Dear Voter:
My name is Alfrank Catucci and I am writing you this letter to inform you that I wish to serve as your Mayor.
I have been living in El Paso for over 16 years and have found there is more economic opportunity in the City of El Paso, Texas than any other place in America. My own business success is evidence of this belief. Yet, it perplexes me that we, as a city, have not experienced sustainable growth during this period of time and, in fact, if we look back over 40 years, El Paso has been largely left behind by other cities such as San Antonio, Austin, Phoenix, and other major cities in our region.
Why?
The answer is simple. El Paso has not been able to overcome its “Good old boy” network system of decision-making. Cronyism is the disease that has destroyed economic initiative and entrepreneurship in our city.
For too long, local government officials have consistently taken care of their friends. If you are not a part of their network, you need not apply for jobs, contracts or incentives. Government is about taking care of friends through awarding of contracts, sweetheart land deals and selective filtering of information to those that can unfairly benefit from it.
This type of corruption is not necessarily criminal but equally, if not more, destructive. Cronyism destroys the competitive nature of the free enterprise system and sends a terrible message to the outside business world. It makes hard working entrepreneurs think twice about doing business here. They know there is no fair and competitive playing field and this ensures they will not locate their company here.
Adding to this problem is the fact El Paso’s tax situation is out of control. Out of 788 counties with 65,000 people or more surveyed by the Federal Tax Bureau in Washington D.C El Paso ranked 33rd highest.
I wish to serve as your Mayor to address these fundamental problems. First, I want to cut spending and reduce property taxes by creating prosperity through economic and corporate growth in El Paso. This can happen by working aggressively and proactively with area business leaders.
El Paso needs to recruit American companies that match the needs of our community. We must move away from the tax and spend philosophy our local government has adopted over the past few years. The City of El Paso Texas is now over five hundred million dollars in debt. We are spending money on future projects without thinking of the impact of the indebtedness today and in the future. We have got to be more responsible with the revenue we have by keeping the future in mind.
There is no question we must keep essential services but we must immediately look for ways to cut growth of bureaucracy and merging some county and city services to help reduce costs.
I will firmly oppose any further debt without voter approval.
Without a doubt, we benefit from economic engines already here such as Ft. Bliss, Texas Tech Medical School, the Children’s Hospital and the co-location of numerous federal agencies. We can do more to foster growth.
One immediate policy that can benefit downtown is the relocation of city and county related agencies downtown. Returning the El Paso Water Utilities, agency headquarters downtown can revitalize it relatively quickly. This will also support businesses that are struggling with an economy in recession and the devaluation of the Mexican peso.
Part of what makes problems worse is the fact that the public is relatively unaware of what happens at city hall. Most people simply do not know how things work. There is little education or effective communication.
I ask for your help and your support to create change in our city. As your Mayor, I will:
1. Conduct regular press briefings about what the city is doing, issues and ordinances we are looking to improve or change and how they will affect your taxes and the impact on the community and economic development;
2. Conduct regular fiscal review of the City on a monthly basis;
3. Set an immediate target of tax reduction across the board. We must stop issuance of Certificates of Obligation. A $500 million debt is not sustainable. If we have learned anything from the recession we are experiencing today it is that excessive spending leads to public bankruptcy.
4. Look to UTEP, EPCC and local school boards to take the lead in training and workforce development so that employers can find a skilled workforce. Re-training is the mantra of tomorrow. The idea that a worker will stay with a company for a lifetime is no longer a reality. We must improve graduation rates, but more than graduation rates, we must ensure the graduates have mastered basic competency skills.
5. Gain control of the Public Service Board (PSB) and land and utility policies. Storm water fees must be in line with short-term needs and address long-term needs consistent with what the community can afford. Transparency must be more than a slogan by politicians and their cronies.
6. Work with local business leaders and economic development companies to help bring more corporate wealth to El Paso. Creating tax and business incentives to make El Paso more attractive to major corporations. Also, helping the local business with the same incentives and helping local business lead the way.
7. Regain control of our destiny as a city and as a community of families that need to do right by their children. El Paso must again believe in itself not because they are “full of it” as the infomercial playing on television spouts but by regaining a sense we can help ourselves and do better. We must overcome mediocrity and challenge those assumptions that for too long have stifled our city. We have to demand leadership and hold people accountable.
I want to be your Mayor. Your desire to make a difference is all that I need to work together for a better community. Please vote on May 9th and give me and our city a chance to do better. We should be among America’s top cities.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Regards,
Alfrank Catucci
Candidate for Mayor