March 16, 2025 • 30 mins
This one's for the dads! Amber Banda interviews Fatherhood specialists Ron Long and Gabino Meza from the Center for Children's new program called Fatherhood Effects. Refer to the 2nd part of this interview where these 2 fatherhood specialists answer questions from local dads.
Remember the El Paso Trolley?! Amber Banda interviews Everett Esparza, Chief Streetcar Officer, and Lizette Zambrano, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator for Sun Metro about the El Paso Streetcar. Get a quick history lesson and learn how to jump on!
Go to social media for picture of our guests, flyers, and more info:
Instagram: Amber_Banda915, 963KHEYCountry, Power102, Sunny999
Facebook: Amber Banda, 963 KHEY Country, Power 102, Sunny 999
Remember the El Paso Trolley?! Amber Banda interviews Everett Esparza, Chief Streetcar Officer, and Lizette Zambrano, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator for Sun Metro about the El Paso Streetcar. Get a quick history lesson and learn how to jump on!
Go to social media for picture of our guests, flyers, and more info:
Instagram: Amber_Banda915, 963KHEYCountry, Power102, Sunny999
Facebook: Amber Banda, 963 KHEY Country, Power 102, Sunny 999
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to El Paso Public Forum, a weekly half hour
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio El Paso for over twenty years,
featuring local news and interviews of interest to our listeners
in West Texas and southern New Mexico. All views and
opinions expressed on this program are those of the host
and guest, and not necessarily those of iHeartRadio Management and
now El Paso Public Forum.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Welcome to the al Paso Public Forum. I'm your host, Amberbanda,
and today we have two fatherhood specialists from the al
Paso Center for Children Inc. Fatherhood Effects program. We have
here Ron Long, fatherhood specialist. Ron. Thank you for being
here with me today. Thank you definitely. And we also
have Gabino Messa. Gabino, thank you for being here with
me today.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
All Right, So, the first question that I have, and
because I didn't know that this title exists, I'm going
to ask you first Gobino and then Ron, I want
your input as well. What is a fatherhood specialist? In
your words, what do you do?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Okay for me, I've been a fihood specialist. Yes, it
is a person that is has experience about being a
father and as well has an experience about step dads
or respect on feathers. So the purpose of our job
is to help all these fathers in order for them
to create a strong and healthy family.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
There you go, and Ron, in your words, what is
a fatherhood specialist? What do you do?
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Basically, what I do is I connect, add value and
encourage men. Encourage men. It just so happens that some
men are fathers or some men of father figures. But
it's basically just allowing men to connect and safe environments,
adding value to them with our programs and encouraging them
(01:40):
because I feel like you cannot encourage a man enough.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yeah, definitely, I love that. So we're going to be
talking to today. This is part of the Old Passle
Center for Children, Inc. The Fatherhood Affects Program. It's a
new program. Ron, I'm going to ask you first, what
does this program do for the men in our community? Oh?
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Well, I'm glad you asked that question. This is a resource.
The Fatherhood Program is a powerful resource. One of the
best things is that you know the program is free,
fully funded, fully funded. We provide resources to agencies, churches,
school personnel, dad step dads, fathers, father figures, and also
(02:22):
expectant fathers.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Okay, So when you say it's free, the services are free.
So is it like a monthly meeting that they go to?
Is it seminar? Is this like parenting classes where they
go and meet once a month? What I guess the
more tangible way of these services to put it that way, Well.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
We schedule all our classes and programs and workshops based
upon interest and need. And that's one of the jobs
of the Fatherhood Specialists is to connect with organizations, partner
with them and help them to reach their goals as
well as they help us reach our goals, which is
to connect those dads with the resources that they need.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Okay, and that no in your words, what is the
Fatherhood Affects program?
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Okay? So the Firehood effect program is a program that
helps that to learn more about parenting. Of course, for example,
in our program, we have three different services. The third
one is a that's cafe and this one is not
a class. It's a gathering yet between that between that
in which they share their experiences either positive or negative
(03:29):
and there's no judgment here. It's a save save some
for them, so they can share everything that is going
on in their lives as deaths and so they learn
from each other. And the next one is it's called
Circles of Security. So this one is a class. These
are a classes, and these classes are about attachment as
(03:50):
well too, so learn about how to manage the behaviors
or as well to understand the emotions and behaviors of
our kids and what we can do about it. And
the last one is called the empen Mobility. This is
only one on one set of individual individualized coaching. So
if a person is just struggling in a in one
(04:11):
aspect of their life, we yes, we're just guiding them
through their right path so they can actually the goals
that they have.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Okay, and ron are there any legal services that are provided,
because when I announced on my social media that I
was going to have two fatherhood specialists on one of
the questions had to do with, you know, custody issues
and are there any legal services or advice or resources
that you have for dads in that position.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Well, what we do is that once we identify what
the dad might be needing, we can go ahead and
refer them out to that specialist with that agency that
does deal with that.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Okay, and so on the top of my head. Of course,
I'm not a dad, I'm a mom, So I'm trying
to get into that mindset. But for dads that are
maybe thinking, Okay, this is only for dads that they're
having really hard time, or their single dads, or they're
having maybe some kind of addiction issue. Is this a
program that's for all dads? Like maybe they just have
(05:07):
a simple question like, hey, I'm a single dad, I'm
raising a daughter. I don't know about her feminine needs.
What what can those dads also come to you?
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Yes? Okay, And it's not just that it's a fatherhood program.
We're actually trying to create a brotherhood okay, because men
need men. One of the things that we found out
with our programs that we do is that men want
to be heard before they're advised. And with with the
men that we've interacted with in the conversations that we've had,
(05:40):
you'll have usually one man talking and the rest of
them men listening. From them listening, they gain a lot
of insight, a lot of wiz and a lot of
strategies and tools and routines from other men that they
probably couldn't get unless they actually connected outside of hobbies,
outside of you know, just common basic you know, familiality,
like I'm a veteran or nothing wrong with that, but
(06:02):
we are having that purpose, purposeful discussion that needs to
be had in safe environment.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
What benefit do you see for it being a room
of just men versus a room of men and women.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Well, one of the things that we found out is
that men they open up on a deeper level the
way that men receive information. And it's nothing against any gender,
but the way that men receive information. Like I can
speak for myself, I have to process it first. So
(06:36):
when I hear you say something, I may not respond
or even show any body language because I'm processing. I'm
a processor. I need time to kind of you know,
think about it, kind of ask myself, Okay, does that
make sense? Is that for me? And how can I
apply that? And if I don't, I'm going to continue
to listen and try to process.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
So as like from a woman's standpoint, right, if my
husband I tell him something important, he kind of just freezes.
I'm like, what, it's not important to you. But then
you're saying that some men, you know, I can probably
take this advice home back home to our household. They're
processing it because they don't just want to speak because
I think women are a little bit more emotional than men,
and men, like you said, tend to kind of process
(07:15):
it and look for it, look bit more from a
direct point. God Be no same question. What do you
feel is the benefit of being surrounded, you know, just
men talking to men versus men being in a room
with men and women.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Okay, to be honest, when men are together, they feel
more comfortable talking about all their experiences. For example, we
have had some deaths that they have been part of
other programs where they are with their with their wife
or girlfriend and it's gonna sound a little bit fun,
(07:47):
but sometimes they tell us that they don't want to
say certain things when their wife is next to them
because probably that's going to cause like an issue and
their way too home or whatever. But yeah, that's that's true.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
True, it is it really is.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
Yeah, that's the truth.
Speaker 6 (08:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
And if you're just turning in. We have two fatherhood specialists,
Ron Long and got Be no Messa. They're from the
Fatherhood Effects program, which is part of the Alpaco Center
for Children, Inc. Now this program is relatively new, so Ron,
have you heard any feedback from any of the dads
that have participated in any of the services.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Yet, yes, I've heard feedback from dads that have participated
in dads who have just become aware of the program.
A lot of dads are just grateful that there's something
out here for men, you know. And so we had
an open house, had men come in and look at
the facility. You know. They saw how clean it was,
they saw how organized it was. They saw that we
(08:44):
were actually providing a space that was catered to an
environment that's conducive for men to gather and to connect
and to add value to each other.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
I love that and got be no same thing. Have
you heard or gotten any feedback from any of the
men that have tried any of the services from the program?
Speaker 3 (09:00):
For sure some of that that they have told me
that they really like to be enrolled in some of
our services because that's the way they need it. They
need to talk with other men, because sometimes men they
say that they don't need help from anybody else, but
that is not the truth. All men we need help
and they receive it with us. And as well. The
(09:22):
good thing is that our services we provide those services
in English and in Spanish.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Oh excellent. So Gabina, I'm going to ask you first.
I think here in all pass so it's safe to
say that there's a large machis momentality. I don't want
to get help, like you just said, you know, I
don't need help. And growing up there was you know,
if you had any if you say you were depressed
or you wanted to cry, it was are you you know?
I won't say the words on air, but what do
(09:49):
you have to say to those men that maybe grew
up in that type of householder, have that thing where
you know, I can't go ask for help because it's
a sign of weakness. What would you say to them
to come and you, you know, try one of these programs.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
I would say to put to a site that machismo
because for for example me, I come from a Mexican family,
Mexican culture, and there is a lot of love like
machismo in our communitable passle. But we need to change that.
We need to change it because once you do it,
you're gonna notice how beneficial is that for us in
(10:23):
our lives because we always need to talk with other men,
we always need help from other people. So yes, so
try to put that machismo in another place and try
to have a different perspective now in our lives.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Leave it in the weight room, and what better reason
to change that mentality than for your kids? And Ron
I have the same question. What do you have to
say to those men that maybe you're like, you know,
this is a sign, you know, it's a sign of
weakness to say you know you're depressed. Do you need help?
As a man? What would you have to say to
them to get them to come to the program and
be like this is okay, this is good.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
I would say, just come getting that environment with other
men different than you, and I have learned so much.
I'm an older man, I'm over fifty, but I still
have a lot to learn. I suppress. I'm an avoid
so I suppress a lot of my emotion. But I've
been listening to other men in our programs and I've
(11:21):
been learning a whole lot from these men and young
men on how to process my emotions, how to express
my emotions, how to deal with my anger because I
can I express anger very easily, but I don't express
my other emotions very easily.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Ah yeah, that's good. Yeah. So what I want to
let the listening audience know is that we are going
to talk a little bit more about this Fatherhood Effects
program and I want to ask you to them individually
why they decided to join. But there is also going
to be a bonus part to this interview. I'm not
going to erit here on this segment, but you can
find it on Sunday ninety nine point nine Power one
oh two point one or ninety six point three k
(11:57):
he Country. You can find the links to that post
on our Instagram or Facebook as well as my personal
Facebook page, Amber Banda on Facebook. The pinpost is going
to be a link Tory speaker because there are some listeners,
some local dads that ask some questions and I don't
want them to have to wait for the answer, So
you can listen to that part. There's some really great
questions in there. But again I'm going to come back
(12:20):
to you, Ron, why did you decide to be a
part of this Fatherhood Affects program to.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
Break the cycle? My father On a personal level, me
and my father had a strained relationship and I now
have a son, a thirteen year old son. If I'm
going to break the cycle, it starts with me, and
I cannot sit. I can't go back and change anything
that happened between me and my dad. However, though, I
(12:46):
feel like with my son, I said, I have a
fresh start, a clean slate with him, you know. And
just like as you know, natural progression, when I become
a grandfather, I have a fresh, clean slate with my
grandson or granddaughter, you know. So I love, I love,
you know, being a man, and I like that progression
(13:06):
of father, grandfather and you know, hey, if God he's
fit great grandfather. But I feel like every generation brings
a fresh start for a man.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I love that. And Gabino the same question, why did
you get what made you want to be of this
part of this Fatherhood effects program?
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Well, it has always been my passion being involved in
publy health health promotion, helping the people in my community,
but specifically talking about the Fatherhood program is because I
can see the need of this for men in our community.
Men also need to be enroll and participate in the
(13:49):
all the programs or organizations that are in our city.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah, you got you know, mom cafes, and you got
mom this and mom and dad and the men need
that too. And like you pointed out, Run, it's not
just so much that you go off together, boul together,
work together like this is something where you can connect
with people that you probably wouldn't normally connect with and
get different viewpoints. And especially again if you're it's not
just for dads like you said, it's for father figures.
(14:13):
It's for all men to come and partake. So go
to EPCCI NC dot org for more information. That's the
I'll Passo Center for Children epc c i NC dot
org on Instagram and Facebook, I'll Pasco Center for Children
and again on Power one oh two point one Sunday
ninety nine point nine and on ninety six point three
k Hay Country. There will be links to this podcast.
(14:35):
There will be all of this information so you know
where to contact them. Pictures of Ron and Gabino and
I have one last question for both of you before
we get into that bonus part. Ron, is there anything
else that you would like to tell the listening audience to.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
Tell, not excluding women, but speaking to the men, don't
be so hard on yourselves. It's okay if you're not perfect.
It's okay if you don't get it right and go
back and change anything that you did in the past.
If if you want, if you were not there for
the individuals and your family in some way. Okay, don't
(15:10):
focus on trying to make up the time, but just
try to maximize the time that you have now.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
That you have no. I love that, and God be
no same thing. Is there anything else that you would
like to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
I would say that that's play a really important part
in the lives of their kids. Of their children, So
give us a call, text us us, send us an email.
If you have any questions, reach out to us and
we can help you in any any way. And as well,
for example, we don't have specifically what you want, we
(15:45):
can refer you to all of the amazing organizations that
we have here in our community.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
I love that, and I just want to add on
to that that even if the child has an excellent
female mother figure in their life, having that the dad
plays such a different and important role in a child's life.
It's not just Okay, they have a great mom, then
they should be fine. No, the dads play a very
different and important role. And I just want to thank
you both so much for being here with me today.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Thank you so much, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Welcome back to the al Paso Public Forum. I'm your host,
Amber Banda and if you have ever considered or have
written the al Pasco streetcar, we're going to be talking
about that today. I have Everett Espatisa, chief streetcar Officer
Ever thank you for being here with me today, Thank you,
good morning, good morning. And I also have Lizette Zambrano,
Strategic Initiatives coordinator for sun Metro, talking to today about
(16:41):
the al Pasco streetcar. Lisette, thank you for being here
with me today.
Speaker 6 (16:44):
Good morning, Brenda. I'm very excited to be here. Thank
you for having us.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Good morning. So Everett, I'm going to ask you first
a little bit of the history with the streetcar. I
had told you all. I had told you both before
the interview that I used to love going with my
grandpa the trolley. You know, you're a younger generation, you've
probably never heard that term before. But can you give
us a little bit of history of the street cars
we know it today?
Speaker 5 (17:06):
Sure, condensed version, yes, so quickly. You know, the Alpasso
has had some sort of a streetcar electrical system since
the early nineteen hundreds, right, and can you believe that
at one point there was up to sixty three miles
of track all along the city of Apasso, right. And
then gradually, with the introduction of buses, you know, the
(17:29):
streetcar system started being eliminated.
Speaker 6 (17:33):
Right.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
But you know, in the nineteen fifties, okay, the Apasso
when in purchased some the street cars that you see
now from San Diego. Right. These cars were built in.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Nineteen nineteen fifties, from the nineties.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
So these cars that we have right now were built
in nineteen thirty seven. Okay, we have six of them,
and they were purchased in nineteen fifty from San Diego
because they completely moved to the bus system, right, So
Opaso took the opportunity to purchase them and they started
running here in a passle right. And then gradually, you know,
(18:09):
the route started eliminating some of the routes, right, but
they left the what we all know is the Opassowatis route. Right.
So at one point, you know, they were they were
transporting up to seventeen hundred people a day, you know,
from what is to a pass forth?
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Yes, does the current one go from?
Speaker 5 (18:26):
No, not not anymore. But that's kind of like the history, right.
And unfortunately nineteen seventy four is when the last of
the street cars going over to what Is. That's when
they stopped. Okay, okay, and they set dormant for a
long long time, right till twenty fifteen, when you know,
the city with the grant from tex Dot, you know,
(18:50):
decided to bring the cars back, you know, and so
the construction started h in the downtown area, uh, with
the with the infrastructure for it, right, and.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Those those lines that I'm afraid to drive on downtown.
I'm like, we're driving on like I know I can,
but it feels the.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
Legal and be careful if you're riding a bike, right,
because you don't want to get you don't want to
get the white cut into the rails. But so, yes,
in nineteen seventy four, you know, there's the system stopped operating,
you know, back and forth from opacitor what Is. But
in twenty fifteen, you know that all came back. We
sent six of the cars to get refurbished. Right, they're
(19:26):
the original cars.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Those are the trolleys. Well really those yes.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
These cars are nineteen thirty seven. They were built in
nineteen thirty seven, you know, and of course they were refurbished.
We added some new amenities, you know, air conditioning, air conditioning,
you know, a lift system so if there's a person
in a wheelchair that needs it, you know, we added
that Wi Fi. The street cars have Wi Fi. You know,
a couple of monitors, camera systems and stuff like that.
(19:52):
But by the most part, these cars are the original cars.
You know, everything that you see in them, it's the
original component. Right. They're all electrical and they're run by propulsion. Right.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Oh, that's amazing.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
So the alignment that was built, you know, we start
at Santa Fe and Fourth, okay, and it traverses up
on Santa Fe to Franklin, Franklin to Stanton. It comes
up north on Stanton to Baltimore, crosses Mesa into what
is now Gloria Road, Gloria Road to Oregon, Oregon, all
the way back down to Franklin Street downtown right, and
(20:29):
then from there it goes it's a figure eight and
then from Franklin to Kansas, Kansas all the way down
to the International bridges on Father Rum. We got stops
there and then it starts again there at Fourth and
further Roum. Okay, we have twenty seven stops all along
that alignment.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Twenty seven stops. So if someone were to get on
the street car in the first stop, finish at this
at the twenty seven stop, they just didn't get off.
How long would that.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
Take normally a full ride without interruptions? You know, I mean,
this is what a lot of people don't realize is
we're on rails. So guess what we're restricted to be
where the rails are at right, So we can't bypass
if there's a situation. But normally the full round trip
will take you about anywhere from forty five to fifty minutes.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Okay, so a full route figure eight. So if someone
wanted to just go and get on and just experience
the whole thing, it wouldn't take them all day. It
would take them under a couple hours to make it
an Okay. That was one of my selfish reasons for
having out here. I'm like, I'm planning my trip to
get to the street car.
Speaker 5 (21:28):
You know what the great thing about it is it
it's free.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
It's free.
Speaker 5 (21:32):
It's free.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
Okay, that answers one of.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
My So you can be getting on and off as
many it's free. The system is free, and right now
we're already averaging about twenty three thousand passengers a month.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
They use it yes, and you said that there's six
right now, there's six street cars we have.
Speaker 5 (21:48):
Yeah, the our fleet consists of six street cars. We
put three only on the road at all times. The
other three go through their pre inspections or maintenance program,
so we alternate them back and alternatum. Yes, but at
one point you have six cars out there and the
frequency you know of the service. So if you're standing
at one of our streetcar stops, you know, if one
(22:10):
goes by in about fifteen minutes or so give or take,
you know the other one should be coming through. So
that's the frequency with three cars.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Okay, okay, good, Yeah, so fifteen minutes so you're not
waiting too long for one if you need to find one. Excellent,
And Lizette, I wanted to ask you there's different events
that go on with the streetcar and people might want
to know what are these events. What's the schedule for
the streetcar work. Give us a little bit more details
for that.
Speaker 6 (22:34):
Yes, so we do have events on the weekends for
the streetcar. Sometimes we have events in the morning. Those
usually start either at eleven or twelve, and they.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Are targeted more towards kits.
Speaker 6 (22:47):
So some of the events that we'll have is reading writes,
so we'll have somebody from the public library come on
the streetcar.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
And depending on.
Speaker 6 (22:59):
The event, whether we're celebrating Valentine's or Saint Patrick's or Easter,
we'll decorate the street car and we'll have somebody read
different books on that specific holiday. Okay, we'll also give giveaways,
we'll do promotional items, so we try to make it
(23:19):
very fun. We'll include music if it lends itself to it.
And the kids are really much they're writing on the car,
they're listening to the story and they're having fun.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
That's awesome. So for these events, do you charge No?
Those are also free.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
Yes, all our events, regardless whether we have a special
event or not, they're all free.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Awesome And so if someone wanted to find out more
about these events, where would they go. So we do
have our social media.
Speaker 6 (23:48):
We have Instagram and Facebook. It's under a Pasto Streetcar.
You're welcome to follow us through our social media. You'll
be able to see what events are coming up. We'll
post a week before so that you can plan to
be there and get on the street car. And like
I had said, some of the events are in the morning,
(24:09):
either at eleven or twelve, and then we do have
our evening events. Those are targeted, of course, more towards adults,
but we do make it family friendly so if all
the family wants to come out, they are more than
welcome to.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
So some of the events.
Speaker 6 (24:23):
That we have in the evening, we can have anything
from having karaoke on the streetcar.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
My god, I love karaoke.
Speaker 6 (24:31):
Yes, it's really fun. We'll have like the whole setup.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
The DJ takes her.
Speaker 6 (24:37):
Tables, her music, her microphone, she even takes a TV
to be able to see the lyrics. It's really fun.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Really.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
We also have groups that we'll sing on the street car,
so we have anywhere from like one singer to a band.
Sometimes we'll have Mariachi's like I know, Singo and Mayo's
coming up. We have Mother's Day coming up, so we
try to accommodate. Depending on the holidays we'll have, we'll
(25:08):
plan our events based on that different theme.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
So, yes, with these events, is it only one streetcar
that is dedicated to these events or is it all
of the ones that are running for that day.
Speaker 6 (25:18):
So we mainly try to use fifteen eleven. That's the
one we have. So this one's really neat. The way
the streetcar is set up is the seats are like.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
In a circle. Okay, so you have yes, so in
the middle you don't have any seats. So that's why
we like to.
Speaker 6 (25:37):
Use that one because that's where our performers will set up, right.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
And so, say someone's going to go on one of
these events for karaoke or in the morning for the
reading of the books, do they have to get on
at a certain stop or yes.
Speaker 6 (25:52):
So when we do have special events, we usually use
the convention.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Stop to start. Okay, like that.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
Stop because they can park in the garage and then
just walk across the street. They know their cars will
be safe, and so.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
That will be the first stop. But if they're.
Speaker 6 (26:13):
Running late and it's an open event, they're welcome to
get on at any stop.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Okay, okay, perfect, yesect. So again, if you want more information,
you can find them on Instagram and on Facebook at
Alpassel Streetcar. You can also go to Sunmetro dot net
and they have a streetcar tab, but for specific events
related to the streetcar, Instagram and Facebook Al Passel Streetcar Everett.
Is there anything else you would like to tell the
(26:39):
listening audience.
Speaker 5 (26:39):
Yes. Actually, I wanted to let everybody know about our
service hours, right, yes, So right now we're operating Monday
through Thursday from seven am to seven pm. Okay. On Saturdays, oh,
I'm sorry. And on Fridays we start at seven am
and we work till we live in pm at night. Perfect, okay.
(27:02):
And on Saturdays we start service at twelve noon and
we operate till eleven pm, and on Sundays from twelve
to six pm.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Perfect.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
So the reason we have extended hours on Fridays and
Saturdays is so that we could take advantage and kind
of be a compliment to any events that are happening,
whether it's in the UTEP area or in downtown. So
that's what we want to do. We want to encourage
people that whenever there's events, you know, don't struggle with
trying to find parking and specifically okay, so let's say
there's a street festival or a big event in downtown. Yeah,
(27:35):
park on the north side, use the street car to
get to the event, right, so that you avoid trying
to get into all that travel for.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
People that are horrible with directions, The north side.
Speaker 5 (27:45):
Is where the north side is. The UTEP area, okay, right,
which is Glory Road.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
I don't be using Ryder left, I need the McDonald's.
Speaker 5 (27:53):
Yes, so north, the north side of the route, you know,
or the north portion of it is the UTEP area
Glory Road, Oregon. Right, we say the south side, which
is you know, the downtown, you know, and if you're
going to the International bridges, then it's like the Father rump.
So the route is a figure eight okay. So yeah,
So whenever there's a big event, whether it's at Utip
(28:14):
Park in the south side, and get the street car
to get up or vice verse right and avoid having
avoid with some of and by the way, a quick
little thing that always a little something that a lot
of people don't know. The color scheme of the cars. Yes, right,
there's two cars that have this orange type design to them. Okay.
(28:37):
This is the different that we have the three different
types of color schemes is because it represents the decades
of the cars when they operated. So whenever you see
a street car the orange ones, that was the nineteen fifties,
So that's the color scheme that was used during the
nineteen fifties. When you see the mint green with a
solid green stripe around it. That was the nineteen six
(29:00):
and then when you see the mint with the orange,
that's the nineteen seventies.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Oh that's cool.
Speaker 5 (29:06):
So we got two of each.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
That's awesome.
Speaker 5 (29:08):
Okay, thank you.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
I'll try and post. You're gonna have to send me
a picture of that. If you can, I'll pulls it
on our social media. And Lizette, is there anything else
you would like to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 6 (29:17):
I really want to encourage you all to come out
to the street car. It's really fun. We try to
have events every weekend, and like I already said, our
morning events are either at eleven or twelve, and our
evening events are at six pm. The evening events usually
run from six to seven thirty. And so if you're
having dinner or you're going to a special event downtown,
(29:40):
take advantage visit us and you won't regret it.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Oh you had me at karaoke. Let me just tell
you everytt and Lizzete, thank you so much for being
here with me today.
Speaker 5 (29:49):
Thanks for pleasure. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
You've been listening to El Paso Public Forum, a weekly
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio l Passo. If you your
organization or event would like to be featured on an
upcoming program, please email to Epforum at iHeartMedia dot com
or call us at nine one five three five one
five four zero zero. Tune in again next week for
(30:11):
another additional of El Paso Public Forum. The preceding program
was recorded at the studios of iHeartRadio El Paso
Welcome to El Paso Public Forum, a weekly half hour
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio El Paso for over twenty years,
featuring local news and interviews of interest to our listeners
in West Texas and southern New Mexico. All views and
opinions expressed on this program are those of the host
and guest, and not necessarily those of iHeartRadio Management and
now El Paso Public Forum.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Welcome to the al Paso Public Forum. I'm your host, Amberbanda,
and today we have two fatherhood specialists from the al
Paso Center for Children Inc. Fatherhood Effects program. We have
here Ron Long, fatherhood specialist. Ron. Thank you for being
here with me today. Thank you definitely. And we also
have Gabino Messa. Gabino, thank you for being here with
me today.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
All Right, So, the first question that I have, and
because I didn't know that this title exists, I'm going
to ask you first Gobino and then Ron, I want
your input as well. What is a fatherhood specialist? In
your words, what do you do?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Okay for me, I've been a fihood specialist. Yes, it
is a person that is has experience about being a
father and as well has an experience about step dads
or respect on feathers. So the purpose of our job
is to help all these fathers in order for them
to create a strong and healthy family.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
There you go, and Ron, in your words, what is
a fatherhood specialist? What do you do?
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Basically, what I do is I connect, add value and
encourage men. Encourage men. It just so happens that some
men are fathers or some men of father figures. But
it's basically just allowing men to connect and safe environments,
adding value to them with our programs and encouraging them
(01:40):
because I feel like you cannot encourage a man enough.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yeah, definitely, I love that. So we're going to be
talking to today. This is part of the Old Passle
Center for Children, Inc. The Fatherhood Affects Program. It's a
new program. Ron, I'm going to ask you first, what
does this program do for the men in our community? Oh?
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Well, I'm glad you asked that question. This is a resource.
The Fatherhood Program is a powerful resource. One of the
best things is that you know the program is free,
fully funded, fully funded. We provide resources to agencies, churches,
school personnel, dad step dads, fathers, father figures, and also
(02:22):
expectant fathers.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Okay, So when you say it's free, the services are free.
So is it like a monthly meeting that they go to?
Is it seminar? Is this like parenting classes where they
go and meet once a month? What I guess the
more tangible way of these services to put it that way, Well.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
We schedule all our classes and programs and workshops based
upon interest and need. And that's one of the jobs
of the Fatherhood Specialists is to connect with organizations, partner
with them and help them to reach their goals as
well as they help us reach our goals, which is
to connect those dads with the resources that they need.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Okay, and that no in your words, what is the
Fatherhood Affects program?
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Okay? So the Firehood effect program is a program that
helps that to learn more about parenting. Of course, for example,
in our program, we have three different services. The third
one is a that's cafe and this one is not
a class. It's a gathering yet between that between that
in which they share their experiences either positive or negative
(03:29):
and there's no judgment here. It's a save save some
for them, so they can share everything that is going
on in their lives as deaths and so they learn
from each other. And the next one is it's called
Circles of Security. So this one is a class. These
are a classes, and these classes are about attachment as
(03:50):
well too, so learn about how to manage the behaviors
or as well to understand the emotions and behaviors of
our kids and what we can do about it. And
the last one is called the empen Mobility. This is
only one on one set of individual individualized coaching. So
if a person is just struggling in a in one
(04:11):
aspect of their life, we yes, we're just guiding them
through their right path so they can actually the goals
that they have.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Okay, and ron are there any legal services that are provided,
because when I announced on my social media that I
was going to have two fatherhood specialists on one of
the questions had to do with, you know, custody issues
and are there any legal services or advice or resources
that you have for dads in that position.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Well, what we do is that once we identify what
the dad might be needing, we can go ahead and
refer them out to that specialist with that agency that
does deal with that.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Okay, and so on the top of my head. Of course,
I'm not a dad, I'm a mom, So I'm trying
to get into that mindset. But for dads that are
maybe thinking, Okay, this is only for dads that they're
having really hard time, or their single dads, or they're
having maybe some kind of addiction issue. Is this a
program that's for all dads? Like maybe they just have
(05:07):
a simple question like, hey, I'm a single dad, I'm
raising a daughter. I don't know about her feminine needs.
What what can those dads also come to you?
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Yes? Okay, And it's not just that it's a fatherhood program.
We're actually trying to create a brotherhood okay, because men
need men. One of the things that we found out
with our programs that we do is that men want
to be heard before they're advised. And with with the
men that we've interacted with in the conversations that we've had,
(05:40):
you'll have usually one man talking and the rest of
them men listening. From them listening, they gain a lot
of insight, a lot of wiz and a lot of
strategies and tools and routines from other men that they
probably couldn't get unless they actually connected outside of hobbies,
outside of you know, just common basic you know, familiality,
like I'm a veteran or nothing wrong with that, but
(06:02):
we are having that purpose, purposeful discussion that needs to
be had in safe environment.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
What benefit do you see for it being a room
of just men versus a room of men and women.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Well, one of the things that we found out is
that men they open up on a deeper level the
way that men receive information. And it's nothing against any gender,
but the way that men receive information. Like I can
speak for myself, I have to process it first. So
(06:36):
when I hear you say something, I may not respond
or even show any body language because I'm processing. I'm
a processor. I need time to kind of you know,
think about it, kind of ask myself, Okay, does that
make sense? Is that for me? And how can I
apply that? And if I don't, I'm going to continue
to listen and try to process.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
So as like from a woman's standpoint, right, if my
husband I tell him something important, he kind of just freezes.
I'm like, what, it's not important to you. But then
you're saying that some men, you know, I can probably
take this advice home back home to our household. They're
processing it because they don't just want to speak because
I think women are a little bit more emotional than men,
and men, like you said, tend to kind of process
(07:15):
it and look for it, look bit more from a
direct point. God Be no same question. What do you
feel is the benefit of being surrounded, you know, just
men talking to men versus men being in a room
with men and women.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Okay, to be honest, when men are together, they feel
more comfortable talking about all their experiences. For example, we
have had some deaths that they have been part of
other programs where they are with their with their wife
or girlfriend and it's gonna sound a little bit fun,
(07:47):
but sometimes they tell us that they don't want to
say certain things when their wife is next to them
because probably that's going to cause like an issue and
their way too home or whatever. But yeah, that's that's true.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
True, it is it really is.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
Yeah, that's the truth.
Speaker 6 (08:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
And if you're just turning in. We have two fatherhood specialists,
Ron Long and got Be no Messa. They're from the
Fatherhood Effects program, which is part of the Alpaco Center
for Children, Inc. Now this program is relatively new, so Ron,
have you heard any feedback from any of the dads
that have participated in any of the services.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Yet, yes, I've heard feedback from dads that have participated
in dads who have just become aware of the program.
A lot of dads are just grateful that there's something
out here for men, you know. And so we had
an open house, had men come in and look at
the facility. You know. They saw how clean it was,
they saw how organized it was. They saw that we
(08:44):
were actually providing a space that was catered to an
environment that's conducive for men to gather and to connect
and to add value to each other.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
I love that and got be no same thing. Have
you heard or gotten any feedback from any of the
men that have tried any of the services from the program?
Speaker 3 (09:00):
For sure some of that that they have told me
that they really like to be enrolled in some of
our services because that's the way they need it. They
need to talk with other men, because sometimes men they
say that they don't need help from anybody else, but
that is not the truth. All men we need help
and they receive it with us. And as well. The
(09:22):
good thing is that our services we provide those services
in English and in Spanish.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Oh excellent. So Gabina, I'm going to ask you first.
I think here in all pass so it's safe to
say that there's a large machis momentality. I don't want
to get help, like you just said, you know, I
don't need help. And growing up there was you know,
if you had any if you say you were depressed
or you wanted to cry, it was are you you know?
I won't say the words on air, but what do
(09:49):
you have to say to those men that maybe grew
up in that type of householder, have that thing where
you know, I can't go ask for help because it's
a sign of weakness. What would you say to them
to come and you, you know, try one of these programs.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
I would say to put to a site that machismo
because for for example me, I come from a Mexican family,
Mexican culture, and there is a lot of love like
machismo in our communitable passle. But we need to change that.
We need to change it because once you do it,
you're gonna notice how beneficial is that for us in
(10:23):
our lives because we always need to talk with other men,
we always need help from other people. So yes, so
try to put that machismo in another place and try
to have a different perspective now in our lives.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Leave it in the weight room, and what better reason
to change that mentality than for your kids? And Ron
I have the same question. What do you have to
say to those men that maybe you're like, you know,
this is a sign, you know, it's a sign of
weakness to say you know you're depressed. Do you need help?
As a man? What would you have to say to
them to get them to come to the program and
be like this is okay, this is good.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
I would say, just come getting that environment with other
men different than you, and I have learned so much.
I'm an older man, I'm over fifty, but I still
have a lot to learn. I suppress. I'm an avoid
so I suppress a lot of my emotion. But I've
been listening to other men in our programs and I've
(11:21):
been learning a whole lot from these men and young
men on how to process my emotions, how to express
my emotions, how to deal with my anger because I
can I express anger very easily, but I don't express
my other emotions very easily.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Ah yeah, that's good. Yeah. So what I want to
let the listening audience know is that we are going
to talk a little bit more about this Fatherhood Effects
program and I want to ask you to them individually
why they decided to join. But there is also going
to be a bonus part to this interview. I'm not
going to erit here on this segment, but you can
find it on Sunday ninety nine point nine Power one
oh two point one or ninety six point three k
(11:57):
he Country. You can find the links to that post
on our Instagram or Facebook as well as my personal
Facebook page, Amber Banda on Facebook. The pinpost is going
to be a link Tory speaker because there are some listeners,
some local dads that ask some questions and I don't
want them to have to wait for the answer, So
you can listen to that part. There's some really great
questions in there. But again I'm going to come back
(12:20):
to you, Ron, why did you decide to be a
part of this Fatherhood Affects program to.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
Break the cycle? My father On a personal level, me
and my father had a strained relationship and I now
have a son, a thirteen year old son. If I'm
going to break the cycle, it starts with me, and
I cannot sit. I can't go back and change anything
that happened between me and my dad. However, though, I
(12:46):
feel like with my son, I said, I have a
fresh start, a clean slate with him, you know. And
just like as you know, natural progression, when I become
a grandfather, I have a fresh, clean slate with my
grandson or granddaughter, you know. So I love, I love,
you know, being a man, and I like that progression
(13:06):
of father, grandfather and you know, hey, if God he's
fit great grandfather. But I feel like every generation brings
a fresh start for a man.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I love that. And Gabino the same question, why did
you get what made you want to be of this
part of this Fatherhood effects program?
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Well, it has always been my passion being involved in
publy health health promotion, helping the people in my community,
but specifically talking about the Fatherhood program is because I
can see the need of this for men in our community.
Men also need to be enroll and participate in the
(13:49):
all the programs or organizations that are in our city.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah, you got you know, mom cafes, and you got
mom this and mom and dad and the men need
that too. And like you pointed out, Run, it's not
just so much that you go off together, boul together,
work together like this is something where you can connect
with people that you probably wouldn't normally connect with and
get different viewpoints. And especially again if you're it's not
just for dads like you said, it's for father figures.
(14:13):
It's for all men to come and partake. So go
to EPCCI NC dot org for more information. That's the
I'll Passo Center for Children epc c i NC dot
org on Instagram and Facebook, I'll Pasco Center for Children
and again on Power one oh two point one Sunday
ninety nine point nine and on ninety six point three
k Hay Country. There will be links to this podcast.
(14:35):
There will be all of this information so you know
where to contact them. Pictures of Ron and Gabino and
I have one last question for both of you before
we get into that bonus part. Ron, is there anything
else that you would like to tell the listening audience to.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
Tell, not excluding women, but speaking to the men, don't
be so hard on yourselves. It's okay if you're not perfect.
It's okay if you don't get it right and go
back and change anything that you did in the past.
If if you want, if you were not there for
the individuals and your family in some way. Okay, don't
(15:10):
focus on trying to make up the time, but just
try to maximize the time that you have now.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
That you have no. I love that, and God be
no same thing. Is there anything else that you would
like to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
I would say that that's play a really important part
in the lives of their kids. Of their children, So
give us a call, text us us, send us an email.
If you have any questions, reach out to us and
we can help you in any any way. And as well,
for example, we don't have specifically what you want, we
(15:45):
can refer you to all of the amazing organizations that
we have here in our community.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
I love that, and I just want to add on
to that that even if the child has an excellent
female mother figure in their life, having that the dad
plays such a different and important role in a child's life.
It's not just Okay, they have a great mom, then
they should be fine. No, the dads play a very
different and important role. And I just want to thank
you both so much for being here with me today.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Thank you so much, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Welcome back to the al Paso Public Forum. I'm your host,
Amber Banda and if you have ever considered or have
written the al Pasco streetcar, we're going to be talking
about that today. I have Everett Espatisa, chief streetcar Officer
Ever thank you for being here with me today, Thank you,
good morning, good morning. And I also have Lizette Zambrano,
Strategic Initiatives coordinator for sun Metro, talking to today about
(16:41):
the al Pasco streetcar. Lisette, thank you for being here
with me today.
Speaker 6 (16:44):
Good morning, Brenda. I'm very excited to be here. Thank
you for having us.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Good morning. So Everett, I'm going to ask you first
a little bit of the history with the streetcar. I
had told you all. I had told you both before
the interview that I used to love going with my
grandpa the trolley. You know, you're a younger generation, you've
probably never heard that term before. But can you give
us a little bit of history of the street cars
we know it today?
Speaker 5 (17:06):
Sure, condensed version, yes, so quickly. You know, the Alpasso
has had some sort of a streetcar electrical system since
the early nineteen hundreds, right, and can you believe that
at one point there was up to sixty three miles
of track all along the city of Apasso, right. And
then gradually, with the introduction of buses, you know, the
(17:29):
streetcar system started being eliminated.
Speaker 6 (17:33):
Right.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
But you know, in the nineteen fifties, okay, the Apasso
when in purchased some the street cars that you see
now from San Diego. Right. These cars were built in.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Nineteen nineteen fifties, from the nineties.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
So these cars that we have right now were built
in nineteen thirty seven. Okay, we have six of them,
and they were purchased in nineteen fifty from San Diego
because they completely moved to the bus system, right, So
Opaso took the opportunity to purchase them and they started
running here in a passle right. And then gradually, you know,
(18:09):
the route started eliminating some of the routes, right, but
they left the what we all know is the Opassowatis route. Right.
So at one point, you know, they were they were
transporting up to seventeen hundred people a day, you know,
from what is to a pass forth?
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Yes, does the current one go from?
Speaker 5 (18:26):
No, not not anymore. But that's kind of like the history, right.
And unfortunately nineteen seventy four is when the last of
the street cars going over to what Is. That's when
they stopped. Okay, okay, and they set dormant for a
long long time, right till twenty fifteen, when you know,
the city with the grant from tex Dot, you know,
(18:50):
decided to bring the cars back, you know, and so
the construction started h in the downtown area, uh, with
the with the infrastructure for it, right, and.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Those those lines that I'm afraid to drive on downtown.
I'm like, we're driving on like I know I can,
but it feels the.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
Legal and be careful if you're riding a bike, right,
because you don't want to get you don't want to
get the white cut into the rails. But so, yes,
in nineteen seventy four, you know, there's the system stopped operating,
you know, back and forth from opacitor what Is. But
in twenty fifteen, you know that all came back. We
sent six of the cars to get refurbished. Right, they're
(19:26):
the original cars.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Those are the trolleys. Well really those yes.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
These cars are nineteen thirty seven. They were built in
nineteen thirty seven, you know, and of course they were refurbished.
We added some new amenities, you know, air conditioning, air conditioning,
you know, a lift system so if there's a person
in a wheelchair that needs it, you know, we added
that Wi Fi. The street cars have Wi Fi. You know,
a couple of monitors, camera systems and stuff like that.
(19:52):
But by the most part, these cars are the original cars.
You know, everything that you see in them, it's the
original component. Right. They're all electrical and they're run by propulsion. Right.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Oh, that's amazing.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
So the alignment that was built, you know, we start
at Santa Fe and Fourth, okay, and it traverses up
on Santa Fe to Franklin, Franklin to Stanton. It comes
up north on Stanton to Baltimore, crosses Mesa into what
is now Gloria Road, Gloria Road to Oregon, Oregon, all
the way back down to Franklin Street downtown right, and
(20:29):
then from there it goes it's a figure eight and
then from Franklin to Kansas, Kansas all the way down
to the International bridges on Father Rum. We got stops
there and then it starts again there at Fourth and
further Roum. Okay, we have twenty seven stops all along
that alignment.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Twenty seven stops. So if someone were to get on
the street car in the first stop, finish at this
at the twenty seven stop, they just didn't get off.
How long would that.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
Take normally a full ride without interruptions? You know, I mean,
this is what a lot of people don't realize is
we're on rails. So guess what we're restricted to be
where the rails are at right, So we can't bypass
if there's a situation. But normally the full round trip
will take you about anywhere from forty five to fifty minutes.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Okay, so a full route figure eight. So if someone
wanted to just go and get on and just experience
the whole thing, it wouldn't take them all day. It
would take them under a couple hours to make it
an Okay. That was one of my selfish reasons for
having out here. I'm like, I'm planning my trip to
get to the street car.
Speaker 5 (21:28):
You know what the great thing about it is it
it's free.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
It's free.
Speaker 5 (21:32):
It's free.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
Okay, that answers one of.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
My So you can be getting on and off as
many it's free. The system is free, and right now
we're already averaging about twenty three thousand passengers a month.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
They use it yes, and you said that there's six
right now, there's six street cars we have.
Speaker 5 (21:48):
Yeah, the our fleet consists of six street cars. We
put three only on the road at all times. The
other three go through their pre inspections or maintenance program,
so we alternate them back and alternatum. Yes, but at
one point you have six cars out there and the
frequency you know of the service. So if you're standing
at one of our streetcar stops, you know, if one
(22:10):
goes by in about fifteen minutes or so give or take,
you know the other one should be coming through. So
that's the frequency with three cars.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Okay, okay, good, Yeah, so fifteen minutes so you're not
waiting too long for one if you need to find one. Excellent,
And Lizette, I wanted to ask you there's different events
that go on with the streetcar and people might want
to know what are these events. What's the schedule for
the streetcar work. Give us a little bit more details
for that.
Speaker 6 (22:34):
Yes, so we do have events on the weekends for
the streetcar. Sometimes we have events in the morning. Those
usually start either at eleven or twelve, and they.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Are targeted more towards kits.
Speaker 6 (22:47):
So some of the events that we'll have is reading writes,
so we'll have somebody from the public library come on
the streetcar.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
And depending on.
Speaker 6 (22:59):
The event, whether we're celebrating Valentine's or Saint Patrick's or Easter,
we'll decorate the street car and we'll have somebody read
different books on that specific holiday. Okay, we'll also give giveaways,
we'll do promotional items, so we try to make it
(23:19):
very fun. We'll include music if it lends itself to it.
And the kids are really much they're writing on the car,
they're listening to the story and they're having fun.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
That's awesome. So for these events, do you charge No?
Those are also free.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
Yes, all our events, regardless whether we have a special
event or not, they're all free.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Awesome And so if someone wanted to find out more
about these events, where would they go. So we do
have our social media.
Speaker 6 (23:48):
We have Instagram and Facebook. It's under a Pasto Streetcar.
You're welcome to follow us through our social media. You'll
be able to see what events are coming up. We'll
post a week before so that you can plan to
be there and get on the street car. And like
I had said, some of the events are in the morning,
(24:09):
either at eleven or twelve, and then we do have
our evening events. Those are targeted, of course, more towards adults,
but we do make it family friendly so if all
the family wants to come out, they are more than
welcome to.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
So some of the events.
Speaker 6 (24:23):
That we have in the evening, we can have anything
from having karaoke on the streetcar.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
My god, I love karaoke.
Speaker 6 (24:31):
Yes, it's really fun. We'll have like the whole setup.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
The DJ takes her.
Speaker 6 (24:37):
Tables, her music, her microphone, she even takes a TV
to be able to see the lyrics. It's really fun.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Really.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
We also have groups that we'll sing on the street car,
so we have anywhere from like one singer to a band.
Sometimes we'll have Mariachi's like I know, Singo and Mayo's
coming up. We have Mother's Day coming up, so we
try to accommodate. Depending on the holidays we'll have, we'll
(25:08):
plan our events based on that different theme.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
So, yes, with these events, is it only one streetcar
that is dedicated to these events or is it all
of the ones that are running for that day.
Speaker 6 (25:18):
So we mainly try to use fifteen eleven. That's the
one we have. So this one's really neat. The way
the streetcar is set up is the seats are like.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
In a circle. Okay, so you have yes, so in
the middle you don't have any seats. So that's why
we like to.
Speaker 6 (25:37):
Use that one because that's where our performers will set up, right.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
And so, say someone's going to go on one of
these events for karaoke or in the morning for the
reading of the books, do they have to get on
at a certain stop or yes.
Speaker 6 (25:52):
So when we do have special events, we usually use
the convention.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Stop to start. Okay, like that.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
Stop because they can park in the garage and then
just walk across the street. They know their cars will
be safe, and so.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
That will be the first stop. But if they're.
Speaker 6 (26:13):
Running late and it's an open event, they're welcome to
get on at any stop.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Okay, okay, perfect, yesect. So again, if you want more information,
you can find them on Instagram and on Facebook at
Alpassel Streetcar. You can also go to Sunmetro dot net
and they have a streetcar tab, but for specific events
related to the streetcar, Instagram and Facebook Al Passel Streetcar Everett.
Is there anything else you would like to tell the
(26:39):
listening audience.
Speaker 5 (26:39):
Yes. Actually, I wanted to let everybody know about our
service hours, right, yes, So right now we're operating Monday
through Thursday from seven am to seven pm. Okay. On Saturdays, oh,
I'm sorry. And on Fridays we start at seven am
and we work till we live in pm at night. Perfect, okay.
(27:02):
And on Saturdays we start service at twelve noon and
we operate till eleven pm, and on Sundays from twelve
to six pm.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Perfect.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
So the reason we have extended hours on Fridays and
Saturdays is so that we could take advantage and kind
of be a compliment to any events that are happening,
whether it's in the UTEP area or in downtown. So
that's what we want to do. We want to encourage
people that whenever there's events, you know, don't struggle with
trying to find parking and specifically okay, so let's say
there's a street festival or a big event in downtown. Yeah,
(27:35):
park on the north side, use the street car to
get to the event, right, so that you avoid trying
to get into all that travel for.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
People that are horrible with directions, The north side.
Speaker 5 (27:45):
Is where the north side is. The UTEP area, okay, right,
which is Glory Road.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
I don't be using Ryder left, I need the McDonald's.
Speaker 5 (27:53):
Yes, so north, the north side of the route, you know,
or the north portion of it is the UTEP area
Glory Road, Oregon. Right, we say the south side, which
is you know, the downtown, you know, and if you're
going to the International bridges, then it's like the Father rump.
So the route is a figure eight okay. So yeah,
So whenever there's a big event, whether it's at Utip
(28:14):
Park in the south side, and get the street car
to get up or vice verse right and avoid having
avoid with some of and by the way, a quick
little thing that always a little something that a lot
of people don't know. The color scheme of the cars. Yes, right,
there's two cars that have this orange type design to them. Okay.
(28:37):
This is the different that we have the three different
types of color schemes is because it represents the decades
of the cars when they operated. So whenever you see
a street car the orange ones, that was the nineteen fifties,
So that's the color scheme that was used during the
nineteen fifties. When you see the mint green with a
solid green stripe around it. That was the nineteen six
(29:00):
and then when you see the mint with the orange,
that's the nineteen seventies.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Oh that's cool.
Speaker 5 (29:06):
So we got two of each.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
That's awesome.
Speaker 5 (29:08):
Okay, thank you.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
I'll try and post. You're gonna have to send me
a picture of that. If you can, I'll pulls it
on our social media. And Lizette, is there anything else
you would like to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 6 (29:17):
I really want to encourage you all to come out
to the street car. It's really fun. We try to
have events every weekend, and like I already said, our
morning events are either at eleven or twelve, and our
evening events are at six pm. The evening events usually
run from six to seven thirty. And so if you're
having dinner or you're going to a special event downtown,
(29:40):
take advantage visit us and you won't regret it.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Oh you had me at karaoke. Let me just tell
you everytt and Lizzete, thank you so much for being
here with me today.
Speaker 5 (29:49):
Thanks for pleasure. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
You've been listening to El Paso Public Forum, a weekly
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio l Passo. If you your
organization or event would like to be featured on an
upcoming program, please email to Epforum at iHeartMedia dot com
or call us at nine one five three five one
five four zero zero. Tune in again next week for
(30:11):
another additional of El Paso Public Forum. The preceding program
was recorded at the studios of iHeartRadio El Paso
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