Que Pasa?
Since Taosenos love their politics and the daily dish, I’m going to update the running tab on rumors and politics daily in this column, “Que Pasa.” I will throw in a bit about entertainment and the arts just to keep the multicultural readers coming back.
On Friday, Nov. 1, a memorial will be held from 6 pm for Juma Archuleta, the Chicano Barber, at Las Pistoleras across the street from Raoul’s Brotherhood of Love Barber Shop in El Prado. Currently, a descanso or roadside memorial is in progress on the north side of the shop. See the barber pole, flowers on the cross, and mementos being dropped off for the beloved barber. Deb, Linda, and Tessa have organized a potluck, so bring whatever you fancy to share with fellow celebrants of Our Barber’s life and times.
(Mon. Oct. 28. Taos) Larry Sanchez, the County Commissioner from the Questa/Red River northern area of Taos County says, contrary to rumor, he’s running for re-election to the commission. “A lot of people have approached me,” said Peepers. So there’s no free ride in the democratic primary with both Sanchez and Sheriff Miguel Romero as candidates up north.
Taos Town Council candidates Fritz Hahn and Judi Cantu showed up at Taos County’s extensive Regional Water Plan information hearings yesterday. Both candidates appear to be running hard and, like the candidate for Mayor of Taos, Dan Barrone, absorbing information about the issues. There is a real epistemological difference between current town and county governments. At the town they engage in generalities or “bull_____” while, at the county, the public and elected officials discuss facts and particulars. (Everyone knows that nobody is as smart as Taos Councilor Fred Peralta.)
(Sun. Oct. 27. Taos) Apparently, Town Councilor Michael “Mr. Contracts” Silva is considering a run for Commissioner Barrone’s District 1 seat, a seat for which Mr. Fambro, see below, has declared his candidacy. From what we hear, Mr. Silva no longer resides in District 1 since the boundaries were adjusted a couple years ago in response to redistricting required by the 2010 census. But then an ethical regard for community customs and practices doesn’t seem to be part of the Silva portfolio, given his ignorance of the “conflict of interest” prohibitions, voting to approve projects for entities in which he has a financial interest…Just saying…
(Sat. Oct. 26, Taos Plaza) I saw Jim Fambro and family circling the historic Plaza, the historic heart of the Arts and Culture District, the one Mayor Cordova and Manager Rodriguez have bailed out on—(due to what? damn Anglos)? Fambro said he was running for Commissioner Barrone’s seat in County Commission District 1, the Town of Taos. We all know that Fambro, longtime Taos fire chief, is intimately aware of issues in the Town of Taos, the district, which term-limited Barrone represents. Further, Fambro jumped from the frying pan into the fire when he took a job as village administrator in Questa. He brings a wealth of informed experience and expertise about E911 and etc. to his candidacy for commission. Nobody else has yet come forward to run for this office.
We hear Sheriff Miguel Romero of Questa is running hard for Larry Sanchez’s commission seat in northern Taos County, where he might encounter former Sheriff Felipe Cordova of San Cristobal as a candidate in the democratic primary. The wild card up north is Virgil Martinez from Cerro. Will he run or won’t he?
We don’t know who’s running up in Penasco or whether the Penasco district still winds around and catches the eastern end of Canon. If Canon is still part of Penasco voting district, we wouldn’t be surprised to hear that Sarah Medina might run for commissioner. Why not? The democratic party in Taos is meaningless as an organized entity.
Meaning no disrespect but politically speaking in the current Sheriff’s race, former Magistrate Judge Betty Martinez is running fast and hard, wrapping up the neighborhood and family leaders who stand behind the community leaders. This race reminds me of Snow White and the Five Dwarfs. It doesn’t matter what you say or think, it’s what Betty says and thinks that counts because she’s got the “knowhow” when it comes to elections and execution (no pun intended).
In Town, the Friction sees a surge of support coming in behind council candidates Hahn and Cantu ’cause Townies can’t see how the Abeyta-Cordova machine or Abeyta-Peralta machine (or Contracts for Cuates Silva) will change anything but send the town from near insolvency to total insolvency: see potholes and parking meters, library cards and E911/Annexation, Art and Culture as unnecessary–except for the pay to play “Mother’s Day” profit center aimed at reimbursing DMC. You can’t make this stuff up but O’Rod and Brian “NO STANDING” James make stuff up all the time.
Friendly Fire: The Gang That Shoots Each Other
“The state has clawed back $70,000 in grant funding because the town refused to renew its contract with the Taos Arts and Cultural District. The money was meant to pay a consultant to help create a “downtown master plan” that would have made the town eligible for capital improvement grants.” J. R. Logan, Taos News, Oct. 25, 2013. Hey, if you didn’t like the Gringa, why didn’t you fire her and keep the dough?
Councilor Fred Peralta, a former mayor, is running for mayor of the Town of Taos: “Peralta said he is happy with how the town government has operated under Cordova (my bold), but he said he sees room for improvement.”—J.R. Logan, Taos News, Oct. 24, 2013. Fred has been staring in the mirror for so long, the guy staring back is telling stories.
The citizens of Taos are not happy with Mayor Cordova, Councilor Peralta or the town’s increasing number of snafus: see Command Center rip-off, imperial Annexation, and now the loss of a grant to re-invigorate Historic Taos. While the town sinks into dysfunction, the mayor, council, and manager fiddle or fight with each other, the County, and their constituents.
Here’s a little tip of the hat: The state of New Mexico is in talks with the County about renewing its relationship with the grant funds and taking over the Arts and Culture District. The state has begun to see the light re: the E911—Dispatch center—even as town cops have trouble communicating with the E911/Dispatch Center. Darren and Oscar, in an effort to please Luis, have blown this one big time.
It looks as if the County will have to take over everything…
The Town is so desperate that Oscar repeats calumnies in The Taos News even as the record shows the opposite. Credibility turns into a problem when you misrepresent just about every issue. The Town can’t even do the “parking meter” thing right despite a history of having a trained staff and sympathetic muni judge (run Dickie run). Parking meters from Alaska? Say what? There’s a big big pothole at 400 Camino de la Placita where Mr. Common Sense, Mayor Bobby Duran, used to hang his hat.
Taos Needs a New Mayor. Here’s the Man!
Mr. Dan Barrone, current chair of the Taos County commission, has announced that he intends to campaign for mayor of the Town of Taos. Those of us who believe in a “working” mayor applaud his decision. As a county commissioner Dan worked hard to pass bonds and build the new Complex, “to take care of our own,” as he used to say, referring to our own inmates. Meanwhile, the old 1970s era courthouse has disappeared like a bad dream. (The old old 1935 courthouse on the Plaza is still with us, looking for a benefactor.) Through thick and thin during the last seven years, Dan has been part of a fiscally sound administration.
Despite the construction of the Complex and taking on numerous additional duties, the County remains solvent while the Town of Taos hovers on the border of insolvency—despite historic cash reserves in place prior to the Mayor Cordova administration. Sure, Dan and the commissioners have hired a good staff. But that’s part of being a responsible elected official: encourage the staff to do the job.
Though the current Town administration spends a fair amount on promoting the community, the mayor and council ignore the community at the end of the trail.
The infrastructure is undernourished and the community appears uncared for: potholed streets, mottled sidewalks, broken parking meters, run-down water wells, low pressure in fire hydrants, patchwork enforcement of water ordinances, an unenforced sign code, no planning regulations or code enforcement to speak of. The public hearing process has been abrogated. A four building development in the middle of town began construction without giving notice to neighbors. In short the town is un-neighborly, as indicated by its cavalier treatment of taxpayers re: the Command Center and annexation.
Sure, the flower power advocates—volunteers—have done their best to provide beautiful displays in the historic district and the music makers on Thursday nights, thanks to the Chamber of Commerce, are a highlight.
The current group at town hall is more than a little excessive in their attention to selfish ends. The Mayor, Council, and narrow-minded executive staff seem so consumed with empire building and movida making—contracts and commissions for connected politicos—that they appear to have forgotten about public service. A single Mother’s Day concert is no substitute for on-going 24/7 attention to the community. There’s more to governing than pilfering the public purse for the sake of one’s private pocketbook. It’s appalling.
Taos County itself, given its cultural complexity, is like a small diverse state. The county encompasses vastly different communities in the north, the south, and the western portion across the Gorge, Carson, Ojo Caliente, Tres Piedras, the Town of Taos, Questa, Red River, El Prado, Taos Pueblo, Taos Canyon, Ranchos, Talpa, Llano, and the Penasco Valley as well as Pilar et al. Yet, the commissioners recognize the challenges and deal with a variety of issues: EMS and E911, irrigation, water resources, fire suppression, and neighborhood planning issues. Whether one agrees with their policies or not, they make a good faith attempt to do the right thing. And they listen to their constituents.
If the Town voters see fit to elect Barrone mayor, the town and county might be able to coordinate and combine any number of joint efforts to reduce costs and implement mutually beneficial projects: E911 and EMS, fire and land-use planning. From the Arts and Cultural District on the Plaza to the Rio Grande del Norte Monument stretching all the way to the Colorado border, the community needs a vision keeper. Given a lack luster economy and static growth, Taos residents need leadership that will focus on details—fixing up the community and enhancing the quality of life—for both residents and visitors. The town election is about sweeping out the talkers and calling up those with work gloves.