Town’s Mom and Dad Play Hard Ball

The renaming of Kit Carson Park, whether due to hurt feelings and the feelings of grand children or personal grievances is a done deal: “We don’t need no stinkin history books in Taos.” The registered voters weren’t included in the process but that should come as no surprise.

Though Councilor Hahn has expressed doubt about the airport to his supporters, he voted to fund the project. He apparently encourages his supporters to talk about controversial decisions after the fact.

Well, we’re talking now to Father Fritz and Mother Judi.

Apparently, the Town took the same approach to the Farmer’s Market, which was moved, summarily, to the Plaza. Some Plaza merchants protested, some farmers protested. But Mom and Dad, Boss Bellis and Mayor Barrone know what’s best. Sometimes you’ve got to take your castor oil. I support the project but am becoming weary of the top-down process.

Where’s the sign man when we need him?

Next up on the Town’s agenda are changes at the Old County Courthouse and in the so-called Arts and Culture District. On July 24th the Town will ask the County to lease the Courthouse for $1 a year so that they can remodel and renovate the space, open up the alley, try to accommodate a beverage establishment where the Coop Gallery is now for Bellis’s new demographic.

The commissioners should maintain supervisory control over the old County Courthouse lest the Town go wild during the dark of night. Unlike the top town culture of town government, the County remains a bastion of populist democracy. I’ll feel more reassured when Virgil Martinez, the man from Cerro, wins in November.

I like to know with whom I’m dealing and I don’t know this “new group” at Town Hall.

Most of us are law abiding and will support or abide by what the majority of the people, i.e. the voters, want, including the changes to the Farmer’s Markets on the Plaza. But nobody mentioned name changing during the election. The council just changed its stripes.

What’s next on the back list?

Apparently, Councilor Hahn has forgotten and Councilor Cantu wasn’t around for the lessons of Super Walmart, the attempted coup at the Post Office, and the back door movida by Father Fred and Slick Gus to make a deal with Taos Pueblo for the expanded Kachina Casino project in the historic district back in the early aughts of the 21st Century.

The Town wanted Taos Pueblo to drop objections to an expanded airport, and, in turn, Taos Pueblo wanted the Town to drop objections to the expanded Kachina Casino project in the historic district. It was a done deal until RISE and the B&Bers stepped up. Maybe Bellis wants to renew the promise of slot machines and green felt dice tables at the Kachina Lodge? Quien sabe?

The back door deals in the early 2000s were found out when the citizens rallied and the Town Council, i.e. Erlinda Gonzales, Meliton Struck, and Bobby Duran (also as Mayor) stopped the runaway trains. Then the council stood up for local customs and they backed up the people (i.e. populist democracy).

But we citizens don’t have a road map anymore: Father and Mother know best!

I don’t know if Bellis is doing what Barrone wants or the Town Council has surrendered the reins of power to ideas that serve the new politically correct demographic. And my comments aren’t personal: I like the elected officials and I voted for them.

I just don’t trust them.

In the name of the “Forgotten People,” I am appealing for some democratic foreplay here. Like one of my friends said about this brief honeymoon: “you didn’t even kiss me.”

The people in Taos have been known to raise holy hell in the name of gods much older than Kit Carson or Popay. For Taosenos are a stiff-necked people, slow to rile but hell to stop once they confront runaway politicos.

Senator Pete came to the rescue of the Little Old Ladies opposed to the post office relocation. I remember the cheers, “Bobby, Bobby,” when Mayor Duran voted against Super Walmart. I’ll never forget the federal judge who said about the fraud associated with the promotion of the Kachina Casino project, “I criticize it from the bench.”

Unlike Mom and Dad, I remember and enjoy the facts of our rich local history.