Town of Taos Highlights: Council Finds Its Voice

“We can make anything work,” said Chief Weaver. “My job is to say yes.”

Tourism Muddle

On Wed. June 10, once again the mayor, manager, and council decided to hire out of Towners, this time a marketing consultant (Atlas Shrugs?) which name I didn’t catch, but one that will receive thousands of dollars for a job Taosenos could do. Still, due to an inspired performance, Fragile Fred Peralta, who is just recovering from being laid low by a mysterious illness, with support from Councilor Gonzales and Councilor Cantu, voted to table a muddled “events award” process until they have more “information” about both the organizations and the “secret (Bellis) committee” that vetted applications for thousands of dollars in grants.

The new events program aims at funding events between June 1 and Dec. 31 (already behind schedule) and includes small grants of from $1000 to $20,000 for organizations and events that might increase tourism and GRT. The program was announced in March and included April deadlines but the Town changed the criteria several times. During the process, according to documents obtained from the Town, the goal posts in the muddled and incoherent 30-page RFP (Request for Proposals) were moved, the rules changed, and favorites slipped in and signed prior to the deadline for “the others.”

Among “the others” who were stonewalled by the manager and procurement code officer, according to Richard Archuleta of Taos Pueblo, a tribal councilman and Pow Wow organizer, was the Pow Wow itself, an annual affair, which fills up every hotel room in Town during July. One of the Town Manager’s favorites, the sometime bankrupt Solar Fest music producers from Colorado were assured of funding and signed up before “the others” even submitted applications at the deadline for this “hurry-up” process. Archuleta is a longtime public spokesman for Taos Pueblo in the area of public relations, said he, a Taos Pueblo Tribal Councilman, had never heard of the Taos Pueblo Tourist Group the Town sought to fund. I was reminded of the Red Willow fiasco when some Town Councilors voted to change the name of Kit Carson Park and “forgot” to check with the Tribal Council.

Along with trying the straighten out the “muddled and unfair process,” Fragile Fred and his coalition appeared to be smoldering due to the manipulation of the agenda and lack of transparent doings by the Town Manager and his factotum, Councilor Fritz Hahn. Mayor Barrone himself has taken advantage of a continuing 2005 parliamentary procedure resolution that deletes Roberts Rules of Order and places all the power to order meetings in the hands of the Mayor. So the Mayor was perfectly in his right when he allowed the arbitrary and capricious attacks of the Anglo mob, i.e. attacks on Councilor Cantu, to continue unabated when she dared criticize the Bellis-Spray favorite manager of the mayor. Cantu found the Rick “unresponsive,” an opinion, which most people, past and present, share.

Farmer’s Market

During the public forum Ms. Debra Villalobos-Whaley gave the council a brief summary of changing attitudes toward the Farmer’s Market on the Plaza. “Of course, our community as a whole loves the Farmer’s Market: the ambience, fresh produce and mingling of friends, stories, etc. We were perhaps naive in our hopefulness. We had no idea of the contention it would breed.” As the season went on, Ms. Debra noted that protesters were dismissed as “just the merchants.” She suggested the Market be relocated to a more accommodating space like the County Complex.

Deb continued, saying the Farmer’s Market is held in the prime season and during the prime time for the merchants. Few people, who visit the market, visit the shops. She mentioned the loss of revenue for parking meters, gross receipts taxes, inaccessibility of historical sites (Historic County Courthouse and Plaza) and the lack of access for seniors and the handicapped due to the trek and parking restrictions. Villalobos mentioned Lynn Fitzgerald’s proposed alternative configuration, keeping the North and West sides of the plaza open to traffic.

In an addendum to her brief remarks, the Mayor called her back to the microphone and asked her to explain the County’s plans re: the Historic County Courthouse. Since she’s a member of the Art and Artifacts Review Committee, which is chaired by the County’s Construction Manager, Richard Sanchez, I suppose Deb listens more carefully to the footsteps at the County. Mr. Sanchez told the committee “informally” that the County would begin retrofitting the HCC with ADA access, bathrooms, and improved electricity toward the end of this year or the beginning of next. Ms. Deb relayed the info to the curious Mayor.

Toward the end of the meeting Councilman and former Mayor, Fragile Fred Peralta chastised the mayor, manager, and attorney for ignoring his (Peralta’s) request to discuss and act on the contract with the Farmer’s Market by putting it on the agenda. According to Peralta, since the Town was “sponsoring” the event, the Council needed to approve the contract. Attorney Lopez and Manager Bellis had managed to finagle the agenda so that the discussion took place but not the vote, which vote will take place at the next meeting. Indeed, Councilor Cantu suggested Lopez catch up with Councilors’ remarks on You Tube since he and Bellis apparently have tried to avoid a discussion and action on the document.

What are these guys afraid of? Their paranoia runs very deep.

Thanks to Peralta’s insistence, the Chief of Police said he could open up the west side of the Plaza, during the Farmer’s Market if it “wasn’t too busy.” As the Chief said, “We can make anything work. My job is to say yes.”

The Chief’s words on Wednesday contradicted Councilor Hahn’s claims of “public safety” as a reason for closing the Plaza during all events on the Plaza. Hahn himself has made it clear that he envisions closing the Plaza completely to automobile traffic, an idea at odds with historic tourist traffic, the “cruiser” culture of the Taoseno, and rural nature and general habit of driving in the community.

In effect, Hahn exemplifies the “culture gap” between “them” and “us” and how out of touch he and the Bellis-Spray cabal are with the “majority” culture. That “gap” is the source of much tension at Town Hall and in the community today. More than one native Hispanic Taoseno has said to me, “If they try to close the Plaza, the conflict over the Farmer’s Market will look like a sideshow compared to los Taosenos in los truckas.” Meanwhile, merchants who fear retaliation and won’t go on the record, complain about the Town’s hostility toward the Plaza merchants.

Barone, Hahn, and Bellis can blame “Millicent” Malanga but as so-called leaders, “they” must take responsibility for creating a hostile and divisive environment on the Plaza.

Transparency

At the end of the meeting, the Council agreed to hold a work-study session on Town Departments, including the controversial Public Works Department, thanks to the insistence of Councilor Cantu. Mayor Barrone said he had told department heads who came clean and lived clean that they would suffer no consequences for previous sins committed under other administrations. Like Councilor Hahn, who said the Town allows incompetent or (formerly) corrupt employees to continue, lest a family lose an income earner, the red-faced Barrone seems intent on playing the role of Father Confessor while giving absolution to sinners.

But, as Sister Judi suggested, taxpayers are entitled to know what’s what when it comes to “procurement code violations.” The Mayor seems to think the hiring of a financial consultant, R.D.C., previously hired at Taos County, would help fix the problem. We’re all for the Mayor’s vision of honest government but we’re dubious about changing water into wine when it comes to reforming blasphemers and heretics.

As Judi said to the Mayor, “Transparency, Mr. Mayor, transparency.”

Conclusion

We congratulate Fred, Andrew, and Judi for standing up to the Mayor, Manager, and Hahn, while revisiting contentious cultural issues. The Town and County are going through obvious political-cultural changes and lest we become smothered in corporatism and Gringofication, we must pay attention. It takes a gringo to know one.

Here’s to multicultural and “funky” Taos: long may she live!