Is Not Having Diversity is a Nice Way of Saying there is still racism in El Paso
Doing Business the White Way: City Advisory Committee With No Latinos or Chicanos and more on diversity in El Paso
Every once in a while Deep Inside El Paso will focus on where Chicano and Latinos are not in El Paso.
Even now in the 21st Century, there are places in El Paso where the glass ceiling has not been broken, no Mexicans or Dogs allowed, or Whites Only.
In doing these little surveys of El Paso we use the old tool of looking at how many Spanish-surnames are on the list of board members, advisory board, presidents, and so on. Now this is not the most precise method of doing this, but it does come very close. Second, I will use the term Chicano to describe people of Mexican extraction living in the city and Latino for people of Latin American extraction.
So let the fun begin.
Parks: No Mexican Allowed
Parks are among one of the most important things a city can have, except El Paso does not have enough of them. The Park & Recreation Foundation's mission is to To solicit, receive, administer, invest and disburse gifts, legacies, devises and conveyance of real and personal property for the purposes and benefit of the of the City of El Paso’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Nice, but in a city with so large a Chicano/Latino population, there are no Latinos on the board:
Lorraine Huit – President
A.C. Sanders III – Vice President
Francoise Feliberti – Secretary
L. Ray Cox – Treasurer
Diane Allen
Richard T. Dempsey, Jr.
Russell Hanson
Togo Railey
Where's the Brown? For more information on the El Paso Parks and Recreation Foundation and its lack Latino exclusion, click here. To call them and ask "Where's the Brown?" call 915-630-3312.
However, if you thought the lack of diversity regarding our parks ended here, you are surely mistaken, and don't worry, I won't call you Sherly.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board “act(s) as an advisory committee to the Mayor and City Council in efforts to promote close cooperation between the City and all private citizens, institutions and agencies interested in the establishment and development of parks and recreation activities. The board of parks and recreation shall advise on park naming and shall review and provide input to the Mayor and City Council on other legislative matters submitted to the board by the director of parks and recreation.”
No wonder we lack parks with names that are Spanish surnames; it's because we lack people with Spanish-surnames on the committee naming parks. Don't believe me? Here's who's currently on the advisory board:
Ardovino, Jennifer Barr 5/11/2010 10/14/2011 District 8
R Bombach, Carlos D. 7/6/2010 10/14/2011 District 5
R Caldwell, Frederick 2/1/2011 10/14/2013 District 4
R Tolbert, James H. 10/15/2009 10/14/2013 District 2
R Turner, David 10/15/2009 10/14/2011 District 1
What a splash of brown. Now, don't get me wrong. Some of these people may be Latino or even African-American and just do not have a Spanish surname, but we use the surname analysis as the best possible test of diversity when we can't get an actual survey filled out by the The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Who is responsible for the this advisory board looking this way, well, your city representative and Mayor:
“Effective on October 14, 2009, the board of Parks and Recreation shall be composed of nine (9) members. Appointments shall be made by the Mayor and City Council. Each member of the” City Council shall nominate one member to the board. Chapter 2.20 and Ordinances: 7021, 7671, 7672, 7791, 10872, 11469, 12557,017124 (effective 10/14/09), 017204.
So take a look at the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and contact you representative and ask, “where are all the brown people?”:
Ann Morgan Lilly district1@elpasotexas.gov
Carl Robinson district4@elpasotexas.gov
Rachel Quintana district5@elpasotexas.gov
Eddie Holguin Jr district6@elpasotexas.gov
Steve Ortega district7@elpasotexas.gov
Robert O'Rourkedistrict8@elpasotexas.gov
Open Space Advisory Board
We found one Latino on the Open Space Advisory Board.
What is this?
This board “act(s) as an advisory board and provide recommendations to the City Council in efforts to preserve and acquire open space. The Open Space Advisory Board shall provide recommendations on the implementation of Towards a Bright Future: A Green Infrastructure Plan for El Paso, Texas, commonly referred to as the Open Space Master Plan. The Open Space Advisory Board shall review and provide input to the City Council on legislative matters pertaining to open space submitted to the board by the director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, the director of the Developmental Services Department, the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service Board, the director of the Economic Development Department and the City Flood Plain Administrator or their designers.”
These are the people who currently sit on this advisory board:
Addington, Bill Guerra 9/22/2009 6/30/2011 District 5 R
Ardovino, Robert 12/8/2009 6/30/2011 District 1 R
Balin, Lois Anne 7/7/2009 6/30/2013 District 4 R
Bilderback, Terry 10/5/2010 6/30/2013 Mayor R
Ruiz, Luis M. 6/23/2009 6/30/2011 District 6 R
Thomas, Richard L. 7/7/2009 6/30/2013 District 3 R
Tolbert, James H. 7/7/2009 6/30/2013 District 2 R
von Finger, Kevin T. 9/8/2009 6/30/2013 District 7 R
Wakeem, Charles S. 6/23/2009 6/30/2011 District 8 R
Wow, for a city that is 80% Hispanic, 75% people of Mexican extraction, one Spanish surname on the board means 11% of this board is Hispanic. For more information on this advisory board, click here.
Non-City Entities, Schools and Non-Profits
Now for the rest of our look at diversity, we will look at lists mentioned in the El Paso Inc. Book of Lists 2011. The private sector has no real responsibility to the community to diversify their executives and many executives are sole proprietors. However, in the cases of non-profits and government entities including colleges and universities, we need to ask “where the brown?”
School Districts
Among the public entities within the school districts, out of the 10 school districts ranked by number of students, 3 out of the 10 had a superintendent who is Latino or Hispanic.
Of the 9 universities and colleges, including those in Las Cruces and ranked by current enrollment, only 2 out of the 9 had a president who is Latino or Chicano.
El Paso Foundation and Charitable Trusts
The world of non-profits in El Paso is still a White one. In looking at the 25 El Paso foundation and charitable trusts ranked by amounts they awarded in 2009, only 4 out of the 25 listed have board chairpersons whom are Latino or Chicano. Of executive directors, only two were listed as having an executive director who is Latino or Chicano. The El Paso Inc. did not list all the executive directors for these foundations though. Of the seven foundations that could be considered family foundations (which is not a legal term, but we just note that this is related to a family), all 7 of them were chaired by a family member.
We mention this only because it is nice to think that these rich people set up foundations to help the public good. However, often the real reason is to give money to family members and friends without getting it taxed. It works this way, a rich person sets up a foundation. The rich person puts his wife or daughter or some other family member as chair, and then puts his wife, daughter or other family member as executive director. You put family members on the board. You make it that the foundation only has to pay the minimum.
Private foundations must make charitable expenditures of approximately 5% of the market value of their assets each year. The salary for your family member, or sorry “executive director” is payed through expenses.
As long as it is not excessive, and if the services are reasonable and necessary for the foundation's exempt purposes, this can be done. Sometimes what they pay out to the public is less than they pay their executive director. Furthermore, you can have family member serve on your board long after you are gone. In addition, family foundations can give money as grants to other family foundations, therefore paying the salaries of your rich friends' families members.
Advertising/Public Relation Firms
Currently, 8 of the 24 firms listed by the El Paso Inc., ranked by number of full-time employees, have a Latino CEO.
El Paso Print Media
Of the top 10 print media companies in El Paso ranked by frequency and then by circulation, 2 out of 10 have a Latino/Chicano owner or publisher.
Video Production Companies
Of the top 14 video production companies in El Paso ranked by number of employees, then by year established, 2 out of 14 have a Latino/Chicano owner.
Banking Institutions
We were surprised about banking institutions in how many Latinos/Chicanos serve as top executives at banks in our city. Board are another issue. Of the top 16 banking institutions in El Paso ranked by 2009 deposits, 9 out of 16 have a top local executive who is Latino or Chicano. That more than half, so this look promising. Again, their board are another animal to kill and this doesn't mean the banks are giving back to our community.
Credit Unions
Looking at the top 12 credit union ranked by total assets, 1 out of 16 credit unions had a Latino/Chicano principal. This does not look good.
For example, I'm a member of Tip O' Texas Federal Credit Union. This credit union has a Latino or Chicano vice president, but that is where the diversity ends. The rest of the board it White, the supervisory committee is White, and the all the management is White. I was wondering why customer service had suffered at my credit union since, SPUR, the credit union for railroad workers, that merged with others to create Tip 'O Texas. How can you have good service to Chicanos and Hispanics, when there are none in your government. So I took my business to GECU.
Financial Planning Firms
Of the 21 financial planning firms rank by number of planners, then by year established, 5 out of 21 financial planning firms had a Latino or Chicano top executive.
Building Maintenance Companies
Of the top 18 building maintenance companies ranked by number of employees, then alphabetically, 11 out of 18 had a Latino or Chicano top executive.
Commercial Printers
Of the top 24 commercial printers ranked by number of employees, 12 out of the 24 companies had a top local executive who was Chicano or Latino.
Copying and Duplicating Services
Of the top 21 copying and duplicating services in El Paso, ranked by number of employees, 15 out of 21 had a Chicano or Latino owner.
Customs Brokerage Firms
Of the top 21 custom brokerage firms ranked by number of employees, 18 out of 21 had a Chicano or Latino top local executive.
Document Management
Of the 11 document management companies ranked by number of employees 1 out of 11 had a Chicano or Latino top local executive.
Local Cartage Companies
Of the top 10 local cartage companies ranked by number of drivers, then by number of trucks, 5 out of 10 are owned by Latinos or Chicanos.
Office Supply Companies
Of the top 17 office supply companies in El Paso, ranked by number of employees, the year established locally, 10 out of 17 are owned by Latinos or Chicanos.
Mailing Services
The El Paso Inc. only list three mailing services in El Paso and ranks them by pieces of mail processed in 2009. Of the three, none have a top local executive who is Latino or Hispanics.
Office Furniture and Equipment Dealers
Of the 18 office furniture and equipment dealers ranked by number of employees, then by year established locally, 3 out of 18 have a top local executive who is Latino or Hispanic
Uniform/Linen Service and Supply Companies
The El Paso Inc. only lists 3 uniform/linen service and supply companies. Of the 3, only 1 has a top local executive who is Chicano or Latino.
Public Warehouses
Of the 10 public warehouses ranked by facility size, of the 8 who give information on their top local executive, 3 out of the 8 are Chicano or Latino.
Shipping Companies
Of the 20 ranked shipping companies, 14 out of the 20 had a top local executive who is Latino or Chicano.
Sign Companies
Of the 20 ranked sign companies, ranked by number of employees and then by years in business, 8 out of 20 had a principal who is Latino or Chicanos.
Internet Service Providers
Of the 12 rank internet services providers ranked by number of accounts, 4 out of 12 had a top local executive who is Latino or Chicano.
Alarm Companies
Of the 20 ranked alarm companies ranked by number of employees, then by year established, 4 out of 20 had a top local executive who is Latino or Hispanic.
Computer Network and System Integrators
Of the 25 ranked computer network and system integrators, 5 out of 25 had a top local executive who is Latino or Hispanic.
Computer Repair Companies
Of the 23 ranked computer repair companies ranked by number of techs, then by year established, 9 out of the 23 had an owner or local executive who is Latino or Chicano.
Local Software Developers
Of the 12 listed local software developers ranked by number of software developers, then by total number of employees, 4 out of the 12 had a top local executive who is Latino or Hispanic.
Website Design Firms
Of the 15 ranked website design firms ranked by number of clients, 5 out of 15 had a top local executive who is Latino or Hispanic.
Career Schools
Of the 17 career schools ranked by current enrollment, 10 out of 17 had a director of admission who is Latino or Chicano. 7 out of the 17 had a president who is Latino or Chicanos.
Parochial Schools
Out of 33 parochial school ranked by number of students, 17 out of 33 has principals who are Latino or Chicano.
Private and charter Schools
Out of 17 private and charter schools ranked by number of students, 9 out of 17 had a principal who is Latino or Chicano.
Commercial Construction Companies
Out of 16 commercial construction companies ranked by number of employees 5 out of 16 had managing principals who are Latino or Chicanos.
NARI Registered General Contractors and Remodelers
Of 20 NARI Registered General Contractors and Remodlers, 6 out of 20 had owners who are Latino or Chicano.
Architectural Firms
Of 23 ranked firms ranked by number of local registered architects, then by number of employees, 12 had managing partners who were Chicano or Latino.
Mechanical Engineering Firms
Of the 9 firms ranked by number of licensed engineer, then by number of employees, 4 out of the 9 had managing owners who were Latino or Chicano. One, Bath Engineering Corp., is employee-owned.
Environmental Engineering Firms
Of the 13 environmental engineering firms, 2 of the 13 had managing owners who were Chicano or Latino.
Civil Engineering Firms
Of the 23 firms ranked by number of licensed engineers, then by number of employees, 12 out of the 23 had managing owners who were Chicano or Latino.
Electrical Engineering Firms
Of the 9 firms ranked by number of licensed engineers, the by number of employees, 4 out of 9 had managing owners who were Chicano or Latino. One was employee-owned.
Lawn Care Companies
Of the 13 lawn care companies ranked by number of employees, the by year established, 5 had a Latino or Chicano top local executive.
Home Builders
Of the 26 homebuilders ranked by number of houses built, 9 out of the 26 had a Latino or Chicano top executive.
Registered Interior Designers
Of the 13 registers interior designers ranked by year established then by number of registered interior designers, 1 had a Latino or Chicano top local executive.
Swimming Pool Constructors and remodelers
Of the 18 Swimming Pool Constructors and remodelers ranked by year established locally, 12 were Latino or Chicano.
El Paso Pioneer Companies
The El Paso Inc. also listed “pioneer” companies and we think this means companies by year established that are still in business.
Th Inc. listed 50 of them which I will list:
El Paso Times,
Kemp Smith,
Union Pacific RR,
Well Fargo Bank of El Paso,
The Clock Manor,
ScottHulse,
New York Life,
Samuel's Jewelers,
Wyler Industrial Works,
Union Fashion,
El Paso Sheet Metal,
American Eagle Brick Co.,
Caldarella's restaurant Supply,
International Business College,
John D. Williams Insurance,
Salvation Army,
Providence Memorial Hospital,
Spectrum Imaging Systems,
Bazarar,
James A. Dick Co.;
Mounce, Gree, Myers, Safi, Paxcon & Galatzan,
Funeraria del Angel Harding -Orr and Mcdaniel Funeral,
Funeraria del Angel Kaster, Maxon, Futrell Funderal Home,
Weeks Roofing,
El Paso Country Club,
Hubb International Southwest,
Price's Creameries,
Azar Foodservice,
Daniel's Movign and Storage,
Boy Scouts,
Angelus Cleaners,
Tony Lama,
Camino Real Hotel,
Girl Scouts,
Sheldon Jewelery,
University Medical Center,
Modern Iron Works,
Casas Carpet and Tile,
Goodman Financial Group,
First National Bank,
Southwestern Mill Distributors,
Bailey-Mora Company,
Burdick and Burdick,
Bixler and Co.,
Dick Poe,
Silva's Super Market,
KTSM, and
El Paso Tire Company.
Out of these 50, only 8 had Latino or Hispanic top executives.
Pet Groomers
Out of 31 pet groomers listed, 14 have a Latino or Chicano “top dog.”
Summary
There are still some other indistries to go through, but let's summarize. We were surprised at the number of local top executive at banks. So when we do find that Latinos and Chicanos are in these positions of power, the next question is are they giving back to their communities or selling out to big business and White elites in El Paso.
Looking at the top dog at institutes of higher education is frightening. No Mexican Need Apply. As for private foundation, also, No Mexicans Allowed. Again, the numbers of Chicanos or Hispanics on advisory boards for the parks and open space are an embarrassment for our city.
Diversity looks good in Building Maintenance Companies, Copying and Duplicating Services, Customs Brokerage Firms, Office Supply Companies, Shipping Companies, and Swimming Pool Constructors and remodelers.
In some ranked industries, the number of Chicano or Latino executives is at 50% but other nada.
Of the "Pioneer Companies" some are older then 100 years. They did not have non-White executives 100 years ago, and they still do not have them in the 21st Century.
