Free Legal Fair In Mountainair
by John Weckerle
Checking in on our friends at Mountainair Announcements, we find that the Second Judicial District Court Pro Bono Committee will be holding a “Law-La-Palooza” Free Legal Fair on Thursday, April 12 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center at 9800 4th Street NW in Albuquerque. Assistance will be provided on a first come, first-served basis, and interpreters and bilingual attorneys will be available. For more information and a copy of the event flyer, see the Mountainair Announcements article.
It’s Good Work If You Can Get It
by John Weckerle
KUNM has reported that Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) executives were awarded a total of $2.26 million in incentive fees last year, with nearly half going to the company’s president and CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn, whose base salary is $575,000 (see the article, PNM Executives Paid Millions in Incentive Pay in 2011). Lest we react hastily, PNM has an explanation. According to the article: “PNM says the incentive payments are due to increases in the the company’s business performance and came from shareholders, not rates paid by customers.” We tend to be just a wee bit skeptical of this statement. Shareholders are not a source of revenue, and we find the prospect of all the shareholders sending a “Congratulations on a Great Job” card with a check in it to be a relatively unlikely scenario.
As reported in the Santa Fe New Mexican, rates, executive pay, and profits have risen dramatically since 2009. With respect to incentive fees earned by Ms. Vincent-Collawn, the article states: “Vincent-Collawn also received $1.2 million in compensation, all of it from the shareholders’ earnings. Bermudez said that’s written in her contract. “She has target points to receive that compensation. If the company does better financially, she is compensated. If she doesn’t perform, she loses the compensation.”
Now, we’re not against people being compensated for their successes or their investments. However, let us again point out that these incentives – and the shareholder earnings from which they are being taken – come from somewhere. A big chunk of somewhere exists in the form of rates paid by customers, and those customers are having a tough time. According to the article, New Mexico lost 45,000 jobs from 2007 to 2011, and average income has declined. Three consecutive rate hikes have pushed the cost of electricity up 41% over the past three years. We understand that PNM was in bad shape financially when the increases began, but it’s clear that, given the increase in profits and executive compensation, either the utility’s recovery is complete or ratepayers’ money is going to the wrong places. Regardless, it’s time for the Public Regulatory Commission to take a good, hard look at the rates and how they are being used, and make sure that future adjustments, up or down, are based on a thorough examination of the company’s finances.
Yeehah! We’re Number, Er, 39…
by John Weckerle
As reported by Elaine Baumgartel at KUNM.org, a report by the State Integrity Investigation (SII, a joint project of the Center for Public Integrity, Global Integrity, and Public Radio International) – assigns New Mexico a grade of D- and a rank of 39th among all states on the state’s Corruption Risk Report Card.
The study evaluated 14 categories associated with government integrity and accountability. New Mexico’s highest grade – B-minus – was awarded in the Internal Auditing and Redistricting categories, and the State received grades of F in State Insurance Commissions, Lobbying Disclosure, and Ethics Enforcement Agencies. There’s a little something for everybody: State employees will be delighted to know that their pension fund is well managed (grade of D); open government advocates will appreciate the grade of D+ in Public Access to Information; voters should be gratified by the grades of D in Executive Accountability and Legislative Accountability; and big-money campaign donors should be positively aglow over the D- in Political Financing.
To be fair, not all of New Mexico’s low grades are entirely the result of misconduct or skulduggery, and not all the news is quite as bad as it sounds. The SII article on the issue, New Mexico: The Story Behind the Score, credits the Martinez administration for some advances in open government while noting that state laws on access to information are not uniformly obeyed by various State agencies. The use of executive privilege in denying access to information remains a concern. Staffing levels at the state auditor’s office – 25 employees compared to 69 at the Livestock Board and 75 at the Commission for the Blind – remain inadequate, and the PRC is described as “dysfunctional.” As for legislative ethics, the article states: “The state House and Senate each have ethics committees that are effectively dormant; they have not met, reviewed complaints or administered sanctions in recent memory.”
While the grades are fairly dismal, it should be noted that the article does make it clear that improvements have been seen in some areas. Here’s hoping that future report cards will give New Mexico at least a grade that would allow it admission to one of the State universities.
Absent Is As Absent Does
by John Weckerle
We turn our attention today to a couple of articles from different sources regarding the upcoming Congressional elections here in New Mexico. One of these is a Sandia Tea Party article titled “Progressives Spreading Bull Butter Again — Why Not, It’s What They Do Well” by Edgewood Town Councilor and Sandia Tea Party official internet spokesman Chuck Ring, excoriating Eric Griego, (seeking election in the Democratic primary for Congressional District 1), for not affording the “organization” the “courtesy” of responding to an invitation to a “candidates forum” to be held by this august organization. The second is an article titled “Dems Skip Tea Party Candidate Forum” in the East Mountain Telegraph. Both articles note that Democratic candidates did not attend events hosted by the Sandia Tea Party.
Surprised, anyone?
PSA: Public Meeting on Proposed Bernalillo County Fire Code Changes
From: Tia Bland, Public Information Director
Please be advised that the Bernalillo County fire marshal will be hosting a public meeting on Thursday, April 12, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:0 p.m. to discuss changes and amendments being proposed to the Bernalillo County Fire Code.
The meeting will be held at the Los Vecinos Community Center, 478 1/2 Old Hwy 66, Tijeras, NM 87059.
PSA: Community Meeting Planned to Discuss North 14 Sector Development Plan Amendment
by Catherine Lopez, Bernalillo County Public Information Department
Bernalillo County – County Commissioner Wayne A. Johnson will host a community meeting to discuss his proposed amendment to the North 14 Sector Development Plan. The amendment would add language to the plan that would provide for an exemption to the cosmetic design standards of the plan.
For a property owner to seek the exemption, the property owner would be required to obtain the permission of 50 percent of the surrounding land owners within 100 feet, excluding the right-of-way.
The exemption could be denied if the proposed design didn’t meet the spirit and intent of the design guidelines of the sector plan. Exemptions would be appealable to the County Planning Commission and the Bernalillo County Commission.
The community meeting will take place on Monday, April 9, at 6 p.m. at the Deputy James McGrane, Jr. Public Safety Complex located at 48 Public School Road. in Tijeras.
“The North 14 Sector Plan is an important policy, the intent of which is to encourage quality development along North 14. But as with all public policy, it’s important to remember and respect the property rights of all parties involved,” says Commissioner Wayne Johnson.
All along the East Mountain Corridor, the North 14 Sector Development Plan will institute special zones and design regulations through the adoption of ordinances. The sector plan will also strive to provide more options for commercial activity in the area.
The North 14 Sector Development Plan was approved at the March 7 County Planning Commission meeting. It is scheduled to be heard by the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners at its April 24 meeting. The meeting begins at 3 p.m. at One Civic Plaza NW, in the Vincent E. Griego Chambers.
Wildland Fire Outlook
by John Weckerle
Arlene Perea of the Mountainair Ranger District has sent us the National Wildland Significant Fire Potential Outlook from the National Interagency Fire Predictive Services. For April, normal significant fire potential is expected across the Southwest, although the report acknowledges that “confidence” is not high, especially in the second half of the month. The report states: “Above normal significant fire potential is expected to gradually expand northwestward to encompass the western half of the Area. The most likely condition during this period is continued moisture intrusions across the eastern third of the region with periodic surges westward across New Mexico and into Arizona, increasing the possibly of lightning ignitions. There is a reasonable amount of confidence that the weather pattern will not be as conducive to large-scale, wind-driven fire events as the fine fuels available in the eastern half to two thirds of the Area are not as widespread or as continuous as a year ago.” The report further indicates that much of the uncertainty revolves around the “small possibility of a weak El Niño developing by early summer,” which would certainly be welcome to those of us itching to garden. We’ll note that the report was issued before yesterday’s drenching, so we’ll be interested to see how things play out.
For more information, see the report.
USFA Releases “Your Role in Fire-Adapted Communities”
New guide addresses actions to improve individual and community wildland fire safety
Received from Arlene Perea, USDA Forest Service Mountainair District
Emmitsburg, MD. – The U. S. Fire Administration (USFA), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the International Association of Fire Chiefs, announces the release of Your Role in Fire-Adapted Communities (PDF, 772 Kb). This new guide promotes a holistic approach to wildland fire risk reduction in the wildland urban interface and addresses actions to improve individual and community safety.
For communities to become more resistant to wildland fire threats, a strong collaboration must exist between federal, state, and local agencies and the public. Aligning with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) “whole community” principles, this guide encourages a community environment where individuals have access to critical information and the knowledge necessary to reduce the loss of life and property. Visit the FEMA website for information on the “whole community” approach to emergency management.
“It is important that fire departments partner with other local emergency response departments, state fire and forestry agencies, and any regional federal organizations before a fire begins,” said U.S. Fire Administrator Ernest Mitchell.
The concept behind fire-adapted communities is that with proper community-wide preparation, populations and infrastructure can withstand the devastating effects of wildland fire, thereby reducing the loss of life and property. In addition to understanding wildland fire defensible space and preparedness, the guide further explains how a community can coexist with the threat of wildland fire and ultimately reduce the need for costly fire suppression responses. As the science of fire-adapted communities continues to evolve, agencies and the public can take steps now to understand better the role they play and actions they can take to coexist safely with wildland fire threats.
Your Role in Fire-Adapted Communities can be downloaded under the Publications section of the USFA website at: www.usfa.fema.gov
Relay For Life Sponsorship Opportunities Available
by John Weckerle
We’ve received the sponsorship packet from the Estancia Valley Relay for Life Event Chair, Brenda Smythe, who is in her second and final year as chair. Brenda has informed us that her co-Chair for this year, Cassandra Garcia, will assume the Event Chair responsibilities for next year.
Last year, the event raised over $13,000, which was down from previous years. This year, the Relay for Life hopes to double that total.
For more information, see the sponsorship flier, or contact Brenda at (505) 705-5445 or Cassandra at 505-974-9627.
Drill, Baby… Why?
by John Weckerle
With all the talk of pipelines and politics in the news, we found it interesting to read about a recent Associated Press (AP) article that examined 36 years of domestic oil production and gas prices. The AP article reports the conclusions of a statistical analysis that found no correlation between production and prices. According to the article, domestic oil prices are controlled by the global market and, given that U.S. exports account for a small amount of the global total, increasing our production would have little effect on pricing at the pump:
Unlike natural gas or electricity, the United States alone does not have the power to change the supply-and-demand equation in the world oil market, said Christopher Knittel, a professor of energy economics at MIT. American oil production is about 11 percent of the world’s output, so even if the U.S. were to increase its oil production by 50 percent — that is more than drilling in the Arctic, increased public-lands and offshore drilling, and the Canadian pipeline would provide — it would at most cut gas prices by 10 percent.
“There are not many markets where the United States can’t impose its will on market outcomes,” Knittel said. “This is one we can’t, and it’s hard for the average American to understand that and it’s easy for politicians to feed off that.”
Links to articles on the study:
For those who like data – the data behind the study:
Bernalillo County Asks Residents ‘What Projects are Needed?’ – New Feature Available for Online Project Requests
by Catherine Lopez, Bernalillo County Public Information Department
Bernalillo County – Bernalillo County is seeking input from the community about future capital improvement projects through a series of public meetings and a new online feature.
“Beginning Monday, March 26, the county will offer its newest feature in this important information gathering process,” says County Manager Tom Zdunek. “Residents will be able to follow-up on their project request. Every project request submitted will receive a confirmation number. If a resident provides an email address, a confirmation number and email will be sent back to them.”
The confirmation number allows residents to access information about how their project was evaluated, as well as where it ranks among projects of its same type.
Residents have until May 17 to submit a project request.
The online request form is available at www.bernco.gov/request. Residents who do not wish to submit requests electronically can still fill out hardcopy forms. The county will have forms available at its Capital Improvement Plan public meetings, starting Monday night, March 26.
The public meetings will allow the county to gather project ideas from citizens and neighborhood groups. The county’s Capital Improvement Plan provides a link between the needs and visions of the public and the county’s capital expenditure budgets.
“Every two years, residents have the chance to make a direct impact on the county’s future,” says Commission Chair Art De La Cruz. “I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity by attending a public meeting and sharing the vision they have for the community with us.”
After hearing from the community, the county will evaluate and prioritize potential projects. During the general election in November, the public will vote on whether to approve the general obligation bonds that fund the projects.
A “capital improvement” is defined as a substantial, physical asset with a useful life of 10 years or greater. Capital improvement projects from past bond cycles include the Deputy James McGrane Public Safety Complex in the East Mountains, the Bachechi Open Space in the North Valley and the Eubank Boulevard road construction project in the northeast heights.
The community is invited to attend any of the scheduled meetings:
Monday, March 26 | District 1
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Don Newton Community Center
490 Kachina Street NW
Thursday, March 29 | District 5
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Los Vecinos Community Center
478 1/2 Old Hwy 66, Tijeras NM
Monday, April 2 | District 1
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center
9800 4th Street NW
Tuesday, April 17 | District 3
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Hiland Theater, Studio A or B
4800 Central Avenue SE
A tour of the historic Hiland Theater will be conducted at 5:15 p.m. for interested parties
Thursday, April 19 | District 4
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Lt. William Sibrava Memorial Substation
10401 Holly Ave NE
Monday, April 23 | District 2
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Westside Community Center
1250 Isleta Blvd SW
For more information about the capital improvement process, please visit www.bernco.gov/CIP.
Relay for Life Kickoff and Planning Meeting
by John Weckerle
Checking in on our friends at Mountainair Announcements, we find that the Relay for Life of Estancia Valley will be holding a Kick-Off Celebration at the Estancia Community Center on March 31, 2012 from 10 a.m to noon. For more information see the Mountainair Announcements article or call Brenda (704-5445), Cassandra (974-9627) or Erica (705-5123).
Bernalillo County Encourages Youth Groups to Apply for Spring Cleanup Grants
by Andy Lenderman, Bernalillo County Public Information Department
Bernalillo County – School clubs, sports teams and other youth groups can earn $200 while helping to clean up their neighborhoods and other littered areas around Bernalillo County.
Nonprofit youth groups are encouraged to apply for $200 grants as part of Bernalillo County’s participation in the New Mexico Clean and Beautiful program.
The deadline to apply is March 30.
“Spring is here and this is a good opportunity for youth groups to participate in hands-on community service while earning money for their team or school club,” Commissioner Wayne Johnson says.
Supplies such as trash bags and T-shirts will be provided by the county.
Visit www.bernco.gov/fun or click here to access the application. Applicants can also contact the county’s Parks and Recreation Department at 505.314.0416 or parks@bernco.gov for more information.
Edgewood Gets New Mayor, Councilor; Little Change Elsewhere (As Far As We Know)
by John Weckerle
We have obtained yesterday’s election results for the Town of Edgewood. Former Town Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Brad Hill claimed victory in the race for Mayor, with a vote count exceeding the combined count for his two rivals, Susan Simons and currrent Mayor Bob Stearley. Town Councilor John Abrams has been re-elected, and Sherry Abraham joins the Council as a new member. Judge William “Bill” White has been reelected as Municipal Judge. Detailed results obtained from Town Administrator Karen Mahalick are as follows:
Mayoral Race
- Susan Simons – 54
- Bob Stearley – 172
- Brad Hill – 333
Town Council (2 seats in contest)
- Johnny Walker – 131
- John Abrams – 356
- Phil Anaya – 104
- Sherry Abraham – 346
- William White – 456
In Moriarty, all the incumbents will be returning to their seats, and according to the Torrance County Clerk’s office, the races in Estancia were uncontested. Everybody who ran in Mountainair won. Unfortunately, nobody was in the Village office in Tijeras when we called. Congratulations to the elected officials, new and returning.
Weather, Weather, Everywhere…
by John Weckerle
Winter remains with us, and so does the cold. The denizens of New Mexico Central sallied forth yesterday and picked up another dozen bags of pellets. It’s a good thing we did, as the ice on the fountain suggests.
