.m. Though I never quite witnessed the process with my own eyes, I can picture him behind his overworked wooden desk going through the day’s newspaper, article by article, to ensure we all received the clipping that made him think of us that day. Whether you were mentioned in the article yourself, or it was about something you had mentioned to him in passing, he clipped and postmarked that little piece of El Paso Times for you to find in the mailbox — carefully laminated attached to a note on his signature Plaza Properties stationary with a scribbled “Mike” at the bottom.Undoubtedly, he left a legacy of a successful, hardworking, self-made businessman — but above everything else, Mike left an unparalleled legacy of kindness and love for our community.
Elisa Tamayo
Downtown El Paso
Trolley offers extended hours
The streetcar has extended hours beginning Sept. 3. Park your car at the Glory Road garage (kitty-corner to the Don Haskins Center) and take the trolley. It'll be running Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Saturday noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m.Bienvenidos alumnos de Juárez!
Nelson Bank
West EL Paso
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: County judge, commissioners don't deserve 16% raise: Letters to the Editor
