Thanks for Commenting
There's a minority of loud mouths going off about the cameras, most law abiding citizens are for them. Thanks mayor.
Mario, another funny observation is a number of New Mexico liberal democrats are saying the Mayor Marty is acting like a republican; and that they republicans have embraced him. I don't think so.
Somehow the mayor still has high approval numbers. Not a fan, but the peeps think he is getting it done.
What is it about the cameras that irks folks? Is it the cameras catching you or is it the process and money paid after the cameras have caught your butts running a red light. I guess I'm just another clueless sheep trying to stay out of the way of red light violators.
Albuquerque has come a long way in the past 5 - 10 years. In my opinion it is a better place to live. I believe the Martin Chavez Administration has made a lot of big improvements to the city, such as beefing up downtown and cleaning up the east Central Avenue area a lot, but often wonder at what cost[s] question the tactics employed. I suppose Marty is a little overzealous at times... but aren't we all?
The traffic light cameras: not a bad idea in my opinion considering Albuquerque is at the top of the list of cities in the nation with respect to pedestrian fatalities involving motor vehicles and we have a lot of huge intersections around town. The problem was the fines for getting caught on camera running a red light initially were outrageously high and reportedly different than the fine one would have to pay if he or she had been caught running the light by a real, live human (member of APD). Then I think there was also some tussle over the City and the State in terms of how much of the fines that were to be paid were to go where. But the overzealous red light running penalties were reeled in. Similarly there was a backlash following Mayor Chavez's absolutely sweeping no smoking policy in outdoor areas throughout town (including on golf courses) and again, I think the people of the city reeled Chavez in a little.
"Sanctuary" for illegal immigrants: Albuquerque is certainly not the only city to have a policy of this nature. I think it's good that the feds can't come marching in here as they please, and, anyhow... the undocumented worker issue would be much better and more easily resolved in my view if businesses that employ illegal immigrants were subject to (criminal) penalties that would actually be enforced. Different people have different perspectives regarding the undocumented workers issue....
The proposed Central Avenue streetcar: thank goodness that didn't go through. What an incredibly expensive project... but I would assume that it would have brought in lots of federal transportation matching funds to the City....
Mayor Chavez has a vision for the city, and I'm sure Chavez also has a vision for his political future/legacy... again, I really wonder at what cost. I remember Jim Baca claiming Marty Chavez left the City in debt -- and vice versa, with Chavez blaming Baca for the severe budget cuts across the board in Albuquerque's City budgets just five years ago. I think I should reiterate, however, that I believe Albuquerque overall is in good shape these days in many regards.
What about the future? Wednesday's Albuquerque TRIBUNE Front Page banner headline reads, "Mayor endorses political novice," Katherine Martinez to run against incumbent Debbie O'Malley in the District 2 City Council election. Pointed questions have been brought up with regard to the idea of Martinez being a "puppet" candidate of Chavez... this on the heels of the Paulette de'Pascal fiasco a month ago (with that infamous
John:
You don't support your primo Marty? Isn't blood thicker than politics?
Shill out, vato.
John,
The Art that makes regular comments on this blog is not the same Art-primo Marty. I do not know Art the Mario blog commentor. Yes, blood is thicker than politics. Albuquerque has become a great city.
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