On To The Next Republican Elephant Pile of Dung To Clean Up

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The city has secured $75 million from the federal government to pay for the long-awaited Albuquerque Rapid Transit project.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1211590/city-to-receives-75-million-for-art.html?fb_action_ids=1886215921512750&fb_action_types=og.likes

Congratulations are in order to Democrat Mayor Tim Keller when he said:

“Our team invested time, sweat and energy into recouping our city’s funds for building the ART project, and now we have word from the Federal Transit Administration that a big portion of the federal funding is on the way. This outcome alleviates the burden of having to cover the cost of the project with city funds or new tax dollars. … There is still a ways to go, but at least now we can balance the books with our residents’ tax dollars restored”

Democrat Unites State Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham had this to say:

“This federal reimbursement is a testament to the work and strong partnership of all the stakeholders involved, and ensures that the city has the flexibility to invest in other infrastructure programs that improve our transportation system and create jobs. … Despite the numerous and serious issues associated with this project, we were able to work together with community members and the congressional delegation to find a solution for the people we represent.”

The $75 million in funding will come in two installments through the Federal Transit Administration’s Small Starts Program.

The entire ART Bus project cost $130 million dollars, of which all has ostensibly been paid.

The City and taxpayers will now be reimbursed for money already spent on the disastrous ART Bus project that forced the closure of so many businesses along Central.

Sadly, the debt will be paid in full on one hell of a boondoggle that benefited only a few and destroyed Route 66 and the buses are still not operating.

On to the next Republican White Elephant pile of dung left behind by former Mayor Richard Berry with many more that will not be this easy to clean up.

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POSTSCRIPT

Following is a blog article listing of articles on the Art Bus project:

https://www.petedinelli.com/2018/06/12/dinelli-blog-articles-on-art-bus-project-listed/

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About

Pete Dinelli was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is of Italian and Hispanic descent. He is a 1970 graduate of Del Norte High School, a 1974 graduate of Eastern New Mexico University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and a 1977 graduate of St. Mary's School of Law, San Antonio, Texas. Pete has a 40 year history of community involvement and service as an elected and appointed official and as a practicing attorney in Albuquerque. Pete and his wife Betty Case Dinelli have been married since 1984 and they have two adult sons, Mark, who is an attorney and George, who is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Pete has been a licensed New Mexico attorney since 1978. Pete has over 27 years of municipal and state government service. Pete’s service to Albuquerque has been extensive. He has been an elected Albuquerque City Councilor, serving as Vice President. He has served as a Worker’s Compensation Judge with Statewide jurisdiction. Pete has been a prosecutor for 15 years and has served as a Bernalillo County Chief Deputy District Attorney, as an Assistant Attorney General and Assistant District Attorney and as a Deputy City Attorney. For eight years, Pete was employed with the City of Albuquerque both as a Deputy City Attorney and Chief Public Safety Officer overseeing the city departments of police, fire, 911 emergency call center and the emergency operations center. While with the City of Albuquerque Legal Department, Pete served as Director of the Safe City Strike Force and Interim Director of the 911 Emergency Operations Center. Pete’s community involvement includes being a past President of the Albuquerque Kiwanis Club, past President of the Our Lady of Fatima School Board, and Board of Directors of the Albuquerque Museum Foundation.