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.
It seems there’s a scandal popping up every other day in New Mexico. And state Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, has had enough.
“As an elected official here, I am embarrassed to serve in New Mexico,” Smith told a roomful of his legislator colleagues and others at the Capitol on Tuesday. “I thank God I am not up for election next time.”
The latest controversy has erupted over the state’s investments thanks to revelations that originated in New York due to a criminal probe. But before that — and still ongoing — is the federal probe of the New Mexico Finance Authority involving allegations of pay-to-play involving a California firm that gave tens of thousands of dollars to two political committees formed by Gov. Bill Richardson.
Then there’s the two former state treasurers sitting in federal prison, the former senate president pro tem who recently pleaded guilty to corruption and the former state deputy insurance superintendent who was convicted by a federal jury of corruption.
Smith’s outburst comes as the investment scandal that started in New York has tarred New Mexico.
The criminal probe in New York unearthed what that state’s attorney general said were questionable practices here in New Mexico.
Among the allegations were that the founder of New Mexico’s former financial adviser, Aldus Equity, helped the son of the New York state comptroller, Alan Hevesi, win a lucrative contract in New Mexico for a firm he was representing in return for Aldus’ increased business in New York, according to a criminal complaint. At the time, the comptroller’s son, Dan Hevesi, was acting as a third-party marketer. Aldus’ founder, Saul Meyer, was charged in the New York criminal probe.
The charges against Meyer throw into question whether Aldus – which as the state’s investment adviser was supposed to vet the safety and risk factor of state investments — had always acted in New Mexico’s best interest, officials said.
Then there’s Marc Correra. Correra, the son of a friend of Gov. Bill Richardson’s, Anthony Correra, acted as a third-party marketer in dozens of state investment deals, state records show, earning more than $15 million.
“There’s a real atmosphere of suspicion,” Smith added on Tuesday. “Not only are we getting slammed here in New Mexico, but we are getting painted with a brush nationally. It’s not a pretty picture.”
