As Albuquerque’s mayor congratulates himself over the latest plan for “downtown revitalization” (price tag: $23.5 million), it’s important to remember that the Duke City has far more urgent concerns than building a retractable-roof arena and an “interactive, family-friendly, modern and sustainable water element.”
* The “city’s crime numbers have been steadily rising over the past four years.”
* The Albuquerque labor market has yet to regain the number of jobs in had more than seven years ago. Unemployment in the metro area is rising.
* The passenger count at the Albuquerque International Sunport has fallen for eight years in a row.
* Developers continue to report that dealing with the city’s red tape is a nightmare. Roy Solomon, of Green Jeans Farmery, recently told the Albuquerque Journal: “I’m not going to do another project in this town ever, ever again.”
It is, of course, worth noting, that the City of Rio Rancho has an arena, the Star Center, which is a huge money-loser: http://riograndefoundation.org/errorsofenchantment.com/2015/09/24/santa-ana-stars-issues-not-unique/
Just seems like another unnecessary distraction given the very serious issues facing our city.
I would rather we spend $5 million for the retractable seats for the arena, then build a new separate building costing many times more. The rest of the 23 million, I don’t know how feasible it is. I can say that every city I’ve lived in is always spending money to “revitalize” the downtown areas. What is wrong with this picture? Why are we always needing to fix downtown areas? What is wrong with the downtown areas that they need to be revitalized? Just wondering.
I agree with you about the constant, unwise urge to “fix” downtown. I am not sure how this $5 million will really lead to the creation of an arena. I see the potential for cost overruns and other serious problems. Just not a priority.
NM has greater needs then a bus system, and sports arena. We are the poorest state in child poverty, education, teenage pregnancy, violence, homelessness, joblessness. He wants to what?
As long as New Mexican’s are looking to the Feds to maintain an unrealistic lifestyle, and the Progressive Dems for government funded crutches, this state will continue to be bottom of the heep, hobbling around. It seems the Mayor can only do so much.
I forgot to mention the negatives of Albuquerque and NM, its considered a sanctuary city, illegals can get licenses, loopholes in the court system, and lack of a state wide right- to- work law. These are something that are tentatively beyond the Mayor’s control. It takes a regime change in the legislature and city council.
Scotta, why are you defending the Mayor? How many of these expensive money-losers has he vetoed or come out in strong opposition to? He is our leader;where are his priorities?
My “Time to Prioritize at Albuquerque City Hall” comments apply here also.