Taxing the Poor to Help the Poor

The Albuquerque City Council will consider taxing the poor to help the poor by asking for a 1/8 cent increase in the regressive gross receipts tax.  They are doing it under the false assumption it will somehow help with the police shootings in the city by opening up vaguely thought out homeless assistance.  If they want to try this then at least come up with a real plan, and then shift the burden from the gross receipts tax to another funding source that doesn't take the money out of the pockets of working folks.  This is an evil tax source and has always been.  But if the public were given a chance to vote on it, then if it is approved it will at least be agreed to by those who will pay it.  The public and city council have already hidden a tax in the refuse pick up rates that will fund street median maintenance.  Stealth taxers these folks are!

Mayor Berry was finally pinned down by Channel 7 on the scandalous no bid APD Tazer contract and resulting fall out.  After the contract was 'greased' by former Chief Schultz, he immediately went to work for them after retiring.  Watch it here.

Berry Tax Increase

Hidden in a city council approved measure is a secret tax hike by Mayor Berry.  The media will never report it as such, but it will make good fodder for any future Berry political run.  The tax hike is hidden in the increase in trash pick up fees.  They are being increased to cover that enterprise fund cost, which is okay.  But it is also being increased to maintain street medians, which has nothing to do with trash pickup.  This is something that normally would be funded by general tax receipts, but Berry and the Council don't want to admit that they needed to hike taxes in our sucky economy, so they hid this cost in the enterprise fund.  Don't forget this when these councillors and Mayor run again.  They are hiding in the shadows on tax hikes and not taking responsibility.

Intel

The Intel Plant in Rio Rancho was once said to be one of the company's most productive.  But now it has again been passed over for manufacturing the ever changing technologies that make chips smaller, less power hungry, and more efficient.  One wonders what has gone wrong.

This isn't good news.  And the latest I get from the rumor mill is that a firm owned by interests in Abu Dhabi was at Intel last week to try and negotiate a deal to buy the plant.  That is either good news or bad news.  Who knows?

Certainly not Governor Susana Martinez and her weak economic development team.  I was aghast today to see her new TV commercial in which she once again was running against former Governor Richardson.  That is all she has got since this state is failing so miserably in job creation and she is escaping without a scratch.

One of our dinner guests last night made an interesting observation.  She said that people didn't like Richardson but they liked his policies.  She said that as far as behavior went that Martinez was no different.  Mean and uncaring.  But that no one seems to like her policies either.  But she gets away with it.  It is just one of those cases where voters are truly asleep.

I voted on Wednesday afternoon.  I went with Lawrence Rael.  But if Webber wins I will support him too.  They will both get all the money I can muster together to help who ever wins.  If King wins, well that would be difficult not because he isn't a good and honest guy, but because he is not capable of winning against the teflon Governor.

Meanwhile, I am off for the first golf sojourn of the summer to Pendairies, New Mexico.  That ball goes far at 7500 feet altitude.

Reminder

When will the media let us know how the man who allegedly shot a police dog back in March was killed?  Was it suicide?  The APD and OMI have said little.  Is this being covered up?

Sit Her Down

It is amazing really, the fact that no one can manage to sit Governor Susana Martinez down for an interview on the dismal state of the economy in New Mexico.  First off, is the media even trying to put her on the spot to answer for the out-migration of jobs and young people?  All of this while the states around us continue to prosper.  But, lets say some are trying to pin her down and she is refusing to be held accountable.  What does that say about the apparatus that surrounds her in an impenetrable wall of Spin?

Again, what is her economic development team up to?  And that goes for Mayor Berry of Albuquerque too.  How long can their lack of progress be hidden?  Don't forget that many of the job losses have come from cut backs in the Federal sector in New Mexico.  Just what our government hating Governor and her minions wanted.  How has that helped us?

What are they doing to find out what is going on with Intel in Rio Rancho.  The rumor mill is churning on the possible closure of that employer of 3500 New Mexicans.  Can they at least address these rumors?  I have heard some things that are pretty ominous and if they are true then some planning needs to be done on how to cope with such a loss.  If the Governor and Mayor are caught unawares by this, then it is time for them to go.

We truly have a lack of leadership in New Mexico at the state and local level.  Politics aside, one just needs to look at the data for job loss compared to the rest of the country to know it is true.

So True

A friend of mine sent me this missive about the Governor's race.  It is right on.

"Rael, Webber or Morales could all benefit from a strong Democratic ticket; unlikely that Gary will. Zero evidence of Gary's campaign until last week. He's using the same signs from his congressional and AG races, why put any effort there? First thing in the mailbox features a washed-out photo (washed up?) of the candidate. The only woman in the race only gets 5% - incredible. Lawrence needs Howie's energy. He seems to think that being quietly responsible, honest and hardworking will make people vote for him. Just because he might make the best governor does not automatically make the best candidate, which is why I did not get involved. Gary was a better legislator than AG -- now a terrible campaigner has a decent shot after a do-nothing 8 years. If either Morales or Rael would back the other, that might be enough, but it ain't gonna happen. Lawrence should try to get Lynda L. to endorse him to get some momentum and women's votes. There are ways Martinez could be beaten but they've all acted like they'd be happy if they win the primary and get 47% in the fall.  Udall's lucky to dodge any real opponents -- R bench still very weak."

Up in the Air

The Research and Polling poll in the Journal today shows the democratic Governor's primary election up for grabs just 9 days out from counting the votes.  Gary King is still out in front but his six point lead doesn't look real strong with nearly 30% of likely voters still wondering what they should do.  In fact, it looks like that percentage has increased which is not that great a thing for Gary.  Being ahead is good, but in reality that is as good as it will get.  Right now the other front running candidates have some thinking to do.  Lawrence Rael and Alan Webber are tied for second and they have to be thinking about some deal making with other lower rated candidates.  It will be a busy week for them all.

Back Fire

The crazies who aligned themselves with Clyde Bundy against the Bureau of Land Management teamed  up with some scofflaw ATV riders in invading Recapture Canyon despite the protected status of that iconic landscape in Utah.  Guns were in evidence again as if too tell the rank and file BLM employees they were dead meat if they tried to interfere.

This second confrontation just added to the noise from the backfire of the Bundy affair in which snipers with assault rifles were drawing down on the conservation officers trying to do their job at the Nevada ranch.  That backfire will alienate BLM employees from trusting the folks they are in charge of helping to obey the rules in protecting lands and watersheds.

The rumor mill has it that the employees are insisting that legal actions against the Bundy militia types and the ATV riders not be dropped and that fines and jail time are handed out.  They feel that failure to do so will endanger their lives, and I totally agree with that assessment.   So, this is one the Department of Justice and the Interior Department can not let get away from them if they want to show they have respect for the rank and file employees safety.

Nothing Burger

Larry Barker on KRQE is doing his ratings thing at the behest of his masters in the news department. Last night's lengthy 'investigative' story on the City of Santa Fe's recycling operation was a nothing burger.  A truck load of recyclables was sent to the land fill instead of the recycling center.  Not a good thing but hardly worth a 3 minute scandal piece.  But this is what journalists like Barker are forced to do these days because their leadership has no real sense of what is wrong with our country.

Let me help.  Larry, do a story on the TV industries collusion and political support for the idea that no limits should be placed on corporation's or people's ability to give money to candidates.  Of course about 80% of that money goes to the broadcasters in the form of purchased TV ads.  So of course the industry loves this notion that our democracy is being hijacked by big corporate money interests.

Do you think you will ever see a story like that on any national network or local TV station?  No, because they are part of that system that loves profits over democracy.

The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason.Hunter S. Thompson

Innovation Strangled

Our pitiful Public Regulation Commission in Santa Fe which is made up of five mostly unqualified Commissioners has struck another blow against innovation.  Without even having a hearing they have told a new ride sharing program called "Lyft" to cease operations in Albuquerque.  Of course, they are doing this at the behest of the entrenched cab companies who are regular funders of these elected official's campaigns.  At the very least there should have been a chance for Lyft to plead their case.

No wonder we are continually failing to attract better economic prospects for New Mexico when we seem solely intent on protecting old ways of doing things.  We must look like the Luddite state to forward looking businesses.

One might think that this disastrous Commission which was recklessly created some years ago to replace the Corporation Commission has proven itself useless.  Will some legislator please just introduce a constitutional amendment to do away with this outfit and put its functions under another entity where pressure to change can be brought to bear.  These five commissioners with their little salaries and political movtives aimed at keeping donations pouring in, are just adding to the  exporting of  jobs and innovative folks to other states

Prediction Time

I have been talking with a lot of folks about the Governor's race here in New Mexico.  It isn't exactly an exciting affair with most people responding with a yawn.  But once the primary election is over the you can expect things to heat up, no matter that Susana Martinez will have plenty of money from the oil, right wing, and neocons of the GOP.

The main reason is New Mexico's exports.  I am not talking about the increase in oil and gas production.  I am talking about the export of jobs and young people just out of school to all of the successful economies around us.  This is what the general election must center on if anyone has half a chance of winning against the fossil fuel PACs, uh I mean the Governor.

Speaking of which, has anyone seen a TV commercial about climate change from our candidates?  Any of them.  Some of them mention it in their websites but it certainly isn't upfront on the bought media, which leads me to believe they are not courageous enough to state the obvious about our lack of water in an arid state.

I am beginning to think that Lawrence Rael has the ability to win this race.  It was always going to be a haul for him, but his campaign has done everything right.  He is well positioned between Gary King and Alan Webber who have gotten some bad press.  Webber because someone who supported him was a radical in the 60s, and Gary King because he got the Albuquerque Journal editorial, which makes everyone suspect.

I will early vote tomorrow.  

A Good Day

President Obama will announce that on Wednesday, May 21st, he will sign a proclamation creating the nearly 500,000 acre Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument near Las Cruces, New Mexico.  This will be President Obama’s 11th use of the Antiquities Act, will be by far the largest monument he has created, will represent the first time that President Obama has used the Antiquities Act without unanimous local support (the area’s Congressman, Steve Pearce (R-NM) opposes the designation), and will be the largest expansion of BLM’s National Conservation Lands since the system was codified in 2009.  This is a great day for public land protection in New Mexico.  This is a great victory especially for Senator Martin Heinrich who worked so hard on this since before becoming an elected official.
  

Predictable

A qualification first.  I like Gary King.  He is a decent guy.  He is honest.

But, one could have predicted that the Albuquerque Journal would endorse him.  They did so because he will be the weakest possible candidate to go up against that right wing neo con sweetie Susana Martinez.  Anyone who knows Gary will realize he isn't exactly a confrontational kind of guy.  And that is precisely what the democrats don't need running up to November.

There is just to much grist for the mill and Gary won't throw it under the stones.  Certainly, no one so far in the race has really taken a hard and consistent enough campaign against the Governor.  There is so much potential when all she can do is for the fifth year in a row talk about selling the state jet plane. That is her big accomplishment by her own words?  Yep.  Meanwhile we have a net migration of people and jobs from the Land of Enchantment and no one is doing a great job of exposing that.

Let's face it.  None of the democratic candidates, Gary included, have enough money to pull this off just yet.  And soon it will dribble down to other races on the ticket that are important too.  We must take back the Secretary of State's office and with such weakness up top that just won't be easy.

It will be an interesting month.

Golfing in California with Bob Grethel

And then my first In and Out burger!  Yum. 

Venice Beach

Girls

Niece Stephanie and grand nieces Emma and Maya

Pit Stop

Barstow rest stop. Iconic Americana. 

Forest

The only forest in Arizona not stressed by climate change.  At the rail museum. 

Newspeak

an oil car!

Road Trip

I am off on a road trip for a few days to Los Angeles and environs to play golf with a good friend.  I will post along the way when possible.  Of course the big win here is that I get out of the pollen induced mind fog.  L.A. will be over 100 degrees.  But, might be worth it!  I will visit the Venice Beach and make offerings to El Nino.