Broken Promises on this Side of the Cattle Guard

In today’s discussion I want to clarify the issues that have upset voters in the Town of Taos. Privately I am enthusiastic about the Farmer’s Market if not much of a shopper for curios or jewelry at Plaza shops. But when elected representatives and appointed public officials intentionally misrepresent the law at the Town and run roughshod over the citizens, merchants, and council members, we voters lose confidence in town policies. Who and what will be the next target of an “arbitrary and capricious” administration?

The discussion about “closing the streets” on the Plaza on Saturdays and for events is the crux of the controversy. Attorney Lopez and Manager Bellis were both caught on Tuesday night “lying” to the public by Councilor Fernandez about the “ordinance.” When confronted, the attorney sheepishly recanted but the manager explained away the ordinance in typical Norteno terms: custom trumps law.

The Bellis-Lopez lies in the open meeting, claiming the “ordinance” was a “resolution” and the passive-aggressive attitude of Mayor Barrone toward women and Councilor Hahn toward former supporters are cause for concern. Instead of trying to “disappear” the merchants by a 1000 cuts, the Mayor and Council should announce their intentions to transform the character of the Plaza and hold public hearings on eliminating the “ordinance” that restricts street closure.

The Farmer’s Market has been an issue (like Smith’s) for two years so neither Bellis and Lopez nor Barrone and Hahn can hide behind “ignorance of the law,” regarding the “ordinance,” which forbids closing the streets. Some of the efforts by this administration to “revitalize” the Plaza appear misguided but I applaud the effort to hold cultural events in the town’s central square. But closing the streets during regular business hours affects typical tourist and other businesses “negatively” and “merchants” have rights, too, like the right pay rent to landlords.

When the Council further discussed the need to devise a common vision or master plan with community members, Bellis derailed well meant intentions, claiming a “master plan” was too difficult and mentioned creating “neighborhood associations.” The Town historically was represented by its own representatives who were familiar with the community and didn’t need “neighborhood” associations. Creating neighborhood associations is another way of delaying the process and maintaining control. There are only 5000 residents located in a small geographical area: talk to them for goodness sakes.

Many of us voted for Barrone, Hahn, and Cantu because we had confidence in either their record or their “honest intentions.” At the County I lobbied in Horse Fly for the passage of a tax to finance and build the Complex because I then believed Commissioner Barrone to be an honest man. Among others I urged him to run for Mayor. Similarly, the Chicano Chamber believed in Fritz’s record as a supporter of small business and a compassionate individual concerned about the rights of the hometown folks.

But Barrone and Hahn have placed their promise and integrity in the hands of the rather slippery Town Manager, Rick Bellis, and his mouthpiece, Floyd Lopez, who treats the law as a malleable political prop. Attorney Lopez contributed to the Cantu lynching party by ignoring parliamentary procedure, apparently refused to disclose his relationship to the Couse Pasture as a “conflict of interest” issue,” and interpreted the street “ordinance” as a “resolution.”

With my own eyes and ears I saw and heard Bellis reverse policy and misrepresent what he and his partner were doing and not doing at the Old County Courthouse under the aegis of the County. He and she couldn’t complete the groundwork or organize an arts and cultural district program despite the County’s substantial financial investment in the project. At the Town Bellis’s inability to make decisions created vacancies at marketing and planning for months on end and set back the “nuts and bolts” of governing.

All of the Bellis foibles mentioned above were observed and known by county officials prior to his departure from the County, including “not returning phone calls” or “emails” while he simultaneously engaged in a public policy of what some call the “smoke and mirrors” technique.

Just as Barrone and Hahn have lost the support of the Chicano Chamber and the members of the Rio Fernando Neighborhood association, so hundreds of other voters in the community are disappointed. Those who knew less about Barrone but respected Hahn’s record as an activist are as aghast as I am about the Mayor. I don’t mind disagreements about street closures, new age Xmas lights or “faux” cultural pig sticking. But I am concerned about the Dan, who appears to have shelved his integrity, independence, and work gloves.

Barrone and Hahn dismissed supporters, who were concerned about the procurement code violations at Town Hall. Hahn has mumbled about a policy of “restorative justice” as an excuse. But before you create a harmonious “justice circle,” you need to establish a “truth and reconciliation” commission.

The excuse the Town uses re: “public safety” to close public streets is a diversion. The real public safety problem has been relocated to Kit Carson Park, which is becoming increasingly unsafe for senior citizens. Apparently the word is out among cell-phone transients who promote Taos as “a safe place for vagrants.” The problem is apparently ignored by the town cops and is an increasing problem on the Plaza and at the Park.

A friend mentioned that Bellis serves as a kind of “Rasputin” for Barrone and Hahn. He certainly looks the part though I am more reminded of the car dealer played by William Macy in Fargo.

Maybe the Sign Man is right: “Bobby Come Back, we need you.”