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| Karen Finney |
Democratic Party Strategist, GOP Voters Like Cain "because he's a black man who knows his place."
Santa Fe Studios Continues to Ignore Press Inquiries
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| Lance Hool |
Santa Fe County is administering the $10 million grant that Santa Fe Studios LLC received from the state, and the county has kicked in another $3.6 million worth of infrastructure improvements for the project. It also is guaranteeing $6.5 million worth of a $10 million loan the studio's principals secured from Los Alamos National Bank. But county spokesman Kristine Mihelcic said in a written statement Tuesday that "Santa Fe County at this time has not received current information in relation to the opening date of the studio, scheduled projects, job opportunities or [the studio's] board of directors."  |
| Javier Gonzales |
Eric Holder's War on Border Patrol Continues
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| Jesus Diaz |
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| Eric Holder |
Though two separate oversight agencies conducted their own investigations and cleared Diaz of any criminal wrongdoing…U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton brought charges against Diaz, and in September 2010, the case ended in a mistrial. However, the Obama Justice Department brought charges against Diaz again, and this time--they received a conviction. In this trial, the feds would not allow testimony introduced which showed that prosecution witnesses committed perjury in the first proceeding. Diaz faces up to ten years in federal prison when is sentenced in November. The drug smuggler, who was a minor at the time of his arrest, was given full immunity in exchange for his testimony against Agent Diaz. Agent Diaz has is an 8-year veteran of the Border Patrol, has four children with his wife, Diana who is a Field Operations Supervisor with the Border Patrol. Read full story here: News New Mexico
Egolf Pressures UNM to Continue to Accommodate Occupy Protestors at State Expense
Roundhouse Roundup - by Steve Terrell - State Rep. Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe is asking University of New Mexico President David Schmidly to hold off on clearing UNM's campus in Albuquerque. The university announced a day ago that the school wouldn't renew (Un)Occuppy Albuquerque's permit, citing safety concerns. The school ordered protesters to leave Yale Park by 10 p.m. I realize that the presence of the protestors poses serious issues for campus management and security, but there are important and compelling First Amendment issues involved that bear serious consideration by you and your staff.
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| Brian Egolf |
As you know, the University occupies a special place in Albuquerque - both literally and figuratively. By forcing the protestors out, you are preventing them from making their views known to a large audience. I also believe that the University - as both a state-funded institution and as a place where debate and the exchange of ideas are encouraged - has a special role to play in the ongoing protests. Egolf was the only legislator I saw at the Occupy Santa Fe event I covered on Saturday. Read story here: News New Mexico
One More Thing to Blame on Global Warming
More Tourists for Less Money?
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| Jay Miller |
Inside the Capitol - SANTA FE – New Mexico can attract many more tourists without spending any more money. That was the message from state Tourism Department Secretary Monique Jacobson to the Legislative Finance Committee last week. Jacobson says we just have to work smarter and elevate our game. And that we can do without any increase in appropriation. The message, of course, was music to legislative ears. But will it work?
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| Monique Jacobson |
Our neighboring states spend many times New Mexico's $2.5 million advertising budget already. Jacobson says the secret lies in how we spend our money. New Mexico's measly $2.5 million will be switched from tourism services to tourism generating expenditures. "We've got to serve the traveler and not the destination," she explained. The New Mexico tourism industry has not appreciated the new secretary from the beginning. This will ice it. But frugal-minded lawmakers likely will be willing to give Jacobson's austerity program a chance. Read full column here: News New Mexico
Group: Red light cameras are 'cash cows' for Redflex
From KOB-TV.com - By: Eddie Garcia, - It could be the final nail in the coffin for the red light cameras. In a 50 page report, The New Mexico Public Interest Research Group (NMPIRG) said the red light cameras are cash cows for its operator Redflex. The report adds fuel to the argument that the cameras should be removed from intersections across the city. It's no secret Albuquerque City Councilor Dan Lewis wants the cameras out. In early November he said he will introduce a measure to get rid of the cameras for good. Mayor Richard Berry said his administration cut lots of fat from the system and made the red light program more streamlined. However, on October 3 Albuquerque voters rejected the city’s use of the red light cameras. The city council is going to vote November 7 on whether to get rid of the cameras. If it passes, it will still take more than a month to terminate the contract with Redflex. After all that, the company will pick up their equipment and leave. Read more
Axle Fire Halts Rail Runner On Thursday
From KOAT-TV.com - SANTA FE, N.M. -- A Rail Runner train carrying about 100 people stopped due to an axle fire on Thursday at about 11:15 a.m. The train stopped at the South Capitol station in Santa Fe, which was one stop short of its destination at the Santa Fe Depot. Rail Runner officials sent a shuttle, but most of the people on board just walked to their destination. The small fire did not affect the schedule any further, according to Rail Runner officials.
Federal agents say environmental laws hamper work
From USA Today.com - WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal agents trying to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border say they're hampered by laws that keep them from driving vehicles on huge swaths of land because it falls under U.S. environmental protection, leaving it to wildlife — and illegal immigrants and smugglers who can walk through the territory undisturbed. A growing number of lawmakers are saying such restrictions have turned wilderness areas into highways for criminals. In recent weeks, three congressional panels, including two in the Republican-controlled House and one in the Democratic-controlled Senate, have moved to give the Border Patrol unfettered access to all federally managed lands within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of the border with Mexico. Two of the panels expanded the legislation's reach to include the border with Canada. The votes signal a brewing battle in Congress that will determine whether border agents can disregard environmental protections as they do their job. Dozens of environmental laws were waived for the building of the border fence, and activists say this is just another conservative attempt to find an excuse to do away with environmental protections. But agents who have worked along the border say the laws crimp their power to secure the border. Read more
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