Did an Española businessman get special treatment from the state when it moved through his area, trying to secure a number of parcels of private land needed for a road project?
That’s the question the Albuquerque Journal probes today.
Consider this e-mail from a top official with the state Department of Transportation (DOT) to Jim Franken, vice chairman of the state Transportation Commission:
“Hi Commish! I know you’re getting pressure from our friend to resolve Mr. Atencio’s issue. I know it is taking a while but it by no means (is) being ignored. It is being redesigned completely to address his concerns.”
Mr. Atencio is restaurant owner Luis Atencio, who thus far has refused to sell his land along U.S. 84-285.
There’s more. The Journal article was preceded by an article in the Rio Grande Sun. Check out this e-mail the Sun obtained, from Franken to another DOT official:
“Thank you in advance for accommodating Mr. Atencio in his request for a different design and a different appraiser on his property in Arroyo Seco. Mr. Atencio is a good ally of the department and it is good politically that we try to help people instead of alienating them. We need to help him.”
For the second time, the DOT’s inspector general is looking into allegations of special treatment. According to the Journal, “The earlier inquiry, requested by the Federal Highway Administration, concluded that no laws were broken but that it was ‘futile’ to try to the answer the favoritism question.
There is a lot more, including the involvement of House Speaker Ben Lujan. Check out the Sun article by clicking here and the Journal article here.