Not surprisingly, Eye readers overwhelmingly rejected the idea of a downtown arena in our most recent Eye Poll. It's a project that would certainly pay tribute to the mayor of Albuquerque but would do it's citizens little good and shackle them with an almost unending drain on their tax dollars.
69% of Eye readers said no to an arena (a few said "hell no") in our unscientific poll while only 28% said yes (view it here). As usual, a few people (3%) didn't know.
This week we're looking at what seems to be the interminable years of the Chavez administration. As expected for so long a reign, there have been a number of scandals involving The Almighty Alcalde. Pick your favorite in this week's Eye Poll!
Which gives us an idea... If you've got a favorite Chavez administration scandal, send it to us at editor@eyeonalbuquerque.com. We'll publish our favorites in the coming weeks.
Showing posts with label Downtown Arena. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Downtown Arena. Show all posts
May 17, 2009
May 4, 2009
400 MILLION Reasons
The Sunday Journal reported that a group of "marketing, advertising, and other professionals" is pushing to get another city boondoggle on the October ballot. Apparently, this group of "other professionals" doesn't include an accountant, banker, or anyone with a business major. The arena and hotel that ad guy Steve Wedeen would have us build would cost no less than $400 MILLION tax dollars.
This is a plan that only an advertiser would try to sell. An undersized arena with no proven anchor tenant next to a perpetually struggling convention center. If Wedeen is so taken with the idea then he should put together an investor group, build it with private money and prove us all wrong. If he's successful, he'll be fabulously wealthy (at least until Obama and Co. get a hold of him) and he should be.
There are 400 MILLION reasons not to build a new Downtown Boondoggle and each one comes from "investors" who have no direct control over the enterprise. Talk about greed! When someone asks for their dream to be built not through their own efforts and abilities but on the backs of his fellow citizens... that's greed and the worst kind of greed.
"The impact is phenomenal," Wedeen said in a recent interview. "This is really an economic-stimulus package that invests in a smart, sound industry."The impact to the tax payer is obvious... higher taxes. As for whether or not the arena without-a-team business is a "smart, sound industry"... we beg to differ. More to the point, Wedeen would have the City of Albuquerque follow the "City of Vision's" lead and build an arena that loses money. If that weren't enough, Wedeen and his group would have the city go into the hospitality business by building a publically funded hotel.
Business leaders also want more analysis of whether the project would generate adequate operating revenue and question projected attendance figures for minor league sports teams that would play in the center.You know you've got problems when even the Greater Chamber of Commerce has reservations about your business plan. Worse an attempt by private investors to build a downtown arena has already failed because no one would give them the money. And that was back when they were giving money away to people who could never pay it back.
The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce wants a more detailed financial analysis before announcing whether it would support such a project.
This is a plan that only an advertiser would try to sell. An undersized arena with no proven anchor tenant next to a perpetually struggling convention center. If Wedeen is so taken with the idea then he should put together an investor group, build it with private money and prove us all wrong. If he's successful, he'll be fabulously wealthy (at least until Obama and Co. get a hold of him) and he should be.
There are 400 MILLION reasons not to build a new Downtown Boondoggle and each one comes from "investors" who have no direct control over the enterprise. Talk about greed! When someone asks for their dream to be built not through their own efforts and abilities but on the backs of his fellow citizens... that's greed and the worst kind of greed.
Sep 15, 2008
Publicly Financed Pigs
Monday the Albuquerque Journal editorial department cautioned all of us that once the study is complete on The Alcalde Arena - we need to take "a cold, hard look" at the study. Their reasoning was sound as there's an inherent conflict of interest when the "study" group includes those who stand to benefit financially from a publicly financed arena/hotel complex.
The problem is with the formation of these "study" groups and "taskforces" whose only mandate is to provide cover for politicians. The truth is that neither one of these projects are commercially viable and will require huge amounts of taxpayer money to build and even more taxpayer money to maintain and operate.
Folks, these large developments can be great money makers for the developers who build them - sometimes they can even be successful. It doesn't matter how much taxpayer money is spent on a "study" it can't change the fact that neither of these proposed Marty-World developments can make money or even support themselves. These two projects are simply pigs attempting to feed at the public trough. (We were going to say something about lipstick but... you know.)
The developers who would build the 12,000-seat arena and an adjoining 450-room Downtown hotel are taking part in the study.What the Journal fails to tell you is that this isn't the first time the city has formed "study" groups that include those who have a vested interest in seeing the project approved and financed with taxpayer money. Marty's Trolley to Nowhere Taskfarce is similarly packed with members whose interests lie with seeing a central street car (read about it here).
The problem is with the formation of these "study" groups and "taskforces" whose only mandate is to provide cover for politicians. The truth is that neither one of these projects are commercially viable and will require huge amounts of taxpayer money to build and even more taxpayer money to maintain and operate.
Folks, these large developments can be great money makers for the developers who build them - sometimes they can even be successful. It doesn't matter how much taxpayer money is spent on a "study" it can't change the fact that neither of these proposed Marty-World developments can make money or even support themselves. These two projects are simply pigs attempting to feed at the public trough. (We were going to say something about lipstick but... you know.)
Aug 3, 2008
Arena? No Way!
In last week's Eye Poll we took up the question of a brand new taxpayer financed and/or built 12,000 seat downtown arena. Look, there are a lot of problems with Marty's arena ambition not the least of which is they don't have any idea who could or would be an anchor tenant. Build it and they will come may be an interesting concept for a Hollywood movie but is hardly applicable in the real world.
Eye readers picked up on that concept and that The Almighty Alcalde's field of dreams has all of the makings of a colossal taxpayer funded boondoggle. 67% of those participating in the poll said no way, 28% said absolutely build a new taxpayer boondoggle (arena), 4% didn't know, and 2% took the road of apathy not caring what Marty plans for their tax dollars (see the poll results here).
This week we'll look at the second prong of the New Urbanist taxpayer spending spree - Marty's 19th Century Streetcar. As we speak (or write) Marty's taskfarce is busy preparing a marketing report to sell the trolley to the public. We're trying to save them some time by letting the taskfarce know how Eye readers feel before wasting their time trying to convince people that their upcoming recommendation to build the trolley wasn't a foregone conclusion. Don't forget to vote!
Eye readers picked up on that concept and that The Almighty Alcalde's field of dreams has all of the makings of a colossal taxpayer funded boondoggle. 67% of those participating in the poll said no way, 28% said absolutely build a new taxpayer boondoggle (arena), 4% didn't know, and 2% took the road of apathy not caring what Marty plans for their tax dollars (see the poll results here).
This week we'll look at the second prong of the New Urbanist taxpayer spending spree - Marty's 19th Century Streetcar. As we speak (or write) Marty's taskfarce is busy preparing a marketing report to sell the trolley to the public. We're trying to save them some time by letting the taskfarce know how Eye readers feel before wasting their time trying to convince people that their upcoming recommendation to build the trolley wasn't a foregone conclusion. Don't forget to vote!
Jul 28, 2008
Fiddling While Downtown Burns
Downtown Albuquerque has become a popular nightspot for the young and even the not-so-young. There are movie theaters, restaurants, and bars aplenty. Downtown has become an example of what new urbanist acolytes like Councilor Ike Benton advocate for the rest of the city.
The area has been the focus of the Chavez administration since The Almighty Alcalde's first tenure on the 11th floor. As a result, Downtown Albuquerque has changed a lot and benefited from the city spending large amounts of taxpayer money to expand the convention center, remodel Civic Plaza, and if the mayor has his way we'll be spending hundreds of MILLIONS of dollars more to build a new arena and put in a shiny new trolley.
All of the recreation and the shiny new toys (paid for by the taxpayers) are hiding the dirty underbelly of the Downtown experience. Our Eyes behind the badge tell us Rape, murder, and assault are almost nightly occurences. And despite the disproportionate APD force allocation, crime in the Downtown area is on the rise.
The July 13th murder in the Downtown parking garage is just one example of the danger that is life on Central Avenue (ABQ Journal - Subscription). Our Eyes tell us about another incident involving a Downtown alley, seven men, a knife, a woman, and a rape. Right now, Downtown isn't a safe place to be particularly if you happen to find yourself in city's first street garage - which according to our Eyes is particularly dangerous.
There are a couple of issues here. The mayor has decided that Downtown will be part of his legacy so he's willing to spend large amounts of money trying to get the situation under control. From this month's murder we'd humbly suggest that The Almighty One has failed despite the taxpayer expense. (We talked about the additional Downtown security back in April - read it here.)
Another problem is that The Almighty One decreed from his perch on the 11th floor that officers were to keep a low profile. By low profile, the directive instructed officers not to park on Central. In fact, they're not to park within a block of the Central Crime District. In addition, officers are not to congregate or to walk more than two abreast down the sidewalk.
It's simply foolish to put the kind of money into making Downtown safe and then decree that officers need to remain low profile and park their vehicles at a distance that leaves them without their equipment.
All of this leaves us wondering whether or not we've created a focal point for criminal and gang activity. If we have created an entertainment and crime district, shouldn't those businesses that contribute to the problem also contribute to the solution? Currently, Downtown bars are the only bars in town that receive police protection without paying chief's overtime.
Finally in light of the current situation in the Downtown area, why are we looking to add more people (potential victims) with trolleys and arenas (assuming there'd be anything to see in the 12,000 seat boondoggle) when we can't keep people safe now? The crime problem Downtown is just another problem that The Almighty Alcalde is ignoring... Something like fiddling while Downtown burns.
The area has been the focus of the Chavez administration since The Almighty Alcalde's first tenure on the 11th floor. As a result, Downtown Albuquerque has changed a lot and benefited from the city spending large amounts of taxpayer money to expand the convention center, remodel Civic Plaza, and if the mayor has his way we'll be spending hundreds of MILLIONS of dollars more to build a new arena and put in a shiny new trolley.
All of the recreation and the shiny new toys (paid for by the taxpayers) are hiding the dirty underbelly of the Downtown experience. Our Eyes behind the badge tell us Rape, murder, and assault are almost nightly occurences. And despite the disproportionate APD force allocation, crime in the Downtown area is on the rise.
The July 13th murder in the Downtown parking garage is just one example of the danger that is life on Central Avenue (ABQ Journal - Subscription). Our Eyes tell us about another incident involving a Downtown alley, seven men, a knife, a woman, and a rape. Right now, Downtown isn't a safe place to be particularly if you happen to find yourself in city's first street garage - which according to our Eyes is particularly dangerous.
There are a couple of issues here. The mayor has decided that Downtown will be part of his legacy so he's willing to spend large amounts of money trying to get the situation under control. From this month's murder we'd humbly suggest that The Almighty One has failed despite the taxpayer expense. (We talked about the additional Downtown security back in April - read it here.)
Another problem is that The Almighty One decreed from his perch on the 11th floor that officers were to keep a low profile. By low profile, the directive instructed officers not to park on Central. In fact, they're not to park within a block of the Central Crime District. In addition, officers are not to congregate or to walk more than two abreast down the sidewalk.
It's simply foolish to put the kind of money into making Downtown safe and then decree that officers need to remain low profile and park their vehicles at a distance that leaves them without their equipment.
All of this leaves us wondering whether or not we've created a focal point for criminal and gang activity. If we have created an entertainment and crime district, shouldn't those businesses that contribute to the problem also contribute to the solution? Currently, Downtown bars are the only bars in town that receive police protection without paying chief's overtime.
Finally in light of the current situation in the Downtown area, why are we looking to add more people (potential victims) with trolleys and arenas (assuming there'd be anything to see in the 12,000 seat boondoggle) when we can't keep people safe now? The crime problem Downtown is just another problem that The Almighty Alcalde is ignoring... Something like fiddling while Downtown burns.
Apr 25, 2008
Weekend War
There's a war being waged here in Albuquerque... Ok, so war may be too strong a word but we liked the alliteration and weekend isn't exactly accurate either unless you consider Wednesday through Saturday the weekend. The battles are taking place downtown and there are 8 to 10 of them every night.
Albuquerque's downtown area between the railroad tracks and 8th Street has become an entertainment district through the efforts of the city, the Downtown Action Team, developers, and business owners. It's become like any number of urban entertainment districts around the country. And like many of them Downtown Albuquerque has become a magnet for crime.
Our Eyes tell us that there are 8 to 10 incidents every night between Wednesday and Saturday. To handle the volume of nefarious night time activity, APD has SWAT, K-9, and mounted patrol complete with 4 mounted officers and a sergeant. In addition, they will add DWI and traffic when necessary.
That's a lot of police presence for a relatively small area of town. But with the high number of incidents in the area even with APD's show of force, it's probably justified.
Of course the police presence is visible - it's meant to be. Besides it's kind of hard to hide a horse. Visibility is important - it keeps the honest, honest and it makes criminals work harder to find their victims.
Recently, that visibility has come under fire and the Almighty Alcalde has ordered APD to reduce their visibility somewhat. The new rules for downtown patrol include dictate that officers are never to walking more than two abreast and not to parking within one block north or south of Central.
At first glance one might think that the new rules don't seem too burdensome. Let's be honest, the walking two abreast thing is just plain silly. However, forcing officers to park their vehicles over a block away is dangerous. In an emergency officers must run to their vehicles to access their life-saving equipment - which doesn't seem to matter either unless you are the one in need of that assistance.
There's little doubt that Albuquerque's Downtown entertainment corridor needs the police protection - the question is should the City of Albuquerque be providing the additional services for free and at the expense of the safety of those who live in the Valley Command?
Right now, Downtown is the priority for the Valley Command. If officers are unavailable for Downtown duty due to training, illness, or vacation, they're taken from field services. That means if you live in the Valley you're the second priority and will have to wait longer when there are force deficiencies Downtown.
Many of the bars around town have additional police protection. The difference is that these officers are paid for by those establishments through Chief's Overtime. The cost for Downtown's additional security rests squarely on the shoulders of the tax payers and at the expense of Valley residents.
There's got to be a better solution. The taxpayers of the valley pay for service that they're not receiving, while the Central entertainment district gets premium protection at no additional expense. Not to mention the fact that the politicians on the 11th floor should not be getting involved at all in how that additional service is provided.
It's a tough problem to solve. Downtown represents everything the city is trying to do. It's an urban environment where people can live, work, and play. It's also an environment where crime is a problem and protecting the public has become a political function rather than a law enforcement endeavor.
What we can tell you is that the Downtown area should not be the determining factor in the force structure of the entire command, the people living in the Valley should not be put at risk because of the Downtown area, and politicians should stay out of how the police do their jobs.
Albuquerque's downtown area between the railroad tracks and 8th Street has become an entertainment district through the efforts of the city, the Downtown Action Team, developers, and business owners. It's become like any number of urban entertainment districts around the country. And like many of them Downtown Albuquerque has become a magnet for crime.
Our Eyes tell us that there are 8 to 10 incidents every night between Wednesday and Saturday. To handle the volume of nefarious night time activity, APD has SWAT, K-9, and mounted patrol complete with 4 mounted officers and a sergeant. In addition, they will add DWI and traffic when necessary.
That's a lot of police presence for a relatively small area of town. But with the high number of incidents in the area even with APD's show of force, it's probably justified.
Of course the police presence is visible - it's meant to be. Besides it's kind of hard to hide a horse. Visibility is important - it keeps the honest, honest and it makes criminals work harder to find their victims.
Recently, that visibility has come under fire and the Almighty Alcalde has ordered APD to reduce their visibility somewhat. The new rules for downtown patrol include dictate that officers are never to walking more than two abreast and not to parking within one block north or south of Central.
At first glance one might think that the new rules don't seem too burdensome. Let's be honest, the walking two abreast thing is just plain silly. However, forcing officers to park their vehicles over a block away is dangerous. In an emergency officers must run to their vehicles to access their life-saving equipment - which doesn't seem to matter either unless you are the one in need of that assistance.
There's little doubt that Albuquerque's Downtown entertainment corridor needs the police protection - the question is should the City of Albuquerque be providing the additional services for free and at the expense of the safety of those who live in the Valley Command?
Right now, Downtown is the priority for the Valley Command. If officers are unavailable for Downtown duty due to training, illness, or vacation, they're taken from field services. That means if you live in the Valley you're the second priority and will have to wait longer when there are force deficiencies Downtown.
Many of the bars around town have additional police protection. The difference is that these officers are paid for by those establishments through Chief's Overtime. The cost for Downtown's additional security rests squarely on the shoulders of the tax payers and at the expense of Valley residents.
There's got to be a better solution. The taxpayers of the valley pay for service that they're not receiving, while the Central entertainment district gets premium protection at no additional expense. Not to mention the fact that the politicians on the 11th floor should not be getting involved at all in how that additional service is provided.
It's a tough problem to solve. Downtown represents everything the city is trying to do. It's an urban environment where people can live, work, and play. It's also an environment where crime is a problem and protecting the public has become a political function rather than a law enforcement endeavor.
What we can tell you is that the Downtown area should not be the determining factor in the force structure of the entire command, the people living in the Valley should not be put at risk because of the Downtown area, and politicians should stay out of how the police do their jobs.
Jun 3, 2007
Polling the People
We're not the only ones polling these days. One of our Eyes let us know that they received a phone poll on Saturday. They weren't sure who paid for the poll but it sounded an awful lot like a poll from on high because it touched on all of Mayor Marty's pet projects. Questions included the downtown arena, a new downtown hotel, the 19th Century Streetcar, etc.
From what our Eye told us, the questions were often of a "push" nature and were designed to elicit favorable responses. Like the hotel question which we were told included a long explanation of how the hotel wouldn't cost the taxpayers.
We've got a better idea for a new downtown hotel... let developers bear the cost and the benefit of a new hotel if the market will support the venture. The very fact that they're polling on the subject means that the city has some plan afoot to use tax payer money in some fashion to support the it.
From what our Eye told us, the questions were often of a "push" nature and were designed to elicit favorable responses. Like the hotel question which we were told included a long explanation of how the hotel wouldn't cost the taxpayers.
We've got a better idea for a new downtown hotel... let developers bear the cost and the benefit of a new hotel if the market will support the venture. The very fact that they're polling on the subject means that the city has some plan afoot to use tax payer money in some fashion to support the it.
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