Taos Judge Acquits Sign Man

“Bill, it appears that you and my detractors, because of your disagreement with my decision on the command center will desperately try to find something on me to criticize. I have realized that no matter how hard I try to communicate with you or these types of people, whatever I do will never be good enough. I have accomplished many positive things during my tenure as Mayor that you are not capable of or refuse to recognize. I came in to hold employees accountable and push government to its limits to work on behalf of constituents. Many employees get it, and those that do not will be held accountable without exception and regardless of their political influences. Again, I have the courage to make these tough decisions.”–Mayor Darren Cordova

(Town of Taos Court) Taos protester and sign man Jeff Northrup, accused and cited for larceny by Mayor Cordova’s cops for taking the Mayor’s sandwich board sign advertising beer specials from the front of the Mayor’s restaurant and putting said sign in the Mayor’s code enforcement truck across the street  won a directed verdict of acquittal on March 5, 2012 from Judge “Big Geno” Sanchez. At the time of the incident, the town enforcers were picking up Northrup’s protest signs.

Judge Sanchez questioned the citation, noting that the officer who saw the alleged infraction passed off the responsibility for issuing the citation to a second officer, who had a less clear view of the act. (Who gave the order?) The Judge also noted that larceny involves stealing property with the intent to deprive the owner of it. ( As mentioned above, the property was merely transferred to the town, apparently for safekeeping?) The Judge concluded his remarks, saying, “The town had not proved beyond a reasonable doubt” that Northrup’s actions involved “Larceny.”

The Judge also noted that this is the second case involving Northrup and town sign regulations that has been tossed out of court. The Judge wondered aloud about the “enormous time spent by duty officers” on this matter, saying, “Somewhere it has to stop.”

Last Friday, the Judge allowed the Taos Police Department to correct and re-issue the citation for larceny. Further, this morning, the court allowed the prosecuting officer to continue—despite his being late to court. All the parties were hospitable and civil to each other.

The Mayor, as usual, was absent.

Unresolved issues include the capricious and arbitrary enforcement of commercial and speech codes, the width of highway right aways, exclusions for commercial speech in practice, and various conflicting regulations in the town’s ordinances.

The Mayor’s vendetta against Northrup continues as Jeff repeatedly pickets and alleges corrupt doings at the KCEC Command Center, involving the Mayor, the town, and Coop CEO Luis Reyes. Now the Mayor has hired a special prosecutor out of Las Vegas to prosecute Northrup, whose legal team is being assembled for a battle in district court. Two attorneys from the Maestas Law Firm in Taos were observing and/or taking notes about the judicial doings–allegedly on behalf of a third attorney, not present, who is an expert in First Amendment issues.

Corruption, apparently, runs downhill, following the course of the Rio Grande from Questa to Taos. Last week the Taos News published a story about Questa audit findings and noncompliance issues involving the kin and President himself of KCEC Board of Trustees. The story also raised the spectre of “conflict of issue” involving an attorney who serves both Questa and the Town of Taos.

“Conflict of issues” are apparently little understood by elected officials in Questa and Taos or at the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative. We have yet to hear the results of Councilman Silva’s call for an investigation of himself. We want to know if Mayor Cordova’s relationship with KCEC regarding advertising and alleged past due electric bills qualifies for “conflict of interest” violations regarding his support for the KCEC Command Center, which will cost taxpayers millions of dollars in moving expenses, rent, remodeling, etc.

As for KCEC, phone 758-2258 and ask how you can qualify for tree trimming, woodcutting, or rental income from stored Broadband equipment. Can friends of the trustees qualify to accompany the traveling trustees to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, or Hot Springs, Arkansas? If you’re out of town but need a notary—phone KCEC at 758-2258. If your neighbors’ signs in Taos bother you call the Taos Police Department.