Various groups crowded council chambers on Nov. 15. Stop the War Machine people supported a bill encouraging the city to work with Kirtland Air Force Base on an emergency plan in case things go wrong with the 2,500-plus nuclear weapons stored there. (“Hold it under the cold tap, Love.”) Vietnamese-Americans supported a bill recognizing the flag of the former Republic of Vietnam as the official symbol of Albuquerque’s Vietnamese-American community. Supporters and opponents of development impact fees faced off.
Nukes, problematic wars, home building statistics—was it all related? (Move to Marvelicious Multi-Cultural Duke City—A Nuke for Every 200 Citizens!) This week’s Still Believing in Responsibility Award goes to city staffer Carla Prando. Explaining an amendment that corrected a minor landscaping regulation, Prando said, “I made a mistake and this bill fixes it.” Savor those words for a moment. When was the last time you heard them from a public servant? While many bills were passed, impact fees drove the meeting far past midnight.
Council Watch
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