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The TK 4 NM Express, special thanks to the Sun Flyer!

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City Council District Six Coalition of Neighborhood Associations

August 7, 2008

SE Heights Neighborhood Groups Issue Recommendations for Expo NM

ALBUQUERQUE -  As part of the RFI process and in anticipation of the Governor’s visit to Expo NM this Friday at 1:30 pm at the African American Performing Arts Center, surrounding neighborhood groups and elected officials have outlined several desired themes to help guide Expo New Mexico's future planning.  Earlier last month, 23 citizens representing 7 neighborhood associations, 4 organizations and 5 public officials gathered for a brainstorming session and are pleased to make the following recommendations.  Ideas for a new plan for Expo NM include:

   1. Keep the State Fair

2. Provide more job opportunities for area residents and be an asset for creating a community economic engine 

   3. Incorporate “Best of "  ideas from other cities, i.e. Central Park,  NYC; Millennium Park, Chicago; Soulard Market, St. Louis 

   4. Be an International/Cultural Destination (cultural centers, sister city cultures, International Consulate offices, etc.)

   5. Include a Rt 66/Central Avenue Promenade

   6. Home to a Permanent Grower’s Market/Flea Market (open, inviting, public) such as the Soulard Market, St. Louis

   7. Be a Daily and Year-round Destination including Retail, Restaurants and Government Offices

   8. Provide Year-round Family recreation that is community supported and include all age activities for children, teens, adults and elders

   9. Provide Green Open walkways, lighted and no walls

  10. A World Class Event Center like O2 in London that is multi-functional

  11. Incorporate thoughtful mixed use planning with a parking garage, gate re-designs, multi-modal transportation, workable traffic flows, and safe

  12. Use Green Building and alternative energy, i.e. solar panels on the covered grower’s market structure and utilize local companies

  13. Include Athletic Fields for a variety of community sports such as soccer, Little League, etc

  14. Include an Equestrian Center, depending on Mesa Del Sol plans

  15. Exclude ideas for established long-term housing but consider State Fair housing and ‘artist in residence’ programs like the Santa Fe Opera    

  16. Follow a process that permanently includes Neighborhoods and other stakeholders

" The Fairgrounds re-development will impact area residents and neighborhoods for 50 years or more.  The Governor is well served by having engaged citizens, their sharing of ideas and the value of their input," says Nancy Bearce, Coalition President.   

"What to do with Expo NM was an important issue in the recent primary, I'm pleased our district is proactively voicing its ideas.  I'm looking forward to working on this in the legislature," says State Senate District 17 Senator - Elect Tim Keller.  

 "I am excited to work with the Governor and community leaders on promoting a re-vitalized and vibrant Expo New Mexico that will serve the local neighborhoods as well as the entire state,” says State Representative Al Park, District 26.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Tim Keller: Truly a Progressive Dem

Tim Keller (center) with Digital Data Divide workers in Cambodia

Recently I've been writing positive things about Tim Keller, who's a progressive Dem running in the primary for State Senator in District 17. I've had a chance to talk with Tim at some length, and he spoke at last week's DFA-DFNM Meetup, making a very positive impression on the group with his passion and his positions. There's a lot of excitement in the progressive community about Keller's candidacy, including right here on this blog.

Unfortunately, I noticed that there's an item on Monahan today trying to make an issue of the fact that when Keller was 18 he registered as a Republican. Tim was also an independent for some years afterwards as he involved himself in exploring life and finding his niche -- before developing a focused political identity. It appears that Tim's opponent, four-term incumbent Shannon Robinson (SD-17), may try to use this to discredit Tim, but it's clear to me that Keller has a solid record he can stand by.

Monahan could have explained what Tim was doing when he wasn't registering himself as a Democrat. What was he up to? Among other things, getting a top notch education and helping to develop an innovative non-profit program overseas:

• He was away at Notre Dame getting his undergrad degree
• He helped start a non-profit in Cambodia helping land mine victims and other displaced persons (see article about Digital Data Divide)
• He went to get his MBA at Harvard 
• He moved back home--to be closer to his family

Tim in Cambodia

Since returning to New Mexico, he's been busy working at his regular job in addition to volunteering for groups that foster economic opportunities in Albuquerque's Southeast Heights—putting his business skills to work in the district where he lives. He also serves on the boards of numerous groups in the state and has helped develop small businesses here. The sum of his experiences led him to run for office as a Democrat -- because core Democratic values match his own heartfelt values. As Tim says:

"I have been a registered Republican, an Independent, and a Democrat. I am not a political insider and have got my experiences and values from things outside of politics, through community involvement, economic development and poverty alleviation both abroad and in New Mexico."

"I have a record I am proud to explain. I was born and raised in New Mexico. I went away to school and lived and worked overseas to improve the lives of disenfranchised people. I paid attention to issues more than I did politics. But now, I want to take those same organizing, civic minded skills to politics and the public sector--to help people.

"I became a progressive Democrat thoughtfully and through conviction."

Tim (upper right) with Digital Data Divide workers in Cambodia.

I don't know about you, but I have a lot of respect for a real Dem who started out in a Republican family, became successful in the business world, found a way to put his business acumen to work to help people in need help themselves -- and decided to run for office to serve his community.

Unfortunately, there are too many politicians in office today who call themselves Democrats but who have lost their way and abandoned many of their Dem ideals in order to acquire and hang onto power and clout. From my point of view, Tim's the real deal, and he came to his political identity through his rich experiences in life, as well as a conscious choice. I hope he's a harbinger of many more caring, progressive candidates to come, in his generation and beyond.

To read our previous coverage of New Mexico legislative races, visit our archive.