A Tale of Two (Border) Cities

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The cities I am referring to are San Diego and El Paso.

I am curious to know that although both cities are on the border with Mexico, San Diego is a popular tourist destination and excellent city to live in, yet El Paso is seen as just a washed up border town.

What are the differences between the two cities?

Dear Sir, San Diego does have an excellent and excellently-paid publicity machine, but it is NOT an excellent city to live in. Check the foreclosures and short sales, check out the joblessness, check out the racial problems, on ALL sides. Specifically White Supremacy. There is a local publication, The Reader, you can get some eye-opening information there, and check their archives on-line. Neighborhoods destroyed to build condos that no one wants to live in, high-rises allowed into older, established neighborhoods, choking small streets with traffic, businesses closing down, empty stores all over. Apartment dwellers told their buildings are 'going condo', they can buy or they can move. Families with too many kids for the unit living in 1 and 2 bedroom units and I do mean 4 and 5 kids (!) and no one can legally refuse to rent to them. The drug situation is beyond anything you can believe...it isn't the dispensaries, It's next door, it's 12-year-olds! This year a local hospital cut 250 jobs, and in East County only 1 hospital has an OB/GYN department, so you better worry, if you unexpectedly go into labor!

Sylkat

Rather than San Diego vs. El Paso, would it more likely be a Tijuana vs. Juarez issue?

What dump on the floor smells better the solid or runny? >_<




But seriously :

"Ti-mari-juana" did better earlier and kept that advantage because it had better influx of money from SoCal. Specially when the exchange rate was insane. Quickie Marriage, quickie divorce, quickie sex, quickie drugs, dog&pony shows. tourist fawning. Whereas "Whorez" is landlocked, a shanty town ans gets drearier and scarier every decade. It had less Border Patrol hassle in the 60s- 70s. Crime was prime on both sides for at least 10 miles. dog fighting, bullfighting, cockfighting. Beaches that have no rules for a looong time, a place minors under 21 (19 at the era I was there a few times) could (at risk) get drunk and smoke.

Both also catered to local military. Very important in El Paso since that is ALL there was for a long time
By mid 80s it was hellhole . But Tijauna has the better location deal with beaches being blessed on the Baja peninnsula (3rd World Florida complete with attractions), better weather, Ensenada near and sport fishing galore.

The American side cities have been higher crime s**t holes compared to those 50+ away for ages. Cartel presence, corruption, bribery, people disappearing. Illegals were barely a problem since they had support as Political asylum seekers and no laws were in place for underground sweatshops.

San Diego became attractive because Navy and marine stations, as well as in the 80's and 90s, people fleeing Northridge snapped up distressed properties to make gated communities to pop up, then of course they want more safety.

Note that this is all anecdotal personal observation mixed with overhearing adults in the time as a child . We traveled a lot but had home in Burbank, then Thousand Oaks then Upland after leaving Harlingen.
El Paso/Juarez I experienced as pass thrus specially while at Ft Bliss.

(insert deleted Juarez sentence)