EP District 1

09/17/2021

"Free movie in Madeline Park this Saturday courtesy of Kern Place Association"

"Free movie in Madeline Park this Saturday courtesy of Kern Place Association"

09/15/2021

Happy 915 Day! I'm proud to have worked with Progress321 to draft this proclamation establishing 915 Day for all El Pasoans near and far to celebrate our city and culture!

What is your favorite thing about El Paso?

09/13/2021

Join Our Team! Public Health Safety Job Fair

Learn about great careers that make a difference at the City’s Public Health Safety Job Fair from 8 a.m. to noon September 18, 2021, at 9566 Railroad Dr. Job opportunities include Patient Care Technician, Licensed Registered Nurse, Public Safety Communicator Trainee, Firefighter Trainee, Police Trainee and more.

Join Our Team! Public Health Safety Job Fair

Learn about great careers that make a difference at the City’s Public Health Safety Job Fair from 8 a.m. to noon September 18, 2021, at 9566 Railroad Dr. Job opportunities include Patient Care Technician, Licensed Registered Nurse, Public Safety Communicator Trainee, Firefighter Trainee, Police Trainee and more.

09/11/2021

Today marks twenty years since the attack in the United States of America on September 11th, 2001. Yesterday I was invited to attend a memorial service by Franklin High School students. All of the students who were in attendance were born after 9/11. For them, learning about this terror attack is a history lesson. I think all of us who were around then remember precisely where we were when we heard the tragic events of that day, it is an event we still live with and recall. The horrific attacks on that day did not just affect our country, but the entire world. It is more important than ever before to never forget not only where we were on that day but the sacrifice and lives lost on behalf of our country. Two wars were fought, many people from around the world gave their lives, and we should remember and honor them. We should never forget that we are all connected in this world and have an obligation and duty to leave this world a better place for our next generations.
As the son of immigrants, who was verbally assaulted in the recent days and months after 9/11, because I appear of middle-eastern descent - I know first hand tragedy and pain can be expressed in many different ways both inspiring or hurtful. As we reflect and move forward from September 11th, let's continue to lead with the best of what it means to be human. Let’s choose to lead with light, compassion and understanding for our fellow brothers and sisters in our country and across the world.
May those who lost their lives on that day and those who responded heroically as first responders and members of our armed services and allies, may their memory forever be a blessing.

Peter

#NeverForget911

Today marks twenty years since the attack in the United States of America on September 11th, 2001. Yesterday I was invited to attend a memorial service by Franklin High School students. All of the students who were in attendance were born after 9/11. For them, learning about this terror attack is a history lesson. I think all of us who were around then remember precisely where we were when we heard the tragic events of that day, it is an event we still live with and recall. The horrific attacks on that day did not just affect our country, but the entire world. It is more important than ever before to never forget not only where we were on that day but the sacrifice and lives lost on behalf of our country. Two wars were fought, many people from around the world gave their lives, and we should remember and honor them. We should never forget that we are all connected in this world and have an obligation and duty to leave this world a better place for our next generations.
As the son of immigrants, who was verbally assaulted in the recent days and months after 9/11, because I appear of middle-eastern descent - I know first hand tragedy and pain can be expressed in many different ways both inspiring or hurtful. As we reflect and move forward from September 11th, let's continue to lead with the best of what it means to be human. Let’s choose to lead with light, compassion and understanding for our fellow brothers and sisters in our country and across the world.
May those who lost their lives on that day and those who responded heroically as first responders and members of our armed services and allies, may their memory forever be a blessing.

Peter

#NeverForget911

09/10/2021

Special meeting with El Paso Electric

Please post you comments here.

09/08/2021

Please join us for a special in-person community meeting with El Paso Electric to discuss the proposed rate increase this Thursday, September 9, 2021 @ 6:15 pm at Mesita Elementary School, 3307 N Stanton. As the City of El Paso are the regulators for El Paso Electric, it is important and vital that the company hear directly from residents about your concerns. I hope you will attend.

P.S. - Meeting will be streamed live through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/epdistrict1

Please join us for a special in-person community meeting with El Paso Electric to discuss the proposed rate increase this Thursday, September 9, 2021 @ 6:15 pm at Mesita Elementary School, 3307 N Stanton. As the City of El Paso are the regulators for El Paso Electric, it is important and vital that the company hear directly from residents about your concerns. I hope you will attend.

P.S. - Meeting will be streamed live through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/epdistrict1

09/07/2021

Happy Rosh Hashanah!

Happy Rosh Hashanah!

09/07/2021

Happy Labor Day!
A BIG thank you to the El Paso Central Labor Union for hosting the 2nd Annual Labor Day Caravan!

We stand with workers and those that continue to make our country great!

Thank you!

09/03/2021

Greetings District 1,

This week in city council was important as some of the discussions were related to our ongoing relationship with El Paso Electric. For those that may not be aware, the City of El Paso are the regulators for El Paso Electric which is and always has been, a regulated monopoly in our community. The City of El Paso does not, or never has owned El Paso Electric. In 2019, El Paso Electric was no longer a publicly traded company but purchased by IIF in the form of a merger. I voted against the merger and purchase for many reasons.

However, as part of the merger negotiations and new franchise agreement between El Paso Electric/IIF and the City of El Paso, there was a commitment from EPE to create and present to the city council a Renewable Generation Study. Some of the purposes of this study as defined by the franchise agreement, was to identify how El Paso Electric could adopt more renewable energy such as solar, increase solar adoption in El Paso, especially in low-income areas and clearly state what legislative hurdles there were on the state level and others that needed to be changed in order to increase solar energy in the El Paso region, arguably the Saudi Arabia of Solar Energy.

I as well as others on council had some significant concerns with the work EPE presented for this Renewable Generation Study and will be following up to hold El Paso Electric accountable to the franchise agreement and the Renewable Generation Study deliverables. I encourage you to view the study and let me know your thoughts as well. You can find the study by clicking this link below:

https://issuu.com/pgsvarzbein/docs/2021_renewable_generation_study_draft_city_of_el_p

Finally, please join El Paso Electric as they will have a meeting for District 1 to discuss their proposed upcoming rate increase. The meeting for District 1 will be Thursday, Sept. 9th, 6:15 p.m, at Mesita Elementary School, 3307 N. Stanton.

This meeting is one of eight scheduled by El Paso Electric at the request of the El Paso City Council, who requested the utility host one in each of the City's eight districts.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can always reach out to our office by email at [email protected] or by phone at 915 212 1002.

I hope you all have a great and safe weekend.

Peter

Greetings District 1,

This week in city council was important as some of the discussions were related to our ongoing relationship with El Paso Electric. For those that may not be aware, the City of El Paso are the regulators for El Paso Electric which is and always has been, a regulated monopoly in our community. The City of El Paso does not, or never has owned El Paso Electric. In 2019, El Paso Electric was no longer a publicly traded company but purchased by IIF in the form of a merger. I voted against the merger and purchase for many reasons.

However, as part of the merger negotiations and new franchise agreement between El Paso Electric/IIF and the City of El Paso, there was a commitment from EPE to create and present to the city council a Renewable Generation Study. Some of the purposes of this study as defined by the franchise agreement, was to identify how El Paso Electric could adopt more renewable energy such as solar, increase solar adoption in El Paso, especially in low-income areas and clearly state what legislative hurdles there were on the state level and others that needed to be changed in order to increase solar energy in the El Paso region, arguably the Saudi Arabia of Solar Energy.

I as well as others on council had some significant concerns with the work EPE presented for this Renewable Generation Study and will be following up to hold El Paso Electric accountable to the franchise agreement and the Renewable Generation Study deliverables. I encourage you to view the study and let me know your thoughts as well. You can find the study by clicking this link below:

https://issuu.com/pgsvarzbein/docs/2021_renewable_generation_study_draft_city_of_el_p

Finally, please join El Paso Electric as they will have a meeting for District 1 to discuss their proposed upcoming rate increase. The meeting for District 1 will be Thursday, Sept. 9th, 6:15 p.m, at Mesita Elementary School, 3307 N. Stanton.

This meeting is one of eight scheduled by El Paso Electric at the request of the El Paso City Council, who requested the utility host one in each of the City's eight districts.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can always reach out to our office by email at [email protected] or by phone at 915 212 1002.

I hope you all have a great and safe weekend.

Peter

09/01/2021

Join Our Team! Sun Metro is Hiring
Public Invited to Job Fair on September 9, 2021

Great careers in public transit are waiting for job seekers who attend Sun Metro’s Job Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, September 9, 2021, at Sun Metro’s Transit Operations Center (TOC), 10151 Montana Avenue.

Join Our Team! Sun Metro is Hiring
Public Invited to Job Fair on September 9, 2021

Great careers in public transit are waiting for job seekers who attend Sun Metro’s Job Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, September 9, 2021, at Sun Metro’s Transit Operations Center (TOC), 10151 Montana Avenue.

08/30/2021

CITY STAFF UPDATE ON ROBINSON RESTRIPING

As Per City Staff:

"There was a misinterpretation of the plans and the contractor did not stripe the corridor correctly for the sharrow bike program. The contractor will be correcting this mistake this week. They will also be adding the shared bike lane Decal (sharrow lane) that will visually denote that the traffic lane for vehicles will also be used for cyclists."

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach out to our office at [email protected]

CITY STAFF UPDATE ON ROBINSON RESTRIPING

As Per City Staff:

"There was a misinterpretation of the plans and the contractor did not stripe the corridor correctly for the sharrow bike program. The contractor will be correcting this mistake this week. They will also be adding the shared bike lane Decal (sharrow lane) that will visually denote that the traffic lane for vehicles will also be used for cyclists."

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach out to our office at [email protected]

08/26/2021

Volunteers Needed NOW!!!
August 2021
Demand for assistance is off the charts as thousands of El Pasoans are still out of work or are not earning enough to make ends meet.
Over the last year, because of the demand for food assistance, the need for volunteers at El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank has grown by 500%. To maintain the programs and services we offer, we need on average 120 volunteers per day.
Volunteers are scarce as the Borderland continues to see spread of COVID-19 especially with the Delta Variant. People are nervous about serving, even though El Pasoans Fighting Hunger has taken every precaution and has had no COVID-19 outbreaks at any of our service locations.
Youth who were volunteering in the summer months have gone back to school and with more in person learning at universities, this population of volunteers has diminished.
Combine that with the National Guard drawing down their operations and the difficultly to get AmeriCorps members at the numbers needed, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger needs volunteers more than ever before.
Volunteering at the Food Bank is so easy! It takes about 5 minutes to sign up on our website: : https://elpasoansfightinghunger.org/details/donate/volunteer. There are opportunities to serve Mornings, Afternoons, and Evenings six days a week. We have opportunities that are perfect for everybody, every age and every ability level. You can volunteer for as little as an hour or the whole day.
Your neighbors need your help today! Please Volunteer!

Volunteers Needed NOW!!!
August 2021
Demand for assistance is off the charts as thousands of El Pasoans are still out of work or are not earning enough to make ends meet.
Over the last year, because of the demand for food assistance, the need for volunteers at El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank has grown by 500%. To maintain the programs and services we offer, we need on average 120 volunteers per day.
Volunteers are scarce as the Borderland continues to see spread of COVID-19 especially with the Delta Variant. People are nervous about serving, even though El Pasoans Fighting Hunger has taken every precaution and has had no COVID-19 outbreaks at any of our service locations.
Youth who were volunteering in the summer months have gone back to school and with more in person learning at universities, this population of volunteers has diminished.
Combine that with the National Guard drawing down their operations and the difficultly to get AmeriCorps members at the numbers needed, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger needs volunteers more than ever before.
Volunteering at the Food Bank is so easy! It takes about 5 minutes to sign up on our website: : https://elpasoansfightinghunger.org/details/donate/volunteer. There are opportunities to serve Mornings, Afternoons, and Evenings six days a week. We have opportunities that are perfect for everybody, every age and every ability level. You can volunteer for as little as an hour or the whole day.
Your neighbors need your help today! Please Volunteer!

08/23/2021

NEW NEWS!

Here is some new news for you! The final pass of asphalt pavement
on the northbound lanes of North Mesa is set to begin this week, as early as tomorrow, starting at Baltimore. The details of the plan are in the flyer below, but the upshot is they plan to work 12 hours a day – daytime so they can better see for an improved outcome – from 6AM to 6PM. Traffic will be down to one lane, the inside, as they are going to start with the outside half which will fix those uneven driveways.
It is a moving operation, involving a convoy (to include PD), which will impede access to driveways for up to one hour at a time as it rolls by. It is not going to be convenient, but if they can get it done in a short period of time, we can all stop losing our minds over this project.
In light of these developments (and the start of classes today at UTEP), the pedestrian project I told you about last week that was to start today at Cincinnati District has been pushed back a week. Meanwhile, diamond grinding has started on the southbound lanes. Please stay “Work Zone Aware” and find an alternate route when possible.

NEW NEWS!

Here is some new news for you! The final pass of asphalt pavement
on the northbound lanes of North Mesa is set to begin this week, as early as tomorrow, starting at Baltimore. The details of the plan are in the flyer below, but the upshot is they plan to work 12 hours a day – daytime so they can better see for an improved outcome – from 6AM to 6PM. Traffic will be down to one lane, the inside, as they are going to start with the outside half which will fix those uneven driveways.
It is a moving operation, involving a convoy (to include PD), which will impede access to driveways for up to one hour at a time as it rolls by. It is not going to be convenient, but if they can get it done in a short period of time, we can all stop losing our minds over this project.
In light of these developments (and the start of classes today at UTEP), the pedestrian project I told you about last week that was to start today at Cincinnati District has been pushed back a week. Meanwhile, diamond grinding has started on the southbound lanes. Please stay “Work Zone Aware” and find an alternate route when possible.