Once Truth or Consequences deputy chief of police and even acting-chief, Erica Baker's 15-year law-enforcement career, 10 years with the city, looked bright. She had just been accepted into the prestigious FBI Academy. Then City Manager Bruce Swingle fired her, ruining her reputation.
Going against U.S. tradition, the Truth or Consequences City Commission passed a local law that limits property rights that will be enforced retroactively. Since the ordinance doesn't state the law is retroactive, this begs the question whether other city land-use laws or ordinances may be enforced retroactively by city staff.
The measure on the November ballot is a test of citizen oversight. Vote "no" in the absence of government accountability for how the city will address the infrastructure crisis and how it will spend $3 million in general obligation bonds.
The city commission's "public" representatives on a committee that will weigh whether to dissolve the court are the city manager and an ex-city commissioner.
The biggest budget the city has ever passed, a final budget massively different from the draft budget, and yet no questions and no discussion from city commissioners.
In the 17 years I've watched the Truth or Consequences Planning and Zoning Commission, there has only been one set of board members who upheld the law and fulfilled their duty to act as a check and balance on city administrators and the city commission.
The ICIP yearly update is required by the state to ensure the city is planning and prioritizing infrastructure projects at least five years ahead. It's supposed to be a continual and transparent process, informing the community and city commission about why projects are needed and in what order.
Nothing tripped the usual planning and zoning commission's public review of the project. The city zoning map reveals the long-vacant lot is indeed zoned commercial and a department store is a permitted use.
Other cities fund their government services with taxes and use utility fees to operate, maintain and replace that utility's infrastructure. Not T or C. Now the infrastructure is failing. The solution? Raise taxes.
The Truth or Consequences City Commission interviewed three of five candidates interested in serving as planning and zoning commissioners during the June 22 city commission meeting. From the questions asked and answers given, it is clear that being pro-development and doing the city commissioners' bidding are key requirements.
Tremayne's narrative paintings have been likened to the band Nirvana's lyrics; "you don't quite know what is going on but somehow you get it."