ABQjournal: Otero Mesa Drilling No Longer Economical
By Chuck Moran, president
Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico

The petroleum industry in New Mexico (you know, the businesses that pumped $1.3 billion into state and local tax coffers in 2004) … the state’s vital resource industry … and my industry is very good at extracting them safely with a minimal impact to the land.

[versus]

disingenuous eco-obstructionist groups … completely unnecessary and highly expensive systems … their yacht-and-caviar-foundations… primarily funded by out-of-state money … self-appointed protectors of the land abuse the public trust in pursuing their own agenda? regardless of what it costs or who gets hurt … the obstructionist, a.k.a. “environmentalist,” community

The BLM readily admits that the Otero Mesa resource management plan is the most restrictive ever issued in U.S. history. [mjh: Uncannily, just a few days ago, I predicted this argument]

If lined pits were not safe, efficient and cost-effective they wouldn’t be the standard for all oil and natural gas production everywhere else in New Mexico, let alone the rest of the nation and world.

The sad? and largely unknown? part of all this is that the activist groups (primarily funded by out-of-state money) that claim to be “protecting” New Mexico lands for the benefit of the people are actually doing just the opposite. Their self-indulgent, perverted view of reality is denying us all economic opportunity and prosperity.

The disinformation campaign must go on. [mjh: his words, not mine]

¡Que lástima, pobrecito! Things are so hard for an oil executive. People just aren’t satisfied to take a payoff and shut up — they expect the industry to pay taxes AND stay away from 1% of the land. If Mr Moron can’t earn a living with oil, he should run for President.

But first, let me admit, I have tasted caviar and I actually am self-appointed, but I don’t own a yacht or SUV (I’ll bet $100 that Mr Moron owns both).

Chuck certainly earned his bonus with this piece. He reminds us all how valuable his industry is (no threat intended). He paints those who speak up as “self-indulgent, perverted” and not from around here (tell that to the thousands of NM hunters opposed to drilling in Otero). By relentlessly slandering his opponents, he salts the earth so that people just won’t know what to think or who to believe — a page from Karl Rove, the Architect of Victory. Good job, Chuck! mjh

From the Desk of the CEO of AOL

On behalf of myself, the board, and our shareholders, I feel required to thank you for your recent efforts in winning the call center competition. We considered giving you a raise (kidding) or a one-time bonus, but concluded it would be more fiscally responsible (ie, cheaper and more deductible) to pay $10,000 to a football player to try to inspire you into keeping up the drop-dead pace at which you have been working. Thanks to you forgoing bathroom breaks, I will get $10 million in bonuses this year. I can’t thank you enough. You are vitally important to our company, even though you could be replaced in an instant by someone making less money.

Next month we will be cutting your medical benefits again, but you will be glad to know we’re paying Dr Phil $100,000 to inspire you to accept your fate. When we abruptly close your call center to ship the jobs to a place where your hourly pay is considered good monthly pay, we will try to get you a free AOL CD as a token of our real appreciation. Now, back to work, lazy slaves! You can read on your own damn time.

As the Clovis She-Devils case makes it’s way through the legal system, don’t forget what it is really about:

mjh’s Blog: Twisting Tales to Hide Abuse of Power

“He apparently believes we’re violating his First Amendment rights … that right ends at my nose,” said Clovis police Detective Kirk Roberts.

This case is about a cop being offended and using his power to punish the offender. Free speech means nothing if cops don’t respect the notion. We depend upon their self-restraint. mjh

ABQjournal: Development Concerns Neighbors By Rory McClannahan, Journal Staff Writer

Neighbors of a proposed business and housing development at Paradise and Eagle Ranch would like to see its buildings constructed a little closer to the ground.

Interstate Development Company is proposing to develop a 426,000-square-foot village center called Fountain Hills Plaza on 36 acres. The development, which would be done in six phases, would include retail and office space, a hotel and two condominiums. The hotel and condos are proposed to be six-story buildings, according to plans submitted to the city’s Planning Department.

On Tuesday, Interstate Development officials met with about 70 residents at the Taylor Ranch Community Center.

Although many residents at the meeting said they are concerned about a possible increase in traffic and the overall site plan, the height of the hotel and condominiums received the most scrutiny.

“When you build a new development you have to make it fit in,” said Peggy Everett, a neighboring resident. “This proposal is out of the character for the West Side.”

Everett and representatives of neighborhoods bordering the proposed development called on Interstate Development to eliminate the six-story buildings because their height is contrary to several West Side planning documents developed by the city. Those documents state that building heights on the West Side should not exceed 26 feet. …

The plan also includes a central plaza with a large fountain, which could serve as an outdoor meeting space and for entertainment and arts events, Nelson said.

He said the fountain will be similar to ones outside the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.

“No joke,” Nelson said. “We are going to do that here.”

He acknowledged that the development could cause traffic problems …. Measures could include widening Paradise to six lanes, he said.

Some of us worry about Albuquerque becoming another Phoenix or Los Angeles. Now we have to worry about it becoming another Las Vegas, NV — a giant waterhog in the desert. mjh

ABQjournal: Attack Puts Gay Man in Hospital By Jeremy Pawloski, Journal Staff Writer

Hate crimes are alive and well in Santa Fe, according to court records describing a vicious Sunday morning attack outside a Cerrillos Road hotel that put a 21-year-old homosexual man in St. Vincent Hospital’s intensive care unit.

Three defendants face aggravated assault and other charges connected to the attack. Santa Fe District Attorney Henry Valdez said all three also will face “hate crime” prison-time enhancements on each of their felony charges.

One of the suspects, David Trinidad, 17, already is on probation for raping a 41/2-year-old boy, according to Assistant District Attorney Heidi Pircher.

The two victims of the attack, James Maestas, 21, and another male, were at the Denny’s Restaurant on Cerrillos with several girlfriends early Sunday morning when they were chased from the restaurant by a group of five males who were throwing rocks at their car and calling them “faggots,” according to an officer’s statement of probable cause for arrests in the case.

The statement says the attackers then followed Maestas and his friend to the La Quinta Inn, where the friend was staying. Maestas is in a relationship with the other male, according to the probable cause statement.

During the beating outside La Quinta Inn, the attackers were yelling, “Let’s (mess) these faggots up,” the officer’s statement says.

Monday afternoon, Maestas was in St. Vincent Hospital’s intensive care unit, hooked up to a respirator to allow him to breathe, according to a close friend.
—–
The Thugs:
Gabriel Maturin, 20
David Trinidad, 17
Isaiah Medina, 19
two others not named

ABQjournal: Larger Game Parks Approved in Senate By Barry Massey, The Associated Press

SANTA FE? Larger private game parks could be established in New Mexico under a measure approved Monday by the Senate.

The bill, (SB 337), would allow ranchers or others to operate game parks of up to 15,000 acres? about 23 square miles. Currently, the limit is 3,200 acres.

At a game park, people pay a fee to hunt animals, such as elk. The game park must be enclosed by a fence.

The Senate passed the bill on a 32-8 vote and sent it to the House for consideration.

The measure’s sponsor, Sen. Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, said game parks were “another type of economic development to be used to increase the return that has been dwindling from agricultural properties in New Mexico.”

“There are becoming fewer and fewer family farms, family ranches. This gives them another opportunity for a crop,” said Jennings.

Sen. Leonard Tsosie, D-Crownpoint, expressed concerns that fencing in large areas of private land could affect free-ranging and migratory wildlife.

“These are wildlife that belong to the state of New Mexico that would end up being captured by these game parks,” said Tsosie.

Voting against the measure were Tsosie and Sens. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque; Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque; Michael Sanchez, D-Belen; John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe; Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque; Sue Wilson Beffort, R-Sandia Park; and Phil Griego, D-San Jose.
—–
Track SB337
INCREASE GAME & FISH PARKS MAXIMUM ACREAGE
Sponsor: Timothy Z. Jennings
Current Location: House Intro

Four:

ABQjournal: Volcano Cliffs Builder Revises Plan By Andrea Schoellkopf, Journal Staff Writer

A developer who was initially trying to avoid the new city impact fees now says he’ll try for annexation if the Bernalillo County Planning Commission rejects his plan for an upscale West Side development.

In November, David Soule said he had applied to build a 222-lot subdivision southwest of Ventana Ranch but had faced opposition for a special use permit from nearby residents as well as the commission.

At the time, he said the city’s new impact fees? which weigh more heavily on the rapid-growing West Side to build needed parks and roads? were sending developers like him outside the city limits with their projects.

Soule had received a deferral for his request in November to resolve his issues. He said Monday he has modified his site plan, increased the number of homes to 233 instead of decreasing density and added more open space by reducing lot size.

The Planning Commission is scheduled to hear the matter during its regular meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Vincent E. Griego Chambers at the City and County building on Civic Plaza.

The area sits within a 3-square-mile island of county land that’s surrounded by land annexed by Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. …

The Ventana Ranch Neighborhood Association has written twice in opposition to the project, calling it a “leapfrog development” that doesn’t fit in with the city’s goal for planned communities with mixed-use zoning.

The city council has declared a building moratorium on much of the land surrounding his development while officials look at planning for the area west of the escarpment, called “Volcano Cliffs.” While the building ban ends in April, it could be extended.

The Volcano Cliffs study team had also asked for a deferral in November to see how Soule’s project would fit into plans for the West Side.

Five:

ABQjournal: E. Mountain Subdivision OK’d Telegraph Staff Report

Despite protests by dozens of East Mountains residents and the group representing the area’s homeowner associations, Bernalillo County commissioners approved the Richland Heights subdivision last week.

The vote of the five-member panel was split, with Commissioners Michael Brasher, whose district includes the East Mountains, and Teresa Cordova, who represents the South Valley, voting against the proposal.

Brasher explained that his dissent stemmed from Richland Heights developer Howard McCall’s refusal to meet with residents and questions regarding the subdivision’s water supply and plans for waste-water disposal. …

The Richland Heights subdivision will have 121 houses built on 298 acres.

mjh’s Blog: Connect The Dots: 1-2-3