Rural under attack.

Be forwarned and prepared. The Rural Heritage that so many have moved down here to enjoy is under attack.

From things like the Valencia County Transportation Plan including the need for busses to be in Bosque Farms to the laws that our Councilors write for us.

Do you like having a nice view? Do you believe that the nice open feel is part of being rural? One Councilor wanted to limit the views, limit the rural feel. This Councilor was elected on her strong 'rural' stance. Yet she was willing to give up the rural feel in order to have a fence made out of metal. Let us hope that Councilor Wallace won't bring that up again with the new Councilors and that she has moved on.

And before any readers ask, yes Councilor Knowlton stood in a Council meeting before he was elected a mere two years ago and attacked the large lots as well. He suggested making people with large lots who subdivide give Bosque Farms land for parks. He advocated the need for a soccor field and had the lot he wanted it on picked out.

And now two years later? Councilor Knowlton's desire, it seems, is a pool. A big indoor outdoor pool. And where will that go? What property can the Village best afford? Residential if the budget is even close to what it sounds like it is- tight. And what land is large enough for a pool? Some farm land. So the community will lose a farm and maybe pay higher taxes for a pool. A pool during a drought.

And speaking of that some have repeatedly spoken in favor of a pool and yet cry foul at the small fountain in front of the Village Offices. What is that about?

Mr. Kennedy was elected and he promised he will put an end to that self service interest and educate the people who speak this way. This blog is hoping that this happens. Of course, you hvae to attend meetings...

Even the school district is placing Bosque Farms in an awkard position. They want to put k-5th grade in the elementary schools. Some might say there is nothing wrong with that, some might even like the idea. But have you driven by the school during pick up and drop off time? Here you go with more traffic on our small roads. More school busses and more parents driving their children to school. More time spent by the policemen monitoring and watching the traffic.

Questions For the Day

Will the Council really pass a ban on ALL fireworks as it appears they want to?

Will they do this even when it is against state law?

Will the police enforce the illegal desire of the Council in the name of safety?

Let's discuss this for a while.

Slander and Libel - A Short Tutorial

There is much more information than what this blog will post about Libel and Slander. The readers of this blog can follow the links at the bottom of this post for more information. Also, this blog has previously provided information about free speach and there is even more information in those original posts.

http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2006/02/free-speech-and-supreme-court.html

http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2006/02/founding-fathers-and-free-speech.html

For clarification though:

Slander is defamation that is spoken and heard.

Libel is defamation that can be seen, such as in writing, printing, effigy, a movie, or a blog.

http://www.lectlaw.com/def2/s052.htm

http://www.spectacle.org/freespch/musm/libel.html

Economic Development More Thoughts

Did you know Albuquerque has an economic development?

Did you know that they sponsor a concert of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra?

Their mission says it is to strenthen the area economy through helping current industries and attracting new ones to Albuquerque.

And supporting falls into this how? By providing a quality of life that will attract major business owners? Ok maybe.

Is that what is going to happen in Bosque Farms?

Councilor Knowlton, with Councilor Wallace's support, wants a pool. He has also mentioned wanting little league fields, soccor fields and so on.

Will this community pass a bond, pay more in property tax to have an economic development program here in Bosque Farms only to have it support a pool with the vague notion that it is a 'quality of life' issue? Will your tax dollars that you pay, above and beyond what you currently pay now to go towards economic development help build a t-ball field?

Economic Development - Helping Current Businesses

This blog has recently made some positive posts about businesses here in Bosque Farms.

http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2006/05/chamber-of-commerce.html

http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2006/05/positive-business.html

And there are others in the past that this author has commented on as being a positive business that works within Bosque Farms.

Recently Councilor Knowlton asked the Council to support him in putting an initiative on the ballot to raise funds for economic development. That is, the public would be able to vote if they are willing to pay more property tax in order for the Village to have more money; and this money would be only spent on developing economics within this community.

Economic Development though covers a lot of territory. This blog post may help you understand th at, in case you missed it:
http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2006/05/economic-development-funding.html

One part, one small part of economic development is business attraction, retention, and expansion. The money you would be paying extra would go towards attracting new businesses, retaining old businesses and expanding current businesses.

Let's break that down further and look only at retaining or expanding current businesses.

Lodi's is probably doing a fine job based on the cars that are parked in her place of business and the ads that this author has seen. Augue's is probably doing a fine job as well. Sopa's is always busy. Places like McDonald's don't need financial help, nor will the gas stations like Giant. Even Councilor Proctor recently expanded his place of business.

So what does that leave?
Larry's? Drive by, take a look. Do you want that business expanded? Do you want to offer incentives to keep that business in Bosque Farms?

Take a look at the businesses in Bosque Farms. Either they are doing fine as they are and don't want or need to expand or they are not really the type of business that does Bosque Farms well.

So do you want to help the ones that are doing good? Go to their place of business, shop local, visit them often and that helps them. If they do well they will expand their own businesses and they won't need tax payer dollars to help them.

If they need tax payer money to succeed there is something wrong. If you are unwilling to frequent a place of business for any reason, why should you be asked to pay to keep that place in business?

Banning Fireworks? A few thoughts.

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/27491-07-06-02.html

It appears that even when the types of fireworks state law allows municipalities to ban are banned it does very little good.

Here is one blogger complaining about this very thing on her website and her problems began before the Fourth of July and yet it seems nothing and no one stopped them.

http://journals.aol.com/pitchermel/ChickenNoodleSoupandaCanofWho/entries/530

This blog is not making an official stance on if fireworks should be banned or not at this time. If the fire chief feels it is safe and the Village says we can burn our weeds, why not fireworks? If there is a drought and if the Village of Bosque Farms can follow state law and still ban some fireworks maybe that is for the best? What good will it do to ban fireworks and then not enforce the ban?

A Fire Works Ban??

There will be a meeting to discuss if a proclamation should be passed that asks people to not use fireworks.

The Fire Chief, Spencer Wood does not see a need for it. State law says that ban for some fireworks only can be made only if a drought has been declared by some one official, using an official method (Such as the Palmer Index) and if the community has an ordinance on it's books that is very clear about what will be restricted during a drought. And even then, many fireworks can't be banned. (State Law 60.2c.3.c)

This has been discussed three years in a row. Yet the Council has chosen to not pass an ordinance about fire works during years of a declared drought for at least three years.

And if you read the news article it appears that maybe Councilor Wallace and others want to ban the use of all fire works despite the state law that says this is not possible.

The proclamation restricting the use of certain fireworks for 30 days within the village will be brought in front of the council at a meeting scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, June 6.

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/61793-05-27-06.html

See these articles if you doubt it has been discussed three years in a row.
http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/33900-06-28-03.html
http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/27364-06-29-02.html

Memorial Day

In Memory of Our Honored Dead

Memorial Day

http://www.usmemorialday.org/

More About Community Policing

The complete quotes below comes from the following website. Because it can say it better than the author of this blog can.
http://www.policing.com/articles/ccj.html

"Of course, the police must always maintain their ability to rush to a crime in progress. Yet research shows that only one in three crimes is ever reported to police – only two in five violent crimes – and crimes in progress typically constitute less than 5% of all calls for police service. The infamous Kitty Genovese case in New York City underscores the dilemma that police face when citizens watch someone slaughtered outside their windows, yet they do not call police, often because they do not know them and they do not want to "get involved." As a society, we also became more aware of the cycle of violence spawned by the hidden crimes of child abuse, domestic violence, and the role that abuse of legal and illegal substances play in the undercurrent of crime and violence in the community. "

In other words, the police are not used nearly enough and partly because neighbors don't know neighbors and because the police don't seem 'user friendly'.

... the history of community policing also provides a cautionary tale of the pitfalls likely to occur along the way. The first problem that must be confronted is denial – the refusal to see that the failures of the existing system demand more than minor reforms.

Which is where we seem to be now. Bosque Farms Police Department, evidenced by some of the comments seen on this blog. The police want to think they are doing a fine job, and they are doing an adequate job, but it could be better. Those of us who live here want to know the police and our neighbors and want them to know us.

"Research conducted by the National Center for Community Policing, in conjunction with the FBI's Behavioral Science Section, showed that only one out of four police agencies that claimed to be doing community policing also identified themselves as involving the community in identifying, prioritizing, and solving problems"

This author knows for a fact that when requested the police refused to come to a meeting about just this, what are the goals and how do you prioritize them in this community. This author knows that the way goals are set within Bosque Farms Police Department is not by strong leadership but by secret ballot and that the end result is usually 'pay us more'.

Community Policing helps curb violence in a community. It can help women work through the process of leaving an abusive husband. It can curbe problems before they begin.

It is an effective, accept method of policing and has many positive points. In a small community that is the size of Bosque Farms, community policing is an ideal method of policing.

Community Policing

"Fugettaboutit" has had some questions about what this blog has said about community policing. This blog stands by the statement that it is time for community policing to return to Bosque Farms.

Here is what "Fugettaboutit" had to say:
"Bosquegal, when was the last time you went up to an officer to say hello or ask him/her their name? Why does it only fall on the police. There are two words in community policing."

First "Fugettaboutit" let's talk about community policing. You are correct. It has two words. But that is all you are correct about. Policing is a verb. It is the action word. It is what the police do. They go around policing.

Community, in this case, is an adjective. It describes the type of policing. They are not doing ugly policing or pretty policing. They are doing 'traditional policing'. They should be doing community policing. Community Policing is accepted and expected and effective method of policing.

"Fugettaboutit" seems to think that by asking for community policing this blog is putting pressure on "Sissy Politicians" because for some reason he believes we think that community policing means "the police to act like politicians...kiss babies and shake hands with the public. Hmmmm....since when did law enforcement become the social services department? Cops are here to enforce law. They are not marriage counselors, they are not here to raise other peoples children ."

So maybe, just maybe, this blog hasn't been clear enough. This blog and the authors of this blog has never said 'raise our children, fix our marriages, or kiss our babies'. (In fact at least one commentator has said he doesn't want the cops near his children.)

And Maybe, just maybe, "Fuggettaboutit" doesn't understand what Community Policing is, what that means. So here is a short lesson.

"...community policing, the most important police reform in our lifetime. Community policing is a philosophy based on the recognition that nothing can outperform dedicated people working together to make their communities better and safer places in which to live, work, and raise children."
and from the same website: "...the overarching goal should be for the police to become partners with the community, empowering them so that they can shoulder their share of the responsibility and the tough work of making their neighborhoods safer. "

http://www.policing.com/index.html



In English and simple terms "Fugettaboutit" Community Policing is about developing a relationship between the community and the police. It is about a community working hand in hand with the police to protect the community.

Neighborhood patrol, which Bosque Farms has is one part of this. It is a small but very important part of this.

Neighborhood watch programs in various neighborhoods is also part of this. Bosque Farms doesn't have this. They should.

Another integral part of this philosophy is that the police should know who lives in the community. They should know the people who routinely visit here and work here. And how do they do that? How do they know the people in Bosque Farms? By driving around neighborhoods, by opening their windows and talking to the people walking on the streets. In short, they stay in our neighborhoods and our community. (NOT the high school with a fake excuse that they are 'serving Bosque Farms kids there').

That would just be the beginning of community policing. And not one of those sounds like a bad thing. It sounds like just what they would be hired to do- protecting the community the best they can, using all of the tools and methods at their disposal.

A challenge for "Resident Responder"

An interesting discussion is going on within the comments at this posting:
http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2006/05/who-is-representing-you.html

During the course of this discussion "Resident Responder" said this:

First she provides us with her background so we, the reader, can believe that she (or he) knows what she is talking about:

"...fact is I know exactly what happened at mayor allens meetings since my family member was on his council, and had also been appointed by him to the P & Z--.... "

Then she provides us with an innuendo that says this:

..."I also know why the councilors appeared to support him." (Him being Mayor Allen)

"Chile Chick" has issued a challenge to it and all of a suddent "Resident Responder" seems to have gone away. This blog is going to help, and like other challenges issued by other readers, put it up as a post. The challenge:

"Residentresponder said "I also know why the councilors appeared to support him." This was in reference to a past Mayor named Allan.

What does that mean, Residentresponder? What are the facts on that statement? You say others are spreading lies, slander, and discontent. What are you spreading with a statement like that? Why would elected officials as you say, appear, to support a Mayor. The implication is that they didn't support him behind the scenes but did in public. What could possibly be the story on that? Kickbacks, threats, coercion? Sounds dangerous and really illegal.

Not that your information will be fact. As you said it was a family member on the Council not you. I think it would be considered hearsay in a court of law, but I for one would like to read your answer. Please, dispell any lies, slander, innuendo, or discontent."

"Been Around" has even weighed in and said this:
"I'm waiting for the info Chilechick asked for from Residentresponder...That should be interesting."

It's your chance "resident responder" .

The Chamber of Commerce

This blog has made an interesting discovery. The official counter was counting the number of businesses who are members of the Valencia County Chamber of Commerce and lost count when several items were noticed.

1. There are several, more than two even, businesses that are not from Valencia County but rather from Albuquerque that are members of the Valencia County Chamber of Commerce. There is even at least one member for Los Cruces. In other words, they are networking and spending time down here in an effort to generate customers in their business. The official Counter of this Bosque Farms blog wonders if anyone from Bosque Farms is a member of a chamber of commerce outside of Valencia County for the same good reasons?

2. The website on the Chamber of Commerce has many errors. For example, a glance at their current business of the month shows that while the business name has changed, the words are still the same as they were last month and Auge's is still the premier business of the month. And that is only one of several that the official counter noticed.

3. The Village of Bosque Farms is a member of this Chamber of Commerce. And so is the Bosque Farms Library. Why? And How much do we tax payers pay for this? Are we also a member of the Bosque Farms Business Association? (There is no way of checking as they do not have a website.) And why oh why would the librarian need to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce? No other libraries are members, what do we pay for not one but two parts of our government in Bosque Farms to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce? What benefit is it to us, those of us who live her, to have the librarian going to Chamber of Commerce meetings?

A Good Place of Business

Despite the discussion on this blog about used cars, there is one used car lot worth visiting when shopping for cars. Auge's Used Car Lot.

Auge's does what it needs to do and it does it right. This author has recieved mailings from some of the sales people and has seen ads for Augue's in the newspaper. They also have a website and their sales people are available by email and phone. In addition to wisely spending their dollars they have a nice clean lot and nice clean cars. They have participated in local events and sponsored local events as well. Way to go.

Within the last few months they were named the Businesses of the Month at the Valencia County Chamber of Commerce.

Here is what that website had to say:

Our Business of the month has been in business since 1946, family owned & operated. Lee & Harry Auge opened Auge’s Sales & Service in Belen, supplying automobile repairs, feed, appliances & gasoline. In 1951 they took on the Dodge line, adding Chrysler-Plymouth in 1971. 1992 Jeep was added.

Today, the Auge Boys, Robert and Ed, continue the family tradition by providing the best in complete automotive service and sales. The next generation Tim, Jeremy, Dave and Carrie are currently working in the dealership with the 60 plus employees, continuing the customer satisfaction leadership in the Southwest.

The Auges have always been very involved in community projects & activities. They have worked with the Belen Chamber for many years and since 2001 when they opened Auge’s Used car sales in Los Lunas, now in Bosque Farms, they have been an active part of the Valencia County Chamber, Sponsoring Summerfest, and most recently hosting our monthly cruise. We appreciate your continued support of the Community and the Chambers.


Congratulations on your success

*Note, this author would provide the link to the direct article as copied above, but it appears that the business of this month is a different business. The Chamber of Commerce Website does not seem to keep their business of the month available for public reading from one month to the next.

A Positive Business

Lodi's is a positive business. Many people come from other cities, even Albuquerque to shop there. That means new money for Bosque Farms. In additionto attracting current 'beaders', Lodi's also teaches beading classes for a wide range of abilities. This means she is teaching new 'beaders' and thus building more of a market for herself.

While she may not advertise in the local paper she does advertise in magazines directed towards women who might be interested in beading. That is using her advertising dollars wisely.

Way to go.

Other Business

The budget is passed. Leased cars, no matter how much or how little sense they make, are a part of the budget and are now approved. As is anything the common person might not know or think about.

The end result is that the Village will be asking you, the resident, to pay more for property tax (to float a bond) so that they can have an economic development committee that tries to help current businesses and attract new businesses.

The fire department is going to be doing good. They will be getting rid of a tanker truck. It is being replaced by a newer one. The one they are getting rid of? 1971. The newer one? Still old and used it is just not 35 years old. Yup. The cops are getting new cars and fire department is scrounging.

A new officer

A new officer was hired. His name is James Rich Junior.

It seems that this officer may be the type of officer that Bosque Farms deserves. Of course, this is said with only the information available from a limited search on this officer. It can only be hoped that the police department, the background check person, the Mayor and the Councilors did their job correctly.

________________________________

Is it possible that he's a recovering film director?

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0723586/

More Signs on the Walkpath?

This author has been able to learn over the weekend some more information about the walk path. It appears the two councilors who were on one of the walk path committees and were against the walk path from the start are still working to "take care of it".

They have met with safety inspectors from the municipal league and the state highway department and probably any other number of alphabet agencies looking for someone to say the walk path (or bike path, or multi use path) is unsafe.

The best they got was some suggestions to put more signs on walk path. There will be stop signs and stop painted on the ground and maybe even some extra lines painted on the walk path.
If Councilor Knowlton has his way there will be these stand up sticks that fold flat when a car runs over them in some places as well.

When this is done the lawyer has suggested that the police be able to enforce this and so a new ordinance will be put in place so the police can ticket the kids who are running through the stop signs on the path.

Councilor Wallace wanted to have cross walks painted on the path where the path meets the roads that cross it.

Councilor Knowlton informed everyone that he had done a lot of research and it is conclusive: People and bikes on the path yield to cars.

Who is Representing You?

Not Councilor Kennedy.

This author has heard that Councilor Kennedy did not into the meeting except to see the end when everyone stood up and went home.

This blog predicted it before the election. Councilor Kennedy works and he works long hours. He doesn't have time to represent you and me and our best interests.

More on Bosque Farms Elementary School

It is the understanding of this blog that Bosque Farms Elementary (BFE) will be brining in the portables now to house the extra students that will now be going to that school.

They worked so hard to get the portables gone. The problems associated with portables drove many principals who worked there insane with the desire to get rid of portables.

And now, the Los Lunas School District in all it's wisdom *?* is brining in portables. Again. Just so more kids can go to BFE.

It is a proven fact that smaller classrooms and smaller schools are what make a positive environment for learning and for ensuring every child has success. And what is the school district doing? Making a larger school.

And to make the school larger they are sticking kids out in the portables where they really won't be a part of the 'school' in many ways.

It is time for a new school board.

The Budget , A Request

Council Meeting last night.
Taking a quick minute on the way to work, this author would like make note of one interesting item before any other posts. The other posts about the Council Meeting will have to wait until later.

One lady got up apparently and asked that the Council not blindly approve the Treasurer's Report.

This is the report that is generated monthly that provides a 'big picture' of the budget, over expenditures and money spent. It shows where action is being taken and what items on the to do list are sitting stagnant. It is a legal document and very important.

In the past Councilor Linthicum, who understood the budget process, would ask question, explain things to the public, and make sure that the budget was being followed. That is the job of a Councilor.

Many times Councilor Linthicum would ask questions that couldn't be answered, he would point out incorrect mispostings and money spent against the law (like the purchase of the two black police vehicles mentioned earlier in other posts and comments). Considering that the same people are still doing the budget and the accounting it is probably safe to say nothing has changed. The same Clerk is still not checking up on the treasurer's work. The same treasurer probably still does not understand her job and is still recording expenses in the wrong places and income in the wrong places. This is an effective way to hide money from public scrutiny.

So some lady apparently asked that the Council not blindly approve the treasurer's report. She asked that the Council and Mayor take a few minutes each month to point out where the Village stands financially.

The response of the Council, supposedly, was generally contempuous. It seems they don't believe they need to share the financial wellbeing or ill being of the Village with anyone but themselves. Unless you want to pay for copies and the treasurer report is anywhere from 40 to 50 pages. Then you can sit down and try to read and understand the budget yourself.

And this author wonders if that might be the problem, based on the comments of Councilor Wallace and Councilor Proctor, it is very possible they don't know how to read the budget report and track the funds and find the problems (and based on the past problems with the same people, there are problems).

So good for this lady whomever she is (?) The rest of us who live here need to be asking ourselves what she is most likely asking herself:

What are they trying to hide that they won't share any information about the budget?

Congrats to Officer Meo

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/61787-05-17-06.html

Officer Meo has been named officer of the year in Bosque Farms.

"Meo says he didn't choose this job for the glory or the recognition, but rather as a way to do something good. He said his father, through the years, has given him advice on the law and procedures, but it's those life lessons that he'll always remember.

"He helps me out a lot," Meo said. "One of the best pieces of advice that he ever gave me is to pick my battles and, at the end of the day, we're here to serve the community and not to worry about the other stuff."

Leasing Cars and Getting Fleeced

During all the discussion of cars both large and small not one person has pointed out the dangers of leasing a car. Leasing a car is setting yourself up to get fleeced.

While the websites quoted and linked to below are about personal use cars and not police cars in specific, the premise remains the same. You lease a car and you are getting fleeced.

"Often the latter are victims of overweening automotive desires, people who can't afford to buy their dream machines and arrange to lease them instead... potential customers overlook the hefty monthly payments... (Leasing a car differs from buying one, in that the customer pays for the use of the car, which continues to be owned by the dealer or the leasing company. The payments offset the amount the car depreciates in value over the term of the lease, plus the lessor's profit.) "

http://music.miaminewtimes.com/Issues/1996-08-15/news/metro.html

This sounds a bit like our police department to this author. The police want bigger cars. They make it more palatable to the Council by leasing them, which seems to cost less. The reality is different.

Here it is clearly pointed out in the 'stupid tax' section of a website. http://www.daveramsey.com/etc/cms/index.cfm?intContentID=4031

They key point from this man's experience is this: He justified leasing a vehicle he couldn't afford by saying 'but I'll by it at the end of the lease' just as the police seem to be doing. AND?

"At the end of the lease, I will have paid $25,000 in principal and interest and will still owe $10,000 " In other words, it was not a good deal.

Check out the positive and negatives of leasing a car here. Guess what? No shock. There are more disadvantages to leasing a car than advantages. http://www.carbuyingtips.com/lease.htm

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1596442/posts

"Ever since he can remember, he has wanted to be a police officer. Five years ago, at 16, he became involved with the Milford Police Department in Massachusetts through Exploring Law Enforcement, a program run by the Boy Scouts"

"Sousa also helps in the department's efforts to reach out to the community. When he's on duty, young men can be seen stopping by headquarters to talk to the friend they learned to rely on several years ago. In 1999, Sousa was the educational coordinator at the Milford Youth Center, helping at-risk and under-privileged youth"

http://www.communitypolicing.org/publications/comlinks/

Here are some police departments that have won some awards for dropping crime rates and working a positive community policing model. One place had town meetings, one helped support youth services *of course, it might help if Bosque Farms had more youth services, at least one developed a new department within their department to work with neighborhood watch communities and neighborhood associations. http://www.communitypolicing.org/publications/comlinks/cl16/cl16_iacp.htm

Bosque Farms police department could easily do some of these things.
*A bike rally or a bike derby as suggested by one reader is a start.
*Monthly town meetings with an emphasis on a different topic each meeting
*An analysis of some of the problem areas in Bosque Farms and some help fixing the problems.
This could be as simple as meeting with every business and working through an analysis of where the easy to break in points are and what a business could do to fix this problem. Or it could be setting up a neighborhood watch program in a neighborhood that has had crime problems.

With little effort and little research this author was able to think of several 'things' that could be done to truly work towards a comunity policing model. This has the benefit of reducing crime and violence; and it has the added benefit of working with the residents and developing an important, two way, respectful relationship.

And here are some interesting thoughts about police men and women. Did you know that integrity is rated as the number one characteristic for being a police officer?

" a recent survey of 808 Texas law enforcement agencies conducted by the state commission on standards and training, "physical ability" was rated the least important among ten dimensions of "being a successful peace officer." It rated slightly below "appearance." Other dimensions included "initiative," "dependability," and "interpersonal skills." The highest ranking characteristic was "integrity.2 " http://www.communitypolicing.org/publications/comlinks/cl16/cl16_lonsw.htm

Mother's Day

Sorry it is late. Hope everyone called or did something special for their mother.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field,

since the payment is pure love.

~Mildred B. Vermont

The phrase "working mother" is redundant.

~Jane Sellman

My mother is a poem

I'll never be able to write,

though everything I write

is a poem to my mother.

~Sharon Doubiago

A challenge for "Fugettaboutit" (original post May 8)

Straight from "YesACop" as posted in the comment section here:
http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2006/04/lets-agree-about-broken-arm-part-two.html

"The concern is, once again Fugg, why do troubled
officers get hired and why can't better officers get hired.I can't answer that
and wont try to defend anyone. Instead off making snide comments, please solve
the problem for us. Tell us how the problem should be solved. That is my
challenge to you. You have made quite a few challenges here, now it's your turn.
How would you fix the problem??????"

The Friendly Library

The library in Bosque Farms is one of the friendliest places.

It is kid friendly. As long as the kids are quiet and an adult is with them, the library is a nice place to be for children.

One of the contributors to this blog has said that there were plans or discussions to make this library more kid and wheelchair friendly by lowering one of the counters. That is long past due and would make this an even more kid friendly place to visit. Get with it Councilors.

And having children's activities in the library, just like Los Lunas does, would be wonderful. It would make the library more kid friendly.

But the library has kid books, people to help the kids find the books and small tables and chairs.

_______________________

The library is pet friendly. You can bring your animal to the library. There is no sign posting no animals allowed. In fact the librarian herself sets the standard. She brings her dog to work.

Do you doubt it? Hang around in the library one day and listen to the dog barking. Bring your child who has severe dog allergies to the library one day. Just stand there by the door at the opening hour. The librarian will be there when the doors are supposed to be opening with dog in tow.

Bring your dog, your cat, your ferret even. Former Mayor Baldwin could bring his pet pig and that would all be equally allowable.

_______________________

By the way, they have books for sale right by the door. Drop by and support the library by picking up a bag of books and paying a few bucks for them. The best prices in town for used books.

A thought about Los Lunas, politics and BF

Went to Los Lunas today and driving past a park there was a sign nailed *?* to a tree in the park. It said Vote for Lem Martinez for District Attorney. There were several signs like this in one park. There was also a sign for the same person in the grass at the post office.

Several thoughts:
What a shame that this person felt the need to not respect public property and deface trees and post his signs on government property. Surely there is a law against that?

This author for one will not vote for this person. It is hoped that others will speak to him about this poor practice or will vote against him as well.

And while more thoughts questions could be asked the important thing is this: This author is glad that Bosque Farms has a law against that and would not allow that type of hanging of signs on government property. At least, this author is hoping that Bosque Farms has a law against that type of campainging.

Community Policing Part One (Original post May 4)

Maybe it is time that the police work on generating some goodwill among those of us who live in Bosque Farms. Maybe those of us who live in Bosque Farms and resent knowing there is a leader who is not a strong leader in charge and who resent knowing there is at least one officer with a questionable background on the force need to know these men.

Maybe by knowing them *the officers mentioned in this blog, the ones with the questionable backgrounds, * we will recognize they have changed? Maybe by meeting and learning about all of the officers, the residents and the officers will be able to develop a relationship of trust and respect.
*Change in stars * as requested by "YesACop". Changes in green added by this author since the original posting.

Maybe it is time the officers get out from behind their darkened windows and unmarked cars and begin to talk to the people who live in Bosque Farms.

Maybe by doing as one resident has asked for over four years and setting up a neighborhood watch program in the various neighborhoods would increase the good thoughts people have about police.

Maybe by rolling down their windows and speaking with the people on the walk path and on the streets would help each of us to know the officers on duty.

Maybe an open house as requested by one long term resident where the new police officers can introduce themselves and see the new police station would encourage those of us who want better to see that the "police are not all bad" to use "Landlady's" term.

Maybe some events planned for children, above and beyond a visit to the local school, would generate some goodwill among parents of children. Parents who are scared for the children's safety and want to be able to tell the children the police are the good guys.

What are some ideas that might help promote the current police department in a positive manner?

Trivia Answers (By Request of "FatBoy5595")

These are the answers this author has to the questions posted earlier. Any corrections?

Name the Fire Chief, the one who volunteers his time and energy into keeping the department trained, equipped and ready for service. - Spencer Wood

Name the men and women that have been Mayor of Bosque Farms.
- Wayne Ake, Roger Baldwin, Carl Alan, Sharon Eastman, and Bob Fisher

Name the men and women who mortgaged their homes in order to buy the building now known as rodeo hall. - Charles Roberts, Huck DeSmet,

Which employee has been working at the Village Hall the longest.
- Fable Cheney (?) and Gloria Stanley

Name the man whose home served as the first fire department. - Jim Cox

Name the longest serving Fire Chief. - Walt Shoemaker (20+ years)

Explain who named the roads. - The roads were named by the Council when the Village was officially made into a governmental entity. They named the roads after people who had lived here a long time or were influential in Bosque Farms.

Name the year that year was Bosque Farms encorporated. - 1974

Oops. Same Question Twice.
Explain why Bosque Farms was originally incorporated.
Explain why was Bosque Farms encorporated, the original reason given by the first Mayor. - For protection. The County Sherrif's department would take too long to respond and the residents who lived here at the time wanted police protection. They voted to incorporate and began by hiring a police chief (Bob Chamberlain) and a Village Clerk.

Name at least three officers on the police department currently. -
List one person on the volunteer fire department right now.
- Fill in as you will, this blog will not list them all.

Name the reporter that is usually in attendence for Council meetings. - Clara Garcia (but sometimes Jane Moorman will fill in)

Explain the significance of the letters WPA and why it is important to Bosque Farms.
- Works Progress Administration (WPA). This is the government agency that helped clear the land and build the original 42 homes that were built for the homesteaders in Bosque Farms.

Name the person who organized the first Bosque Farms Fair.
- Crystal Carpenter

Name the first dog catcher.
- Beth Titchen (this author will apologize if her name is spelled incorrectly)

Explain, if everyone was elected at the same time for the first Mayor and Council, how was it set up so that now elections are held every two years with each person having a four year term.
- The first election had something like 17 people running for the office of Councilor. When the first four Councilors and Mayor had been elected and sworn in they then drew straws. The ones with the short straws (or so this author has been told but can't confirm) were the short termers. They served two years instead of the traditional four years. The Mayor also served two years.

List at least three historic buildings in Bosque Farms.
- The old Woodall Place, Some of the historic homes that were originally built during the dust bowl era, The Catholic Church in Peralta, (Ok a bit out of Bosque Farms but important to Bosque Farms history), The Bosque Farms Elementary School Building.

Name one person on the first Council.
-Charles Roberts, Ronald Koch, Robert Baughman and Thomas Hunter

Tell who took the pictures hanging in the Village Offices Meeting Chambers.
- Maybe Chip Simons (?)

Name the person who wrote the grant for Keep Bosque Farms or Keep New Mexico Beautiful.
- Previously it was the Clerk/Administrator when it was done. Recently, Harriet Taylor of Camco Realty. Good for her a citizen volunteer.

Tell how the funds from these grants are used.
- A guess, some funds went to the local 4H group for picking up garbage or taking care of flowers. Some money might have gone towards paying for the hot dogs and cokes and garbage containers during the last Great Garbage Pick Up Day. That is how it has been done in the past.

Repeat the Village motto as listed on all the Bosque Farms logos.
- "Preserving Rural America"

Name the police officer who served the longest and truly practiced community policing.
- Don Cadenhead is the officer that comes to mind. If there is one that retired from Bosque Farms after spending his life patrolling the streets, helping other officers, encouraging young children and being a good neighbor and friend, let this author know.

Explain how the design on the Bosque Farms plaque was made.
- A young child drew it. This was the winning design in a contest that was open to children from Bosque Farms at the local school.

List the three largest land owners in Bosque Farms today.
- There are probably more than three residents who own large tracts of land. This blog author has not spoken to any one of them and does not wish to post names without these names being in the public discussions or without their permission. Asking around will easily provide you with this information.

State which resident donated money for many of the things in the library.
- The father of former Councilor Wayne Killough.

Name at least three of the normal audience members of the Village Council meetings.
- Attend a meeting and figure this one out for yourself. Many of the long term residents routinely attend meetings.

Lindberg for Sheriff

This author has decided after much research to support and vote for Larry Lindberg. It would be hoped that others will decide to do the same.

There are many reasons Larry Lindberg is the best candidate for Sheriff at this time. One is the many years of service he has had experience as a U.S. Marshal. You can't be stupid in that job. You have to know the law and know how to document and how to follow the paperwork so that the cases you have make it to court.

He has the time to devote to doing a job and doing it right.

His family is here and his friends are here.

He is also a long time resident. If you follow Councilor Wallace's reasoning, he is a life time resident. Just as she claimed to be a life time resident of this area because she was born here and lives here now, despite the break in her resident status by living in Arizona and other places, she considers herself a life long resident. With that reasoning, Lindberg is as well.

He is also community minded, as evidenced in this letter to the editor:
http://www.news-bulletin.com/opinion/61402-05-03-06.html

The Questions

The questions each person who lives in Bosque Farms needs to be asking themselves are these:

Who is representing you?

Do the Mayor and the Councilors forget they are representing each of us and instead look after the interests of those they know, the employees?

Why can one person with a few spare minutes often find information that is relevent and timely and on topic, yet not one of the Councilors nor the Mayor seem to even look for this information?

Why won't the Mayor and Councilors explain their decisions to you in such a manner that you can buy into what ever decision they make?

Why won't they bother to correct poorly reported information in the newspaper?

What do the Councilors and the Mayor care about? Do the Councilors care about you? About the fact that many seniors in this community are living on fixed incomes? Do they care that raising taxes will hurt many in this community? Or do they care about helping their friends and meeting their own personal needs?

Comparing Cars

Setting aside the issue of a lease/fleece program that is just plain idiotic (to paraphrase "newguy"), there have been comparisons of police vehicles. And the word is, the Impala is a quality police car. In fact, many communities are moving to the Impala and preferring them to the Crown Vic police car.

So, at a time when others are making changes and moving forward on information that makes sense- Bosque Farms is leasing cars with no information to back up their decision.

Let's see what some other police departments have to say:

From this website:

http://www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/Press_Releases/Content/2004/0525.asp

"Deputy Chief Green said in recent comparison tests performed by Michigan State Police, the Impala met or exceeded the performance of the Crown Vic. Although the Impala took approximately 56/100 of a second longer to go from 0-60, it was able to come to a complete stop 17 feet shorter than the Crown Vic.

Deputy Chief Green said, "What may be the best advantage the Impala has to offer over its competition is its average fuel consumption. The Impala averaged 5 mpg more than the Crown Vic. With today's spiraling fuel costs, the department could potentially save thousands of dollars annually. In addition to better fuel mileage, an Impala costs approximately $3,100 less than a Crown Vic. "

Translated that says they can spend less, save more in fuel and have a fine car.

Earlier this author stated that many communities are moving to the Impala because they make fiscal sense and are a fine police car. Who exactly is using the Impala and discarding the larger crown vic cars?

Los Lunas. Belen. But of course, we don't want to compare ourselves to just surrounding communities. How about one of the biggest police departments in the nation?

From this website:
http://www.policeone.com/policeone/frontend/parser.cfm?object=Columnists&tmpl=article&id=77189

Read this: "it has been reported that NYPD plans to eventually convert its entire patrol fleet to Impalas"

And what is the above article? Only a review about all the police cars available and the results of them being put to the test by the LA County Sherrif's Department and the Michigan State Police. The results? The Impala is a fine car.

If one person can find this information in a few minutes, why can't the Councilors and Mayor?

Economic Development Funding

So you read that Councilor Knowlton wants to have an economic development committee. No problem you think. And then you read he's passed an ordinance that will help develop the economy in Bosque Farms. Sounds good you think.

And now? He wants you to vote to pay to make the economy improve in Bosque Farms.

I didn't know it was bad. What I see is that the businesses that are struggling are the same ones that don't clean up their place, don't advertise, and don't help themselves. That in and of itself is a good reason to vote no when this issue is placed before you.

Is there more? Are there more reasons that you might want to consider and then cast your no vote on funding economic development?
Yup!

Economic Development can cover a wide range of things, many of which cost money. Many of these same 'things' will not fit into Bosque Farms rural environment or should be paid for by individuals setting up the businesses.

From the International Economic Development Council here are a FEW of the topics that can fall under economic development.

Economic and employment multipliers
Work force development
Business incubators
Business attraction, retention, and expansion
Entrepreneurship
Managing economic development organizations
Economic development staffing and salary issues
Economic development resources on the Internet for self-study and advancement
National/state/local government funding for economic development
Private sources of funding
Faith-based initiatives
Neighborhood revitalization - trends and best practices
Hotels, convention centers, and stadiums
Historic preservation programs
Reusing and conversion issues with bases closing and other places of business.

What does all of this mean to you? That you could likely vote to pay more on property taxes, to fund a bond, only to find that your neighborhood will be revitalized and you won't be grandfathered in the way you thought you were. After all, there are two arguments for fixing up the neighborhoods. One, you need people to move into your community, people with new business ideas and what a better way to encourage this but by doing some revitalization of the neighborhoods.Two, you need businesses to think it is worth setting up in Bosque Farms. If they drive by and see an unkempt area, they may think you won't shop in their store and not set up business in Bosque Farms.

Watch for future elaboration on many of these topics that are considered part of economic development.

The Newspaper and Inaccuracies ?

In a recent news article in the local paper there was this quote:

"Topping the list are two projects that will improve the village's drinking water — an additional clarifier for the village's treatment plant and help with arsenic removal.

The clarifier is a $3 million project that will help increase the village's water supply."

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/61498-05-06-06.html

Really? Is that accurate?

No. Of course not. This is one example of a routine event, the newspaper had incorrect information.

A clarifier will not increase the Village's water supply. Instead a clarifier cleans the sewage water at the sewer plant. The clarifier is where much of the cleaning occurs. Light wastes float to the top and the heavier wastes (the sludge) sinks to the bottom. The clarfier pushes this waste to it's appropriate place.

Would you doubt that this author is very clear about the workings of a sewer plant? Try this link and read for yourself. http://www.lehigh.edu/~kaf3/envt/wastewater_plant.htm

A simple search would have provided the author, Jane Moorman, more than adequate information.

What is worse? No one will bother to correct the inaccuracies. The newspaper won't realize it has made a mistake, the Councilors and the Mayor and not one employee at the Village offices will pick up the phone and explain to Jane Moorman what a clarifier is and what it does. You read it here.

And shouldn't the word village be capitalized?
The article is not about any village in the world but this specific Village of Bosque Farms. That would follow the rule that says "Capitalize nouns when they derive from a proper noun". The Village of Bosque Farms is a proper noun worthy of capital letters. The word Village when discussing the specific Village of Bosque Farms should also be considered a proper noun, is derived from the full name of our small community, and thus capitalized. The other similar rule for capitalizing nouns that seems to apply would be the rule that say "Words and abbreviations of specific names have capitals."

Maybe newspapers don't follow the same capital rules taught in school?

http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/capital.asp

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_caps.html

Moved Posts

Once again, some discussion is occuring on previous posts that have fallen off the main screen. These have been moved up to remain on the main page.

One difference is the challenge to "Fugettaboutit" by "YesACop" has been moved to the front of the posts. Everyone is waiting and watching "Fugettaboutit" and even "Just Here" has promised to not bite if you choose to respond.

The ICIP - How do you set goals for a Village?

If you have been elected president of a bank, you are accountable to the share holders and the board members of that bank. When you set goals and plan for the future you must justify those goals and plans to those you are accountable to and you must take into account any goals and plans they want you to have.

This is not the case in politics.

Oh sure, there has to be an open meeting. You have the right to hear them make the decision and even have the right to have your say. But they are not accountable to you. For example, if you go and make a suggestion with a great agrument for why medical service should be above arsenic control, for example, the Council has to allow you to comment, but they don't have to take into account what you say. They don't have to ACT on it.

They don't have to and they obviously didn't pick up the phone and call ten, twenty or thirty people and ask for their opinion.

This is what is happening with the current council.
They didn't even stand by what they promised they would do in their campaign. They said they would take care of the elderly- so the elderly can drink the same water they have been drinking with less arsenic and that is supposed to make them healthier? But don't expect any medical service any time soon.

But don't worry, because when you do have need medical service you can rest safe knowing that you have early medical service because the dirt roads and pot hole roads are going to slow down the ambulance.

This author wishes there was an answer to how those goals were picked and put in that priority. It certainly doesn't seem that the people elected to office are looking for your best interests.

"A Response to "Fugettaboutit" (Part One) (Originally posted April 19)

"Fuggettaboutit" You said that you were unable to find proof of a broken arm. You said that the person who provided documentation had to provide more than the blog that this blog linked to. Because this discussion originally began on this blog and because this author had a few minutes (and that was all it took) this author has taken you up on the challenge.

Here is your quote:
"There was never a broken arm involved. If you can find where any officer from our village has broken someones arm I will end all comments on this blog and shut up forever. But, you must show proof justhere, not someones personal statement on a blog. Cold hard proof. It has never happened. I have tried to find it but can't." And the link to the post with your resulting comment quoted above. http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2006/04/our-police-in-peralta.html


It was easy to find proof that the person being arrested by Officer Sholtis had a broken arm.

• Here is the link to the original post that had comments about Officer Sholtis. This was posted by this author because Mr. Warden's political letter/advertisment for his business mentioned this specific officer. This author wanted to know why someone might vote no to an officer and did some searching. http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2006/04/and-there-is-more-original-post-on.html

• From there you can follow the link to the blog that you obviously didn't read. http://www.searchandseizurelaw.com/-42-false-arrest-claim-against-the-city-of-albuquerque-dismissed-.html

• And from there you can find the link to the actual court records. http://www.kscourts.org/ca10/cases/2005/03/03-2231.htm

And there is the quote: "At some point in the evening, Ms. Tanberg sustained an avulsion fracture of her right arm. Due to a twisting motion, the ligaments in her right elbow had pulled a small piece of bone away from the remainder of the bone."

And what is an avulsion fracture?
"An avulsion fracture is an injury to the bone in a place where a tendon or ligament attaches to the bone. When an avulsion fracture occurs, the tendon or ligament pulls off a piece of the bone."

Taken from the following website: http://orthopedics.about.com/od/brokenbones/a/avulsion.htm

In English, it is a broken arm.

Be clear, Officer Sholtis was not an officer from Bosque Farms at the time this happened. So the potential for you to say 'see, no one from Bosque Farms Police Department broke an arm'. But this blog has never claimed that he was an officer for Bosque Farms at the time but he was an officer and there was a broken arm.

Feel free to hang around and make comments.

Why a blog? Post 200!

This blog was started for a variety of reasons. One of which was shared in the very first post by this author. (http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2006/01/introduction.html).

It was an attempt to keep you informed and updated on some of the actions of the Mayor and Councilors. And to keep you informed of other items that may have an impact on you in the future. There are some large topics of discussion that will impact you, on all of us, on a daily, lasting basis. This includes, but is not limited to;

• Arsenic and the potential solutions for cleaning arsenic out of the water system. The solutions will cost money. This money will need to come from somewhere, your taxes, your willingness to vote on a bond, or some other place.

• The Business Community. As "Landlady" has stated in the past, our property taxes are kept low in part because the gross reciept taxes help pay the cost of basic services within this community. A strong business community is important. The questions that need to be explored include: What are the Councilors and Mayor willing to do to help make a strong community? What are the residents willing to have them do? What is the business district doing to help itself? A nice clean business district will encourage shoppers and future residents to move here, more property to tax and more shoppers spending money here means everyone will continue to have lower tax bills.
  
• The employees of the Village. Those of us who live in the Village of Bosque Farms deal with the employees frequently. We pay our water bills, call the police when we are robbed, visit the library, and sometimes join in the activities at the community center. In addition there are employees we don't see but their jobs are similarly important. They keep the books, record the water bills we pay, and interview the potential employees. We need and deserve employees we trust. All of the employees should be quality professionals capable of doing a more than adequate job and who willingly are held accountable for their actions.
  
• Land use and regulation is very important. Bosque Farms has protected property values for many years through careful planning and zoning ordinances. These ordinances are being changed monthly and there is a committee to change some of these ordinances that impact our property rights.
• Public Safety. The public deserves to be safe. It is one of the reasons the community of Bosque Farms was officially voted into being, public safety. Before there was a government there was a fire department. It is time a good long look is taken towards the police, the fire, the ambulance and the related public safety services (homeland security, evacuation plans etc) and it is time the community begins to make a stand on what is important. Cops we can trust and will gladly obey in any risky situation, fire men who can respond quickly, and so on are important.
• The Schools within our community and the schools that service the children who live in our community. The schools are educating the future of our community. Are they doing a job well enough that our young children are able to find, or create, jobs for themselves in our community? Are they doing what is best 'for the children' or only doing what enters their head at any given moment?
• The money. Because it costs money to run a community the government has given the right to small municipalities to raise funds in a variety of methods. Grants, loans backed by our property taxes, property taxes, and gross reciept taxes are a few of these methods. With careful budgeting and planning and forthought the Council and Mayor has been been able to keep taxes down for at least the past 8 years. (Any increase on your property tax during that time was made at the behest of the County or for bond issues passed for the school district, not by action taken by Bosque Farms.) With the Councilors and Mayor that are currently in office this will not remain the case. They are more willing to spend and the increase in their spending will come from somewhere.
  
• Land ownership. Now Bosque Farms has the right granted by the Federal Court to take away property. And while there is an ordinance in place saying this won't be done, it will be easy to change and easy to take away your property using eminent domain. With several Councilors who want a pool enough to talk about it for the past two years on the Council, this bears watching.

In addition there are smaller issues that also impact our daily lives that this blogger has chosen to write about now and in the future: Ongoing events, basic services provided in this community, the history of Bosque Farms, and the laws. In addition this blog shares events that are occuring in other communities that may be worthy of discussion in relation to our own Village and may serve as a warning of possible future events that may occur Bosque Farms.

This blog has stated repeatedly that those of us who live here in Bosque Farms deserve the best and sometimes it doesn't appear we are getting it.

Several of the employees in the recent past have had questionable backgrounds. This is not limited to police. (For example: One Village Administrator, who was hired by the previous Mayor Baldwin and who helped current Mayor Ake get elected was a wife beater who stabbed a man in the neck.)

This blog has stated we deserve the best representation and sometimes it seems we are not getting that. The Councilors on board seem to have their special interest concerns and to care very little about the rest. While that may not be true, it seems to be true. And as the saying goes "perception is reality".

This blog asks questions, provides information and hopes for ongoing discussion. Part of the solution is to recognize the problem, discuss it and begin to come to a consensus on a topic. Then action can be taken that is reasonable and in the best interest of everyone living here.

Each person that reads this blog, without responding, but thinks about the issues discussed and maybe takes action is appreciated. Each person that responds and offers well thought remarks and discussion is appreciated. It is those comments that help shape the blog as it continues.

It is hoped that by having open, rational discussion more will attend Council meetings or speak with and write to their Councilors and Mayor about the topics that concern each of us. It is hoped that more will be aware of some of the ongoing issues that have such a large impact on our lives here in Bosque Farms.

Spending Money in the Budget

The budget is a complicated piece of paper with many laws and requirements surrounding it. The budget is a legal document and can be considered an agreement among the voters and the elected representatives, a contract. We agree, as tax payers, that we will pay our property taxes, that we will shop locally and our GRT will go to the Village, that we will pay our fair share of water and sewer service and so on. The elected representatives agree they will provide basic services such as water and sewer and police protection.

The basic part anyone who is concerned for their property taxes and other taxes needs to be aware of is this:

The budget is developed once a year. Now is the time the budget is being developed. The budget must be developed and agreed to in a public meeting where the public can comment. What the Council says it will spend money on can not change without another public meeting.

So where is the money going that you send directly and indirectly to Bosque Farms?

Employee pay, infrastructure both new and ongoing maintance, the equipment needed to do the job well (new computers for example), and so on.

Employee benefits, those are over and above the base pay you might hear about. So if you hear an employee is getting a 4% raise and it doesn't seem like much, realize that on top of that Bosque Farms will pay more for insurance benefits for that employee, more to the retirement fund of that employee, more for all of the accompanying expensis. A 4% raise is only one part of the picture. The money you send to Bosque Farms pays for this as well.

It is not going to buy a new fire truck for the fire station. It is not going to pay for the economic development Councilor Knowlton wants you to pay more to help the businesses. It is not going to pay for a website. (Figure this one out, how come Bosque Farms wants your money for economic development when they can't even get a website up and running?)

It hasn't always been this way and it doesn't have to be this way.

Last year the budget reflected a savings of $30,000 for a fire truck for the fire station. It would be the guess of this author, without checking at this time, that the budget reflects that money now as being spent this year on something else.

So last year your taxes didn't go up, your GRT didn't go up, you were not asked to pass a bond and yet money was set aside towards something large that would take care of your home and your safety and a fire and police station was built and a new little league stadium.

This year, what money is set aside and for what? None. And what are they thinking of asking you to do? Pay more taxes! (At least one tax would be increased if you vote for it, and they are hoping later to come back and ask you to vote for more taxes later.)

Is there room to save money? Is there a way to take care of the needs of the Village and still keep a balanced budget? Is there a way to pay for what is necessary for the health and safety and welfare of the residents and not raise taxes?

YES! And YES again!

Here are a few places that money can be easily saved.

The $8,000 increase paid to the police chief last year after one year of service and the $4,000 increase paid to the Clerk Administrator this year for one year of service all the accompanying increase in insurance and taxes and retirement, easily equals $15,000 or more. Stop paying large amounts of money for short terms of service.

Do not buy large police cars. The police have been driving smaller cars. The same cars that Los Lunas drives, the same cars that many communities drive. They are smaller and more gas effecient and more cost effective. You can buy one and a half smaller cars for the same price of one big car. Not only that, the police, this author has heard, wants to set up a FLEACE Program. Yup. They will lease the cars which is a fleece program, with a balloon payment at the end. That is one easy place to save money. Don't lease cars and don't buy large cars.

The Budget

There was a budget meeting held last week. Among the discussion was raising taxes and passing a bond. Yup. One year after Councilor Eldridge and Councilor Linthicum left and as predicted by Councilor Eldridge from her bully pulpet before leaving, taxes would go up if the expenditures continued.

The expenditures have continued.

Heck it hasn't been a year since these two Councilors left, it has been several months. And obviously the expensis are so great that you will be asked to vote on not one but TWO tax increases.

There will be an election and you may, as it is still in discussion, have the opportunity to vote on at least one of two issues. Increasing gross reciept taxes, sometimes referred to in the comment section of this blog as GRT. And you may have the opportunity to pass a bond, that is to pay more in property taxes for Bosque Farms Economic Development.

It appears that Councilor Knowlton doesn't want BOTH of these options on the next election. Why? Maybe he's afraid that if you have the opportunity to be taxed at a higher rate on TWO items you will vote no. So Councilor Knowlton wants to manipulate you into thinking that you will vote for economic development and that is fine and it is a small increase on property taxes and then later you will willingly vote to pass a small increase on GRT.

Let's begin talking about this NOW to our friends and family. Let's not fall for Councilor Knowlton's manipulation.

Each small tax adds up and each small tax never goes away. Do you think that IF the bond has been passed, after a few years it will go away? As "Eyecare" has said in a previous comment 'Think". Has the school district given you any evidence to believe that eventually the bond and increase on property tax will go away? NOPE! Each year a bond retires the school district begs you to pass another bond. The argument being "your property taxes won't increase". The reality is if the bond doesn't pass, your property taxes will decrease.

If Councilor Knowlton wants money for economic development, it should be discovered in the budget.

Previous to Councilor Knowlton and Councilor Wallace being elected there were improvements to the sewer plant and every home was provided the opportunity to connect to sewer at NO COST to the voters. A bond wasn't passed, property taxes were raised, a spaghetti dinner fund raiser wasn't held. The money was in the budget through careful planning and savings and preplanning by the Council.

Maybe if The Village of Bosque Farms and the Councilors and Mayor who managed the funds didn't give a cost of living increase that was higher than surrounding communities and higher than the actual cost of living increase, that would save money. Maybe if the Councilors and Mayor didn't insist on handing on our large raises for one year of employement the Village could save money and put it towards economic development and infrastructure.

What will the money for economic development be used for? Watch this blog for more posts about this very subject.

What will the increase in GRT be used for? Maybe to put in a pool? The GRT can only be used for infrastructure, and a pool would be that. So would you willingly vote to pay more at the gas station or at the dollar store so your property can be taken away with the eminent domain rights Bosque Farms has to make room for a pool? or a little league field? or a whatever else hits their peon brains.

More about Bosque Farms History

More about Bosque Farms and the history of this Village: An article about Sharon Eastman. She has lived and participated in much of this history
http://www.news-bulletin.com/locals04/heritage/45652-10-30-04.html

An article about incorporating and what Bosque Farms learned during the process. http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/archives/arch_NB_854-2001.HTM

An article about the homes in Bosque Farms built by the WPA http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/ALN/aln47/mchenry.html

Uncertified Officers

At the risk of being accused of posting too many 'articles' about the police officers, this author has a few thoughts about uncertified officers.

"Fatboy5595" has asked why this policy was put into place and encouraged the readers of this blog to support hiring uncertified officers. This blog has decided that this may not be the best policy.

An uncertified officer is someone who has not gone through the training offered by police academies. This is a rigorous training that helps a cop know how to protect himself, arrest someone without violating their civil rights, when to use a gun, and so on. It teaches a man or a woman how to be a cop.

Bosque Farms it seems has a policy of not hiring uncertified cops. This blog feels that this is something the Council and Mayor is doing right.

Why?
Several Reasons.

Bosque Farms does not seem to have an OJT program. On the job training. If it does have an OJT training program it is very limited and very short term and dependent upon the officers currently employeed. OJT would include riding along with a trained officer to learn procedures specific to Bosque Farms. In a community that uses community policing (and ours doesn't) OJT would include the experienced officer introducing the new officer to the public, the people on his or her 'beat', the business owners, the neighbors and so on. This doesn't happen to the best of anyones knowledge.

So, it is entirely possible that an officer with no real experience and no real training is hired, sent to school at our expense, and then put on our roads with no real experience. And it is entirely possible that there be two or three or four of these inexperienced cops on duty all at once.

In addition to this, if a good long consideration is given to the type of people Bosque Farms Mayor, Chief and Councilors are willing to hire with iffy backgrounds, what kind of people will they hire with no background? And a look at some of the officers on the force, the ones with the questionable backgrounds, if there is an OJT time are we sure we want those officers training the new young officers?

Second, there doesn't seem to be a need for this type of hiring. "Fatboy5595" pointed to Belen and Los Lunas and said in essense 'look they do it so it is a good idea'. What "Fatboy5595" doesn't do is provide the overall picture.

* These two communities hire more officers and have more officers on staff. So the chances of
having an inexperienced officer handling a risky situation without a trained officer to back
him or her up is lower.
* Los Lunas and Belen have more openings (or are expecting more in the very near future)
and they may have decided that this is a good way to get warm bodies.
* These two communities also pay a lot of money to train these officers. They pay for the
school these officers attend to learn to be police. And in a year or two, many of these same
officers, the ones who were paid to go to school leave. The cost alone of training would
sky rocket. Each time one of these officers leave it means that Los Lunas or Belen does not
just lose an officer and have to rehire someone, it means they also lose the investment in
training and time and effort made into that officer.

Bosque Farms deserves someone who trained and experienced. Those of us who live here do not need to see taxes increased to find the money to cover additional training for officers that leave. Currently if an officer leaves Bosque Farms simply has to put out an ad, interview and hire a new officer. That person would be trained and most likely have experience.

On the reverse, if Bosque Farms began hiring officers that were uncertified, Bosque Farms would have the expense of training these officers. We, the tax payers would be paying for this school, room and board and food and all the related expensis and some payment as we have hired this officer. Then when that officer leaves, the same expenses would be incurred again and again and again.

This would be the equivilant of paying for a stock to only have it go bad and buying the same stock again and having the company go bad and doing it again. This would be the equivelent of paying your gardner to go to landscaping school and paying for the school and then watching your gardner walk off to another job and leavin gyou with nothing.

Why would an officer we train leave? Many reasons.
One large reason is that large community to the north of us- Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.
They want the challenge of fighting crime and excitement of more going on rather than patrolling a small community that has limited crime bigger than a dui.

Even if Bosque Farms continues to lose an officer at the going rate of one a month, surely it is possible to find one officer that is retired but ready to go back to work, one trained officer who ready to take it easy, one trained go getter that wants to be a cop and has payed for his own schooling, surely it is possible to find one officer who wants to work closer to home to hire. There does not seem to be a problem so far, why change what seems to be working?

Voting Additional Thoughts

It is the hope of this author that the voting place be moved.

There are several place and they would all be nicer and easier to access than the current rodeo arena and cowboy hall.

The community center is just that, a place for the community to gather. What a better reason to gather than to vote? There is plenty of parking, it is nice and cool with air conditioning and would discourage the bevy of supporters that gather around polling places making it difficult to vote at times.

The new Police and Fire station would also be a good place. The fire trucks could be backed out and there would be a nice big room for voting. Or is there a training room in the fire station? Maybe that room could be used for the voting place?

Two good suggestions. Two nice places. Two places that wouldn't cost the voters/tax payers a penny.

Voting

It is that time of year again.
And look, there are signs on Roger Baldwin's fence again.

Has he finished doing his short 'be good time'? Has the judge reinstated his right to vote?
Can anyone honestly think they will win an election by hanging a sign on Roger Baldwin's property?

This author and the other contributors to this blog will not be voting for the people who hang their signs on Roger Baldwin's fence. It is one small indication they have not moral standing and no understanding of what it means to be an honest and upright person.

A Business

http://www.wm.com/wm/thinkgreen/

The opinion of this author is that Waste Management does a good job. The driver is friendly and helpful. He waves at childrens, drives slow down the roads and picks up the garbage.

This author for one is appreciative of the fact that each of us only pays for the trash that each of us generates. I don't pay more for my small can and my neighbor who fills two trash cans pays more because she generates more garbage.

May Fifth

Happy Cinco De Mayo

http://www.web-holidays.com/demayo/

Contracting out Police Services

"US Military Man" had an excellent suggestion in his comments and "Been Around" agreed.

"Is it possible to contract police officers through the State Police or the County? That way the hiring, training, and discipline, etc. would be the responsibility of someone else? ..." http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2006/05/response-to-fugettaboutit-part-one.html

He mentions the Village of Los Ranchos and says they do something like this. And while Los Ranchos De Albuquerque does other things that Bosque Farms should not copy, they do several things Bosque Farms should consider with complete seriousness. (A webpage for one!)

Visit and read about their police service here (click on the link services on the left hand side of your screen): http://www.villr.com/ Quoting directly from their website. "Law enforcement is provided by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office. Within the incorporated limits of the Village, this is accomplished by virtue of a joint powers agreement entered into annually between the Village and the county. "

It apppears they have three deputies assigned to them and if a deputy is sick Bernalillo County ensures they are covered by someone else.

Maybe the state law doesn't need to be changed as suggested by "Been Around", maybe the Councilors just need to begin talking to Bernalillo County or Valencia County or other entities like Los Lunas and see if this feasable and set up a JPA. Of course, it won't happen. The Councilors will say 'we just built a new police station' or more likely 'we like the chief' and 'what would happen to the officers we have, we have to take care of our employees' (forgetting that they have to take care of us as well).

For those who are not aware of what a JPA here is a good definition: "A joint powers agreement (JPA) is created where two or more local governments enter into a cooperative agreement to provide any service which either of them could provide on their own. "
http://www.csac.counties.org/default.asp?id=110 This website specifically mentions the County providing police or sheriff services to a smaller munipality.

Other communities across the country do this as well.
http://www.co.st-louis.mo.us/Police/muni/index.html

A Suggestion to Those Who Want A Pool

It may be nice to have a pool and there are many ways to get one if we are willing to share. Share the pool and share the costs. http://ceres.ca.gov/planning/financing/chap7.html#joint_powers

The reality is there can not be a private pool in Bosque Farms run by the Village of Bosque Farms. And the argument that seems to arise every time is 'but a business could limit it to JUST Bosque Farms residents'. But why would a business limit itself? Duh! That would be like a McDonald's saying 'we will only serve people over 20', dumb.

A JPA could be put together with Valencia County, Los Lunas, and Belen. Each community could pay a percentage of the cost to build a pool and a percentage of the cost to maintain the pool. It could be based on the use of the pool. If more people from Bosque Farms use the pool, Bosque Farms would pay more for the upkeep.

But even if that were the case, even if half of the people using the pool were from Bosque Farms; 50% of part of the cost is still less than paying the full cost of building and maintaining a pool.

And if it is done this way, the pool could be bigger, better, maybe indoors, and not located in Bosque Farms. That would a great boon to Bosque Farms. Locating a pool in Bosque Farms would only cause problems. If it were located on the Boulevard it would take up valuable space for businesses. And if it is off the Boulevard there would be the problem of strangers driving in our neighborhoods which would cause countless problems.

Remember the arguments against a bridge in Bosque Farms? Those same arguments would hold true for a pool and the traffic it would generate. Plus, the additional argument of the fact that you would be brining pedophiles into our community. Pedophiles that might not normally be driving our streets looking for victims.

Doubt it?
http://www.tppc.org/publications_pedophiles_park.htm

http://republican.sen.ca.gov/brochure/docs/SD17/SD17-Public%20Safety-Child%20Abduction.txt

The Decisions about What Posts are Written

The author/s of this blog would like to point out that it is ironic that the posts that generate the most comments are about police and yet several times comments will be made that say 'blog about x or y or z' or 'why pick on the police'.

The authors have tried to provide a wide variety of thoughts about Bosque Farms. The school and the plans to enlarge the school, arsenic in the water, the elections, and so on.

Posts are picked based on the interest of the author who wants to write a post, the hot topic of the day as written about in the paper or discussed in Council meetings, and from reader comments.

Sometimes your comments are copied directly and placed in a post to appear in the main page. Sometimes when a discussion has been generated that is ongoing a post will be moved so that it stays on the main page. This is in the hope that it will continue to be easy to find and while there comment and discussion it should be easy to find.

When a request has been made or a challenge issued this author will try to rise to the occasion. If you would like different topics for discussion throw them out. As information is gathered and time permits this author will try to post on those topics. If you are interested in a topic respond to it and you may find more posts on that topic appear in the future.

From "Chili Chick" A question

She asks "YesACop" in the comments taken from the link listed, however, maybe others have thoughts? (edited by this author to put paragraphs for ease of reading but quoted exactly from:
http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2006/04/reason-for-background-checks.html)

I'm with you YESACOP some mistakes are simply bad news.
But here's a question - how long does a department wait to hire to see if a second mistake is coming or whether the officer has learned something (given that it was a true error and the officer was at fault) - 6 months, 1 year? Before the lawsuit is settled at the old joint?

And what do you think about officers with domestic violence problems (personal stuff - not while at work?) One complaint - one woman - no big deal? Multiple complaints/issues - one woman? Multiple complaints/issues - multiple women? Can it be assumed that there is an on-going issue?

How should the area of domestic violence be viewed when hiring someone?

I'm asking you, YESACOP because so far you sound pretty reasonable and this was an issue blogged about earlier on.

One more thought about Dispatch

This link will take you to the news article that explains more about the Valencia County Dispatch Service. There is hope that this will happen soon and then when you dail 911 you will be talking to someone who is a local person.

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/47338-12-18-04.html


Despite the title of this article it is a good article as well. It shows that Councilor Linthicum, while supportive of the Valencia County Dispatch Service, was thinking of Bosque Farms as well. He and Mayor Ake and even the chief felt that the when the time came to pay for this service it be done fairly. This is good.

If Bosque Farms has less calls and generates less business for the Dispatch Service then it should pay less. Just like buying milk. If this author buys a gallon of milk and you buy a quart you should not be expected to pay the same as a gallon of milk.

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/58134-01-21-06.html

Dispatch Service Part Two

So maybe it was an emergency situation as pointed out in the article quoted in the first post on this topic. Maybe Valencia County Dispatch service was cost prohibitive, maybe Isleta dropped Bosque Farms and wouldn't serve them. Maybe Torrance County was the only place that would provide this crucial service to Bosque Farms. There are questions that need to be asked.

What has been done since this time? This happened in Jan. 2004. Two years later the question is this, have any of the Councilors or the Mayor (since the Chief knows the lady who runs this we can't expect him do to it) but has anyone looked into an alternative? What does Socorro use? Will they work with us? How about Bernalillo County or APD? They dispatch officers out as far as Isleta, surely they can dispatch our officers.

Is Bosque Farms paying Valencia County for dispatch services for the Fire men and women? Service that we can't directly recieve?

Are the lives of our fire men being put in danger because they get later notice of fires? The lives of those of us who live here because it takes more time to get them notice of a fire? How much longer does it take to dispatch an officer versus a fire official?

The Dispatch

There is real discussion in another thread about the dispatch service that Bosque Farms is using right now. Dispatch is the service that plays as go between when you call the police or the fire station or even the ambulance service.

Currently the police are dispatched out of Torrance County 911 center. That is when you are in Bosque Farms and you call 911 your phone call is answered in Torrance County.

Why is Bosque Farms using Torrance County Dispatch services?

Well, "Eldorado" provided a link that gives some clues. First Bosque Farms was using Valencia County Dispatch. Valencia County became too expensive (remember when they were making employees take holidays and had budget troubles?) so Isleta decided to work with Bosque Farms. However, something happened and Isleta dumped Bosque Farms. (Wouldn't you love to hear the story behind that?) And so, Bosque Farms chose to use some service clear on the other side of the mountain for dispatch service.

But why?
It appears in this article, it was once again a case of who you know and not what you know.
http://www.mountainviewtelegraph.com/136709mtnview01-22-04.htm

Chief Stidham (who was not chief at the time) used to work in Moriarity and Moriarity is in Torrance County, thus using the Torrance County Dispatch Service. So, quoting from the article: "He said he has had his eye on the possibility of obtaining dispatch services from Torrance County for some time."

It seems to work fine for the police. If you are a fire man or woman however there seems to be some problems. It seems Torrance County answers the 911 call and then calls Valencia County that dispatches the fire men and women.

Does this make sense to you? You have a fire and you call 911 and if you are lucky the 911 operator you speak to is able to pick up a phone and call someone who will then call the firemen or dispatch the fire men and women.

And look what Bosque Farms had to give up for this. from the same article:
"In return for those services, the village will transfer its dispatch channel to Torrance County, pay for necessary equipment including the installation of an antenna on Capilla Peak, and pay the county the prorated equivalent of $30,000 annually" And remember, that is just for police dispatch.

At least Councilor Eldridge did a good job when she worked to ensure that Bosque Farms would get the computer back that they had to give Torrance County Dispatch to get this service.
(Second paragraph from the bottom) http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/42630-07-17-04.html

There are so many questions about this situation and a lot of safety concerns.

Why People Live in Bosque Farms Part Two

This author picked up the phone and called a few realtors today and took up a few minutes of their time to ask them a few questions about Bosque Farms. Why do people live in Bosque Farms? What is the positive points of Bosque Farms?

Each realtor had the same answers except for one man who lived around here (see more below) and cops and the low crime rate was not part of the reasoning they provided for why people live or move to Bosque Farms. Even when they were asked specifically about crime rates or police protection the answer was simply 'crime rate is ok, do you want specific numbers?' or 'yeah, they have protection and fire too'.

Their responses?

They feel into several catagories just as "Chili Chick" wrote about in her comments previously. The reasons the realtors provided were easy to group into two main catagories.

RURAL LIVING

• The rural setting that is conveniently close to Albuquerque.
  
• 'You can live in Albuquerque and drive surface streets to every place in about 30 minutes or you can live in Bosque Farms and drive Freeways to every place in about the same time. Yet in Bosque Farms you have a nice country feel.'
  
• It is green and there are nice trees.
  

INVESTMENT

• The property taxes are lower here than in many other larger metropolitan areas. (Read that to mean Albuquerque.)
• The property value is sky rocketing here. 'Even puny homes are selling for a fortune'.

OTHER REASONS

• It is not as far driving to Albuquerque if you live in Bosque Farms than if you live in Los Lunas.
• You can own horses or cows or chickens.
• There is a good sports program in Los Lunas and it's nearby.

The realtor that lived in this area spoke with authority about the different areas in Valencia County. He said something that stuck out 'there is very little difference between Bosque Farms and Peralta because everyone in Bosque Farms takes care of Peralta'. Sounds to this author as if the protection the police provide by patrolling or stopping speeders in Bosque Farms is helping the neighboring community.