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.
State Sen. Tim Keller, who represents a portion of Albuquerque’s southeast heights in the New Mexico Senate, announced today that $500,000 in capital outlay money previously allocated for a rugby concession stand would be reallocated to other district priorities.
“I have worked diligently with local elected officials, neighbor leaders and APS to re-allocate roughly $1,000,000 of funds previously spent by the old senator that were either of tangential importance to our community, earmarked for special projects outside our district, no longer feasible or irresponsible,” Keller said in a statement.
An “investigation of historical District 17 capital outlay” found much of it was “not in line” with community priorities. The statement continued:
Traditionally, capital outlay funds are used for community projects, schools, roads in legislator’s respective districts and other projects the legislator deems important. However, upon investigation of historical District 17 capital outlay, approximately $1,057,000 was deemed not in line with community priorities. Included in the funds shifted to public schools in Senator Keller’s district was over half a million ($656,000) previously allocated to rugby field concession stand in Santa Fe.
In 2008, ex-state Sen. Shannon Robinson was heavily criticized for using his capital allay funds for his pet projects, like the UNM women’s rugby club, instead of for projects in his district. He was defeated by fellow Democrat Keller in that year’s primary election.
Projects funded by the reallocation include: a Kindergarten building at Emerson Elementary; playground and patio equipment at Hawthorne Elementary; library books at Highland High school, La Mesa, Tomasita and Manzano Mesa Elementary; a sports field at Wherry Elementary; alley improvements and lighting in Trumbull; Elder Homestead and South San Pedro neighborhoods; New Mexico Veterans Integration Center; the East Central Gateway Revitalization Plan and an International District Early Childhood Development Center.
