Playboy visited El Paso, and the political fall out that followed.

The big shtick of the October issue of Playboy is that if you bought the magazine you could see racy pictures of cartoon mother Marge Simpson.

But in El Paso, people are actually reading the magazine for its articles. Well, at least one article.

Luis Alberto Urrea wrote a piece for Playboy titled "A Weird Calm at the Edge of the Abyss" that focused on the relative safety of El Paso compared to the murdering chaos going on in Juárez right now. The article follows the author as he is shown around the region by a slew of colorful El Pasoans.

The author even talks about hanging out with City Rep. Susie Byrd and County Commissioner Veronica Escobar. Here's a link to the article courtesy of David K.

Escobar has been getting some flack over the comments she made during a visit she, the author and Byrd made to Chico's Tacos, where Byrd alluded that the cheese used to top the famous flautas is "government cheese." According the the writer, Escobar quickly responded by saying: “It’s that good welfare flavor.”

Of course, Escobar has been badly criticized for the quote, especially by those who think she might run for county judge next year. Her comments have been fodder for local AM radio talk shows, too.

Escobar on Tuesday vehemently denied making the comments stated in the article, and said she plans to contact the author to ask for an explanation.

"Two other people were with us that night and they, too, agree that I never said such a thing," she said. "People have said that both Susie and I were trashing El Paso, but anyone who knows us knows that we love El Paso."

If Escobar's statement is true and she didn't say those things to the writer, it wouldn't be the only fact that is incorrect in the story. Urrea states in the article that El Pasoans are concerned that the 33,000 troops that are expected "soon" at Fort Bliss will not understand the vibe of the city and bring them crime. Of the 34,000 new soldiers that are coming to Fort Bliss, about 22,000 are already here. 

On a side note, I must also disclose that I am a part of this article. Urrea in one part of the article talks about how he attended a birthday party where a "young man" told him that part of the secret of El Paso is its tolerance to "otherness." He quotes this guy without giving his name. In an effort for full disclosure I must admit that that the guy he quoted is me.

Comments

[ElMaldito]

This is nothing new. Everyone has always made a joke about Chico's and its "government cheese."

It was a joke for God's sake! Whoops, better be PC on that one, I mean for higher deity's sake.

The PC in this country is getting ridiculous! Even public figures have a sense of humor. Why should Escobar's impending run for judge be at jeopardy for a harmless joke?

Lastly, is ELP that pathetic that it succumbs to identifying itself with a cheap, overrated restaurant?

[Matt]

Yup, jokes about food ingredients at a local restaurant that are old as the restaurant itself = trash talking El Paso. Political Correctness needs to die! I have voted for Ms. Escobar for commissioner, and I will vote for her again (either for commissioner or judge) based on her performance, not on a Chico's joke.

[Luke]

Of course they love El Paso on the record. Where would they be without its tax dollars.

[Fumundachee]

Are not the elected held to a higher standard? Politicians want their cake and eat it too...you can't trust a politician. They lie, they talk smack, they gossip and stab you in the back....I'm tired of watching this game. There's a lot of truth in the article it just depends how you read it.

[voiceofdoom]

No one broke the law by talking to Playboy, and whoever among us hasn't talked a little playful smack about Chico's, throw the first block of welfare cheese!

BTW Fumundachee, you sound like a jilted woman.

[playboy reader]

RECALL SUZIE and put yamill in there. he at least would not put down the area around jefferson as welfare.

[RoOstEr]

What's the big deal it is government cheese. Chico's used to used ketchup packets that were labeled for non-profit use only.

[open letter]

I can only imagine if a political adversary of Vero the Hero or Sweet Suzie had said those things. You can take it to the BANK that they would be the first ones making it an issue. More doublestandard hypocrite scumbags in elected office in this hellhole..what else is new?

[bigutepdudeman]

I was reading the comment above...You guys missing the mark on this article in playboy. It more then just government cheese. This article does not show El Paso in very good light. It a very negative article. If I was soldier coming in to live at Fort Bliss. I be like what the hell why is the Army sending me to El Paso after reading that article. I have had family members read this article and if they have not been to El Paso before they would not wanted to visit El Paso due to article. It looks like City Rep Susie Byrd and County Commissioner Veronica Escobar don't care how city looks outside of El Paso.

[bigutepdudeman]

An email was sent to Susie Bryd to complain about this article and this what she wrote back..."By and large I thought the article was positive showing El Paso as a fun, welcoming, generous and quirky place" The people I have talked to inside and outside of El Paso do not think this about this article Susie Bryd.. Wake Up El Paso... Stop the Negative Image of Your City...

[ElMaldito]

When are people going to realize that ONLY El Pasoans think ELP is a great place?

Let's be honest, other than the great Mexican food, weather, sunsets, and a few hidden secrets, ELP is no tourist destination, so then why do locals get so upset when others opine such harsh remarks about this place?

The truth hurts, nobody wants to relocate here.

[reller]

Veronica and Susie come off like a couple of dingbats. These are the people representing our town?

[Whopee]

Susie Byrd took the Playboy writer on a midnight tour of all the "titty bars" in El Paso. She's described as an expert on El Paso's nightlife. Wasn't she one of the people who tried to make them illegal? I guess when it comes to advertising for Playboy titty bars are a good sell.

[gabriel]

where was susie's so called husband ? at home keeping the kids ? come on man, grow some. keep her at home so she wont embarrass herself again and make her change her name to yours. you teach kids for god's sake. maybe you could teach her how to have some class every once in a while.

[Hector Bensoto]

I wish he would have interviewed more people than those associated with his publisher. Escobar and Saenz are the only people he mentions that are people of color and Saenz is not even from El Paso.

[ElPasoCitizen]

The Playboy article really reveals how these 2 women feel about El Paso. They think they are better than the people they represent. Enough with their insults.

Both of them are elected officials in my district. They just lost my vote.

[taxpayer]

it could have been much worse, what if they had come out nude!?!?!?

[gabriel]

that's hilarious taxpayer. that's a good one.

[used bucket trucks]

ha-ha that's way too funny