Alamogordo NM
6-24-2025 7:07pm

Alamogordo County Commission, City of Alamogordo Joint Session

The Alamogordo City Commission and the Otero County Commission met, Monday in joint session for a discussion concerning the of the city leaving the city dispatch authority and a discussion concerning the potential selling off of a portion of the fairgrounds or possible relocation.

The joint session was called to order and then 9 individuals from the public spoke during the comments period.

The first three speakers were dispatch employees which took a defensive stance about the seperation, one claiming that APD officers we're verbally abuse and hostile when dispatch authority errors occured..

A fourth speaker spoke passionately about the dispatch authority as a former employee and complimented the decision to withdraw and to "stop the indiscriminate squandering of city taxpayers money."

The first speaker was supportive of the existing dispatch authority

The 6th, 7th and 8th speaker spoke concerning the Otero County Fairgrounds and spoke against the sell or reduction of any property claiming it was important to emergency services as well as fair entertainment.

The 9th speaker went back to the dispatch authority and condemned the county commission for covering up and allowing abuse by the dispatch authority supervisor. He ended by saying "Alamogordo deserves better."

Otero County Commissioner Vickie Marquardt then announced that the city has given notice of termination of partnership in the dispatch authority. It is a done deal but she wanted to "clear the air" and make some comments. She went on to express her concern that personel records were being discussed and suggested that present employees should also be concerned.

Commissioner Amy Barela spoke that she requested this joint meeting to bring transparency. She alluded that the rank and file APD did not support this transition of dispatch. She said the police chief did meet with her and had expressed his concerns.

The meeting then went on to discuss the potential sell of a portion of the property at the fairgrounds. The value of the piece for consideration is $1.2 Million. And a good question that has been raised is does holding on to prime commercial real estate best serve the taxpayers?

Two proposals were presented to the city management to consider. One was to sell a portion of the property and work with Z trans on shuttles from Griggs field as parking. That is a consistent proposal to what many cities do.

Proposal two was to relocate the fairgrounds to larger location off Levelle Road that could better host a larger midway and a much larger space.

The reason the issue has even come up is because developers often approach the city as this is prime real estate.

One county commissioner spoke suggesting that the fair brings revenue to businesses in Alamogordo but facts do not support that. During the fair downtown businesses and area restaurants see a downturn in revenue. Many close early and cut staff fair week.

While fairs assist in community building and fun, studies show that small businesses that don't participate typically see a downturn in revenues during fair week.

Fairs are positive for a community but what would be the harm in moving it to Lavelle Road to a larger facility with new buildings and a modern facility? The present facilities need upgrades a move would be a logical step to support the fair for future generations.

The fairgrounds used to be rural and was a an airplane landing strip. The town has now grown and the time has come to consider a move.

The joint meeting was just to begin community discussions of what if? The city commissioners have not moved to sell the fairgrounds. The point is the city is reviewing options to best serve the city's taxpayers. These discussions are what we elect city officials to do as a service to the taxpayers.

County Commissioner Amy Barela has suggested the city if it were to sell the parking lot should set the funds aside for the fairgrounds. A county commissioner attempting to direct city officials on how to use it's funds is odd at best.

AlamogordoTownNews.org asked both Country Commisioner leader Amy Barela for comment concerning the meeting. Her response was "no comment."

Mayor Susan Payne was upbeat and her comments may be heard vis an intervew with Anthony Lucero on streaming KALHRadio.org

https://youtu.be/7ygJFVa9fNU?si=DqvMRjKeYaKFJDjR

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6-25-2025 8:51am

It's sad that you can't see past New York ave. Mr. Edwards.

Restaurants
will always take a hit during any fair because the food at the fair is
part of the fair experience. Restaurants with good management open
booths at the fair not only to increase revenues during the fair, but
also as advertisement for their main locations.

Other businesses take advantage of increased traffic in the area by having fair sales.  Those businesses in and around the vicinity of the fair also see increased revenue for a period after the fair.

New York ave. will take a hit during any major event that's not within a couple blocks because there's few if any essential businesses on New York ave. It's almost all boutiques and other tourist traps.  There is almost nothing on New York ave. to appeal to the average shopper.

There would be room for a larger fairgrounds on Lavelle rd., but it would be a hit to ALL business in the city, because there are almost no retail location near, or on the major routes in and out of that location.

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6-29-2025 9:52pm

It’s honestly disappointing to watch grown adults, elected to serve the public, behave like cliques in a high school hallway. We have real issues in Alamogordo that need attention like the severe lack of resources for people experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, and the increasing number of families living in crisis.

Instead of working together on solutions, we see city and county officials turning every disagreement into a turf war. What happened to professionalism, collaboration, or even basic communication? The way this is being handled publicly through vague statements, accusations, and power plays shows a serious lack of maturity and leadership.

And frankly, Commissioner Amy Barela should focus less on city employee gossip and more on the unkept promises she made about addressing homelessness in our community. She has even expressed concern that helping people might “attract more homeless individuals”  as if compassion is a problem. That mindset is exactly why so many people in need are falling through the cracks. It’s like being in the middle of a flood and saying we don’t want any sandbags for fear that we’ll attract more water. Let me also add that Commissioner Barela is not alone in this belief that providing help will attract more homeless people. This is a shared perception among her colleagues and Mayor Susan Payne also shares the same concern. 

We’re tired of seeing energy wasted on petty politics when there are people sleeping on sidewalks, in the desert or in cars tonight.

If anyone wants to talk about real solutions for homelessness in our town  from emergency shelter, transitional housing, to long-term support systems I’m here and ready to have that conversation. Let’s stop the drama and start working together.

— Tanya Lucero
gritngrace813@gmail.com

“Everyone deserves a little grace.

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6-30-2025 8:36am

Since the very beginning of this country as an independent nation, we have had an ever increasing concern and public assistance for the poor and down trodden.  Which has since evolved in to a multi-trillion dollar industry (yes, it's an industry) of social welfare systems, until today we have reached a point where it's less about helping the poor, than it is about keeping social workers and activists employed.

What was our country like before public welfare?  A few quotes from good ol' Ben Franklin might shed some light.

"We have no poor houses in the Colonies, and if we had, we would have no one to put in them, as in the Colonies there is not a single unemployed man, no poor and no vagabonds."
Benjamin Franklin

"In my youth, I traveled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer."
Benjamin Franklin

"Repeal that [welfare] law, and you will soon see a change in their manners. ... Six days shalt thou labor, though one of the old commandments long treated as out of date, will again be looked upon as a respectable precept; industry will increase, and with it plenty among the lower people; their circumstances will mend, and more will be done for their happiness by inuring them to provide for themselves, than could be done by dividing all your estates among them."
Benjamin Franklin

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6-30-2025 11:43am

i imagine that franklin would be astonished by the extent that poverty has been turned into a profitable business in america.  payday loans, check cashing "services", pawn shops, cash for car titles; these are all examples of businesses that thrive on other human beings' misfortune.  and every technological breakthrough is accompanied by more folks who once had jobs, that progress has made redundant. 
the concept of caring for "the least of these" is out of style these days - we focus our present attention on the poor down-trodden billionaires.

I wish to become rich, so that I can instruct the people and glorify honest poverty a little, like those kind hearted, fat, benevolent people do.    Mark Twain

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6-30-2025 9:55pm

i fear you misread the quote - he was talking about rich people, he did not distinguish between their political preferences.

“Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.”  ― Mark Twain

 and, i would note that we are presently availed of a used diaper....

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7-01-2025 12:20am

Mr. Twain also had one other piece of advice that I guess I should heed more often.
"Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level, and then beat you with experience."
Mark Twain

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7-01-2025 5:47pm

"Stupid is as stupid does." – Forrest Gump

i'm not the one gushing about the fellow who has set a personal record for suing and being sued - Trump and his 3,500 suits: Prosecutor and author reveals in interview his portrait of 'Plaintiff in Chief'                                                                                                                   i'm not the one going to bat for the great businessman who has 6 bankruptcies - Donald Trump Business Bankruptcies: List and Reasons                                                                                                                   i'm not the one who is willing to overlook that he has been convicted of 34 felonies, and has multiple lawsuits outstanding in the city and state of new york that currently have fines over $500 million dollars....and increase $120,000 per day - until they are paid.  -  How much does Trump owe so far in each of his court cases? | The Independent

i'm assuming you have wisely invested in many of donnie's "business deals"; the trump steaks/water/wine/vodka, the golden sneakers, the trading cards, the gold plated trump coins, the trump bibles (printed in china for $3 - and offered to the faithful for $60), the bitcoin, truthsocial.....did you send your kids to trump university?

unlike so many, i know a con man when i see one - operating on  the basis of w. c. fields'  "never give a sucker an even break".

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6-29-2025 11:56pm

Moving the fairgrounds to Lavelle Rd seems like the better option. I don't understand why the topic had to be carried over for further discussion. It is well past time for Alamogordo to get onboard with keeping up with the ever-evolving world around us. There should be no reason that we have to continue to shop out of town because our community lacks on so many levels. The current location of the fair is too crowded and outdated. That pool you all wanted sure was approved fast and in a hurry. Seems this is a no brainer. Business's will always take a hit, that's just the way it goes, the owners can get motivated and sell food or whatever it is they offer in their little boutiques at the fair or shut down for a week. We cannot please everyone. Relocating the fair will open more doors for our community to prosper. 

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