Our mayor is brilliant at mustering public support behind him—whether or not his plans are rational, or even legal. Back in October of last year, Chavez sent a crew out in the middle of the night to widen Montaño Road to four lanes. On Monday of this week, he put up orange barrels blocking it back to two lanes. He then kicked off a talk radio fracas that spread misinformation about the controversy fast and thick.
Over the last few days, Chavez has made it sound as if people with a personal vendetta against him are preventing the road from being restriped to four lanes. Not true. He just didn't follow the federal process in place to assure that such changes are beneficial for the region as a whole.
The issue is complicated, and bureaucratic, but in this case the bureaucracy is there for a reason. Furthermore, if Chavez doesn't comply with these restrictions, our city could lose millions of dollars in federal transportation money.
A special meeting to discuss the issue will be held at the Mid-Region Council of Governments (809 Copper NW) on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 5:30 p.m.
