Cocoposts

Largest Landowners

The names apparently include a New Mexican. Here's the Land Report 100 - Largest Landlowners list.* This is not by weight.

A person with same name as one of them, Number 72, is presently requesting public funds through a LEDA grant from the Bernalillo County Commission to build another set of big boxes in an alfalfa field he owns at Coors and Rio Bravo Boulevards.

The zoning for the site was approved years ago when Teresa Cordova, stalwart protectress of valley values, was in office. As I recall, one of the arguments at the time was how the County needed its own retail development.  That huge Walmart right next door was in the evil City. (Say it with a hissss.)  So Wal-Mart didn't count except as a "changed community condition" that bolstered the argument for the conversion of more prime farmland into yet another speculative real estate venture. Sad but true.

 

 

* In spite of my much coveted position as primary steward of Whitelodge and Weed Ranch, I'm not on the list.

 

Roundhouse Showdown

Last night Representative Andy Nuñez tried to put a controversial bill up for a vote on the House floor and Speaker Lujan swept it out the door.  The Santa Fe New Mexican has the story. Reporters expected it and the Governor's staffperson had been waiting to film the stunt all day.  Watch dizzycam here.  It captures all the R's gesturing at the press after the Speaker left the chambers.  They're all looking up and saying, "Did you see that Trip?"  He did.

Before this staged drama came the long contentious debate about the film bills.  And before that came the long contentious debate about the budget.  And before that came a lot of tedious talk about cowboys.  I can boldly speak for cowpeople everywhere when I say no one really wanted to stay in that room a second longer. No one but those itching for the Nuñez drama.

Earlier in the afternoon Representative  Thomas Garcia had taken obvious pleasure in hours of verbal evisceration on budget amendments.  He grilled until well-done and the time limit was up.  This limit is called "Rule 20" I understand.  If they debate any longer, unicorns start dying.

The Cricket Coogler File

Jay Miller tells Cricket Coogler's story* Inside the Capital and describes the tradition of outgoing governors offering advice to incoming governors.  Governor Ed Mechem had vowed to solve the murder mystery and never did.

Four years later, when John Simms took office as governor, he found one item on his desk when entered the governor's office. It was a file labeled "Cricket Coogler." Nothing more was ever heard about that file.

An interesting sidelight of the situation is that all the politicians and appointed officials involved in the case were Democrats. Meachem was the first Republican governor in 20 years. If anyone were going to blow the whistle, it was Meachem.

His advice to Simms must have been fascinating.

 

 

*Coco, as self-appointed obsessive Curator of Coco's Cricket Coogler Club, has read all the books, watched the video, published 9 posts about Cricket, Happy Apodaca, gambling hang outs of the era like Uncle Frank's Mecca Club, and conducted pilgrimages to the Mesquite Cemetery and Anapra.

 

 

Most Corrupt State

 New Mexico is right down there with the dirtiest based on all kinds of sleazy in The Daily Beast.

Their reverse-order list ranks public corruption, racketeering & extortion, fraud, forgery & counterfeiting and embezzlement convictions. 

By using a decade’s worth of federal data, we were able to minimize changes in local law enforcement efficacy, though some flaws remain: local cases go undocumented, and the FBI data is self-reported by local law enforcement. When combined, however, the data provides a fairly deep look into which jurisdictions are uncovering the most corruption. We leveled the playing field by calculating the numbers on a per-100,000 people basis.

They crunched some numbers.  They leveled the field.  And guess what?  We're number 45!  Oh. Wait.  Making ours among the most corrupt states - right there with Illinois.  Oh nevermind.  Apparently I read the stupid thing wrong.   We're  clean as a whistle, comparatively.  Now that is sad. 

Manny Aragon is featured - along with this AP photo by Laura Husar of Manny counting crimes he hasn't committed on one hand.

New Mexico has a long history of public corruption (see: New Mexico state treasurers), and one of the more interesting characters to arise from its history is Manny Aragon. Aragon was a senator for the state for 29 years, but his legacy was marred in 2008 when he pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy and mail fraud related to a plan to steal $4.4 million from the state during the construction of the Albuquerque metro courthouse. He was sentenced to more than five years in prison and ordered to pay a $750,000 fine and $649,000 in restitution.

Time for Gary Johnson

If ever there was a time, says Pollster Sanderoff in a thin little laudatory Salon interview.  

Political observers back in Johnson' s home state don't necessarily fancy his chances of becoming the Republican standard-bearer in 2012. But they have been wary of underestimating him ever since he came from nowhere to win the governorship. 

"He's got to be viewed as a long shot," says New Mexico pollster Brian Sanderoff. "On the other hand, he makes good arguments, he's an energetic guy, he' s not your typical politician and he' s got his rap down pretty well. 

"If ever there was a time for someone like Gary Johnson, it's now."

Read the whole thing.

As governor of New Mexico, Johnson vetoed some 750 bills, a total that he has said surpasses the aggregate vetoes of all the nation' s other governors during that period. He became known as "Governor No," a label he seems to wear with some pride. Ron Paul is, of course, known in some quarters as "Dr No."

You know, President No. 

County Ethical Winds

Look what those nasty gusts uncovered!  Bernalillo County is all about jobs, jobs, jobs -  for your friends, friends, friends and family, family, family.  KRQE has County nepotism news of the day.  And The Albuquerque Journal reporter Dan Mayfield says the County will give former commissioner Al Valdez a job.  What hiring freeze?  Mayfield calls Valdez's history "controversial." The word sleazy blew into my mind. 

Who had the bright idea to hire him and think nobody would notice?

Valdez was a campaign supporter of Commission Chairman Art De La Cruz, who represents the South Valley-based district where Valdez lives.  De La Cruz said he wasn't involved in the hiring and that the county manager hadn't asked him about it and that Valdez hadn't talked to him about it.

"I tried to stay away from that as much as possible," De La Cruz said. "I don't want him to be discriminated against, and I don't want him to get preferential treatment. I can't speak to his credentials or lack thereof."  Bernalillo County ethics rules prohibit county commissioners from involvement in most employment decisions.

I know, it was just the wind talking.  Why, he could have blown right into the seat of County Manager.   :cold shiver:

How's that new ethicy thing working out? I'm only getting the icky part.

Commission Candidate Contortion

Campaign literature from Bernalillo County Commission candidate Dan Serrano says he'll work on jobs, crime and education.   Is he is only saying what people want to hear or does he not know what he's talking about?  I figure, the former.

Education is the responsibility of another board entirely - a board that Serrano hates is well aware of. 

The County Sheriff is elected to deal with crime.  He divides up that big law enforcement territory with APD, Tribal governments and the feds.   The Commission accepts grants and runs the jail.  Oh, and Serrano says he'll continue  funding for the YDI stranglehold over  youth and after school programs.  Because they're so obviously effective. :coughcough: 

Economic development efforts of past decades should convince us of how well that works.  Forces that create and destroy jobs are largely outside the control of local government.   The County's most laudable efforts are small in scale and have relied heavily on State and Federal grants.  Delicious salsa and cookies but how many small business incubators can the County afford to run? 

From Serrano's website we hear about the link between economic development and county regulations. 

As a commissioner, Dan will push for the creation of  and support a "one-stop shop" for small businesses at the County.  This Business Desk will handle all concerns the business community has in getting access to the resources to satisfy government requirements.  Minimizing the negative impact that regulations can have on the business community is a primary concern for Dan Serrano.

A primary concern for Dan Serrano, but is it a concern for constituents?  Which government regulations is he talking about?   I've lived in the district for the better part of fifty years and think most County requirements are poorly enforced or not stringent enough.

"One-stop shop" pfffft!  He's dangling the empty promise of continued unfettered sprawl outside of Albuquerque's limits. 

Our County Commission has bent over like a Cirque du Soleil contortionist for development.  Maybe Serrano could add a hoop to that act but I don't think so. 

Wey over the Line

The line between Church and State doesn't have to be solid or inflexible but there should be one - at least a lime line down the field to guide the political play.  One candidate ground that chalk into the dirt with his military boots on Sunday.  From the Albuquerque Journal:

Candidates often worship with constituents during elections, but Allen Weh, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, got the opportunity to speak in front of four services at the Cavalry megachurch in Albuquerque.

Weh, who has been a member of the church for 13 years, said he did not ask the 14,000-member congregation for its votes during his minute-long speeches at four separate services over a weekend.   Weh said his speeches did not amount to an endorsement of his campaign by church leaders.

"My pastor simply felt it was appropriate for the congregation to hear me tell them why I was running for governor and for them to offer their prayers for my journey," Weh said.

I don't need to channel Mama, Thelma or Emily Post to say that subjecting one's fellow parishioners and church staff to no less than four mini-sermons about your run for governor is excessive, impolite and completely inappropriate.  It is the difference between toeing a reception line and hogging the podium at someone else's celebration, for Christ's sake. 

Santa Fe Ring

Just read a great little borrowed out-of-print tract written by Norman Cleaveland  in 1977 entitled, Colfax County's Chronic Murder Mystery.  It's about the Colfax and Lincoln County land wars, the Santa Fe Ring and the murder of a minister-journalist in 1875.  It seems like an earlier chapter in a long story and reminds me of the Cricket Coogler case - a powerful political cover-up with lasting power.

The subtle mystery of the Colfax County incident, according to the author, is not who killed the Rev. Tolby.  The murder was "solved."  It is how facts persistently get buried, forgotten or altered in the retelling.  The Angel Reports, a collection from a 1878 investigation of the land wars conducted by Frank Warner Angel, fingered Samuel B. Axtell, the territorial governor,  as a corrupt tool of the powerful, far-reaching and enduring Santa Fe Ring. 

Tolby was killed for his criticism of political corruption as a journalist for a New York newspaper.   His murder sparked retaliatory acts,  land war violence and an epic cover-up. 

Charges were filed against Axtell and he was fired but nothing stuck.  Four years later he returned to New Mexico politics as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Angel Reports were buried for 80 years and portions were destroyed.  Opponents of the Santa Fe Ring got mousy.  Reviewers and writers rewrote.  The Santa Fe Ring?   What Ring?

The author calls the story an alleged mystery which continues to flourish in spite of being repeatedly solved.
 
Photo and another account of Catron County land wars found at Legends of America site.    

Cricket Coogler - Still Silent

Annual watching of The Silence of Cricket Coogler, in her memory.  Her body was found Easter morning south of Las Cruces near the Mesquite cemetery.  The cover-up and political intrigue surrounding the murder reverberates today - 61 years later. 

Here's the You Tube short about the movie and my post about Paula Moore's book on Duke City Fix.