Taos: Year of the Protester

In a shocking display of recognition by the voice of Corporate America, Time Magazine has acknowledged that  2011 should be remembered as the “Year of the Protester.” The Tunisian, Mohamed Bouazizi, a vendor, immolated himself and ignited the Arab Spring across the Mid East. In the American sphere Bradley Manning leaked tales of military and diplomatic horror to Julian Assange of Worldwide WikiLeaks. During the Autumn, Occupy Wall Street Protesters focused attention of the American 1% who control the U.S. Government and most of the American income and wealth.

Here in Taos County, thanks to protesters, the Dollar Store Developers are rethinking the plan to despoil five acres in front of Overland Sheepskin and have withdrawn their application. Protesters say the Dollar Store will seek a more appropriate location, possibly in already developed commercial areas. See:  www.taosfriendsunited.com.

At the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge Dawn Kohorst representative of the independent vendors, who, like tourists, have been blocked from parking at and/or selling crafts at the historic site by the NMDOT at the request of Taos Pueblo, persists. According to 1963 Taos Pueblo Tribal documents and letters from the Department of the Interior to the State of New Mexico, the tribe sold a “right a way” to the state. But NMDOT, the state police, Taos Pueblo WarChief (the man who killed a cow) and Taos Pueblo cops have allegedly violated rights of fair trade and the right to assemble, according to a court decision. Kohorst remains in business on a tiny patch of ground–thanks to the intervention of Commissioner Nick Jaramillo, who told county cops, “they (vendors) have a right to be there.”

In the Town of Taos, where the police chief has resigned due to alleged interference, the Mayor’s jackboots from the planning department have continued to harass, confiscate signs, and otherwise cite protester Jeff Northrup. At Town Council meetings the Mayor has cut off Councilor Gene Sanchez’s remarks about the ill-advised and expensive proposal to subsidize the Kit Carson Command Center. Despite the Mayor’s threats, both Sanchez and Northrup bravely find ways to focus attention on corruption at town hill.

More than 300 people in the KCEC service area signed petitions protesting the KCEC request for an electricity rate increase and focused on dangerous fiscal practices by the Trustees and CEO. At PRC hearings, thanks to protesters like Jerome Lucero, Peter Adang, Linda Bence, and County Commissioner Andrew Chavez, the citizens have forced the coop to confess to millions of dollars in losses and extraordinarily high travel expenses. Electric rates have already gone up more than 60% during the last decade. The rates still went up but the trustees and the CEO were tarnished by tawdry behavior.

At Taos Pueblo, a number of local residents have alerted Taos Friction to the Tribe’s arbitrary and capricious “distribution” of the Christmas money. Out-of-towners with relatives on the Rez were apparently alerted to the Saturday, Dec. 17 giveaway housrs earlier than actual residents of the Pueblo, who were ignored or stood in line for hours but were turned away because they were told by government officials: “We’re out of money.” Still, Taos Pueblo has plenty of bullets for “problem” cows.