Taos’s Mesmerizing Radio

“An absolutely essential item for winter, indoors too, is a WOOL CAP. Thirty-five percent of body heat goes out up the top of the head. “ Joanne Forman

Man of the (Nonstop) Hour

During the great “Deep Freeze,” like many Taosenos, I have tuned in to radio, especially Paddy Mac’s all-day 12-hour talk show on KTAO. Calm, cool, and collected the Paddy Mac has become the voice of the community. Our multi-cultural Taosenos have returned the favor, calling in with a variety of tips, offers of help, sightings of gas crews in neighborhoods. We also heard sophisticated analyses of energy policy from Taosenos between cries for help and yelps of outrage. Through it all, Paddy Mac exhibited the patience and demeanor or a true community voice, calling attention to his listeners–not himself–in a display of professionalism and understated passion, leavened with the occasional bit of humor.

On Tuesday, the radioman respectfully but coolly grilled Gas. Co. executives. He asked those crucial questions: When did you know and why did you do it. Many are called but we were chosen to suffer the outages, according to the executives. We were chosen—regardless of the below-zero temperatures—due as much to panic as practicality by gas officials to suffer the outage.

During a conversation yesterday with County Manager Jake Caldwell, Commissioners Dan Barrone and Nick Jaramillo, Paddy Mac and his listeners learned how the county offered Gas. Co. officials help from their vast employee resources but were shunned by the Gas. Co. The County said their GIS, planning and assessor department employees, etc. were all available to help guide out-of-town crews around the byways of Taos.  Similarly, offers of help from the local Coop meter minders were ignored.

Unbelievable.

Taos is one of the most convoluted and Byzantine places in America when it comes to finding your way around. Anyone who has attended County Commission meetings knows that Commissioners,who campaign for office door to door or while directing road crews, know their neighborhoods—as do the members of the Taos County Sheriff’s Office.

Both Barrone and Jaramillo spent their days helping folks. Certainly, we all appreciated the Town of Taos’s Cathy Connelly’s timely press releases and, Mayor Darren Cordova’s advice to turn on your own meter and light up your furnaces yourself. Yesterday, a Gas Co. crew from Colorado finally showed up in my neighborhood, Upper Las Colonias with KRQE TV traipsing along, on Highway 64. We appreciate the out-of-town media coverage, Stiny in the Journal, too, and Jeff and Michael on KKIT, who broadcast community information from DMC offices downtown. And we really appreciate the out-of-town crews and all the volunteers.

But hats off to Paddy Mac, winner of this year’s Good Citizen award. The gratitude of his listeners was evident as they called in to thank him, thanking him for saving their lives if not their toes from frostbite. I don’t know if Paddy Mac got any offers of marriage but he’s this year’s Homecoming King. And you can tune in today to 101.9 and listen to the soothing tones of Paddy Mac–the Man of the (Nonstop) Hour.

P.S. I got my monthly bill from the Gas Co. yesterday. They can read the meter when they want the cash but it took them six days to find us to turn it back on. Go figure.

Bill,

I spoke to the town council yesterday…about the wonderful job that Paddy Mac was doing, without the aid of a news department or access to the big shots. Radio is far and away the most useful medium in times of disaster.

You [Paddy Mac] have done a wonderful job— no, a phenomenal job.

Jeff Northrup

Editor’s Note: I believe Mr. Northrup was responsible for some rather vivid images broadcast on KOB TV–thereby emphasizing the intensity of the problem to the state.

Hi Bill,

Sometimes living in Northern New Mexico, we as residents have to take matters into our own hands and accept the responsibility that goes with that.

Monday was the tipping point, with the gas crews not showing up, after promising  that gas would be restored on Sunday,  no matter what.  Frustration was at its highest level when Monday our Mayor said on radio that we should get a plumber to relight our pilots or if we felt comfortable doing it ourselves, that we should go ahead.

Of course, I was put on a waiting list so I zoomed home and relit my pilots and euphoria set in. Finally a hot shower at my own home, instead of relying on friends and relatives.

Here is my take on it; and it is just one person’s opinion.  With the freezing temperatures and no heat, the immune system is compromised, which could lead to a whole slew of problems.

I think the health of the children and elderly of this community were at risk and that one statement by the mayor could not have come in a more timely  manner.

Immediately, the Gas Company issued statements (posturing), about that this shouldn’t be done and threatening fines for such actions.

I applaud the Mayor for being proactive and feel that he did the right thing. I feel, given the number of houses out of heat, that this one action could have possibly saved the life of just one person… which of course, makes if all worthwhile.

John Delmargo

Editor’s Note: We’re with you and Darren on the “self-re-lit” program. Takes courage for a public official to countermand orders from the “big utilities.”