Governor Reaping What She Sowed with Hollywood?

News that Sony Imagining is pulling out of Albuquerque raises questions about Governor's vitriolic Hollywood rhetoric. In the early days of her administration she pitted Hollywood vs. kids. Did this have an impact on Sony's decision to exit ABQ? Megan Kamerick of the New Mexico Business Weekly has a pretty balanced take on this issue. Unlike our Republican mayor who seems genuinely interested in quality of life issues, the governor seems stuck in permanent campaign mode. I encourage those interested in these and other New Mexico issues to read both Kamerick and blogger Joe Monahan of New Mexico Politics.

Oklahoma City is OK

Two downtown stadiums (including one for a triple A baseball team), a riverwalk, bike paths, and a coming street car system. What can ABQ learn from Oklahoma City? The Tea Party and the Rio Grande Foundation aren't going to like what super Red Oklahoma City has done. But those either thinking of exiting ABQ or coming to ABQ might...

Is Driving in ABQ About to Get More Dangerous?

Despite UNM finding* that program improves driving safety, city council votes 5-4 to end program. Councilor Dan Lewis has made this issue a cause celebre. He cites the "will of the voters" who narrowly voted against the program (53%) in a recent non-binding low turn out election. My message to Councilor Lewis and camera opponents remains the same: What is your solution to rampant red light running in ABQ? And if accidents increase at intersections that had cameras are you willing to take the blame?

* from ABQ Journal 11/8/11: The UNM study, released last fall, said Albuquerque’s red-light cameras improved public safety by reducing the number of crashes with injuries. But it also said the cameras boosted the number of rear-end collisions. Those collisions are less serious, however, so the net effect is an increase in public safety, the study said.

Alvarado Urban Farm Takes Shape

In lot north of Silver Garden apartments, the Alvarado Urban farm is taking shape.

ABQ: the Undewhelming Plan

I've written about my enthusiasm for Mayor Berry's ABQ: The Plan, a series of "quality of life" projects. I was particularly enthused about bike trail improvements that would create a safe, 50-mile loop around the city that would benefit all residents. In light of two recent hideous bike deaths this highly affordable project seemed particularly needed. Instead we are reminded once again that despite our amazing weather and outdoor activities this is a car-first city. We will now be voting in November to kick $25 million toward a $350 million plus project (Paseo Freeway Exchange) that is years away from seeing the light of day; the bike loop improvements would have cost about $10 million, would create jobs in the very near future, and would be a project that citizens could enjoy and one the city could promote to visitors; this project is instead put off into the future. This is vision? This is leadership? Sigh.

Project two is a sports complex that has the potential to be a money maker if it can attract out of town sports teams. Since it will most likely be built in Mesa Del Sol it's hard to see how this improves the "quality of life" for those not living in MDS or those not parented by a SUV/mini-van soccer mom/dad.

21 Days of Red Light Running and Counting

For twenty-one straight days I saw a vehicle run a red light in ABQ. What in the hell is councilman Dan Lewis thinking forcing a public vote on the Red Light Camera program? And why did the mayor allow it to go to public vote? Wisely and dispassionately the mayor had research conducted that showed the validity of the program. He used the findings to correct the shortcomings. It is my opinion we should be talking about expanding this program. Sure, it's an imperfect attempt to treat the symptom instead of the problem (we live in an increasingly crowded car dependent city), but what is Lewis's alternative? When deaths go up, will he be to blame? As you can surmise, I am highly doubtful the public will save this program in an off year election. Update: After being out of town for several weeks I just got back and have a new streak going: two days of witnessing cars run red lights.

Mighty Blighty

Sign and billboard blight soils ABQ vistas. How exactly do area residents benefit from this? If I'm a visitor traveling the I-25 I'm thinking a-b-q is u-g-l-y!