Update: That's a wrap! This was cool. I appreciate the questions and you guys taking the time to engage. Hopefully we can do another one of these soon. Special thanks to the moderators for guiding me through the process. I'm still a noob, but I'm getting better at this. DONT FORGET TO GET OUT AND VOTE! EARLY VOTING STARTS TOMORROW!

Matthew Guzman - District 8 City Council Candidate - here to answer your questions from 3-4pm this Sunday.

Here’s a quick-ish introduction to my background so you know a little about who I am and where I come from:

TL;DR - Humble beginnings; Politically moderate; Former financial advisor and current non-profit leader; Father, husband; Good dude trying to do good things. AMA!

I was born and raised outside of Houston in Pasadena, TX – a blue-collar suburb known for its massive concentration of oil refineries. I was raised in a multi-generational household by my mother and grandmother, both of whom were social workers for the Texas Dept of Human Services. I grew up in a very liberal household, but at least half of my extended family are republicans. This dichotomy has largely shaped my moderate view of the world. I think good ideas can come from anywhere and don’t really subscribe to any particular party’s “group think”.

I left home at 18 to attend college at Valparaiso University in northwest Indiana where I studied Psychology and Business. During my freshman year I lost my mom to cancer and have been on my own ever since. That same year I met my wife, Babs, a daughter of Polish immigrants that were granted amnesty by Reagan in the 80’s. Her mother was a factory worker, and her father was a handyman/contractor.

We both come from humble beginnings.

After college we moved to Chicago where I worked as a financial advisor while Babs completed medical school and residency. In her final year of training, I had had enough of the brutal Midwest winters and practically begged her to get a Texas medical license, which eventually led to us moving to El Paso in 2015.

El Paso was supposed to be a temporary stop for us, but we have fallen in love with the people and the place. Both of our children were born here, and we have decided to put down our roots and build our life here. Since making that decision we have both committed to getting civically involved and doing our part to push the city forward. We have been heavily involved in Sunset Heights and have started a neighborhood association that now has over 115 members and has created an incredible sense of community amongst our neighbors.

I have spent the past 8+ years working as the Executive Director of a local non-profit where I have been the steward of a $6+ million endowment that I make disbursements from to help people across El Paso County who are facing financial hardships. I have really focused my energy on extending funding to educational institutions whose missions are to educate and upskill people. My wife and I have learned, firsthand, that the best way to break the generational cycle of poverty is through education. I have also served on a number of boards and steering committees including the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation Board (which I resigned from in order to run for office without any conflicts of interest), and Para Niños – a group working to get El Paso designated as a UNICEF Child Friendly City.

Now, I’m running for city council to push for progress on housing affordability and the revitalization of our central neighborhoods through zoning and land use reform; to connect the dots between our educational institutions, military, and international supply chains to put our foot on the gas when it comes to economic development; and to continue investing in quality of life amenities that will provide our residents with more opportunities for local entertainment, while also drawing in tourism dollars that produce revenue for the city.

Sorry, that went longer than expected…AMA!

Thanks so much in advance! Visiting family in El Paso for thanksgiving and will be going out to dinner for Thanksgiving. I want to enjoy some really good Mexican food while I’m there. Any go to spots that will be open for thanksgiving (or may be and I can call ask)?

El paso always jumps onto trends late and when they do, they go hard. It happened with boba and now Matcha. Its everywhere and some places dont even make it good. Anyway, Hojicha is way better than matcha. Hojicha is roasted green tea leaves, please bring it to el paso lol. Lemme know if you guys know of a local place that sell hojicha lattes. I got hooked on hojicha while in denver.

Does anyone know who is opening for the Superheaven show at Lowbrow on 10/26?

Looking for a wedding venue for approximately 100-120 occupancy. Indoor or outdoor is fine, our budget is about $7,500 MAX.
All the ones I’ve been finding are well over our budget😅 PLEASE RECOMMEND SOME THANK YOU!

So im moving from florida and really wanna get my lpn in 2027 but i cant do a program longer than a year so if any of yall know any good ones lmk

I’m trying to make an informed choice before I vote. Have any candidates said whether they support or oppose the project? If you’ve seen a candidate’s statement, interview, or other reliable source, please share it below.

Any local grief support groups here in El Paso? Dealing with loss of a parent. Let me know. Side of town would be nice too.

Hey everyone!

Does anyone know of any used bookstores, thrift shops, or other places that sell secondhand books around El Paso?

I'm especially interested in older books, classics, and vintage editions, but I also enjoy modern books. I read in both English and Spanish.

I'm mainly looking for places with affordable prices, especially smaller shops or hidden gems that might not be well known.

I'd really appreciate any recommendations. Thanks in advance!

Join us for a unique ceramic workshop hosted in collaboration with the exchange! This family-friendly event takes place in downtown El Paso. Interested participants can sign up at https://www.instagram.com/casehitscomics.vrfl=MWtwbG51cmZvZmN0NQ==

I was diagnosed last month. I have a good support system in regards to friends, but my family isn’t so supportive . I have a hard time getting my words out, explaining things, and my family gets angry when I don’t make sense at times. My mom gets angry so easily. And I get it, the shell of a person she used to know is there, but my brain is alike of that of a dementia patient, or what if feels likes.) Two days ago I was telling her how exhausting all this was, and she said “I’m exhausted too..” to which I said “ which work telling you about their stuff?” She said “no family” ah, I get it. And I just walked out of the house. My question: is there MS support groups in El Paso?

does anyone have the recipe for their chia pudding they use as a base for their smoothie bowls? I desperately want to make my own at home.

-sincerely a former el pasoan that needs to get their fix outside of the couple visits back every year.