El Paso to launch rideshare hub, nighttime ambassador for safer entertainment zones

EL PASO, Texas(KFOX14/CBS4) — As the new year approaches, the City of El Paso is set to implement changes aimed at enhancing safety in its entertainment districts.

These changes are expected to impact not only businesses and bars but also families and neighbors living nearby.

Steve Alvarado, the Director of Code Enforcement for the City of El Paso, said, “This is ever-evolving. Code enforcement’s changing, and we need to change with the times as the need becomes necessary.”

One of the significant changes includes the creation of a designated rideshare hub within the entertainment districts.

Alvarado explained, “It’s gonna allow for people to be dropped off in the nighttime areas. There’ll be signage in place, so where the drop-off zones are. And we’re hoping to deter some of the drunk driving that’s occurring in the city, as well as getting people home safely.”

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Residents have already noticed improvements.

One resident said, “I’ve seen improvements in the last year or so. It was horrible, horrible, horrible for a number of years.”

That same resident detailed the incidents his family have experienced over previous years,

I mean, there was gunfire, and there were a couple of incidents where there were clearly drunk drivers right outside our home. There was one time when I was away at work and my wife saw two young men who were clearly very drunk, and a woman they were with on our front yard. And then she ran out and yelled at them and they got into their car, drunkenly, and they drove away. So, you know, when you live near an entertainment district full of bars, you’re gonna face those kinds of hazards.

In addition to the rideshare hub, the city plans to introduce a nighttime ambassador to oversee the entertainment districts.

Alvarado noted, “The nighttime ambassador will be one of those [employed within the city’s code enforcement department]. Most likely, it’ll probably start off as a deputy co-director and it’ll break off from there and just keep growing at that point.”

The city is also increasing patrols in the area.

Currently, a team of five people checks for noise and parking violations, but the city hopes to expand this team.

Alvarado said, “Once we keep moving forward, we’ll hope to have seven to ten, maybe even more at some point in time.”

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The changes are part of a broader effort to restructure the code enforcement department, which will become a standalone entity by March away from a department that is overseen by the El Paso Police Department.

This restructuring aims to streamline operations and improve efficiency.

Alvarado emphasized the importance of community involvement, stating, “Community participation is going to be of the utmost importance. We want to hear from everybody. We want to make sure that we’re addressing everybody’s concerns.”

The city plans to continue to hold open meetings to discuss these changes, inviting all stakeholders to participate.

The next community meeting will take place sometime in February, however, no date or location is secure yet.

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