No response from candidates probably means more of the same: good-ole-boy government
Six candidates are running for Truth or Consequences city commission and none stepped up to the plate to answer substantive questions.
Kathleen Sloan
Kathleen Sloan has been a local-government reporter for 17 years, covering counties and cities in three states—New Mexico, Iowa and Florida. She has also covered the arts for various publications in Virginia, New Mexico and Iowa. Sloan worked for the Truth or Consequences Herald newspaper from 2006 to 2013; it closed December 2019. She returned to T or C in 2019 and founded the online newspaper, the Sierra County Sun, with Diana Tittle taking the helm as editor during the last year and a half of operation. The Sun closed December 2021, concurrent with Sloan retiring. SierraCountySun.org is still an open website, with hundreds of past articles still available. Sloan is now a board member of the not-for-profit organization, the Sierra County Public-Interest Journalism Project, which supported the Sun and is currently sponsoring the Sierra County Citizen, another free and open website. Sloan is volunteering as a citizen journalist, covering the T or C beat. She can be reached at kathleen.sloan@gmail.com or 575-297-4146.
Truth or Consequences City Commission approves “concept plan” for Turtleback Trails
This outdoor recreation plan has had massive community support but has been hanging fire for four and a half years.
Here we go again: another $9.9 million water project hits the capital-project pipeline and the city commission asks nary a question
Who determined this capital project should be pursued and why? The City commission and the city manager do not deign to answer.
City Commissioners question State Engineer’s closure of hot springs basin
If only the Truth or Consequences City Commission held themselves, city staff and hired engineers accountable in the same manner they questioned Office of the State Engineer officials.
New state law ushers in fairer elections at local level
Hooray! Since 2019 a state law allowed local municipal governments to have their county clerk run its elections. The secretary of state, overseeing the county clerks' elections, noticed some municipalities had quirky, hard-to-administer individual-seat contests. "Uniformity" has eliminated this inherently unfair voting practice.
T or C pays Erica Baker $200,000
Settling out of court leaves what happened shrouded in mystery, which is probably the point, but not good for the rule of law or for maintaining a transparent government that holds its city staff and elected officials accountable.
Proposed electric rate increase is based on lies
Electric rates have gone up over the years, especially behind closed doors. Don't believe the city's claim it's been 22 years since rates went up.
More serfdom, more demagoguery made evident in email exchange with City Manager Angela Gonzales
I don't think the new city manager is going to attack or solve the infrastructure crises. I don't think she knows what good management is. Therefore more and more of citizens' labor-wages will go toward paying too much to fix long-neglected infrastructure.
Results of the Hot Springs Land Development auction unknown for now
We'll have to wait until purchases go to closing and the new owners are posted on the Sierra County Assessor's website.
Hot Springs Land Development is auctioning its land
Hot Springs Land Development, after 15 years of ownership and no development having occurred due to legal issues with the City of Truth or Consequences, is giving up their plans.
State Engineer closes Hot Springs Underground Water Basin
No more well applications will be approved by the Office of the State Engineer in the Hot Springs Underground Water Basin, which includes a lot more than just the Hot Springs District.
“Perfect storm” led to empty water tanks and low water pressure
Truth or Consequences Water and Wastewater Director Arnie Casteneda said, "We've gotten a lot of low-pressure calls," referring to low water pressure caused by empty water tanks and other problems. Water pressure should be up in a few days, he said.