Turtleback Mountain Diary 4

These days enlightened professionals in government stand out like big bass in a shrinking desert lake - leaping out of the water because they can't take the pond full of stupid anymore.

This is one quirky-ass little town.

One of the latest movidas involves a city vote to shorten the municipal runway to benefit a developer named Greg Neal who says he'll build a truck stop there any day now.

This is what's become of the "premier commercial and industrial zone" anchored by a "motorplex" promised in the 7,388 acre State land swap completed by former State Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons with chest-thumping pride in 2008.  Then NASCAR said they'd never heard of Greg Neal.

Now the Airport Director and somebody else has resigned.

Economic development: they'll say it's about jobs but it's all about real estate speculation.

The T or C municipal election is next Tuesday. Some candidates' statements (Sierra County Sentinel March 2, 2012) seem a little kooky. Take City Commissioner hopeful Jeff L. Richter, for example.  He says "government cannot create jobs and prosperity; government can only destroy incentive and opportunity." Then he also says we need incentives for businesses. From government.

Somewhat disturbingly, Mr. Richter is parroting Congressman Steve Pearce's rap about Federal overreach - a subject that has also encouraged rural county sheriffs to get all riled-up and make 19th century-sounding pronouncements - and then get sued. Pearce has a letter in The Sentinel blasting the Forest Service and arguing that the Constitution doesn't give the federal government power to do this or that, something, something, cut more trees. I can't quote him exactly. The dog threw-up on that part.

The fact that forest management has nothing to do with the city office to which Mr. Richter aspires doesn't matter. Neither does the whole glaring irony about hating federal government when the city needs federal grant funds for critical infrastructure replacement and the history of Sierra County and southern New Mexico is inextricably tied to massive infusions of federal involvement in all forms - from the U.S. Calvary to the missile range. Not to mention Elephant Butte Dam.

Comments

[Suzanne Prescott (@pancheetah)]

I was surprised this summer to hear how much $$ has come from the USDA to support our New Mexico farm/agriculture efforts.