City Hall accountability
The Unsheltered Committee of the City of Española met on Thursday, 10/20/2024. It’s sad when City representatives spend more time in denials and retaliation than on the business at hand: What to do for the unsheltered in the community.
The highlights of the meeting were not presentations of data, facts, reasonable arguments, and planning. Instead, the meeting spent an inordinate amount of time complaining about the alleged BS of social media and the City Manager’s verbal attacks against City Councilor Samuel LeDoux. Sitting back watching and sometimes agreeing were the City Councilor appointees to the Mayor’s Unsheltered Committee.
Tensions run high as our city government and administration is questioned or challenged. What exactly is going on between City Manager Eric Lujan and City Councilor Samuel LeDoux? It’s clear that Lujan is quite aggressive and angry toward LeDoux. This is the same Eric Lujan, City Manager who erupted at a North Central Solid Waste Authority meeting on May 16, 2024. For that meeting Mayor Pro Tem Peggy Sue Martinez was present and failed to rein in Lujan. Mr. Lujan has a very public and repeated pattern of losing his cool in what should be a professional setting.
City Manager Eric Lujan is an appointed employee of the City of Espanola. Hired by the Mayor and ratified by the council. Samuel LeDoux is an elected official — elected by his constituents to represent their interests. Councilor LeDoux is responsible, in part, for the oversight of City Manager Lujan. When corrective action for this appointed position is required, it falls to the vote of the elected council.
While the City Council of Espanola complains endlessly about the lack of truth on social media – you cannot fail to notice the actions of this city council and its appointees. These actions are indicative of their lack of integrity, reliability, transparency, and accountability. City Manager Lujan is allowed, enabled and encouraged by this Council to single out a fellow councilor, an elected official and chastise with insinuations and veiled threats of retribution, in a public meeting.
Are these the acts of a functional governmental agency? The acts of a professional, a representative of the city, an employee of the City of Espanola? I wonder if the same would have been tolerated from former city manager Jordan Yutzy, whom this council maligns whenever convenient. Ignore then intimidate, attack and silence are the modus operandi of the Vigil Administration, and no one is immune. This is spread evenly to outspoken constituents, other elected officials, and anyone with an opposing opinion.
Accountability does not mean the removal of the City Manager. Why aren’t we proposing corrective actions like — Anger Management and Professionalism Training while throwing in a tutorial on proper comportment of City Appointees. Training perhaps on the responsibilities of a City Manager. City Managers are not elected officials. How much longer does Espanola need to wait for some oversight and accountability at City Hall?
Cynthia Lentini
Española
Constant questioning
I’m usually not one to involve myself in politics, but after seeing the Mayor constantly question my fiancé’s commitment to our community, I’ve felt the need to speak up and emphasize how hard he has works for our City. City Councilor Sam LeDoux is the most passionate person I’ve ever met. His dedication to Española’s youth, his drive to make our city better, as well as his efforts to help the homeless, are some of the main reasons I was attracted to him.
While juggling between being a city councilor, a professor, and working with students in the Española public schools, he also always finds time to lend a hand to our Valley and help his family whenever we need him. Earlier this year during the homelessness crisis, he walked the encampment, delivered supplies to Pathways Shelter, and he has tried to find a humane compromise to help the most vulnerable while protecting the community he loves.
I’ve seen the hours he’s spent reading and preparing for council meetings, writing ordinances and resolutions, and sacrificing almost every Saturday morning to provide open office hours at McDonald’s. He is always fighting for us. I have to say this to the people of District 4, Don’t listen to the Mayor; Sam is doing everything he can for you; if you ever need him, please don’t hesitate to contact him. And to my fiancé, keep up the good fight.
Kiele Nichols
Española