NA Discussion from Duke City Fix

Over on Duke City Fix, which is a Albuquerque based social networking site, there is an interesting post and discussion occurring in regards to the past City Council Meeting (12/15).

During the meeting, the Council heard an appeal of an EPC decision from SWAN (Southwest Alliance of Neighbors). They did not appeal based on the zoning, but based on the issuance of notification which they did not receive.

You can watch the Council Meeting here, it begins at about 1:05:50

Read the post here and share your thoughts.

Councilor Garduño's 2009 Committee Appointments

District 6 City Councilor Rey Garduño has been appointed to the following Committees for the upcoming year:
Land Use, Planning & Zoning Committee; Councilor Garduño served on this Committee last year and will continue to assure that the land use policies for the City are serving the community and not burdening them.
Albuquerque / Bernalillo Water Authority; One of Councilor Garduño's passions is water and policies that conserve and protect our water. He will be an essential voice on this increasingly crucial board.
Public Safety Committee - Chair; During his campaign and first year on the Council, Garduño has stressed the importance of prevention and intervention programs play in the larger scope of Public Safety, along with Police and Fire Departments. Councilor Garduño will assure that programs will be available and accessible to ensure community safety.
Regional Transit District; Another issue that Councilor Garduño has continually pushed is the efficiency and accessibility of public transportation. He will continue to serve on this board to keep improving the transit in the mid-region of the state.
Other appointments include Albuquerque / Bernalillo County Government Commission, Accountability in Government Oversight Committee, Committee on Guidelines for Negotiations, Internal Operations, Community Schools, Hispano Chamber of Commerce.

Vayamos a Santa Fe

Rail Runner Express kicks off its public schedule today

By Trip Jennings 12/17/08 9:06 AM
The New Mexico Rail Runner commuter train officially begins running to Santa Fe today, and, in fact, already has made its first journey to the City Different. The first train left Los Lunas a little before 5 a.m.
Gov. Bill Richardson made the Rail Runner a major priority and took his own ride on the train Monday, where he waxed poetically — and sometimes hyperbolically — about what the train would do for New Mexico and the world at large.
As someone who loves trains and rode up with the guv on Monday, I thought the train was a nice ride, especially for those of us who travel to Santa Fe more than once a week. The only gripe I have is that the wireless Internet that state officials promised business commuters is not up and running yet. But state transportation officials told me Monday it will be available in about a month.
I did a lot of reporting when I was with the Albuquerque Journal on the Rail Runner project and on some legislators’ concerns about the cost of the project ($400 million). There seemed to be some very legitimate questions. But it will be years before we know what kind of legacy Richardson’s Rail Runner is for the state of New Mexico. Until then, I’d encourage people who are interested in the train to try it out.
Here’s a Web page with the Rail Runner’s schedule.

Human Rights Week

Tonight is the culmanation of Human Rights Week in Albuquerque with a program being sponsored by the Albuquerque United Nations Association and Veterans for Peace. The event will take place at Smith-Brasher Hall, which is on the corner of University and Coal, at 6pm.

The moderator for this event is your very own District 6 City Councilor Rey Garduño.

Here is program schedule;
6:00 pm – Refreshments
7:00 pm - Program: MODERATOR: Rey Garduno, member of
Albuquerque City Council

Songs by The Raging Grannies
Introduction of Moderator
Reading of City Proclamation
Reports by participating organizations
Awarding of Essay Contest Prize by Veterans for Peace
Reports of other organizations

SPEAKER: Ladonna Harris, President of Americans for
Indian Opportunity (AIO)

Questions and Discussion; A Charge to Protect

Special Council Meeting Tonight

Tonight at 5pm in the Vincent E. Griego Council Chambers, the City Council will hold a special meeting to hear Election Code/Municipal Elections Bills that were defered from the last Council meeting on December 1st.

At that meeting Vice-President Sally Mayer asked to have these bill discussed and voted on together at a Special Meeting.

These bills are resolutions to some problems that occurred during the first public financed election in Albuquerque in October 2007.

The Bills are O-08-52, O-08-53, and O-08-54;

These bills if adopted:

(1) increases the number of campaign finance reports from six to nine. In
addition it requires campaign contributions of over $250 for a Council election
and over $500 for a Mayoral election to be reported the following day if
received in the week preceding an election;
(2) defines the word "expenditure" for purposes of requiring a campaign
finance report. An "expenditure" under the bill would include the creation of an
obligation to make a payment or provide a service. This is an attempt to deal
with the problem of a candidate incurring an obligation but not paying or
reporting that obligation until later, including after an election; and,
(3) allows a single form to be used both to receipt a five dollar
qualifying contribution and as a candidate petition. Legislation sponsored by
Councilors O’Malley, Benton and Garduno.

Also, to be heard is R-08-142;

This bill if adopted would call on the City Clerk to initiate the process
to amend the regulations governing the Open and Ethical Elections Ordinance. The
bill does not mandate any change but does request that certain changes be
considered. The changes for consideration are:
(1) specifying the time of day when the Qualifying Period ends; and
(2) specifying that seed money is deducted from the amount of public funds
distributed; and,
(3) allow funds to be expended on the last three days before an election if
it is determined that such amounts are to be distributed even if those funds
have not yet been distributed.