What's going on, Albuquerque?

Morning Fix: That's Entertainment

APD, not AFD, clearing out the bosque for fire season.
Keep it small Albuquerque. But that's just my opinion.
Am I the only one that finds this headline misleading? Shouldn't it say, "Gov holds Breaking Bad bill hostage for teacher merit pay raises"...
And this, dear Gov, is one small way the movie industry impacts our city, our state and our economy.
Albuquerque ranks 22 on EPA's energy efficient buildings list.
Women head to the semi-finals in the Mountain West tournament! Everyone's a Lobo! Woof! Woof! Woof!

2 members like this

Comment by tesuquedog on March 15, 2013 at 9:13am: You’re right, the headline is misleading. The Gov wants merit pay. She continues to insist that film incentives and education are rivals. People are very passionate about both issues and she is trying to vilify the film industry to push her education agenda. As a veteran teacher, (25 years) and a parent of a young professional actor, I am very disappointed that she continues to pit the two against each other.

It is awesome that my son and many other NM actors and crew members have had the opportunity to work on sets here in NM. He has worked with student filmmakers and on professional film and TV projects and has not had to go out of state to do it. We have a thriving film and TV industry here in New Mexico. I wish she would see that. The members of the Legislature certainly do.

Comment by Benny the Icepick on March 15, 2013 at 10:04am: Film subsidies vs. Education?

Comment by Phil_0 on March 15, 2013 at 11:03am: Very well put, Tesuque Dog. And I agree, Benny - it's very, very hard to see how these two things are mutually exclusive. Is our economy really so robust that we can sacrifice job-creation measures for the sake of political brinksmanship? (Hint: the answer rhymes with "Joe").

Comment by once banned twice shy on March 15, 2013 at 12:02pm: Martinez is just a jerk, that's all. She claims that she wants NM to be open for business, but to her that only means certain business--the type that will contribute to her re-election campaign.

And I agree. I don't think that lower population growth is a bad thing for Albq. Particularly with a decreasing water supply...

Comment by RunLikeADog on March 15, 2013 at 1:24pm: Um.. Political gamesmanship is played out every day across this country so you really can't fault the Governor for playing the game. It is standard practice to hold something hostage that is near and dear to the other party's heart and then spew misinformation. This scenario is going on in Wahington as we speak. The Republicans presented a balanced budget bill and the Democrats are saying that it will balance the budget on the backs of the seniors. Please, I know you all are not that naive.

Comment by Phil_0 on March 15, 2013 at 1:39pm: @RLAD: fixed your post...

"Um.. Political gamesmanship is played out every day across this country so you really can't fault the Governor for playing the game. It is standard practice over the last 12 years or so to hold something hostage that is near and dear to the other party's heart and then spew misinformation. This scenario is going on in Wahington as we speak. The Republicans presented a balanced budget bill and the Democrats are saying that it will balance the budget on the backs of the seniors. Please, I know you all are not that naive."

I would think people of all political stripes would agree that Congress is currently totally dysfunctional and not in any way, shape or form a political process that thinking people would want to emulate. The Congress's sub-20% approval rating speaks to that. So why on earth replicate that dysfunction here in New Mexico, especially if it costs the taxpayers the (substantial) extra money to put on a special session? Ultimatum politics is killing our national political process and until recently the NM Legislature actually seemed somewhat immune.

Get under the surface and the Governor is objecting to nickels and dimes here. She's trying to score political points but this is a particularly stupid and poorly-reasoned venue for doing so.

Comment by Benny the Icepick on March 15, 2013 at 1:40pm: The film subsidy and education are not matters of government spending, they're investments in our state's future. Both are major economic engines with considerable long-term return on investment. For all politicians talk of running a government like a business, they seem to have a hard time grasping the importance of programs and policies that makes a government and its citizens much more prosperous in the long run.

Comment by ramon t on March 15, 2013 at 1:46pm: I feel as I have entered the Twilight Zone. Seeing Progressives/Dems/Liberals in favor of Corporate subsidies is just freaking me out.

Comment by misterhinkydink on March 15, 2013 at 1:50pm: The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which is considered a liberal think tank, opposes film industry incentives because they drain revenue from education, healthcare, infrastructure, etc. I agree since I haven't seen any data to support these incentives are good for the state, as in cash flow in our direction.

Comment