While the media is busy analyzing Marty's withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race and Marty's campaign is busy trying to make him into a political martyer for the Democratic Party, everyone is missing the main reason... money.
Our Eyes tell us that Marty held a $1000 a plate fundraiser last week at Scalo's Northern Italian Grill. The campaign had hoped to rake in around $100,000 to keep the senatorial campaign machine fueled. The Eyes have it that only 4 people showed up. We know that fundraisers include funds from people who are not present because there are a lot of people that don't have time to attend or don't want to be seen at these things. 4 people?! That means the most they could have hoped for is around $10,000.
Do the math, if a sitting mayor of New Mexico's largest city holds a fundraiser and is only able to get 4 attendees and somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000, his immediate political aspirations are kaput. There was a time when Marty could hold a bar-b-q for $30 suggested contributions and bring in that much; but much has changed in the short time since his re-election.
The Almighty One has many problems, a police department in disarray, a hostile council, an increasingly suspicious media, and budgetary problems looming on the city's fiscal horizon, but the issue that may have finished Marty's senate bid... you guessed it, red light scam-eras.
The program was a debacle from the start. Whenever profit becomes involved in law enforcement, there's an inherent conflict of interest. People will not trust that they are being charged fairly and with Marty's Kangaroo Court system, they can't trust that they will receive a fair hearing. This lack of trust reflects directly upon the person who is in charge of the program... Mayor (and former gubernatorial candidate, former senate candidate) Martin J. Chavez.
We're pretty sure that the original idea to bring these scam-eras into our lives originated with Chief of Police Ray Schultz who had experience with them in Scottsdale Arizona. However, the decision to bring them here lies directly with The Almighty Alcalde.
Ironically, Marty's pursuit of scam-era money may have put an end to his ability to raise money for his senate campaign as nothing we can think of has consistently damaged his image on both ends of the political spectrum. For those of you who think public financing is a good idea, consider this. If Marty had access to our tax money to pay for his senate campaign there's little doubt that he would still be in the race; and there's little doubt that he would do a considerable amount of damage to Tom Udall before it was all over.
Showing posts with label Money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Money. Show all posts
Dec 8, 2007
Mar 7, 2007
Red Light Camera Town Hall: Were They Listening?
Last night's Town Hall put on by Councilor Brad Winter drew a large crowd of around 150. (ABQ Journal - Subscription Required). There were a lot of good questions raised, questions of the length of yellow lights, economic profiling, funds distribution (where $4 Million of the $6.3 Million received has gone), due process, and excessive fines. Most of the crowd was less than happy with the program; in fact, down right angry. But even supporters found things to be concerned about and many of them were the same complaints voiced by the program’s critics.
If you distill the evening down to a few points you find that people believe that the program is a cash cow for the city, that the fines are excessive, and that they do not receive a fair and impartial hearing (how can they when there are bills to pay?). We told you about the pressure not to dismiss these citations here. The fact is, as long as the City of
If there was ever any doubt that this program was all about money, just look to today's Albuquerque Journal (Subscription Required). The Legislature has managed to do something that angry citizens have been unable to do... threaten the existence of the program. Mayor Marty has vowed to pull the plug if the Legislature passes a bill that would send $74 of every citation to the state. Why? Yep… Money.
The Almighty One claims that it cost $5 Million a year to operate the program, a figure that is sure to include every "cost" even those charged by the City. And apparently, if the City weren't allowed to keep all of the loot, that $5 Million a year would be "a program killer." Wait, wasn't this about public safety? According to the Journal this is how the fines collected are broken down:
"Of a standard $100 fine, city officials said, $14 goes to the company that owns the equipment, $15.65 funds the hearing office, $18 processes the fines and $9.60 pays for officers to review the citations."
There are other costs associated with start up and expansion but when you take a look at the core costs of each citation, your immediate reaction is that the City is paying $57.25 per $100 ticket and only keeping $42.75. Hey that seems fair... right? Not really. You see at least $25.25 of the $57.25 actually goes to City departments, upping the City's take to 68 bucks and that's on a citation of $100. Remember those fines of $100, $250, $500, and the two year term for repeat offenses? There ends up being an awful lot of gravy or profit over and above the $68.
Let's review... We've established that the
Now the real question after last night's Town Hall Meeting is: Councilors, Mayor Marty, were you listening?
Looks like great minds... well, you get the idea. The local blogs are a buzz over last night's Town Hall Festivities. Take a gander at these great minds!
Mario Burgos - MarioBurgos.com
The Wednesday Morning Quarterback - WednesdayMorningQB.com
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