On May 21, Mayor Martin Chavez promoted his FY08 budget at a press conference outside City Hall, while inside councilors prepared to amend the mayoral package to reflect their own priorities. The amended FY08 Goals bill passed unanimously, and the Council’s appropriations bill passed 6-3, Councilors Sally Mayer, Craig Loy and Ken Sanchez opposed. Grim reality broke through the accounting when a small group holding photographs of a bloody accident scene marched down the aisle. Ruled out of order, they continued to speak outside the chamber. Denise Baker said that a year ago, her 74-year-old grandmother, Flora Marie Aragon, was sitting at a picnic table in her front yard near the intersection of Old Coors and Central. A police car swerved to avoid an accident and crashed through a brick wall into the yard, killing Aragon and injuring two friends. Baker said the grand jury found no criminal charges in the matter. The family was told no details of the secret deliberations, a result that neither answers their painful questions nor publicly clears the officer’s name. As the clock passed 11 p.m., Sanchez’ hotly debated bill lowering second and subsequent red-light camera fines passed 8-1, Councilor Brad Winter opposed.
Council Watch
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