José Rodríguez

09/02/2021

Reflections and perspectives on the 87th Legislature: Sen. José Rodríguez

On Jan. 12, at high noon, I officially vacated my seat in the Texas Senate after 10 years of service. My voluntary retirement comes after almost 45 years of public service in various roles in the Federal Government and Farmworker Legal Services, and as El Paso County Attorney and Texas State Senator. Throughout my career, I have been blessed with support from my family, especially my wife Carmen, a pillar of patience, encouragement, and inspiration for the last 37 years. I served almost 30 of those years as your County Attorney and State Senator, and for that, I’m indebted to you and the people of El Paso and SD 29, who bestowed on me the honor and privilege of serving my community and the State of Texas.

I did not serve alone. Whatever I accomplished in the Senate is shared with my Senate Staff, especially my Chief of Staff Sushma Jasti Smith, and District Director Sito Negron, without whose dedication and hard work I could not successfully achieve our mission. Thanks also to those of you who served in the SD 29 Citizen Advisory Committees, which provided us with input on legislation. I also appreciate every citizen who voted for me or not and gave me advice, feedback, or criticism, and thereby made me a better public servant. And finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize and thank all the public elected and appointed officials with whom I worked to make Texas a better place.

I leave the elected official arena but I remain committed to the good fight for change to improve people’s lives and make this world a better place for everyone. I hope to see you there with me!

Reflections and perspectives on the 87th Legislature: Sen. José Rodríguez

13/01/2021

Man hurling racial slurs at immigrants disrupts anti-Trump border wall protest in El Paso - KVIA

I was asked why, on my last day as Senator, I stood with Border Network for Human Rights to tell the president he was not welcome on the border. He incites people, as happened today here. After everything he has done - family separation, lies about immigrants that led to a massacre in , lies about the election that led to violence and death at the Capitol - he is

https://t.co/cjckCFWNcl?amp=1

Down at Chihuahuita Park, just off Santa Fe Street a peaceful assembly of people protesting against President Trump’s visit to Texas was briefly interrupted by this man who began yelling racial slurs at the crowd and starting fights. Strong language warning! pic.twitter.com/3yTtJeBLl...

12/01/2021

Reflections and perspectives on the 87th Legislature: Sen. José Rodríguez

It's been my greatest honor to represent El Paso, Hudspeth, Culberson, Jeff Davis, and Presidio Counties for the past decade! Here are some reflections and perspectives as the 87th Legislature convenes tomorrow.

Reflections and perspectives on the 87th Legislature: Sen. José Rodríguez

04/01/2021

For folks in the Big Bend Region, here are some upcoming COVID-19 testing dates and locations. Testing is integral to combating spread of the virus and I hope residents in these communities will take advantage of the opportunity to get tested.

31/12/2020

Conditions remain treacherous across many counties in West Texas, including parts of SD29. Travel is highly discouraged due to dangerous conditions. Stay safe this New Year’s Eve!

TONIGHT: DON'T travel if you are in the red shaded area! Roads are extremely hazardous and packed down with snow & ice. Celebrate the New Year at home!

30/12/2020

Important information from the Texas Department of State Health Services on COVID-19 vaccine availability.

Are you 65 or older or have a medical condition that increases your risk of COVID-19 hospitalization or death? If so, you can now get the COVID-19 vaccine depending on local availability.

To get a vaccine, use our online map of vaccine providers to find and call one near you. Map: https://bit.ly/2WSDFZ2

Some providers may not have vaccines available for you yet. We appreciate the urgency Texans have to get vaccinated but we ask folks to be patient. Vaccine supply is limited but providers receive more vaccines each week. It will take some time to vaccinate everyone in these priority groups.

Learn more about who can now receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas: https://bit.ly/3hsQKlo

For all Texas COVID-19 vaccine information, go to dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx

25/12/2020

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Prosperous New Year. ¡Felices Fiestas! ☃️🎄

16/12/2020

COVID-19 Waivers Of Texas Vehicle Title & Registration Requirements Coming To An End In 2021

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has announced the termination date for the state vehicle registration and inspection waiver currently in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Expired registrations must be renewed by April 14, 2021. More info below 👇👇👇

While the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the number of people on Texas roadways drivers will soon need to make sure their vehicle title and registration is current to avoid being cited.

12/12/2020

Supreme Court Shuts Door On Trump Election Prospects

The Supreme Court of the United States unanimously rejected the latest desperate attempt to invalidate millions of votes cast in the presidential election. Time to move on.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued four states that Joe Biden won, claiming their changes to election procedures during the pandemic violated federal law.

10/12/2020

Jupiter and Saturn Will Soon Align in a Rare Astronomical Marvel, and You Can Start Watching Now

On Monday, Dec. 21, Jupiter and Saturn will appear as a single point in the night sky - a phenomenon we won’t see again with this kind of proximity until 2080! The McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis has some tips if you find yourself stargazing that evening.

With help from the McDonald Observatory in West Texas, we share seven beginner stargazing tips.

04/12/2020

Coronavirus is ablaze in West Texas as tourists flock to Big Bend and Marfa. Hospitals are running out of overflow options.

Presidio and Brewster counties, home to Marfa and Big Bend, along with nearby Culberson County, lead the state in cases per 1,000 residents in the last two weeks. In fact, all of West Texas, including Jeff Davis, Hudspeth and El Paso counties, is ablaze with increasing COVID-19 cases and low on hospital beds.

Presidio and Brewster counties, home to the popular tourist destinations, along with nearby Culberson County, lead the state in cases per 1,000 residents in the last two weeks. All of West Texas is dealing with increasing COVID-19 cases while low on hospital beds.

30/11/2020

With more holidays around the corner and COVID-19 impacting families across El Paso, it's important to know what resources are available. Learn more about the application and eligibility process for utility, rent/mortgage assistance and more at Project BRAVO, our local Community Action Agency!
RSVP via email at [email protected].

30/11/2020

El Paso is grateful for all those who have traveled to our region from near and far to support our community during the recent pandemic surge. Thank you for your efforts!

5 of the 7 Houston firefighters deployed to El Paso’s Covid-19 crisis returned today. The other 2 members will continue to assist the City of El Paso at their Emergency Operations Center.

26/11/2020

Today, I'm thankful for our dedicated healthcare workers, passionate educators, and committed essential workforce. While our celebrations may look different this year, I hope your holiday is filled with warmth. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at .

23/11/2020

LGBTQ town hall hears concerns about ‘legislative attacks’ on equality - The Monitor

Last week, I moderated a panel discussion with Equality Texas and PFLAG on expectations for the upcoming legislative session, particularly on the front of trans rights and equality. Thank you to both organizations for the opportunity to lead this important discussion! You can read in this story from the The Monitor.

Adamalis Vigil spoke about her daughter’s experience as a transgender girl in the Rio Grande Valley on Thursday during “Legislative Attacks: Protecting Texas LGBTQ+ Youth in the 2021 Session,” a town hall hosted by Equality Texas and PFLAG. Moderated by state Sen. José Rodriguez, D-El Paso, t...

19/11/2020

The City of El Paso, Texas - Municipal Government is offering free COVID-19 antibody testing to the community. See the post below for more information and to set up an appointment.

The City of El Paso Public Health Department is offering free COVID-19 antibody testing to the community.

The free COVID-19 antibody testing, also known as the serology test, is a blood test that checks for specific proteins called Immunoglobulin that the body produces to protect us from infectious diseases. Individuals who have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 will typically produce IgG antibodies within 2 or 3 weeks after exposure or disease as part of the immune response to the virus.

This type of COVID-19 test DOES NOT detect current infection and it is best used by Public Health to assess the community for individuals who may have had COVID-19 but did not get tested because they declined or did not have symptoms.

The antibody testing service is available by appointment only; those seeking to get tested can do so by registering at EPStrong.org under the testing tab to fill out the COVID-19 Antibody Testing Form.

Residents who have tested COVID-19 positive and have recovered from the virus are urged to consider donating plasma to help our community. The objective is to provide patients who have severe cases of the disease with a transfusion of the plasma that contains COVID-19 antibodies which may help them overcome their illness.

Donations can be made via Vitalant, the nonprofit community blood service provider, which is working with hospitals to collect, process and distribute the plasma for treatment in patients with active, serious COVID-19 infections.

Donors must have a prior laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19, either by a positive swab test OR a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. They must also have no symptoms for at least 28 days and meet all other donor eligibility for an automated plasma donation.

More information and the plasma donor questionnaire can be found at: learn.vitalant.org/ convalescentplasma. Potential donors who have questions may call 866-CV-PLSMA (866-287-5762).

For more information on Vitalant and convalescent blood transfusions visit: vitalant.org/covidFree

17/11/2020

Join the Webinar | GoToWebinar

Meeting at 7 p.m. tonight regarding the Newman 6 power plant proposal.

As we look to the future of energy, the community deserves to hear directly from EPE and TCEQ regarding the need for another fossil-fueled power plant. This meeting is one opportunity for that discussion. Climate change is real, and El Paso, the Sun City, should be a leader in promoting clean energy.

The meeting will include presentations by TCEQ and EPE, followed by an "informal" question and answer period and then by a "formal" comment period. Comments made during the "formal" period will be summarized and answered in writing by the agency. More information on the meeting procedure can be found here:https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/comm_exec/pm-ph/notices/2020/2020-11-17-el-paso-electric-company-1467-psdtx1090m1-n284-ghgpsdtx199-pm-agenda.pdf

Written comments may be submitted before and during the meeting at this link: https://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/

To join the meeting, go to https://www.gotomeeting.com/webinar/join-webinar and click the “Join Webinar” button. Enter the webinar ID 143-437-923.

To join a Webinar, enter the Webinar ID and your email address.

17/11/2020

José Rodríguez's cover photo

17/11/2020

El Paso hospital official says care is being rationed as county judge rallies support for shutdown during COVID-19 crisis

The current state of COVID-19 in our community is not sustainable. Doctors, nurses, and hospital staff are exhausted as hospitals continue to battle the virus surge. I can't impress on my constituents enough how dire our situation is in El Paso. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Socially distance. Stay home.

EL PASO — Determined to move forward after a courtroom defeat for his stay-at-home order, the county judge here has joined with health care officials to...

14/11/2020

Slowing COVID-19 spread is only way to fix El Paso’s hospital crisis, emergency medicine expert says - El Paso Matters

Regardless of whether our elected officials have the ability to enact life-saving measures or not, we have an obligation to slow the spread of COVID-19. Wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently, and avoid gatherings of multiple households.

As El Paso’s COVID-19 crisis continues, an emergency medicine expert warns hospitals may run out of space to treat those affected by the pandemic. State

12/11/2020

El Paso County has issued Order No. 14, effective until 12:00 a.m., Dec. 1.

- All residents are ordered to stay at home unless providing or accessing essential services.
- A county-wide curfew is in effect from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.
- All non-essential businesses must remain closed, including hair and nail salons, tattoo parlors, gyms, massage parlors, and in-person dining at restaurants.
- Restaurants may only provide take-out and delivery.
- All public and private gatherings of people not in the same household are prohibited.
- Essential businesses permitted to continue operating include grocery stores, schools that provide meals, child care facilities, funeral services, health care facilities, pharmacies, governmental operations, post offices, and other businesses as defined in the order.

11/11/2020

Texas Supreme Court declines to grant emergency order against Samaniego’s shutdown mandate - KVIA

I applaud the Texas Supreme Court’s decision to not intervene in this case as we await the appeals court ruling. As COVID-19 continues to ravage through the borderland, local officials should have the latitude to enact measures that will save lives and relieve the stress on health care resources.

EL PASO, Texas -- The Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to grant an emergency order halting El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego's mandated shutdown involving non-essential businesses to stem the surge of Covid-19. The state's top court said the Texas attorney general and local restaurant o...

11/11/2020

Today, we collectively honor our veterans for their selfless service to our nation. Thank you to all those who have have fought to protect and uphold our constitutional freedoms. Happy Veterans Day!

07/11/2020

Biden wins White House, vowing new direction for divided US

Congratulations to our next President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris! A historic win with 74+ million votes -- more votes than any presidential candidate in American history -- and the first woman and person of color elected VP

“It’s time for America to unite. And to heal. With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation,” Biden said. “There’s nothing we can’t do if we do it together.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday, positioning himself to lead a nation gripped by a historic...

04/11/2020

TEXAS SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

Austin, TX – The following statement was released by Senator Carol Alvarado, Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus::

We proudly welcome the newest members of the Texas Senate: Senators-elect Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) and Cesar Blanco (D-El Paso). As highly effective former state representatives, both bring stellar legislative experience to the Senate and exemplary records of fighting for Texas’ working families.

Our caucus looks forward to working with them to advance our legislative initiatives to improve the lives of everyday Texans, including greater access to health care, enhancing equity in public education, economic growth and workforce development, and promoting civil rights and criminal justice reforms.

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The Texas Senate Democratic Caucus members are Senators Carol Alvarado, Houston (Chair); Nathan Johnson, Dallas (Vice Chair); John Whitmire, Houston; Judith Zaffirini, Laredo; Eddie Lucio Jr., Brownsville; Royce West, Dallas; Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, McAllen; José Rodríguez, El Paso; José Menéndez, San Antonio; Borris Miles, Houston; Beverly Powell, Burleson; and Sarah Eckhardt, Austin.

02/11/2020

Don’t Give In to ‘Election Stress Disorder’

is upon us. Take the right steps now to reduce any stress and anxiety that Super Tuesday may bring. Wishing Election Day voters a safe and healthy polling experience tomorrow, and best wishes to all candidates on the ballot.

Voting day won’t bring an end to the strain of this political season, but you don’t have to let things get contentious.

02/11/2020

Verónica Carbajal esta lista para luchar por usted. Es tiempo que la Ciudad trabaje por todas las familias trabajadoras y los contribuyentes. Es tiempo para dejar de subsidiar a empresarios millonarios. No a las injusticas de siempre.

¡Voten por el futuro de El Paso, Verónica Carbajal! Seleccione 190 en la boleta.

Verónica Carbajal is ready to fight for you. It is time for the City to work for all working families and taxpayers. It is time to stop subsidizing wealthy developers. No to business as usual.

Vote for the future of El Paso, Verónica Carbajal! Select 190 on your ballot.

01/11/2020

State law gives County Judges the ability to take actions that support the health and safety of a community during emergencies. The pandemic has been declared an emergency by all levels of government, to include the state and the City of El Paso.

El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego took a lawful action to impose further restrictions on movement and activities in our community. I understand that the Texas Attorney General and others dispute this action, and the Attorney General has issued a non-binding letter in opposition to the action.

However, the Attorney General's letter does not have the force of law, and unless decided otherwise by a court, the Judge's action stands. Instead of directing people to break the law, Mayor Dee Margo should be directing EPPD to support the effort, as the Sheriff's Department and Constables are doing. It will take all of us working together to get through this.

30/10/2020

I applaud Judge Samaniego’s courageous action today. COVID-19 continues to spread at an alarming rate, our hospitals are full, and the terrible reality of a wave of COVID-related deaths looms in the near future. This mandatory stay at home order is necessary to slow the spread of the virus, stabilize our health care system, and save the lives of our fellow Paseños. Our government has a duty to protect its citizens, and in this case, stricter orders limiting residents’ activity are deemed most effective by medical experts. I understand this creates economic hardship for many people, but I firmly believe that left unchecked, the surge of COVID-19 would ultimately have a greater negative economic impact.

There’s no doubt El Paso is facing an unprecedented challenge. Since Oct. 1, our positivity rate has jumped from nine percent to more than 17 percent. Our COVID-19 hospitalization rate is 44 percent – almost three times as much as the 15 percent threshold used by the state to determine additional closures and emergency actions. We are the number one hotspot in the country.

I cannot stress enough how critical the next few weeks will be for our community. The lives we have lost, and will continue to lose, are more than mere dots on a graph - each is a person, a family member, a friend. We can all do our part by staying home and limiting ourselves to essential activities, wearing face coverings when out, and isolating if you test positive. By following these measures, we can overcome this challenge and secure a better future for our Borderland.

30/10/2020

El Paso County has issued Order No. 13 effective 11:59 p.m., Oct. 29 to 11:59 p.m., Nov. 11. Please continue to stay home unless providing or accessing essential services, and observe safe practices including social distancing, wearing a face covering, washing hands frequently, and limiting time in public.

28/10/2020

Here is an updated list of COVID-19 test sites for El Paso County. Please share with anyone needing to get tested.

26/10/2020

Yesterday, El Paso County issued Stay Home, Work Safe Order No. 12:
- All individuals in El Paso County must stay at home except when engaging in essential activities.
- When accessing essential services, only one person per household allowed (for example, grocery shopping)
- Countywide curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- Exemptions include traveling for work, providing or receiving essential services, engaging in socially-distanced outdoor activity, caring for a family member, voting or religious purposes, and essential travel
- Face coverings are required when in public
- $250 fine for face covering violation, $500 fine for any other violations of this order
- Early voting unaffected; polling places open to cast your vote visit www.epcountyvotes.com for info.

26/10/2020

El Paso finds itself at a critical moment in combating COVID-19. In recent weeks, El Paso has had the highest rate of infections of any metro area over 400,000 in the country. In the past 10 days, the number of hospitalizations has doubled, with a current hospitalization rate of 36 percent.

Our local leaders must take swift action to reverse this dangerous trend. State and federal resources have been mobilized to increase hospital capacity and staffing, expand test sites, and assist with critical contact tracing efforts. However, recent efforts to encourage individuals to voluntarily minimize their activities have not been able to slow the spread of the virus, necessitating additional restrictions.

We applaud Judge Samaniego and the County for taking these bold, life-saving actions, especially through encouraging and enforcing science-based strategies to contain the virus. Unless you’re engaging in essential activities, please follow the basic guidelines: stay at home, wear a mask and distance when out, and wash hands often.

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El Paso se encuentra en un momento crítico para combatir el COVID-19. En las últimas semanas, El Paso ha tenido la tasa más alta de infecciones de cualquier área metropolitana de más de 400.000 en el país. En los últimos 10 días, el número de hospitalizaciones se ha duplicado, con una tasa de hospitalización actual del 36 por ciento.

Nuestros líderes locales deben tomar medidas rápidas para revertir esta peligrosa tendencia. Se han movilizado recursos estatales y federales para aumentar la capacidad y la dotación de personal de los hospitales, ampliar los sitios de prueba y ayudar con los esfuerzos críticos de rastreo de contactos. Sin embargo, los esfuerzos recientes para alentar a las personas a minimizar voluntariamente sus actividades no han podido frenar la propagación del virus, lo que ha dado lugar a la necesidad de restricciones adicionales.

Aplaudimos al juez Samaniego y al condado por tomar estas acciones para salvar vidas, especialmente al alentar y hacer cumplir estrategias basadas en la ciencia para contener el virus. A menos que esté participando en actividades esenciales, siga las recomendaciones básicas: quédese en casa, use un cubreboca y aléjese socialmente cuando esté afuera y lávese las manos con frecuencia.