RUNNING HEAD: FUTURE OF THE CITY OF SOCORRO

Problem Report:
Future of the City of Socorro
Zenait Lopez
University of Texas at El Paso

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Abstract

The City of Socorro is having a problem with the lack of lights at night. But its economy
is a factor that the major should take care more than before because the economy of the country
is not getting better even though unemployment rate is getting low, plus the funds that were
taken from the last major and some members of the City Council of Socorro. This problems led
to the new major, Jesus Ruiz, to raise taxes. But, the money he collect is being spending in
projects that are no needed such as putting STOPS signs on streets that are not journeyed.
Whereas, he should be using those funds in something that is worth it such as street lights,
because in Socorro there is lack of light at night and it is difficult to see while you are either
driving or walking, plus the darkness will make the city prone to delinquency.

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The reporter, Matt OBrien, through charts and information provided by the economists
Danny Blanchflower and Andrew Levin, explains that nowadays the unemployment is
almost back to normal, which can be seen as a good thing. Unfortunately, the economy of the
country is not. OBrien, describes that this is caused by a phenomenon that is known as shadow
unemployment which means that people look for full time jobs; nevertheless, the only jobs they
can find are part- time jobs. This means that the rate of unemployment is decreasing and
contribute to the employees economy. But, after six years the crisis has ended, it does not add
much to the economy of the country. (Matt OBrien, 2015). Therefore, if the economy of the
country, could not get back, the cities such as Socorro and its funds will be affected as well.
For that reason, is that since six years ago, the cities, states and the country of the United
States have had to take care of its funds more than before. Accordingly to Dictionary.com,
economy is the way the sources are use in a city, state or country and its productivity. These are
simple words that anyone can understand, but, like the Spanish proverb says: it is easier said than
done. This is the real struggle that the cities, states and countries are having problem with,
because they understand what economy is, but most of the time, they do not really take priorities
that can precedence in things that will benefit their community. That is why is the economy could
not improve, because part time jobs contribute a little bit towards the economy of the country,
but the country and its states and cities does not take advantage of that, therefore, it will damage
more than it can help the funds of each one (Matt OBrien, 2015).
A perfect example can be the city of Socorro. In the city, Boards and Commissions is a
department that is part of the City Council of Socorro. This department is the one who is in
charge of the funds of the city. They, along with the major, make the decisions on what the funds

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of the city should be spend. It is known that they perform an exemplary job due that in the
webpage of the City of Socorro, current and future residents can be inform of activities in
progress and being up-dated with important information about the city. Unfortunately, it is
discover that members of the City Council of Socorro have not followed the rules and this
obviously is not shown in that webpage. Accordingly to El Paso Times, on 2011 several of the
members of the City Council of Socorro spent $10,000 in less than one month in hotels. This
money was taken from the funds of the city. In other words, the money was taken from the taxes
that are deducted from the checks that each individual pays. One of the members of the City
Council of Socorro that had not spent that money, declares that it is an irresponsibility for the
part of her peers, because they supposed to be the example for others as well as they should
never touch that money if it is not used towards the city. She added that she could have use that
money in something that is beneficial to the city. This happened four years ago and of course it
could sound that is not that relevant, but in reality it is because the money that was spent theses
past four years is another reason why is that Socorro should take care of its funds. The major
who was before is not the same major anymore. Now is Jesus Ruiz, who will had to deal with the
money that is left, and try to find ways to raise money so they can start in the betterments of the
city.
As a result, the major, Jesus Ruiz, raise taxes in about 4 percent more because he
mentioned that the city and its projects can be done by using the funds of the amount of taxes
that the community pays, therefore if they pay a little more taxes, they will have more budget
towards the city. One of the main projects he have in mind is prevent future flooding, repair the
streets, and install street lights. Also, a citizen revealed that he would not mind to pay more taxes

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if only if they are use in the correct way (Welsh, S, 2014). This shows that betterments will be
seen in the city soon.
Unfortunately, it was not the way people was waiting for. Some of the projects that they
started and that were not announced was putting STOPS signs in almost each intersection.
STOPS signs are devices that are used to control the traffic at intersections. There is a criteria
that exist in a document named Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The
manual contains standards and guidance for both the form and use of the various types of traffic
control devices. In this case are the STOPS signs. It mentions that it is useful to have a STOP
sign in busier streets, approach speed of traffic on the major street, and also it can be required a
STOP sign to decrease traffic accidents as well as pedestrians accidents. But there is no record
that shows that there is accidents with pedestrians in Socorro, the majority of the streets are not
journeyed, and it is a small town. Therefore, STOP signs are nor needed in almost every
intersection, and the money that have been spent on them is not worth it because it does not help
the community as much as other projects the major said he will do such as street lights.
(Fazzalaro, J., 2005,).
Street lights is something that is needed in Socorro, because it is difficult to see either
driving or walking. In addition, the delinquency will be generated making it worse. Besides, the
community of Socorro will be more likely to feel the opposite of how the major pretend to,
which is feel safe and have peace (Welsh, S, 2014). In addition, there was more neighborhoods in
El Paso, which are examples of what Socorro can get to if street lights are not installed soon. For
example, the news of Borderzine showed that a student of the University of Texas at El Paso,
Itzel Duran have a project which is to inform the community about the process and what is

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needed in order to make a request of streetlights and be able to the City Council actually go and
inspect and install street lights. One of the things this girl have been doing is research and what
they found out is that due to the lack of lighting in the neighborhoods, this neighborhoods can
become a target for delinquency and the neighbors themselves have experienced and have told
the girl their experiences. In addition, the girl said that if they follow each step of the procedure,
they will get street lights and all the cost will go not only to the City Council but to the Electric
Company as well. In addition, there is another new that came out on El Paso Times were it
unveiled that the City Council of El Paso started to put streetlights surround the Islerock
neighborhood on the East, and the residents were hoping streetlights to be installed on their
neighborhood at any time as well. Unfortunately, accordingly to the testimonies of the residents,
the violence, graffiti, and traffic accidents occurred first and the streetlights never came. Time
passed and they requested streetlights again, and now the City Council is taking their
responsibility by telling the residents of this neighborhood that they will get two streetlights and
that ach one will cost $1,200, but that the City Council will pay for them.
The problem that Socorro is having today is that due to the economy of the country is not
getting better in the past six years, plus the bad management of the funds from the last major,
contribute to the Border and Commissions to have not enough funds to perform the betterments
that are needed in the city, and when they have the possibility to make a project, they do not
chose the right one. The major Jesus Ruiz also is not contributing as much efficient as the way
the community was waiting for because the major wanted to have a city, where the residents can
feel safe and have peace, by raising taxes and use them towards what the city needs and wants,
but he went out of focus and the new projects he had done demonstrated that that money have
not been used in an appropriate way such as putting street lights instead of putting STOP signs

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in almost each intersection that is not journeyed. An action is needed to be taken because if not,
Socorro can turn into one of the most famous cities, not because of brightness of the people who
lived there, but for the delinquency and fear that the community will present in a future.

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References
City of Socorro Texas |. (n.d.). Retrieved October 16, 2015, from http://ci.socorro.tx.us/
Economy. (n.d.). Retrieved October 17, 2015, from
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/economy?s=t
Fazzalaro, J. (2005, February 25). STANDARDS GOVERNING USE OF STOP SIGNS BY
MUNICIPALITIES. Retrieved October 17, 2015, from https://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/rpt/2005-R0204.htm
Flores, A. (2011, September 15). Spending questioned in Socorro: Council members spend more
than $10,000 in less than a month. El Paso Times. Retrieved October 18, 2015, from
http://archive.elpasotimes.com/communities/ci_19201334
Garcia, G. (2012, June 1). Student project shines light on a neighborhood often victimized after
dark. Borderzine. Retrieved October 17, 2015, from http://borderzine.com/2012/06/studentproject-shines-light-on-a-neighborhood-often-victimized-after-dark/
Hinojosa, A. (2011, October 27). After years in the dark, street in East El Paso neighborhood to
get lamps. El Paso Times. Retrieved October 17, 2015, from
http://archive.elpasotimes.com/communities/ci_19201334
O'Brien, M. (2015, April 21). Economists have discovered how bad the economy really is. The
Washington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2015, from
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/04/21/economists-have-discoveredhow-bad-the-economy-really-is/
Welsh, S. (Writer). (1985, May 1). K-Fox News tv. El Paso.

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