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.
On Monday night the Albuquerque City Council will debate two issues that are likely to be hotly contested: a proposal to place a one year moratorium on impact fees, and the issue of whether or not to override the mayor’s veto of city charter amendments.
The mayor gave three reasons for his veto of the charter amendments (which were bundled in one bill), but in his public statements, he’s emphasized the amendment that would create a salary review commission to make adjustments to city councilors annual pay. Chavez said that’s an end run around the voters.
City Council Prez Isaac Benton said in response that all of the amendments would have gone before the voters individually, so it’s hard to characterize something as an end run around the voters when those same voters are asked to approve it in the first place.
The charter amendments were passed by the council June 22 on a six to three vote, so the mayor would need one of those six to drop their support of the bill for his veto to be sustained.
A proposed one year impact fee moratorium is also on the agenda tonight. It’s been characterized as a way to give a much needed kick start to a struggling building industry that’s been hit hard by the recession. Supporters say it’ll make it easier to get projects off the ground. But those in opposition say its a regressive mistake that will hurt the city’s “modern impact fee system.” I spoke with councilors on both sides of the issue earlier in the year.
The biggest supporter of the idea is Chavez, who just yesterday took ownership of the idea on his Facebook page and Twitter feed:
…looking forward to the lively debate on my proposed Impact Fee Moratorium legislation at the ABQ city council tomorrow night.
Chavez is a well-known booster of the development industry, probably most aptly illustrated by the fact that his campaign manager, Mark Fleisher, is a registered lobbyist with the city on behalf of three prominent development companies–Sun Cal Corporation, Mesa del Sol, and Hunt Companies.
Another item on the agenda Monday is a noise ordinance that could enliven the public comment period–I hear there may be a large contingent of bikers present to oppose the bill, which would address the noise made by bikers revving their engines.
