Something To think About

"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil
to one who is striking at the root."

-- Henry Thoreau

Happy Thanksgiving

On June 20 of that year the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, held a meeting to determine how best to express thanks for the good fortune that had seen their community securely established. By unanimous vote they instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as a day of Thanksgiving.



http://wilstar.com/holidays/thankstr.htm



Ok. Maybe not, but it might still be a good time to list some of the things we are thankful for....



This author remains thankful for

- family and friends

- good food

- the never ending supply of recipes this author has to try

- a right to speak

The Budget

Shame isn't it.

Los Lunas is tightening it's belt:
The slowing economy in the country has affected the village in terms of gross receipt taxes, leaving the village to deal with a slight overall budget shortfall
http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/80878-06-14-08.html

Belen is too. In fact to make ends meet, Belen is not going to fill some positions right away.
Belen's 2008-09 preliminary budget will be about $6 million less than last year's — but it contains fewer new projects.
http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/80875-06-14-08.html

Although Belen is raising taxes it is for long term projects, not just to 'make ends meet'
http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/80990-06-18-08.html

Los Lunas School District has already pointed out that it will be not filling some positions and even letting some teachers go. And they are not talking about 'floating bonds' or anything else.
http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/80977-06-18-08.html

And Bosque Farms?
Uh...
Let's see. There will be an increase in spending tax, an increase in water rates, an increase in property tax.

FEMA and Flood Insurance

Ok. So explain to me how this works: We live in a dry area and have to have flood insurance and you can live by a lake and not need it?

The Village of Bosque Farms should take great measures to get Bosque Farms out of the water flood zone. Ask for rezoning. Ask to be removed. Or do what this town did:

This is a tragedy for this family but look- they didn't have flood insurance because the area they lived in couldn't agree and didn't pass the Flood Plain laws. Ok. Simple Solution: Get rid of the flood plain laws and tell the FEMA people we did so.

Of course, something horrible will probably happen as a consequence but it's at least worth looking into.

But in the meantime, the Fromms and the other families affected by the floods did not have flood insurance. Tim Fromm said that, for his family, it wasn’t by choice.

The Village of Lake Delton had suspended its participation in the National Flood Insurance Program seven years ago. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Bureau of Water Management reported that the village had been a participating member in the NFIP since 1975. But it failed to adopt a new floodplain required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in 2001.

“Nobody on the lake was able to have insurance,” Fromm said. “Long story, but the village of
TODAY Lake Delton and FEMA were never able to work out an agreement on the high-water mark, so no one had the opportunity to buy insurance on the entire lake.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25091939/

Flood Plain Thoughts

Again, this author is sorry about the flooding and loss of homes and the devestation that comes from being flooded out. But look at this article.

Why are our Councilors not looking into this? Why are they not trying to negotiate with FEMA to get more of us out of the flood plain?

The director of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' Bureau of Water Management said that the village had been a participating member in the NFIP since 1975, but failed to formally adopt a new floodplain the Federal Emergency Management Agency map in 2001. So the village had its eligibility canceled.

"The net result was they did not adopt the new floodplain map, so they lost their eligibility to continue to participate (in NFIP)," said Russell Rasmussen, of the state DNR's Bureau of Water Management.

The program is voluntary and any community can participate and sign up at any time. If a new map comes out, local officials have to formally adopt that new map within six months. However, Lake Delton officials didn't, WISC-TV reported.

http://www.channel3000.com/news/16560561/detail.html

Way to go Fire Department

Thank you to Mrs. Barger (or is it Miss? Ms? This author apologizes for not knowing). Thank you for your hard work and dedication to fire safety. This author has read the Village Newsletter and this author has read about the time and effort you are putting forth to develop a new fire safety curriculum.

"The Flash" said this:

I e-mailed the three available counsellors concerning the Beehive biz and received an incredibly stilted reply from only one, Knowlton, stating that they could do only what the P&Z office recommended. Is this true? There is no way for a councillor to vote their concience? If Donna says GO, then we are off to the races?...God help us all

http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2008/06/police.html

And this author would like to answer your question: No. The Councilors need to follow the law of the state and the laws as they have been written. However, there is ample room for voting your concience. (We have had an example of that in the past Councils!)

Miss Baker needs to follow the laws but she is not the final decider. If she were the final decider the issue wouldn't go to the Council now would it?

And who writes the laws that Miss Baker follows? The Council.

Don't you love it when the person in charge just out and out lies?

Who Do They Trust?

You know the saying about 'you are the company you keep'. This must hold true for who you trust as well. Who you trust must mean something right? It did with Obama. So...

Who do the Councilors trust?

Check it out yourself

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/81087-06-21-08.html

Let's do a roll call:

Proctor said he was voting for the police to serve Peralta because:

that the only reason he is in favor of the joint powers agreement was because of Chief Joe Stidham and Capt. Greg Jones said it could work.

Dolly Wallace, the one running for County office now, says:

I'm trusting our chief to put us in the right place and do the right thing and, over the years, he's never let us down," Wallace said. "I am going to put all my faith in him, and I think this will be an outstanding joint venture

Mayor Ake

"But I have every faith and confidence in the chief and captain and their officers that they can do it. We're going to back them 100 percent.

Very telling isn't it.

While Councilor Knowlton was there he didn't seem to say much about the chief. And Kennedy? Was he even there at all or was he missing in action again.

Peralta Voted for Police

Peralta has voted to contract with Bosque Farms to provide Police Service.
Good for Bosque Farms. Let's hope it is a beneficial contract for the Village. Let's hope Peralta gets what they think they are getting out of this deal.

This author found this little bit of an exchange interesting. (And yes, note, please read the article because there were a few positive comments about BFPD!)

A man told the council that the Bosque Farms Police are "looking for any little minute thing" such as a light on a license plate being out. "You're like a fish in a shark-infested water" driving through Bosque Farms, he said. "They will pull you over for any reason whatsoever.
"I'm sick and tired of the way they treat people."

Resident Robert Dixon said that his wife was ticketed for not having a rear-view mirror attached to her windshield, but that she had other mirrors. He said that the department was unable to prove that its ordinances required a mirror on the window and the ticket was eventually thrown out after he spent an entire evening in court.

Dixon said that he had no problem with officers going after speeders; it was the minor problems that they target that bothers him.

Taylor said that "we have our own judge. .. I want professional law enforcement officers," he said. (emphasis by this author but what a funny funny quote!)

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/80876-06-14-08.html

Just a Reminder

You read it here first.

http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2008/03/police.html

Dr. Baca, er "Jenn", er "GBaca3"has posted on this blog previously.

And the lawsuits mentioned in the previous posts were mentioned on this blog previously by "Read it To Believe It". (Thanks!)

In light of the recent information we are learning from the "New Mexico Security Blog" it might be interesting to go back and reread what was said back in March on this blog.

Just in Case

Just in case you won't dig around and read the other posts, here is another link for you to follow.
Again, this is about the company that Joe Stidham operates with some co workers.

Isn't it reassuring that the Council chooses to continue to ignore all of this?

http://callsummit.typepad.com/summit_security_investiga/2008/06/bad-new-mexico.html

LOOK AT THIS: News!

http://callsummit.typepad.com/summit_security_investiga/2008/06/index.html

and Look at this one:

http://callsummit.typepad.com/summit_security_investiga/2008/05/legit-security.html

So what are these links to?

Robert Hamic among other things says this: I am the President of Summit Security & Investigation. Summit Provides security, investigation, background checks, surveillance, general investigations, security/ law enforcement training and collection services to the government and private business in four states. Summit has over one hundred employees.

In other words he knows security. And what does he know?

That Joe Stidham, the chief of police here in Bosque Farms, is working for and is part owner of a crooked company and is getting sued. He also knows why and more. Follow the links and see for yourself.

And remember- Councilor Wallace and Councilor Knowlton and Mayor Ake went to the wall for the man named Stidham to be chief. Amazing.

Library

It appears that the Village is listening to this author and the idea of the official 'blog board'.
Did you read that in the last newsletter the Village sent out? The Village is going to build a new library meeting room.

Now you might ask how this is following the suggestion posted on this blog, but let this author remind you that this author had suggested that the library duties be expanded to meet the needs of all of us who live in this community. All of us, everyone, every animal too.

Those of us who live here can now have extra room for bringing our pets to our First Annual Bosque Farms Animal Association. (AABFA) meeting. Bring the Boa, Drag the Dog, (not literally), Carry the Cat and we'll meet at the library.

As soon as the addition is complete the monthly singles animal group (SAG) will start. Those who are single and want a pet, have a pet, or just like animals can come to a monthly meet and greet.

Of course, Councilor Wallace can be counted on to attend as she is a horse lover and wants to take credit for this creative thinking this author has thought up.

A Secret

Did you know in the past years the village has had 11 or12 police men? And sometimes it hasn't had 11 or 12 on the force because it couldn't find enough officers that met the minimum standards (rude comment deleted by this author), and yet there was still a budget or 11 or 12 officers at almost all times.

Now look at this quote:
Stidham said Peralta would be contributing $85,000 per year, which would pay for the addition of another officer to the Bosque Farms force, bringing its total to 12 officers.

Uh? What?
And answer this author this: How many officers is it going to take to patrol Peralta?
(There is more information coming on this very topic later but start thinking now about this one question!)

Answer: Probably more than one right? So how do we get off paying for 11 and they pay for 1?
... Stidham said: "Just yesterday (Tuesday,) we were in Peralta with four units assisting a (Valencia County) sheriff's deputy execute a warrant.

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/80696-06-07-08.html

Police and the Math

It appears that as well as his other problems, Cheif Stidham has a problem with math and the truth:

Stidham was quick to assure the councilor that taking on Peralta would not diminish the quality of coverage in Bosque Farms. "I won't allow that to happen under any circumstances," he said. "I have been here five years, and I have worked too hard to let things regress."

He went on to give an example of how the patrols of Peralta would be incorporated into the existing routes. "Let's say we patrol the four square miles that is Bosque Farms 50 times a night," he said. "We might patrol Peralta 10 times and Bosque Farms 40 times."

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/80696-06-07-08.html

Diminish means decrease: decrease in size, extent, or range. In this case he is talking about quality and the measurement he uses is the number of patrols of an area.

If you look at 50 times a night being the current measurement and his promise that patrols would not diminish then that says patrols would continue at 50 times a night.

But then he goes on to say 'now they might be 40 times a night.'

Which is it? They will diminish or they won't?
Who are these Councilors and Mayors that they sit in a meeting with this man and not ask??
Peralta, maybe you too had better be worried about your representatives.

Ok, this author understands that this is a 'for instance' type of answer. But you don't get to do 'for instances' when you are the chief and making a promise.

The promise was the quality of service will not diminish. And he chose to use the measurement of number of patrols. You do the math chief- would you rather have 50 pennies or 40 pennies? Which one is more?
Would you rather have 50 patrols of your area or 40?

Here is another way of looking at - roughly one fourth of 50 is 12. So if they do 12 patrols less than they were doing, they have cut out 25% of your patrols in your neighborhood. 25% LESS, uh... 25% diminished.

Uh Mayors? Did you get that? Councilors?

The police.

This author did get the mailing newsletter from the Village. This author likes this little newsletter that comes out once in a while. A few thoughts from the last newsletter:

Did you read that the police are cutting down on their community meetings?

What? One of the few truly public service type events that they put out and they are cutting it down to quarterly?
This author lobbied hard on this blog, others lobbied hard in person for this type of event to happen. And look, the police chief simply doesn't care.

The last one of these this author attended was very well attended by a large number of people. But that doesn't seem to matter. Instead of ramping up on the number of these community education events they hold, they cut back.

Disappointing.

The Village Attorney

http://www.jarmielaw.com/

This person may not longer be the Village Attorney. This author read in the paper where the contract was up and the Council felt his current 'bid' didn't meet their requirements. Regardless, you may try calling this man and talking to this man in an effort to get some idea of where things stand with this housing issue.

This senior living housing goes against everything that is in the master plan.
Furthermore, if this rumor is correct "OH RIGHT, Dolly sold some of her property to the guy who owns the land that is the proposed site for the seven houses and now he needs to sell that property so he can pay her. ANOTHER ONE OF DOLLY'S POLITICAL PAYBACKS." ("My Say" from the following link: http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2008/06/councilor-wallace.html)

Can anyone say 'conflict of interest'?

The Librarian

How is that the librarian gets to bring her dog into the building when we don't?
This author has asked and asked this question. This author has taken the advice of some of the readers here and have asked the Village office only to be told, 'she doesn't'.



She doesn't bring her dog to the library? Sure, then it must be here the grandchildren are allergic to and it must be her barking in her office in the back room. Amazing.



This author can not bring her grandchildren into the local library but instead must drive all the way to Los Lunas to take the grandies to the library.



And as if that isn't enough, this author is frustrated with the parking at the Village. Who parks right in front of the no parking sign??? Of course. The Librarian. Parking there, right in front of the no parking at any time sign makes it much easier for her to carry her dog into the library.



Can the Council not take care of this one thing?



Obviously not. They can't budget or make a balanced budget without an influx of your money.

Obviously not. They can't do much can they?

Isn't that Reassuring.

Maybe this will explain the answer to "My Say's" comments:
My neighbor mailed a letter to the counselors AND the mayor regarding the additional police needed to patrol Peralta along with the additional costs incurred, asking just "who" is footing the bill for these expenses and never even got a phone call.
http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2008/05/challenge-from-flash.html

We respond to about 50 percent of the dedicated calls for service," he said. "Just yesterday (Tuesday,) we were in Peralta with four units assisting a (Valencia County) sheriff's deputy execute a warrant.

"For all intents and purposes, we are already doing the job. This is about being a good neighbor and benefiting both communities."

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/80696-06-07-08.html

It is just as this author has reported previously. Our police, the police who are supposed to protect those of us who live here, have been patrolling and actively working the Peralta area.

And now they are just going to get a little bit of money for it.

Now isn't that just like the chief.

The Mayor of Peralta says "Please tell us you are going to be patrolling daily" And Stidham says 'no can do'.

Joe Stidham, Bosque Farms chief of police, said the agreement had been left open so the police department didn't "back ourselves into a corner." Stidham went on to explain that Peralta would simply be folded into the patrol routes.

"We will just do the job. We will encompass them into our daily routes," he said. "I'd hate to have to spend a certain amount of time there, and end up with officers twiddling their thumbs or not spend enough time there and have Peralta feel short-changed."

In other words 'no can do'. Stidham won't tell the Peralta Mayor (his new second boss of sorts) that he'll do the job to any measurable degree.

And both Mayor's let the man get away with it. This is where this author wants to work, a place you can write your own job description, not be around to do the job while you hold another job, and get a bunch of raises too.

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/80696-06-07-08.html

Outside Storage

This author is saddened by the local 'junk shop' on the corner of the South Bosque Loop and Main Blvd. Surely there is some ordinance that can be used to help them clean themselves up?

First they have that ugly pod storage building on site. But maybe even more importantly they have their whole store shoved outside. Every morning they spend quite a bit of time hauling all of the junk that won't fit into their store outside. It looks like trash. It looks like what it is, a garage sale gone overboard.

And if this author is correct in her understanding: Bosque Farms receives no income from them. So we have to put up with ugly for nothing in return. Surely there is some local law to help them clean up a bit. No outside storage? Storage limited to a small space? Anything?

This author would not hesitate to think there is something in the local laws but that they are simply being not used. What a shame.

Something to Think About

...If they can get you asking the wrong questions,

they don't have to worry about answers.

Thomas Pynchon

Councilor Wallace

Oh sure, she sure wants to be your representative on the County Seat doesn't she?

Uh No.

She was in Colorado today.

VOTE TODAY

Today is the day to vote in the County Primary election.

This author is not voting for Councilor Wallace.

This author is voting for Holiday. Go Holiday.