DOT projects growing into a larger scandal

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Either a project is subject to the state’s procurement code or it isn’t. The fact that the Richardson Administration wants to have it both ways on its Department of Transportation headquarters redevelopment project in Santa Fe is unacceptable. When the state issued a request for proposals that offered a developer the right to most of the DOT’s 25 acres in Santa Fe in exchange for the construction of a facility of at least 300,000 square feet on the property, it stated that the project “is not governed by the New Mexico Procurement Code,” the Albuquerque Journal reported. When the Journal requested documents related to the project last spring, the state cited the procurement code in denying the request. When news broke last week that state officials were discussing a scaling-back of the DOT facility from 300,000 square feet to approximately 170,000 square feet, the state again cited the procurement code in refusing to discuss the issue. Continue Reading

ABQ Tribune to shut down if it can’t be sold

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The parent company of the Albuquerque Tribune has put the newspaper, a popular publication among the state’s political junkies, up for sale, and will shut it down if a buyer can’t be found. The Tribune has survived much longer than most afternoon newspapers across the nation, in part because of its strong journalistic tradition and penchant for comprehensive reporting. But its circulation has dropped from 42,000 in 1988 to about 10,000, the newspaper said in an article announcing the move. The paper is owned by E.W. Scripps Company. Newsroom employees were informed of the decision this morning. Continue Reading

NMSU audit identifies $628,000 in cost overruns

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The audit that led last week to changes at New Mexico State University’s Office of Facilities and Services identified cost overruns totaling more than $628,000 on nine projects, and a university document indicates that all senior managers have been temporarily reassigned or placed on leave while the situation is addressed. I reported last week that one employee is facing misdemeanor charges of larceny and embezzlement and four were placed on leave as a result of the university’s investigation. In addition, authority over OFS has been moved from Senior Vice President Ben Woods to a team led by an administrator who works directly for the president as the university begins to address the problems. University President Michael Martin sent an e-mail to the university community Monday evening announcing the release of the audit, stating that, “in keeping with a philosophy of transparency in operations, we have decided to release their report even though our internal review is not yet completed.” You can read the audit, conducted by R.L. Townsend & Associates of Plano, Texas, by clicking here. The nine projects examined by the auditors included work on three parking lots and two roads, in addition to utility and roof projects. The actual costs for the nine projects overran the estimates by a combined $628,148, auditors found. Continue Reading

Revolution against the rich?

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By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “The poverty of our century is unlike that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich.” – John Berger Before the reader jumps to the conclusion that this piece is yet another “liberal” lament on behalf of poor people, let me point out that none other than conservative economist Alan Greenspan has expressed concern over the growing gap between rich and poor. The former fed chairman testified publicly that “the income gap between the rich and the rest of the U.S. population has become so wide, and is growing so fast, that it might eventually threaten the stability of American capitalism itself.” While our economy has grown in recent years, the beneficiaries have been the top 20 percent of the population, and especially the top 1 percent. Data from the Congressional Budget Office indicates that this small group (the 1 percent) recently received 11.4 percent of national after-tax income compared to 7.5 percent five years earlier. By contrast, the middle fifth of the population saw its share of national after-tax income drop. Continue Reading

Richardson’s new book earns positive review

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The first review I’ve seen of Gov. Bill Richardson’s new book says its “strength… could boost his candidacy” for the presidency. The book, which is scheduled to be in stores on Nov. 2, is called Leading by Example: How We Can Inspire an Energy and Security Revolution. John Fout, political correspondent for TheStreet.com, read an advance copy, and was impressed. I’ve requested a review copy but have not yet received a response from Richardson’s campaign or government office. Continue Reading

Protesters greet Bush at Domenici fundraiser in ABQ

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About 100 people protested today against President Bush and U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici about 300 feet from a home where Bush attended a fundraiser for the GOP senator who is up for re-election next year, the Associated Press is reporting. And Don Wiviott, one of three Democrats vying for the right to take on Domenici next year, took advantage of the event to attack Domenici for his votes on the Iraq war. Domenici has broken with Bush on Iraq policy – saying he wants a withdrawal of American troops to begin in the spring – but he doesn’t support Democratic proposals to bring troops home now or cut funding for the war. “Instead of standing up to George Bush, Pete Domenici has continued to vote with him 100 percent in support of the war, and it is no surprise the president is now rewarding him with a million-dollar fundraiser,” Wiviott said in a news release. “Saying one thing and doing another is apparently a hard habit to break in Washington, D.C. I’m running to change all that.” There is no immediate word on how much Domenici raised at the fundraiser, held this afternoon at the home of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Mayor Larry Abraham. Continue Reading

Bob Johnson was a mentor and an inspiration

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In 2002, then-Attorney General Patricia Madrid filed charges against five members of the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education for violating the New Mexico Open Meetings Act. It was the second time in the state’s history the act was enforced with criminal charges. All five board members were later convicted and fined for violating the act after secretly giving the former superintendent almost $1 million in incentives over the course of several years to try to keep him in Las Cruces. Public disclosure and the resulting action by the attorney general would not have happened without Bob Johnson, the head of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government who died on Saturday following a stroke. He was 84. Continue Reading

Bush says Gonzales was treated unfairly

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President Bush today defended outgoing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, saying he had been treated unfairly while announcing that he had accepted his resignation. “After months of unfair treatment that has created a harmful distraction at the Justice Department, Judge Gonzales decided to resign his position, and I accept his decision,” Bush said at a brief news conference in Texas. “It’s sad that when we live in a time when a talented and honorable person like Alberto Gonzales is impeding (sic) from doing important work because his good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons.” Bush called Gonzales “a man of integrity, decency and principle.” You can watch Bush make his statement by clicking here. You can read Gonzales’ resignation letter here, and read the text of the statement he gave earlier today here. Continue Reading

Domenici says Gonzales’ resignation was ‘inevitable’

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U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, whose popularity has taken a dip in recent months because of his role in the U.S. attorney scandal, released a statement today calling Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ resignation “inevitable.” “His situation was a distraction to the Department of Justice and its attempt to carry out its important duties,” the GOP senator said. “I look forward to reviewing the president’s nominee for attorney general carefully and objectively.” Both Domenici and U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., are subjects of preliminary inquiries that cold turn into full investigations because of their involvement in the U.S. attorney scandal. Both called former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias in October to inquire about a public corruption investigation that was rumored at the time to involve high-ranking Democrats and, earlier this year, led to the indictment of former Senate President Manny Aragon. Iglesias claims he refused pressure from the two to speed indictments in time to sway voters in November, when Wilson was up for re-election and in a tough contest. Two months later, he was fired without being given reason. Continue Reading

Open-government champion Bob Johnson dies

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Bob Johnson, a longtime champion for sunshine laws who ran the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, has died. He suffered a stroke Saturday morning and died that evening, the Associated Press reported. He was 84. Johnson worked with me over the years on a number of controversies and was a mentor. I’ll have more later today, but I wanted to give you the immediate news. Continue Reading

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigns

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Alberto Gonzales, who as U.S. attorney general was responsible for the controversial firings last year of eight U.S. attorneys and has been dogged by scandal for months, has resigned. The Department of Justice plans to make an official announcement at 8:30 a.m. Mountain Standard Time, the Associated Press is reporting, and President Bush is expected to comment on the resignation later today. The New York Times, which broke the story, reported that Gonzales submitted his resignation in a telephone conversation with the president on Friday. A series of scandals dogged the last few months of Gonzales’ tenure, but the chain of events that led to his resignation was set in motion by the December firings of the U.S. attorneys that included David Iglesias of New Mexico. Iglesias was the most outspoken of those who were fired and certainly had a hand in forcing Gonzales out. Continue Reading

Most who vote in poll say city is on wrong track

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said the City of Las Cruces is not moving in the right direction in terms of growth and development. Of 155 voters, 90, or 58 percent, said the city is not moving in the right direction, while 51, or 33 percent, said it is moving in the right direction, and 14, or 9 percent, said they don’t know. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

One charged, four on leave in NMSU facilities probe

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One employee is facing two misdemeanor charges and four were placed on leave this week as a result of a New Mexico State University investigation that has identified a number of problems in the Office of Facilities and Services. In addition, authority over OFS has been moved from a senior vice president to a team led by an administrator who works directly for the president as the university begins to address the problems. The action taken this week follows the completion of an audit and a months-long investigation by the university police department into a host of complaints about abuse at the department. Christina Chavez Kelley, the senior assistant to President Michael Martin who was placed in charge of OFS this week, confirmed that the audit and an internal review revealed problems including “unauthorized use of NMSU property and equipment, time card accuracy, excessive use of overtime, control of inventory, use of petty cash and conflicts of interest.” The criminal investigation, in which the NMSU police were assisted by the sheriff’s department and FBI, quickly narrowed in May to focus on allegations that a few employees used university equipment, funds and resources for construction projects at their homes. That investigation is complete, District Attorney Susana Martinez said, and her office is currently reviewing it to determine whether further criminal charges are warranted. The misdemeanor charges already brought against roofer Rene Quezada were filed by the NMSU police, not the district attorney, Police Chief Jaime Chavez confirmed. Continue Reading

Former deputy insurance superintendent arrested

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A former state deputy insurance superintendent was arrested today on public-corruption charges, the Santa Fe New Mexican is reporting. Joseph Ruiz, 66, was scheduled to be arraigned in Albuquerque this afternoon, the newspaper reported. Until then, his indictment remained sealed. I was unable to reach the U.S. attorney’s office for more information, and the newspaper hasn’t yet reported further details. Ruiz was arrested by the FBI after the indictment was handed down Thursday. Continue Reading

Guv reaches out to American Indians, Hispanics

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Gov. Bill Richardson had an opportunity to capitalize on being the most prominent presidential candidate to attend Thursday’s Prez on the Rez forum, and he seized it. Richardson said the event, the first of its kind on American Indian land, was a pivotal step for American Indians. “It shows that this is in my judgment a step forward, although it is negative and embarrassing that not every candidate is here,” he said. “Every candidate” included the three frontrunners – Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards – who all declined invitations. Richardson was joined at the forum only by Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel. Continue Reading