Apple announces new $1 billion Austin campus as part of big US expansion

[WestTx12]

It irks the $hit out of me that weekly we see headlines like this for Austin, San Antonio, DFW, and Houston. I know EP will never be a tech hub like these big boys are but I still believe our Economic Development team with the City is lost. We should be a major player in the automobile industry, defense industry and lately a push into the medical world.

Our Economic Development team should be sitting on Tesla, Chevy's and Ford's doorstep every morning begging for jobs here. Instead of giving money to a waterpark 3star hotel, let's give money to these guys to build factories and bring solid jobs to EP. We have all of the land in the world to do so.

We announced 19 new jobs for a company that does automatic billing for daycares!

https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/13/18139009/apple-billion-dollar-austin-campus-us-expansion
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article222950455.html


At least we have Santa Teresa who may not be bringing in the highest paying jobs but is bringing new talent and opportunities to the area.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1256736/...ompany-creating-342-jobs-in-santa-teresa.html

 

[HoneyBoy95]

If you were bringing jobs like this, why would you pick El Paso over those cities? El Paso offers nothing better than those cities. All have more entertainment options, etc.

 

[WestTx12]

I understand that and that's obvious but you're going to tell me that Facebook's facility outside Alburquerque or Tesla's Gigafactory outside Reno is based on that thinking?

We will never get the offices with an average pay of $100,000 but we can get these major companies to invest in our City.

 

[Minerforlife]

I understand that and that's obvious but you're going to tell me that Facebook's facility outside Alburquerque or Tesla's Gigafactory outside Reno is based on that thinking?

We will never get the offices with an average pay of $100,000 but we can get these major companies to invest in our City.

Lack of educated and qualified workers.

 

[USAFminersfan]

If you're recruiting the best people to work for you (especially high paying tech jobs), the last thing you want to tell them is that they'll be moving to El Paso. That's especially true when the competition is located in places like Austin, San Francisco, or Seattle.

What really hurts ELP is the lack of water. I've heard this a few times from high level exec's. Surface and ground water are limited, or nearly obsolete. That's of course not the only problem, but a major one.

 

[HoneyBoy95]

I understand that and that's obvious but you're going to tell me that Facebook's facility outside Alburquerque or Tesla's Gigafactory outside Reno is based on that thinking?

We will never get the offices with an average pay of $100,000 but we can get these major companies to invest in our City.

Have you ever been to Albuquerque or Reno? Both have AAA and USL like El Paso, but both have casinos. Reno is a short drive away from Lake Tahoe. Both of those cities have all 4 seasons. El Paso is close to Albuquerque and Phoenix and those are 4 plus hours away.

When you go to those cities, your chances or running into someone who doesn’t speak English are a lot smaller than here in EP. Don’t kid yourself thinking that doesn’t matter.

 

[SouthernMiss3613]

And Austin is filled with all those weird liberals from California. That was appealing to Apple.

 

[WestTx12]

Have you ever been to Albuquerque or Reno? Both have AAA and USL like El Paso, but both have casinos. Reno is a short drive away from Lake Tahoe. Both of those cities have all 4 seasons. El Paso is close to Albuquerque and Phoenix and those are 4 plus hours away.

When you go to those cities, your chances or running into someone who doesn’t speak English are a lot smaller than here in EP. Don’t kid yourself thinking that doesn’t matter.

Just making sure you have been to Sunland Park Casino, Speaking Rock, or Ruidoso? Also, we get snow in the winter, the tress are changing colors right now, we have the best weater nationwide in the spring and summers are hot. That sounds like 4 seasons to me.

Not a strong argument.

P.S. I know all of the things you guys are pointing out are true and El Paso is not qualified for these companies right now. It could be though and that is the problem. Other than the issue with the water, all of these can be fixed to some point.

 

[HoneyBoy95]

Just making sure you have been to Sunland Park Casino, Speaking Rock, or Ruidoso? Also, we get snow in the winter, the tress are changing colors right now, we have the best weater nationwide in the spring and summers are hot. That sounds like 4 seasons to me.

Not a strong argument.

Do Sunland Park and Speaking Rock have live card games like Poker and Blackjack? Do they have roulette? They do right, but all computerized right? If that’s what gamblers want to play, why do you still have live dealers in Las Vegas?

Is Ruidoso in El Paso? No, it’s a 2 1/2 hour drive from here. Reno’s are Downtown and Albuquerque’s are not 2 1/2 hours away. How many people do a 5 hour round trip to Ruidoso on a regular basis. You can’t go to Ruidoso on a whim on a Tuesday at 7pm.

“We get snow” “We have the best weather nationwide in the Spring and summers are hot”

How much snow has EP received this last year? Best weather according to who? El Paso does not get a fall or a true 4 season experience like those cities and numerous others

 

[John 100]

P.S. I know all of the things you guys are pointing out are true and El Paso is not qualified for these companies right now. It could be though and that is the problem. Other than the issue with the water, all of these can be fixed to some point.

El Paso is never going to compete with those cities and that's OK. I love El Paso because it is such an underrated city and kind of a hidden gem. This is why I live here. I love traveling to go to sports events, concerts, but I always love coming back to El Paso. I love not spending hours in traffic and I can drive 15 minutes to get to Downtown.

 

[WestTx12]

Well looks like my rant may have worked haha. Stay tuned for an announcement from Borderplex on Monday at 2pm.

 

[Dmanminer]

Do Sunland Park and Speaking Rock have live card games like Poker and Blackjack? Do they have roulette? They do right, but all computerized right? If that’s what gamblers want to play, why do you still have live dealers in Las Vegas?

Is Ruidoso in El Paso? No, it’s a 2 1/2 hour drive from here. Reno’s are Downtown and Albuquerque’s are not 2 1/2 hours away. How many people do a 5 hour round trip to Ruidoso on a regular basis. You can’t go to Ruidoso on a whim on a Tuesday at 7pm.

“We get snow” “We have the best weather nationwide in the Spring and summers are hot”

How much snow has EP received this last year? Best weather according to who? El Paso does not get a fall or a true 4 season experience like those cities and numerous others

Yes I’m sure major companies are interested in the color of leaves!

 

[HoneyBoy95]

Yes I’m sure major companies are interested in the color of leaves!

No, but employees that might move here do.

 

[WestTx12]

Yes I’m sure major companies are interested in the color of leaves!

Do they care if we have 4 seasons or 3 seasons? We have great weather so that will never be a strike against EP.

 

[centex-miner]

today, the most important factor in a company's site location decision is skilled labor. if a community doesn't have it, they don't get a shot.

http://www.areadevelopment.com/Corp...aramount-Doug-Rasmussen-Duff-Phelps-LLC.shtml

 

[Nugget 07]

1-10 sucks. The roads are horrible. It takes 15 mins to get to downtown on a Sunday only. Rush hour has become horrendous. Our public transport also sucks. Plus, why do Juarez drivers get to drive our streets with broken tail lights, and no catalytic converter? 90% of Mexican vehicles wouldn’t pass inspection. It’s BS. Those paper plates are also BS, a lot of fakes out there too with shitty vehicles.

El Paso, get your shit together.

 

[Rot]

A few years ago, local govt. officials dropped the ball when they had a chance to bring KIA Motors to El Paso. KIA Motors had El Paso listed as one of their top choices due to the city’s location along a major interstate; 1-10, railroad system, airport and proximity to Mexico. Our local officials acted like amateurs when they met with Executives from KIA Motors. The three finalists that were in the running were given deadlines to submit financial incentives. It was very embarrassing when KIA Executives traveled to El Paso ready to discuss the city’s financial incentives and our local officials were not prepared. Our local officials did not have their plan ready and asked for an extension. Needless to say the KIA folks were very upset and this killed the deal for El Paso. The billion dollar manufacturing plant was subsequently built in West Point, Georgia. I got this information from a person that was close to the action. I was told by the same person that other companies like LG and Samsung were also looking at El Paso, but this sealed the fate for El Paso.

 

[John 100]

1-10 sucks. The roads are horrible. It takes 15 mins to get to downtown on a Sunday only.

That is 100% false. Unless there is an accident or rush hour or after work it take me 15 minutes to get to Downtown every time.

 

[John 100]

1-10 sucks. The roads are horrible.

Stop exaggerating. The roads aren't horrible.

 

[WestTx12]

A few years ago, local govt. officials dropped the ball when they had a chance to bring KIA Motors to El Paso. KIA Motors had El Paso listed as one of their top choices due to the city’s location along a major interstate; 1-10, railroad system, airport and proximity to Mexico. Our local officials acted like amateurs when they met with Executives from KIA Motors. The three finalists that were in the running were given deadlines to submit financial incentives. It was very embarrassing when KIA Executives traveled to El Paso ready to discuss the city’s financial incentives and our local officials were not prepared. Our local officials did not have their plan ready and asked for an extension. Needless to say the KIA folks were very upset and this killed the deal for El Paso. The billion dollar manufacturing plant was subsequently built in West Point, Georgia. I got this information from a person that was close to the action. I was told by the same person that other companies like LG and Samsung were also looking at El Paso, but this sealed the fate for El Paso.

It all leads back to our shitty local government and economic development team.


Whether your a Beto fan or not, one good thing that has come and will even more now with all the attention on him is the free press that El Paso will receive. If anything it should shine a light on the hidden gem we have here for the world stage to see.

 

[UTEPfan1966]

El Paso needs politicians that are not just in it for themselves in order for El Paso to develop. You MUST gives tax breaks to bring in big companies, but can't tax the locals up the a hole to make up the difference. Stop paying $330k to a city manager and $150k each to his 3 assistants.
This city has always been run by idiots. State and national governments are stupid too, but OMG....I should run for office, but I am too straight forward.....

 

[kickballpro]

Not too happy with Beto today. He went to Mexico to inquire about the refugee process and speak to the refugees. Then attacked CBP. Now saying US needs to stop criminalizing the border and increase staff at the bridges to handle more refugees.

Just wondering who was he elected to represent?

 

[John 100]

Stop paying $330k to a city manager and $150k each to his 3 assistants.

The same could be said for UTEP. Why is UTEP paying Senter $300k a year? I can bet you there are many people that would do the job for much less and will have the same, if not better results.