From Joe Monahan: “ART Ache”

The following is pertinent to the controversial implementation of Albuquerque’s Rapid Bus Transit project. It is taken from a more extensive article dealing with other political issues in New Mexico. The website where it appears is “Politics in New Mexico by Joe Monahan.” This part specifically takes issue with what Monahan reports is a misleading headline in the Albuquerque Journal that implied the mayor was present at a recent ART pubic meeting.


An award for political duplicity? Certainly Mayor Berry's comments about the public hearings for his controversial rapid bus plan for Central Avenue (ART) is a leading contender for such an award.

Below a misleading newspaper headline that reads, "Colorful language greets mayor at ART meeting," Berry addresses the loud objections heard at recent public hearings on ART. The mayor has not attended the public meetings and faced the protesting public, but says: “Progress invites controversy but if we shy away from progress and improvements to our city simply because we don’t have the stomach for controversy, we’re going to shortchange our city, our citizens and our future.”

Just who doesn't have the stomach for controversy? Well, could that be the mayor who sends his no-name administrators out to face the angry public while he hides behind the curtains?

Apparently nurturing hopes for some kind of political future, Berry refuses to attend the meetings and face the howls of discontent over his plan that would make for some interesting TV clips. If there's anyone with a weak stomach around here, it's not those in the peanut gallery, it's the weak-kneed Mayor.

Then there's the spectacle of Berry insider and commercial real estate developer Paul Silverman blasting Jean Bernstein, owner of the Flying Star restaurant chain, for opposing the ART project because she believes the construction would be disruptive to Nob Hill and ultimately choke off business when it is completed.

Silverman points out that the Flying Star is in a bankruptcy reorganization that has nothing to do with construction but how she runs her business. Never mind that Bernstein isn't blaming any current construction for her woes, what about Silverman and what critics call his his crony capitalism, consisting of big public subsidies for his downtown apartments and grocery store near Central and on which ART buses would run? Or how about his appointment by Mayor Berry to serve on the ABQ Development Commission. Does all that perhaps have an impact on his opinion of ART?

Silverman denigrates Bernstein for her bankruptcy, but could he make it in the free market without his subsidies and friendships with City Hall? He might want to ask himself that the next time he attacks business owners like Bernstein who are not lining up at the City Hall trough at feeding time but battling it out in the real world of business.

Reader Bil Diven writes of the bus controversy:

Where is the creative leadership to improve and promote the existing bus system especially in lieu of new river crossings? And what about finally accepting Rail Runner as a regional asset instead of a Richardson hangover? There's a lot of infrastructure being left behind in pursuit of the new shiny toy.

Want to voice your opinion on ART? The ABQ Free Press is conducting a survey. You can take part by clicking here.