S.A.D. Facts are Very Stubborn Things

NewsNM listeners have heard many statements made by Mayor Miyagishima, Herb Torres at LCPS, and developer John Moscato on our shows. Their assertions regarding the Boulevard of Broken Dreams fiasco reflect a remarkable consistency. To those with an anti-growth and ignore job creation agenda, facts can be very stubborn things.

N. Sonoma Ranch Boulevard - Site of "Temporary Road"

The terrible local road situation near the new schools off North Sonoma Ranch Boulevard is not complicated. Clearly, a first class road project, to be financed in its entirety by NMFA, was derailed by city council with councilors Dolores Connor and Sharon Thomas providing public defense of the derailment. The project would have provided a four-lane divided roadway with multi-purpose paths, bike lanes, street lights and many other amenities. Instead of the road project being advanced, a successful ambushing was orchestrated by anti-growth forces at a city council work session back in April. As a result of the ambush process, agreements made via a good faith resolution by the city council in January were abrogated. These actions resulted in a huge amount of wasted time and money in both the public and private sectors. There are many other facts related to the squandered opportunity get a decent road built for the area. The three most stubborn facts are these:
1. Once the properties that would be included in the S.A.D. were agreed to in January, an order was placed for an expensive property appraisal of the agreed upon properties. The appraisal was completed and paid for by the property owner/developer. That appraisal was later rendered worthless when council changed its mind on the details. If the property owners "come back to the table" as councilors seem to suggest, they will have to re-do the appraisal and re-engineer the project. Not knowing whether council will change its mind again makes it difficult for there to be any trust remaining by those who have wasted so much effort and money on the ever-changing whims of council.

Appraised Properties for S.A.D.

2. Testimony at the April work session indicated that there was a tentative $10 million funding commitment for the entire project from the New Mexico Finance Authority. This fact was communicated clearly to the city council. Despite the best efforts of Mayor Ken Miyagishima, this huge financial commitment was never capitalized on. Hundreds of jobs remain lost to the area, not to mention a decent road for the two new schools in the area and huge deposits into gross receipts tax coffers.
3. The $1 million reimbursement due to LCPS from the property owner, was contingent upon the timely fulfilling of all agreements reached by all parties in January. The conditions for LCPS reimbursement were ruined by the inaction of the council at the April work session.
Simply put, the ambush orchestrated on the developer (and LCPS) by councilors apparently via subsequent agreements made with anti-growth and anti-job elements within the area, have cost LCPS $1 million. The chance for a decent access road to the brand new schools has been lost and untold economic impact has been stranded.

What LCPS Lost (above)

Despite uninformed assertions to the contrary, these are the very stubborn facts connected with the Special Assessment District torpedoed by Councilors Connors and Thomas over the objections of Mayor Ken Miyagishima. NewsNM will continue to serve as finder of fact. Our next step will be to take pictures of the pitiful road LCPS will be throwing down at the site pictured above. One can anticipate the pictures being stubborn reminders of a bad blunder.

S.A.D. Facts are Very Stubborn Things