On Governing and Remembering
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.
On Governing
Here in Taos, this observer can only wonder at the decline in effective governing and the rise of incompetence at 400 Camino de la Placita, Town of Taos HQ. Apparently, the brain and energy drain has found a resting place 105 Albright St in the new “Complex,” where the County Commissioners hang their work gloves. Maybe architecture makes all the difference.
One of the first stories I ever wrote about the Town of Taos said something like, “Town well-organized but dull.” Town Manager Gus Cordova liked the story because it emphasized the mission and hard work, the lack of drama at town hall. Gus ran a tight ship and kept his public remarks as carefully on message as he did the council and mayor. Not that I believe in dictators but one wonders about the benefits of benign monarchy. Gus knew something about the perils of democracy in Taos.
Under Gus’s 18 or 19-year regime, he carefully orchestrated the annexation of the commercial district along both Paseos. He grabbed the GRT and avoided extending the boundaries of the Town into residential areas so as to avoid demands for services. Hence, the Town turned into a financial center, where it could afford to build a library, a Youth and Family Center, take over Bataan Hall, a gift from the state, Kit Carson Park, another gift from the state, and so forth. Meanwhile, he maintained huge cash balances in the banks and state treasury.
Not that Gus was a progressive or visionary. Activists had to drag him into supporting the library and Youth and Family Center, the Swimming Pool—though the latter was built without going out for bid in an egregious violation of the state procurement code and tried to blame the law breaking on the donor, who was famous for her focus on the sublime, not the mere rules and regulations of local government.
One of the still unsung scandals of Gus’s era concerns the Town’s “Affordable Housing Scandal” which still resonates because unresolved. Former Mayor Fred Peralta participated in some of these debacles and will have to face the music in the memory of Taosenos. Taosenos don’t forget.
When Gus didn’t approve of a proposal, he told the council and mayor, it wasn’t in the budget or the town couldn’t afford it—regardless of the reality. In Gus’s world the parking meters ran on time, the sidewalks and streets were kept up, the potholes filled; the fire department’s fire hydrants were fully charged. He didn’t approve of the KCEC proposed Command Center and he stayed away from annexation that didn’t pay. I can’t imagine Gus passing up an opportunity to share the costs of the airport with the County or moving E911 into an expensive and poorly—implemented KCEC Command Center.
Gus knew your politicos needed a strong hand and accorded them the occasional travel voucher when they complied. And he controlled the press: there was a revolving door between the Town and The Taos News. More than one journalist left the local weekly for a sweeter job as public information officer.
And Gus governed. Maybe he was a “dictator” as Luis Reyes, KCEC CEO once told me after getting turned down for one of his follies. Today’s Town of Taos operates ad hoc as the mayor, council, and executive staff just make up stuff, i.e. assigning law enforcement tasks to Tow Truck operators or creating fools gold out of phony claims about asbestos. We hear even the cops can’t always get through the muddled E911 networks. The few employees who remain at Town Hall seem dour: morale is in the bucket.
Meanwhile, over at the “Complex,” employees buzz like bees in their cubicles, where a sense of purpose underscores the organizing principles. Folks seem concerned about getting their jobs done at the County. Sure, it’s not perfect and it’s sometimes slow but the principals are free to discuss the issues unlike the NSA-gagged and bound employees at Town Hall.
Given the Mardi Gras like chaos at the County a decade ago, the change from 1999 to 2013 is astounding. Even old enemies, veterans of the guerrilla wars, smile and laugh when they see each other. There’s a kind of mutual respect, at least in appearance, among employees, Commissioners, constituents, and activists.
As the Wheel of Fortune turns, we amateur political scientists can watch the fascinating permutations of local government. Neither the good nor the bad lasts. Wait patiently and the weather will change. Let’s hope March brings a change in weather and new pair of work gloves to Town Hall.