Corruption and Public Funds

El Picador has been following the courthouse scandal with a mixture of interest and disgust. It is the same old story---a big pot of taxpayer money, earmarked for a public works project, just presents too big of a temptation for some folks. Closed-door meetings, "no bid" contracts, and "just trust us" rhetoric are tools used over and over by these thieves--er, public servants--to fleece us credulous citizens.

Could this happen in little old Los Ranchos? You betcha. Our current administration loves to make big decisions in secret, presenting the plans as fiats at the last minute with little or no notice or public discussion. Remember the fire station on fourth street? We heard about that land purchase after the fact, for a greatly inflated sum, based on a so-called "appraisal" by an outfit that was chosen by the administration. Then there's the famous 'barn' the village got as a "donation". Another wildly inflated appraisal was used to give the "donor" an outrageous tax break for what was basically a junky pile of old rotten plywood that blew over in a mild windstorm, after more public money was wasted on its erection. Ditto for the worthless hunk of marble on the handball court that looks like it came off of the Reichstag. And then there is the very interesting diversion of public funds via LR-requested capital outlay funds that went to fund the private Unser Racing museum---which interestingly began just after the Unsers dropped their threat to sue the village over the RGB setbacks. Quid pro quo? There's no proof, but it looks mighty suspicious.

Now we villagers have agreed to give these shady characters more of our money for "open space'. The particular property that these funds will purchase was decided on in advance by the administration with exactly zero public input and before the fact. It happens to belong to the Andersons, who also had a suit against the village over the setback that was quietly settled. And don't get EL Picador started on the huge overpayment the village made on the Blanchard property! That one really reeks.

Just like downtown at the courthouse, there are a lot of dodgy things going on here. No public input on big-ticket purchases, no-bid contracts, crazy appraisals and money going to people who "have" something on the village. Couple all of this with the fact that you have Juan Vigil at the helm, with many years in county government under his belt and knowing where all of the bodies are buried, and you've got all of the ingredients for a good old fashioned pillaging.

And now there is this steam-roller proposal for Fourth and Osuna. The potential for kickbacks and cozy deals there needs little imagination to conjure.

Is Larry a crook? El Picador has no proof. Maybe he is just a tool of others, or maybe El Picador is just too cynical, and hizzoner is really a dedicated public servant. (Like he made all of that money in business by being above board?)

But no matter what, we cannot depend on that gang of worthless sycophants we call the trustees to watch out for us. We need to stand up and hold these people accountable for the way they squander--and maybe even steal--our money. We must demand reasoned public debate, full disclosure of property assessments and rigid adherence to the open meetings act and the procurement codes.

Or, you can just stay at home and open your wallet.