Wednesday, May 03, 2023Hopes Rise For Clean Up of Funky Video Of Capitol Committee Hearings, Plus: Unser Museum Attendance And Aiding The Acequias Joe: Per the letter from one of your readers published April 20 criticizing the quality of NM Legislative Committee Hearings, please note that the Legislative Council Service (LCS) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on February 28, 2023 to accomplish IT upgrades before the 2024 Regular Session convenes next January.
HB 1 (the "Feed Bill"), enacted during the 2023 Regular Legislative Session with an emergency clause making funds available when the Governor signed the bill on January 20, 2023, contains a $1.5 million dollar appropriation to "supply and install audio and visual system upgrades" in various Senate and House Committee Rooms on the Third Floor of the Roundhouse. Proposals in response to the RFP are due to the LCS by April 13, 2023 with a contract starting May 1, 2023 through "substantial completion" on November 30, 2023. A copy of the LCS Request for Proposals is available here.
We really need that upgrade. We keep getting questions on what Sen. George Munoz really looks like.
UNSER MUSEUM Some Albuquerque voters may be of a mind to vote against the $4 million bond issue on the ballot in November that would pay to relocate the Unser Museum at Los Ranchos celebrating the life and times of the famous ABQ car racing family. Very poor attendance and questions over whether the museum will reach into the future linger. The bond money would finance a relocation of the museum to Central and Unser. Meantime reader Larry Anderson says there is one way at to boost attendance at the current location: Joe, I think regardless of whether the city owns it or not, better signage before you get to the Unser Museum would help. Several times we have driven by there and then thought, oh yeah, I plan on dropping in some time. Out of town visitors might not get that second opportunity. When the City Council debated whether to approve the $4 million for the museum, which it ultimately did, the Unser Family was not heard from. ACEQUIA AID Never let it be said that New Mexico doesn’t treasure its acequias. From the office of State Auditor Joseph Maestas: …The state budget includes a $500,000 appropriation requested by the Auditor’s Office to help local public bodies become compliant with state financial reporting laws. These local public bodies include Acequias, Ditches and Land Grants. This funding will allow the Auditor's Office to hire accountants to bring them into financial compliance. Almost $6 million in capital outlay appropriation is being withheld because they are behind on their financial reporting. An Executive Order restricts them from receiving those funds if they are not up to date on their annual financial reports. The $500,000 will help complete about 250 of the estimated 2,000 annual financial certifications. Auditor Maestas said: "This will allow my office to start the process of clearing up years of missed financial reports and getting these public bodies eligible for funds that could make a huge difference in the lives of so many New Mexicans.” Acequias now. Acequias forever. Bizcochitos, too. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023 |
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