Española Mayor Joseph Maestas can get on the local radio station and say just about anything he likes about the Rio Grande SUN, its staff and things that have been written about him, as long as it’s not slanderous. He can make derogatory remarks and accuse us of whatever makes him feel better.
He can create all the promotional ads his heart desires on Española’s blow torch station. He can say don’t buy the SUN, don’t read the SUN, it’s not a real newspaper and doesn’t have anything good to say about the community.
He can host his own Napoleanic show whereby he declares everyone is wrong except him, takes credit for federal and state highway projects, defends bad actions taken, poor decisions made and improper taxpayer money spent.
But he should pay for it himself, not use taxpayer money to address the personal problems he has with the newspaper. Drawing up a contract to spend $1,000 a month with the local radio station at taxpayer expense is wrong when you’re flush with cash. It’s irresponsible and borderline criminal when you do it while in the cash situation the city finds itself currently.
It’s easy to understand what drove Maestas to such desperation. But it’s unfathomable to grasp why he would spend money we don’t have to do it.
There’s nothing wrong with the mayor or council getting out and speaking about how great the city’s doing, touting accomplishments and singing the praises of a well-oiled city hall led by outstanding professionals providing services and helping the citizenry. But since none of them can do that, our mayor has resorted to simply saying things printed in the paper are wrong, factually incorrect or that people have been misquoted.
There’s no need for any of that. Take a look at the bottom of page A2. You’ll see a correction box. Whenever one of our reporters gets a quote, name or fact wrong, all anyone has to do is call and tell us. We run a correction. It’s that simple.
No one from city hall, the council or the mayor has called in a very long time to complain that we got something wrong. They call and complain that we shouldn’t be writing about what they’re doing wrong. Very different.
The wording of the contract is interesting in itself. First the radio station has to broadcast city council meetings. It’s about time. We’ve been waiting for the cable company to actually do some public service and provide that but it doesn’t look like that will happen. That’s OK, radio is good enough.
Second the mayor says the radio station will provide 20-30 second spots 10 times a day to offset any negative attacks against the mayor and/or the city council. He doesn’t state against the city, administration or staff. He specifically wants to defend himself against what he perceives as personal attacks. Three years later he has not grasped the simple concept he is the mayor, representing the city and it’s not about him.
Then there’s a provision for a “coffee break” whereby he gets to speak his mind.
Next is a sponsorship of high school athletics. There’s no specific school listed but as taxpayers’ children predominantly attend Española Valley High School, we’ll assume that’s the school the city has chosen to support. The rest of you: tough luck.
He wants 10 spots per day promoting projects on which the city is currently working. We’re not sure he can find 10 things to talk about for 30 seconds but he can get some mileage from those state and fed projects.
Lastly, the Oñate Fiesta will get all the radio coverage needed. We thought the Fiesta had its own budget and was raising money to cover all its expenses. Rio Grande SUN advertising manager Maria Garcia has been quite successful in doing this for over a year now. She will probably be happy to know she doesn’t have to cover the radio cost now, you are.
This is a huge waste of taxpayer money to salve the mayor’s ego. While it’s barely legal, should the mayor start using the station as a forum for re-election, he’ll pass over into the illegal side. We’re not sure this would bother him but it should bother taxpayers that he continues to operate with no one questioning his tactics.
If the council is OK with this, we have bigger problems. The council is supposed to set policy. Where are these policy-makers, surely not listening to the Joe Maestas show.