El Paso to Model Most Expensive Minor League Arena in the Country

El Paso to Model Most Expensive Minor League Arena in the Country

Experts say the Allentown, Pennsylvania PPL Center costs spiraled out of control, tax scandal, corruption and FBI involvement

This is part 1 in a series looking at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The City of El Paso has used a $180 million dollar estimate for the Downtown arena that they wish to place on top of the Duranguito neighborhood after its demolition.

In their public outreach they have used the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania as an example of success.

However, a closer look is needed.

City of El Paso Estimates for Costs Are Often Wrong

First, whenever the City of El Paso puts out an estimate, you have to use the Arrieta-Candelaria-Wilson Algorithm of Estimated Costs. 

We don’t know the exact formula for this algorithm (they probably don't know it either), but we are sure the fuzzy math lady who so brilliantly, along with Joyce Wilson, in estimating the costs of Southwest University Park, knows the exact formula.

However, it’s safe to say that doubling the cost of the Downtown Arena is close to what the Arreita-Caldelaria-Wilson algorithm is.

So, we’d say about $360 million.

City Using Allentown's PPL Center as a "An Example of a Successful Downtown Location."

Above, City of El Paso used Allentown PPL Center as Successful Example, not knowing the problems, FBI investigation, spiraling out-of-control costs.

 However, we look into the PPL Center and it was not what it seems.

Lesson in Disaster and Out-of-Control Spending: PPL Center, Allentown, Penn

In the planning, for the PPL center, Allentown estimated that it would need 3,500 parking spaces for their 10,000-size arena. After it was built, they found out the actual number was 4,200.[i]

Skeptics of the Allentown PPL Center had said downtown was the wrong area for the PPL Center.

The PPL center ended up being an 8,500 – seat facility as reported by The Mourning Call [ii]. 

Other differences were that the PPL Center was part of a riverfront development. I’d assume the riverfront is much more appealing than our riverfront here in El Paso.[iii]

Scott Kraus and Matt Assad say the PPL Center cost $177 million, but The Morning Call would correct this later. However, they say that the pitch was originally for a hockey arena, which was supposed to cost $80 million, but it “morphed” into the PPL Center at a cost of $177.

In 2011, the PPL Center was sued by a group of suburban communities “unhappy that their resident’s local earned income taxes would have been siphoned off to help finance construction.”[iv]

To be continued…

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[i] McEvoy, Colin. “Allentown prepares for parking, traffic for hockey arena opening.” The Express-Times, September 5, 2014, updated January 2, 2015.

[ii] Kraus, Scott and Assad, Matt. “Arena opens, symbol of hope for better Allentown.” The Morning Call, September 10, 2014.

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] Ibid.

All-White Texas Historical Commission Listens to White-Dominated Chamber of Commerce

All-White Texas Historical Commission Listens to White-Dominated Chamber of Commerce

El Paso Greater Chamber of Commence Uses Influence to Deny Historical Designation to Union Plaza / Duranguito

Was it really surprising that an all-White historical commission would reject historical designations to area in of El Paso of great historical significance to people of color in El Paso?

The Texas Historical Commission states it: 

“…works to save the real places that tell the real

stories of Texas. THC staff consults with

citizens and organizations to preserve Texas’

architectural, archaeological and cultural

landmarks. The agency is recognized nationally

for its preservation programs.”

“The THC is composed of 12 citizen members appointed

by the governor to staggered six-year terms. The agency

employs about 175 people who work in various fields,

including archaeology, architecture, history, economic

development, heritage tourism, public administration

and urban planning.”

Source: Website of the Historical Commission.

According to the US Census regarding Texas: 

Hispanic Population is 38.8 percent.

American Indians 1 percent

Asian 4.7

Black, African American 12.5 percent.

So with Asians, Africans Americans, American Indians, and Hispanics, these groups of color make up 57 percent of the population of Texas.

Yet, the twelve-person Texas Historical Commission has no persons of color on it. Now, we are just going by surname and photos posted at http://www.thc.texas.gov/about/commissioners.

Currently, the website only listed 9 members not twelve.

If we analyzed based on surname, none of the commissioners have Hispanic surname or surname that would be Asian (maybe Nau). In looking at the photos listed on the page above, none of the commissioners look Asian, African American, or Hispanic.

John L. Nau, III

Monica Burdette

Earl Broussard

John Crain

Wallace B. Jefferson

Tom Perini

Gilbert E. Paterson

Robert Shepard

Daisy Sloan White

Although this is not the best indicator of the demographics of the commission, it’s a safe bet to say that no or hardly any commissioners are people of color.

I also scoured the bios connected to each commissioner to look for indication of any memberships in organization associated with people of color. Nothing.

So in a state where almost 60 percent of the State’s population is people of color, none or hardly any of the 9 commissioners are persons of color.

That should be of no surprise as most are appointed by the governor to six year terms. In looking at the anti-people of color politics of our current governor Greg Abbott and our former governor Rick Perry, it’s predictable to say that they would not appoint any people of color to this commission.

Regional

It is also interesting to note that at the same website, it lists where these commissioner live. Only one of the nine is from West Texas. None are from the Valley of Texas, another large region of people of color in Texas. None are from San Antonio, another city with a large Hispanic population.

Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce

So why would a letter from the El Paso Chamber of Commerce be so influential. It’s a good bet that the El Paso Chamber of Commerce has not corresponded or corresponded very little with the State Historical Commission in decades.

Looking more local

The Great of Chamber of Commerce is a little more diverse.

Thirty seven of the 109 Governing Board Members has Hispanic surnames and at least one is known to us to be African American. That means for a city that is 81.3 percent Hispanic and 86.7% people of color, the Governing Board of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce only 33 percent of the board is Hispanic.

The Chamber of Commerce Executive Board has a 19 members. Eight members have Hispanic surnames. So in a city with 81.3 percent Hispanics, less than a third of the Chamber Executive Board is Hispanic.

Source: http://www.elpaso.org/about-us/board-of-directors/

http://www.elpaso.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ 

You have to remember, there is a reason why Hispanic chambers of commerce were founded in most cities. It was because of exclusion from the regular chamber of commerce.

Is it surprising?

We must ask ourselves, is it surprising that a State Historical Commission with no people of color and a Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce that only a third of their Governing Board being Hispanic would conspire to reject historical status for places in the Union Plaza district of significance to people of color.

The history of Mexican Americans has been under attack for generations. First our history was not taught at all, and more recently, the Texas Board of Education recommended a racist Mexican American history text book. 

This movement by the Chamber is just another continued action against the culture of people of color, not even the first.

 

Even taking out the action of the El Paso County Judge, is it real surprising?