Quality of Life

Well since they insist on having quality of life bonds and spend money, I have a few suggestions.

Reforestation.....the truth is that El Pasoans with pulmonary problems need some relief and much of this can be accomplished with reforestation.  The people with pulmonary problems are;  Asthmatics, Allergies, COPD, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Pneumonia, Lung Cancer, esophageal cancer, Flu, Colds, Whooping Cough.  

The fact is that just  30 patients with asthma cost the county 3 Million Dollars.  They are usually unemployed if the breathing is compromised, and qualify for medicare, medicaid, so it cost the country.  Especially on the border where we treat illegals at the county hospital.

The border has some unique breathing and air quality problems.  The border crossings results in many cars and trucks spewing CO2 into the atmosphere for all to enjoy.   This CO2 is a byproduct of burning fossil fuels.  On any given day a million vehicles cross the border.  We have a HWY that cuts the city in half and now we have a HWY that goes around the city....On any given day a million vehicles drive thru El Paso.

It still holds true that trees take in CO2 and release O2.  However many if not all of our trees are non-fruit bearing mulberry and they release an allergen.  This pollen cause alot of pulmonary patients asthmatics attacks, the high levels of CO2 cause pulmonary problems for our officers manning the bridges, it also manifest as the genesis of asthma for newborn.  The clinics give many respiratory treatments.

Then there is the problem of ER visits, medications.  This community spends millions on medications to treat and prevent asthma.  Because of the cost, those people that cant afford it go to Mexico to buy their drugs, so this is money leaving the city, the county.  Still others order from Canada.  Then there is the cost of humidifiers, vaporizers, Mentholatum, cough drops, .... a very heavy burden to those suffering from the disease and to taxpayers.

So why not take some of that money on the table for quality of life improvements and have a reforestation project.   They cut down the bad trees, use them for fertilizer or as fuel, and plant those that will not increase the pollen count.

This is money that medicare and medicaid could grant to cut cost and share the cost with the city, assuming our city fathers and county mothers, have a clue.

Then there is the problem of water and food, both very essential for any community.  We now have dwarf pear trees, hybrids, that will yield 5 different kinds of pears, we have similar apple trees and we have similar peach trees.  We can replace those trees that hurt us with trees that will bear fruit.

Those senior centers can grow their own garden, the parks that are always empty can provide space for vegetable gardens ..... the schools kids can grow them.  Blueberries, strawberries, cherries, vegies.   Hell we can have contest, put up greenhouses.  We can plant hedges and have a maze that children can play in.  Those artist want housing, well they can pay back by growing a topiary.

We can promote bees, bees make honey, they dont call in sick, they work for free, never complain.  We can plant bird of paradise, get bees and hummingbirds.  Those churches can grow gardens ..... it wont be a problem for them, GOD is on their side.  These churches have hardy parishioners, all that standing and sitting and kneeling, and that same boring prayer.  Hell you can still pray on your knees and tender the flowers.

In short it sounds like quality of life improvement because it is.  We can use the gardens for therapy, it is a well know fact that gardening is an antidepressant.  Hell a stretch of the imagination could give you a topiary church, with tall hedges as the main walls, and roses on the altar.  I guarantee that property values around the gardens will go up.  City can have its money back in no time.  

City fathers and muthers, let my taxes bee.