5/7/09
Student dormitories. An Española Railrunner stop. A really, really big recreation center.
Española politicians and bureaucrats shifted giddily in their seats and rattled off items on an imaginary wish list when Gov. Bill Richardson said during an April 29 presentation at the Española Convento that he wants to “do something big” in Española — “really big, a legacy-type project, something everyone can agree on,” Richardson called it.
Sen. Richard Martinez (D-Española) sitting next to Richardson, prodded him to make good on his offer.
“He just pledged $6 million to Los Alamos,” Martinez said. “Let’s see what he can do here.”
After the meeting, once Richardson left the room, the enthusiasm tapered off.
“He’s been saying that for three years,” Mayor Joseph Maestas said. “Let’s see if he follows through.”
Big project or not, Española nonetheless came away from the meeting with a snatch of good news. Richardson told the 11 officials who attended the meeting that the city is eligible to reapply for law enforcement funding from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed earlier this year.
The County received $24,043, which Sheriff Joe Mascareñas said might buy “a couple of radios,” when the federal Justice Assistance Bureau distributed a first round of funding in March. But the city received nothing because the Española Police Department had failed to report crime statistics to the FBI.
The city now has until May 15 to apply for a share of an additional $4.9 million pot of federal stimulus funding the state Department of Public Safety will distribute to applicants that did not receive funding the first time around.
Grants Management Bureau Chief Evelyn Romero said the city is eligible for those funds, and having reported to the FBI will not be a requirement.
“Though they certainly should be (reporting statistics) anyway,” she pointed out.
The Police Department could use any funds it receives to pay for salaries, equipment, training and technical assistance, according to a funding application.