I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez wants $1.6 billion from Barack Obama. Well, not in the way that Rod Blagojevich wanted money from politicians, but rather for the city government he leads.
KOB-TV reported that Chavez sent over the wish list at the request of Obama — for big-city mayors and the projects they want included in an economic stimulus package. What projects does Chavez want to help out the Duke City?
More than $500 million would pay for a solar plant near Double Eagle Airport. Mayor Chavez says the plant and would bring in 200 jobs.
The mayor says he also wants $250 million to start using alternative energy in new homes, $213 million for a solar plant at the Cerro Colorado landfill, $140 million for the Double Eagle wind farm, $90 million for the first phase of the streetcar project on Central Avenue and $60 million for other city transit needs including the replacement of out-of-date fleets.
Money would also go to make major improvements at the Sunport. University Boulevard improvements are also on the list, along with close to a dozen other streets.
It looks as though Chavez is tailoring his list to what he thinks the president-elect will approve — green projects like the solar plant near Double Eagle Airport. Also some pet projects of Chavez’s, including upgrading the transit facility.
Of course one project will jump out to to those who have followed local politics in the last few years — the streetcar project. I have a feeling there will be a lot of criticism for Chavez for including that project in his list of projects for Albuquerque.
The 95 projects on the list would create 5,000 jobs, according to Chavez, mostly for contractors and builders.
