Council Bite

By Laura Sanchez

Zippity Do Da

As often happens on election eve, city councilors zipped through a few bills on Oct. 1 and cleared the chambers in less than an hour. Most legislation was rescheduled for Oct. 15.

Councilor Ike Benton said his bill regulating "buskers," or street performers, "went from one extreme to another." The original bill allowed independent performers who have permits to entertain and solicit donations on city properties, specifically Old Town, Tingley Beach, Civic Plaza, Fourth Street Mall, city skate parks, Alvarado Transportation Center and city buses. A substituted bill regulated buskers in exhaustive detail. The final form clarifies that street performances are permissible in Old Town, but that entertainers must pay a fee to use the bandstand. The bill passed unanimously.

Councilor Michael Cadigan's homeschooling bill directs that "homeschooled children shall be given equal access to all city-sponsored educational programs at the city's Biopark facilities and museums." At present, homeschooling groups must have verification from each participating family that children are homeschooled, while public or private schools only submit one form for each group outing.

Councilor Craig Loy said, "What prevents me from showing up at a museum with my grandchildren and saying they are homeschooled?" to get the reduced rate. Cadigan said, "Does the city really want to hassle a 10-year-old for ripping the city off for two dollars?" Homeschooling parents said a group would still have to turn in a form beforehand.

Toni Martorelli, director of the city's Cultural Services Department, said paperwork from each homeschool family was required because there was no state-approved list of homeschooled children such as exists for public and private school students. The bill passed unanimously.

Correction: The first sentence of the segment about Iraq issues in the Sept. 27 "Council Watch" should have read, "Early in the meeting the Albuquerque Raging Grannies denounced APD's response to their recent anti-war protest, while the evening ended with the passage of Benton's bill urging Congress to begin withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq."

Public Comments (1)

- Tabitha
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- Since 2007-10-11
- Posts: 1
In Response to the Homeschool Bill Passing [ Thu Oct 11 2007 7:48 AM ]

This issue has been going on for years. Other homeschool groups have tried to sit down and discuss this issue, over the past two years I personally have spent hours on the phone with both the Biopark and the Mayor's office attempting to get this resolved. I was told that this needed to be a policy change at the City Council level and that is why it went to the Council.
Mrs. Martorelli did not understand why there was no list of approved homeschools similar to public/private schools lists. This is because of her unfamiliarity with homeschooling processes in the State of New Mexico and the State of New Mexico does NOT provide such a list for anyone.
No facility in Albuquerque requires such proof of homeschoolers before entering their facilities. Not even City facilities such as community centers, the Balloon Museum or the Albuquerque Museum. In fact these facilties welcome homeschoolers with field trips and programs. The community centers are even providing homeschooler programs and allowing us to hold our classes and events, a homeschool fair this past August drew over 700 visitors! It is ONLY at the Biopark where homeschoolers have this issue.
It is not the City of Albuquerque's job to be in the business of making sure homeschoolers are 'valid'.
The City /Biopark WANTS to keep a file of every homeschooler in the state who wants to visit the Biopark, they keep them in a file folder (I saw it), they could not tell me what they do with them at the end of the year, how do they dispose of them or do they?
This is what is so wrong with any homeschooler having to provide proof to the city that they are a 'vaild' homeschool.
I met with Mrs. Martorelli, Mr. Tom Silva (Asst Director of the Biopark) and Mr. Paul Broome (the Mayor's Education Coordinator) on Friday 10/5 and we came to a resolution whereas homeschoolers will not have to turn in their forms to the Biopark. The Mayor also stated in his Saturday radio show that he will pass this resolution.
Please check out my blog where this is discussed in more detail [link] and or email me for more information. Tabitha Orr, Executive Director, NM Homeschool Community, NMHomeschoolCommunityUpdates@gmail.com

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