1. Albuquerque Mayor Accused of ShakedownLet's face it... these headlines write themselves. Instead, The Journal editorial brain trust went with the tepid "Double Eagle Double Trouble" headline and a sub head that almost defends the mayor - "Mayor's Office, Operator both Claim Pressure."
2. Alleged Pay to Play Targets Mayor
3. FBI Investigating Albuquerque Mayor in Pay to Play Scheme
4. Trouble in the Air - Mayor Accused of Shakedown
As Heath Haussamen (read it here) pointed out Tuesday, the "money" quote can't be found until the 19th paragraph. That's the fourth form the end of the 22 paragraph story.
In August, a state judge ordered Adams to sign the lease amendments negotiated with Bode. Judge Geraldine Rivera said she was "appalled" at how the city treated Bode.There's certainly an elephant in the room here but not only the one Judge Rivera was referring to. New Mexico's largest paper once again appears to be carrying water for the Chavez administration.
"There's an elephant in the room, folks," Rivera said in a court hearing, according to a transcript. "Nobody's bringing it up, but we all have an idea of what it is. The day that government exists just for politics and how it can benefit the principals of our municipalities is the day we're all in trouble. And thank God we have three branches of government."
In fact, our Eyes tell us that the story was originally intended for a weekend edition but editors resisted running the story over the weekend when readership is the highest for the dead tree news outlet.
While you do see "[t]he company and related plaintiffs allege in court that they were victims of retaliation after raising concerns about how public money was being spent and after declining to provide free or discounted air service for Chávez's travel to Mexico and for his Senate campaign." You don't see the phrases like "public corruption," or "pay to play," or "shakedown."
Bode Aviation clearly makes allegations that Chavez and his campaign cronies were threatening the company if it didn't provide free services to The Almighty Alcalde who wanted to be Senator. Folks that's called corruption and on the highest level, yet you won't find the word "corruption" in The Journal's story.
In an interview, Adams said he was concerned the contract wasn't in the city's best interest. He wanted a "reasonable" provision accounting for inflation, he said, and it wasn't appropriate for the judge to order him to sign a contract that hadn't been approved by the administration or City Council.We love this paragraph. The Chavez administration has a long history of signing contracts with vendors without council approval. Just last January CAO Adams did exactly that - signing a contract extension with Redflex. Ed, you can't have it both ways. Either you need council approval or you don't. It's not a matter of convenience or damage control.
The Journal has long been suspected of being in Marty's pocket. Today's story all but confirms our suspicions. Hey... The Journal's editors even placed a story about alleged public corruption below an "Up Front" puff piece about Governor Richardson. At least that story mentioned "pay to play."
Folks, this story is big. Public officials who use their elected positions in government to extort goods, services, or money from private businesses should at the very least be thrown out of government and perhaps charged criminally. No one should support a candidate out of fear - fear of retaliation or of government harassment. Perhaps it's fear that makes it easy to miss the elephant in The Journal's newsroom.
17 comments:
Bode Air,,,is that the same John Bode that used to be an APD cop? I saw him on a COP's in ABQ episode from the early 90's.
Nice try Eye, but every LE officer in the know understands just how crazy and inept Judge Rivera is in some of her rulings. While I am no Marty apologist, her opinion will surely be, one of many, which will be over turned on appeal.She is a disgrace!
It appears once again that this blog has adopted the "guilty until proven innocent" mentality. The mere fact that someone makes a claim of wrongdoing is enough to prosecute and convict another flys in the face of the Constitution. I for one am appalled by the contstant accusatory harangue of your analysts. I also wait with both horror and disdain at comments that are likely to follow this posting. Your ignorance is showing.
John Bode retired from APD years ago. His family owns Bode Aviation. Last I heard, John was flying for one of the major airlines out of California.
Well, it is for sure that the ABQ journal carries for both Richardson and Marty.
Does anyone remember how the Journal kept such close day-to-day tabs on the governor's comings and goings when he started his dismal run for president? I remember thinking at the time that no Repub in this state would have a chance with that rag's political preferences so obvious.
Then you have the local news readers jumping up and down in their chairs with orgasmic pleasure as they repeat word for word what was printed in the Journal. KOAT doesn't have enough sense to even change a few words around so that their plagerism won't look so obvious.
Okay all you people who showed up for the tea party, where will you be in October when the vote is taken?
These miscreants don't just ascend on their own, they are put there by the citizenry. If you will sacrifice your dinner hour to march on Montgomery, get your hindparts to the poles and get rid of this weasel.
The name of the 1st comment on this subject says it all.
Joe Monahan is turning out to be a has been, and a cheerleader.
The Journal... well that speaks for itself! They going Bankrupt? No readers huh?
If it were any other Politician that the FBI was asking questions about in light of all that has happend in the last 18 months you better believe they would have serious editorials written about em', along with some hard hitting headlines.
Monahan is Martys prostitute, and the Journal is Monahans Love Sponge.
I guess tha Mayor will deny everything right up until they release the audio tapes.... then he will have to say.... "What I meant to say....."
One word. V-O-T-E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe Monahan, TJ Wilhelm are in the same class. 'Has beens' for sure.
They give a bad name to good journalist; a least the few that are left. One's a news 'hooker' the other has a blog that is as news worthy as nothing. Worthless. Tell us something we don't already know. You can learn more at the shoe shine stand downtown.
Time for Marty to make up some job for you to make a living. Oh, I forgot, he already has.
Hahahaha! Great!!
Take a spin down face page or one of those pages and look at these "journalists" and who their friends are and who are their heroes. It is pretty scary.
There is that Guiterazz woman and some other puff writer that came over from the Tribune whose hero I believe was the man who threw the shoe at George Bush.
I mean really. We all can see the Journal for what it is, but for the so called pros to go on an inane place on face page and express their personal views makes us know FOR SURE what kind of a slant everything that comes out of their orifices is.
Give me strength!
Marty Cha-gojevich is as transparent as they get...and I don't mean that as being honest. It's his way to play or the highway. If you're in his circle take a long look in the mirror. I've been there and I'm glad I'm done because it isn't worth it.
You are so right Bruce; Signed, Jay!
The Journal? NO, NO, NO, Marty is the disease in this town. "APS? Nah, we'll give them $63 to go buy some hope." " Yeah! I know! Lets dig a hole in the ground and fill it with water!! $3 million? Nah, better make it $5 mill, nobody wants or asked for it!"
Why do the rich politicians bully for freebees? Because they were the bullied kids on the block and it’s their way of getting back at the world. Just like the wife beatings that went down. Would the midget fist fight a man, no way he couldn’t win. Marty is guilty with the Bode Aviation scandal, but again he’ll walk away from the negative press still looking good. Tomorrow he’ll be kissing dogs and promising beaches and water holes in the desert. He’s got to get the heights and the valley vote.
The Journal is a rag and TJ is a has been who’s buds are Ray and Darren. Too bad, TJ used to be a real journalist. When the Journal goes down like the Rocky Mountain news Marty will be giving the rag writers those $80,000 plus at will jobs. Oh right, it’s not the city it’s an employment agency! I’ve canceled my Journal subscription I can find my horoscope and “Dear Abby” online.
The Headline "Double Eagle Double Trouble," almost implies that the
Bode aviation is to blame! Like Bode Aviation got into trouble (lost contract at Airport) for blowing the whistle on Marty wanting freebies. So, the headline is correct in that Marty did use his power as Mayor to mess up the airport contract with the City after Bode said, "No" to freebies. The reader has to read more to know why there is trouble. What I don't get is that why would there be double trouble? Or, isn't that what happens when the Mayor canceled the contract at the Airport after the Mayor was told "No" there won't be any freebies for the Mayor! So, the headline is correct in that Marty caused there to be trouble at the Airport after being told, "No," to freebies during his campaign election for re-run as Mayor by Bode Aviation.
Now, there is additionaly trouble now that Marty's actions are getting Federal attention!! Yet, the headline says Double Eagle, Double Trouble. Perhaps, the journalist wanted to caution Marty against taking anymore retaliation against the aviation. There is an interest in protecting what goes on at the Airports that the Federal agencies have in making sure that politics didn't get meddled in with day to day functions in an illegal way (bribes, freebies, pressure from politicians) etc....
Just list the last article that was written by the Journal and was critical of Smarty. Remember, the owner of the Journal has to get city permits to develop the Journal Center. Endorse Smarty and cha-ching.
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