Municipal court “is done,” Luna says
Owner of the Sentinel, Frances Luna, made it clear she and others decide things around here. Democratic public hearings to sound the citizens' will and to inform the public are a waste of time.
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.
Another reason not to pass $3M in general obligation bonds
Early voting starts Oct. 11 and two general-obligation bond questions are on the ballot totaling $3 million, which, if passed, will double Truth or Consequences' property taxes. The city is not prepared or transparent enough for the people to grant it the bond issues.
City’s renewable energy law—no “grandfathering in” for current solar-system owners
Good news for those who waited--no longer a limit on solar panels. Bad news for those who already took the plunge--you won't be getting 13 cents per kilowatt hour for excess production, only 6 or 7 cents.
Michael Lanford chooses not to respond, again
Michael Lanford, because he is running for sheriff and an article last week could effect his election chances, was given a second opportunity to respond. The same silence was the result.
NMSVH administrator taken away in handcuffs? Uh, no.
There is nothing to the rumor that the New Mexico State Veterans Home administrator was escorted off the property in handcuffs this week. But the churn in the administrator's position was revealed while slaying the rumor.
Baker’s lawsuit against city is explosive, possibly expensive
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.
New law on storage containers will be enforced retroactively
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.
Three reasons to vote “no” on upcoming ballot measure: $3 million in general obligation bonds
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.
Like jury tampering, municipal court’s dissolution almost guaranteed
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.
Truth or Consequences City Commission approves $47-million final budget
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.
Inexperienced, pro-business and pro-development P&Z commissioners are appointed
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.
City Commission rubber stamps five-year Infrastructure Capital Improvements Projects list
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.