[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6380494,"mediaKeyId","2131351-d8644243a5dd9180f8df92d4397c5632","parentId",2131351,"title","Committee votes to request city resolution changing its name to Veterans Advisory Committee","audioSeconds",57,"startMs",3570000,"endMs",3627000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2131351-d8644243a5dd9180f8df92d4397c5632&start=3570&end=3627","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2131351-d8644243a5dd9180f8df92d4397c5632/thumbnail_3570000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6380494/El-Paso-City/El-Paso-County/Texas/Committee-votes-to-request-city-resolution-changing-its-name-to-Veterans-Advisory-Committee","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380494-d3d6d9b669f2ff62690eb92c61b60ad2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164002&Signature=m-jOrZgY2kC-Iy8pg08ameOa3wPXrptT3bcEJjOUyy4FTV3guB7uGfqUQxCnL9EU1-OnDQ6aDt3XnjHlxl0TlWvypfdlYIrfD-idx10w7uTI41xoUx8J3Jt2sUwtbLY053qL1y5KYkJHKh5s9CDJgePFuT2aW2RTNfeGrv4QZSR9PZ38b4CGRV4P5RiW9~BZx68ux-rgfeZu~hqqffcKL4bKudScun7lWdzmN7Onv2wtrw4XU0bU~4fJBWdqW2848V7ph1TTuS5GBmLI3Egq9FX3DFtEsf29QZYzqfAiIatR40-iUYsHDE~SaDAWppbPEk~TZv1eI~bYgwEK~v7VaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of El Paso Texas","date","2025-01-17T00:00:00Z","article","The City of El Paso Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Jan. 16 voted 7–1 to ask the city to change the committee’s official name by submitting a resolution to city council.

George Ellis Esser proposed directing the Military and Veteran Affairs office to draft a resolution that would amend the enabling resolution to rename the body from the “Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee” to the “Veterans Advisory Committee.” The motion was seconded and passed by a 7–1 vote; one member opposed.

Nut graf: Proponents said removing the word “Affairs” would reduce public confusion between the local advisory committee and the federal Department of Veterans Affairs. The committee directed staff to prepare the amendment and submit it to city council for consideration.

Committee staff confirmed the passage and said the amendment would be scheduled for the next available council meeting. Members discussed only the title change and directed staff to return with a draft resolution for council consideration.

Ending: The committee recorded the vote in its minutes and will follow up with the city clerk’s office and staff to schedule the resolution submittal.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee 2025-01-17","oneSentenceSummary","The El Paso Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee voted 7–1 to direct staff to prepare a resolution for city council that would change its name to the Veterans Advisory Committee, citing public confusion with the federal VA.","taxTitle","El Paso City, El Paso County, Texas","taxId",2792,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6380498,"Committee names subcommittee chairs, prioritizes homelessness response and flags 988 crisis-line gaps",311,2907000,3218000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2131351-d8644243a5dd9180f8df92d4397c5632&start=2907&end=3218","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2131351-d8644243a5dd9180f8df92d4397c5632/thumbnail_2907000.jpg","/articles/6380498/El-Paso-City/El-Paso-County/Texas/Committee-names-subcommittee-chairs-prioritizes-homelessness-response-and-flags-988-crisis-line-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380498-ee509c47384e04bde864857811e689bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164002&Signature=Wlz0fVD3n1PPW8Nm1dBSsGVxpNVfOFVPaUh2OStggWEjAJe-gqAD6GKwfJtc2HC9oK7GgNT~eFSTaQ4hCSThpUIJPtzPWpHW0-i5BzAK7ZtI4siwUdoq-CN-f3tHVpe6raA0zQ8Jfjv6h1MhnAmy~cGnzeqEntZUj9WEWBehHzJzFTNFDiq337TYejQ2zU7xfPPZyCxcVLk~3oGpeLBOn7eApNv98Dpq79GH1pUGkfrCLBLR7PrzzHkWAYUuZ7GsIaaM2vnuVg6msuP1quM8FPH48kcx1GCdd-oFJeTikc2UVB0in1mcxgBu81mDMXhigM-S03XCXI2gY1sL8q43yQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Jan. 16 meeting the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee reorganized subcommittee leadership and focused discussion on veteran homelessness and mental-health crisis response.

Donald Brown was appointed chair of the homelessness subcommittee by voice vote after nominees were considered. Melissa Hartcrow was named employment subcommittee chair and Donna Juarez will continue as mental-health chair.

Nut graf: Committee members said veteran homelessness is rising in El Paso and described a recent case in which local providers were unable to connect a homeless veteran to VA benefits in time; members announced plans for coordinated outreach and to participate in the Jan. 23 point-in-time count.

Paul Albright and other members described coordinated meetings with community providers including the Opportunity Center, Coalition for the Homeless and Endeavors to identify barriers to rapid housing. Members said they will form a cross-functional team with police and service providers to speed housing placements and prevention-of-recurrence efforts.

A committee member raised statewide concerns about 988 crisis-line capacity, saying Texas faces a roughly $7,000,000 funding shortfall for 988 operations and that the state ranked high for abandoned 988 calls in recent months. A staff member said that when 988 calls drop, 988 will attempt an immediate callback; if the caller does not answer, local law enforcement may be dispatched for a wellness check and Emergency Health Network (EHN) crisis counselors or CIT teams can respond locally.

Members asked staff to pursue follow-up meetings to identify local contingency call-routing options and alternatives (for example, local 24/7 EHN lines) and to report back to the subcommittee.

Ending: The committee said homelessness would be a top priority for 2025 and that subcommittees would report progress at future meetings.","The committee appointed Donald Brown as homelessness subcommittee chair and Melissa Hartcrow as employment chair, kept Donna Juarez as mental-health chair, and discussed an uptick in veteran homelessness, a failed effort to connect a veteran to VA benefits and concerns about 988 call capacity in Texas.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6380503,"Service Dog Nation urges local education on service animals, warns against certification scams and cites House Bill 4164",671,1715000,2386000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2131351-d8644243a5dd9180f8df92d4397c5632&start=1715&end=2386","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2131351-d8644243a5dd9180f8df92d4397c5632/thumbnail_1715000.jpg","/articles/6380503/El-Paso-City/El-Paso-County/Texas/Service-Dog-Nation-urges-local-education-on-service-animals-warns-against-certification-scams-and-cites-House-Bill-4164","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380503-da37af08db884ee37c9085064dbeaa25/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164002&Signature=dlQQhrd1-6Nk~S-DDEf5OnlrRzRN88KM1qIWaP~~lq1B6JK6PGbp7GDEx4mQ2cNEEYphrEKizx0N6V-a4aGaL51EiuxNuGjCvsT3J~vqKBFDI8fkFWPuNqUbUZ9utHSsSjrlLbcDI6c3g5FFMc1AUnFj9gVN6lGM79QxCJigxvEg1OiQ-umFepmisbAVUjzpPasib1zdO5nEyPXfVMpsAOKK5Xdq5B-i1xmlwB-oi6WyAP2T7o8NcNEoELGqks78S1OYw0wbS-46QXe1HyLU5E41n5jNaFq4ovznguEuiMHRylvQYSvvqzai54wo6FjuYglPmvYLtkjjKaSD29vCHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Darcy, founder and president of Service Dog Nation, told the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Jan. 16 that veterans and other handlers face long waits, high costs and frequent public misunderstandings when seeking a service dog.

Darcy said program-trained dogs can cost “up to $60,000” and that veterans who rely on nonprofit programs often face waiting lists of “3, 4, 5 years.” She described alternatives — owner-trained dogs, local trainers, and free temperament testing offered by local groups such as Barker House — and urged a mix of community support, professional trainers and public education to expand access.

Nut graf: The presenter urged the city and partner organizations to educate businesses and event venues about federal disability-access rules and to correct local policies that ask handlers for vaccination records or “certification” cards, which she called scams.

Darcy said Texas House Bill 4164, effective Sept. 1 (date not specified in the meeting), makes it a local offense to misrepresent a service dog and can carry fines of up to $1,000, community service and other penalties; she recommended the committee promote public education on the law and on Americans with Disabilities Act rules. “Registration and certification is a scam,” she said, describing commercial websites that sell cards and stickers without training or medical verification.

She also recounted specific access problems: handlers and their dogs were refused entry at a local baseball game after staff requested certification and vaccine records. Darcy said poorly trained pets have attacked service dogs, sometimes forcing handlers out of public roles because replacing a trained dog can be prohibitively slow and costly.

Ending: Speakers asked about self-training steps, and Darcy pointed to the canine good-citizenship basics (sit, stay, come, drop it, leave it) and local free temperament testing. She said Service Dog Nation is a Texas nonprofit working to expand access and education while pursuing federal nonprofit status.

","A local nonprofit founder described obstacles veterans face getting service dogs, urged community education on service-dog law and practice, and said misrepresenting a service dog can carry fines under a recent Texas law.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6380506,"VA interim director’s staff says core VA services would continue in shutdown; My HealtheVet account changes set for Jan. 31",214,975000,1189000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2131351-d8644243a5dd9180f8df92d4397c5632&start=975&end=1189","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2131351-d8644243a5dd9180f8df92d4397c5632/thumbnail_975000.jpg","/articles/6380506/El-Paso-City/El-Paso-County/Texas/VA-interim-directors-staff-says-core-VA-services-would-continue-in-shutdown-My-HealtheVet-account-changes-set-for-Jan-31","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380506-2b5c925fad59edd02cb05e40fcaccc3f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164002&Signature=VhTwqoJG~a1uNTEHHilcVljusilLVjCo9IvyBCog~0xrpzAv7b6jOJuLdn3gyIPDkSR36X1P2OgIU7-7Vy37O48y~I7nu7oHclVZx8TIY~oyZYzIHwPwb3GNL9cfQI6jKHy0hXYmciJTr23SQohN3RizhBCFGzHDKrLtoBRkLWGyBlGSfja6DY9TPGCkEn0P7FlPQrWwys2f9RqVGXAuXXw53WraiYXmeyjUeU5IYNYO8Ay1XzhRLDRqcTsK5ddf-V4o1RTnYIXaw~qcLYyPZE4a~P2o8V7thkblSyAld5~7tAba1i5ScZfNKQV61a5cbesNcGNnRyOcYDhxG2J73Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A representative for the El Paso VA told the City of El Paso Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Jan. 16 that key VA medical and benefit services are being prepared to continue in the event of a federal government shutdown.

Amina Ricas, chief for the Center for Development and Civic Engagement speaking for the VA interim director, said veterans’ health care and VA medical centers would “remain unaffected” and that benefit processing — including compensation, pensions, education and housing support — would continue. She also said national cemeteries would remain open and burial-related applications and decisions by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals would proceed.

The representative provided contact information: the VA national information line (1-800-MyVA411) and the crisis line at 988 for immediate mental-health crisis support. For clinical support the VA’s HealthConnect nurse line is available 24/7 at 1-800-672-3782; callers can press 3 for the nurse line, 1 for pharmacy and 2 to schedule appointments.

Nut graf: The update is intended to reassure El Paso-area veterans that core VA operations should continue during an appropriations lapse, and to warn them of an imminent My HealtheVet technical change that will require action by account holders.

Ricas also said My HealtheVet is consolidating multiple VA websites into a single secure sign-on system effective Jan. 31. She warned that veterans who do not complete the new secure single sign-on (DS Logon / ID.me style process) may be unable to access appointments, medication refills or printable correspondence on va.gov. Veterans who need in-person help with the transition can visit My HealtheVet support services on the third floor of the main El Paso VA medical center.

The VA staff also announced a tele-town-hall and an on-site whole-health resource fair that took place the same day. The representative encouraged veterans to use va.gov to find the VA field guide to shutdown procedures and to call the listed numbers for help.

Ending: Committee members thanked the VA staff and moved on to county and community updates.","A VA representative told the El Paso veterans advisory committee the Veterans Health Administration and most veteran-facing benefits would continue in a government shutdown and outlined phone and website resources and an upcoming My HealtheVet login consolidation.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6380513,"Veterans advisory panel elects Ron Jackson chair, names Donna Juarez vice chair and George Ellis Esser secretary",320,397000,717000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2131351-d8644243a5dd9180f8df92d4397c5632&start=397&end=717","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2131351-d8644243a5dd9180f8df92d4397c5632/thumbnail_397000.jpg","/articles/6380513/El-Paso-City/El-Paso-County/Texas/Veterans-advisory-panel-elects-Ron-Jackson-chair-names-Donna-Juarez-vice-chair-and-George-Ellis-Esser-secretary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380513-487e61e34ab71b223c8465b73169afef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164002&Signature=UAsVDOTKjfJbd54VNzfDbTBuTpkvMcTYpL~kQF43ERSlUVoypKRoLQmD9wTW-SN0Sm2Xyx814zAomCn8zZpsiuspra00iLEAjf~FMgtG6JsxsoXmrrdNbGn0B3aFaVVt4GAQrxE7iP~j8V-WkIZfN9Hta2c2AgW1XtcvxVGPOFSNUcQPzomXntwb3Uy0QNzAATZgltWjZVicCag6pKkEdFLqi1Dzb3eGuNzWSM3RnKDI0xRiXTnCNjiN5D5yFLF9~Ru3dvoJI6ozxyTLKw-zPlftiVkEoNJKB5vCLEpVjdo40iJqGKMegG9gYyX28jTFPEKe4XGeORbt~9Fwnoc4Gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of El Paso Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Jan. 16 elected Ron Jackson to serve as chair for the 2025 calendar year and approved two other officer appointments.

In a contested chair vote, Ron Jackson won 4–3 to become the committee’s chair. Ron Jackson accepted the nomination, saying, “I do.” The committee also voted to appoint Donna Juarez as vice chair and George Ellis Esser as secretary; both accepted their nominations during the meeting.

The elections followed oral nominations from committee members and an open roll-call-style vote. The committee approved the minutes for its Nov. 21, 2024 meeting by voice vote earlier in the session.

Nut graf: The officer elections set leadership for the committee’s work this year on employment, homelessness and mental-health subcommittees and on its April briefing to city council. Members said they want new leadership to accelerate work on homelessness and the committee’s priorities for 2025.

Committee members discussed duties for each post before voting. The veterans program coordinator’s staff described the secretary role as largely administrative support — drafting minutes and agendas and stepping in if both chair and vice chair are absent. Donna Juarez said she would “accept” the vice-chair nomination and George Ellis Esser took the secretary role after a second and voice vote.

The chair vote was conducted openly after members asked about an anonymous ballot; staff said Texas open-meetings law requires an open vote for this body. Individual members announced their choices when called on by the chair. After tallying votes, the chair declared Ron Jackson elected with a 4–3 tally.

Ending: With the new officers in place, members moved to set subcommittee leadership and continue planning for the committee’s annual presentation to city council in April.","At its Jan. 16 meeting the City of El Paso Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee elected Ron Jackson as chair for 2025, approved Donna Juarez as vice chair and named George Ellis Esser secretary. The committee also approved minutes from Nov. 21, 2024.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee votes to request city resolution changing its name to Veterans Advisory Committee

Committee names subcommittee chairs, prioritizes homelessness response and flags 988 crisis-line gaps

Service Dog Nation urges local education on service animals, warns against certification scams and cites House Bill 4164

VA interim director’s staff says core VA services would continue in shutdown; My HealtheVet account changes set for Jan. 31

Veterans advisory panel elects Ron Jackson chair, names Donna Juarez vice chair and George Ellis Esser secretary