El Paso Politics

(Note to readers: This piece is a reprint from a blog/column from two years ago) “When your children and grandchildren take their place in America, going to high school and college, and taking good jobs at good pay-when you look at them you will say, ‘I did this, I was there…at the point of difficulty and danger’. And though you may be old and bent from many years of hard labor, no man will stand taller than you when you say, ‘I marched with Cesar Chavez!’” Robert F. Kennedy Cesar Chavez Day is coming up and I thought I’d write a few lines about the man that I have come to regard as a personal hero. THE LINEAGE I grew up in the United Farmworker’s Union, as you can see in this photo. I was about 3 or 4 years old in this picture. It’s a picket line in Arizona, around 1978 or 1979. My family’s name is well-known in “La Causa” and am the third generation of my family to be heavily involved with the Union and the movement. My grandfather Pedro, and great-uncles Hector and Ernesto were clos...

She didn't. She danced around it, which might very well be the reason that she avoids talking with media for very long. Its sort of the Melina Castro/Rachel Quintana school of campaigning. Talk to regular people, avoid anyone who might have an actual question.

Normally a title like that would be the lead in to a piece about some elected official or candidate being funded by a person or group one would not normally expect to see as a supporter of said elected official or candidate. But in this case, its about actual marriages. State Representative Joe Pickett will soon tie the knot with Shannon Wiggins in an unusual place. He is apparently going to swap vows under the dome of the state capitol in Austin. This follows a whirlwind romance that started during last session and an engagement materialized before the end of the session. No official word on whether or not the Pickett wedding reception will be held in his 50's diner-style office in the legislature, but if it is, there is a pretty good chance that the guests will dine on free sodas, ice cream, and popcorn. Sorry, thats in inside-Austin joke. In related news, Judge Sam Medrano and is wife will also be renewing their vows here in El Paso soon. It appears they will be getting married ...

I was at EP Fitness earlier and I noticed a pretty big dude come out of the gym and get in to a car that was parked in a handicap parking space. I've seen the guy there before and I know I've seen him running on the treadmill there before. So why is a physically fit guy parking in a handicap space? He had handicap plates, which really isn't the point. He was completely healthy so why does he need a handicap spot? Which got me to thinking about how often I've seen people with no problems walking or moving parked in handicap spaces. I guess the way I think about the whole situation is if you don't have a mobility-related disability, what do you need the space for? Don't get me wrong, I am all for increased accessibility for the disabled but does someone who doesn't have mobility problems really need to park closer to the front door? Am I wrong on this one?

Maybe its a sign that I'm finally growing up, but when I pick my cubs up from school and I notice the fashion sense of some of the students I find myself asking, “What the hell?” Somethings are just wrong. Fundamentally wrong to the core. Things like guys wearing skinny jeans. Its just not right. Back when I was in high school there was a fad that drove my parents nuts, which thankfully we never really got in to. It was sagging pants. For some reason a lot of homeboys felt it necessary to show half their nalgas and most of their chones to the whole world. Which brings me to the most unholy marriage I have ever seen in teenage fashion. Guys who try to sag skinny jeans. Aside from looking like big pendejos, they walk funny as hell. Some of these little chavalos have the nerve to walk around like they are tough shit. I just want to tell them that it is impossible to look like a tough vato loco in skinny jeans. Especially when they are the same guys that shave their eyebrows.

My bad. I messed up. I wrote in a previous blog piece that an email exchange was between Rebecca Robledo and Blanche Darley. I misidentied one of the parties. The exchange was between Becky Baca and Blanche Darley. I got confused because I saw both names in the email exchange. I hate when people don't admit when they are wrong so I have to admit when I am. My bad people. I'm giving myself the Asshole of the Week Award.

People wonder why I carry around my camera and video equipment with me every where I go. Here is the reason why, you never know what you are going to come across. As I was on my way home from the station I saw this group of students protesting outside McDonald's and I stopped to learn more about them. They will be on the show on Wednesday so tune in to www.TalkRadio1150.com to hear the interview.