President William H. Taft signed the proclamation declaring New Mexico the 47 th state on Jan. 6, 1912. Rita Powdrell, president of the African American Museum and Cultural Center, spoke of the state’s history at the Council’s Wednesday, Jan. 4 meeting. "We are proud to be part of the jigsaw puzzle that makes up New Mexico," she said. One of the centennial events is an appreciation day for retired African-American boxer Bob Foster on Jan. 21. Some consider Foster to be among the greatest Light Heavyweight boxers in history. He was born in Albuquerque in 1938. On a more somber note, one by one, councilors read parts of a heartfelt proclamation thanking Iraq War veterans, some of whom were in attendance.National Guard Maj. Gen. Kenny Montoya also offered gratitude to the many Vietnam veterans who are always the first in line to cheer a homecoming. “They weren’t welcomed home during their time, and I think they made sure that same mistake didn’t happen again,” he said. The Council postponed hot items, including an evaluation of the police oversight system and the third quarterly report from the Independent Review Office, which handles complaints against the Albuquerque Police Department. Without so much as a whisper, Council members let the city’s archaic teen curfew law slip off the books. It had been around since 1994, but the New Mexico Supreme Court found the law unenforceable and illegal in 1999.
Council Watch:
More on the centennial celebrations: nmstatehood.unm.educabq.gov/kimo/nm-centennial-eventson.fb.me/NM100The next meeting is set for 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, in the Council Chambers in the basement of City Hall.Send your comments about the City Council to carolyn@alibi.com
