Town Of Silver City Land of Opportunism political corruption silver city New Mexico
After reading the reports from Mesa, Arizona, I decided to file my own report on my town, Silver City ,New Mexico.
It appears that corruption, especially of Government is wide spread and not exclusive to any area of the country.
Here in this small town,the good ole boys control everything from construction, to businesses, to real estate.
The town officials are all related in some way to someone else either in business or in another city posistion.
The economy is taking a nose dive now ,mainly due to the stupidity of our founding fathers that became dependent on mining as a source of all income.
Now that Phelps Dodge has chosen to go elsewhere,mainly some where that they can pay slave wages, the town is imploding.
Our corrupt county officials ripped off the tax payers over the past three years to the tune of two million dollars to rennovate an old supermarket building to house county offices.
Cost overruns, mainly due to improper handling of funds,and down right stealing have nearly bankrupted the county.
The first alternative was for the crooks to sell our county owned hospital to bail us out.
Thank God enough public outcry made them at least postpone that idea.
As for the rest, our sewer system is so old and deteriorated that raw sewage runs under the downtown streets.
Our city water system was found to contain fecal matter in it only a month ago.
Our water ways are filled with trash of all kinds, including dead animals and construction debris.
Our main street was completely destroyed less than a hundred years ago by a flood caused mainly by stupidity and lack of environmental concerns.
We have no code enforcement here so much of the town resembles a third world nation, old cars, houses falling down and out and out trash every where.
New homes are quickly being built by construction scammers with out regard to any quality standards.
No soil compaction is required, nor is it done so regardless of how much you pay for a house, it will start settling severely in a very short period of time.
When this happens, don't expect any one in the real estate business to help you, they are part of the problem.
They turn thier heads and continue to sell the overpriced, inferior properties to any willing sucker and blame them for not getting an engineering report before buying.
The police are about as useful as hall monitors in a grade school.
Because they only make $7 an hour, we get the bottom of the barrel ,most being under the age of 25 so they are more interested in stopping teen aged girls for minor traffic violations than they are addressing the serious drug problem, vandalism and theft in the downtown area, and speeding through the streets day and night.
Recently more business have closed downtown, and the greedy landlords increase the rents by 25 to 30%.
They don't seem to realize that one of the reasons for the business failures to date are partially because of the outrageous rents they already pay.
The town is a wanna be art community,and those opposed to growth say they don't want it to become another Santa Fe.
Not likely to happen..We have nothing even close to what they do!!!
If you read the hype and the pretty ,glossy magazine about Silver City, you would get the impression that it is a dream come true,a real retirement mecca, fact is it is a dirty , corrupt town full of opportunistic slime bags that will rob you blind.
If your Idea of shopping is Walmart, and Albertsons.
Your choice of food is Mexican,Mexican,or over priced wanna be big city food, then this is the place for you.
If you enjoy driving two or three hours to find any decent stores, then you will definately love it here.
If fast food trash bags,beer bottles and cans strewn everywhere appeals to you, come on down.
If you like loud rap music being blasted from cruising cars , and wanna be gang bangers cussing at everyone on the street while you walk in the downtown area..Yep Silver City has it all.
As for me, I'm out of here.
I spent the last seven years of my life trying to make a difference here and have seen that no one really cares to change things, at least not any one that can really make a difference.
So don't be fooled by the media hype about this town, it isn't what it appears to be.
This place is moraly, spiritually, and financially bankrupt.
Don't have your heart and soul broken by Silver City ,New Mexico.
edward
silver city, New Mexico
9 Updates & Rebuttals
Kim
Silver City,New Mexico,
U.S.A.
Still here.... you lost me on your last post
#10Consumer Comment
Mon, June 07, 2004
This is all very interesting.
Texino, I'm sorry but you lost me on your last post to this report. Thomas, I'm glad to hear that your business is doing well as are 90% of the businesses - thank you for continuing to support Silver City. Mr. s****.>
Boz
Ever Clear,Florida,
U.S.A.
What Happened?
#10Consumer Comment
Sat, June 05, 2004
Hey Pardners, It is I Texino from the laboratory. I am wondering why I wrote that rebuttal. I sure don't remember doing it. You know I've been working very hard of my shellacked Fetal NFL Teams and my 1/4 sister and my 1/2 brother have been on me for working around too many chemicals. You guys got to realized that the stem-cell business is pretty important in the field of curing dreaded diseases and this time of year what with the proms and graduations we do get a big influx of them mule headed proto humans. REMEMBER all you christian murder squads, that these things are not little babies, so don't be coming around here trying to get points by killing me because it just doesn't work out that way. Texino would never kill a real baby no matter how hungry he was and besides Nan Reagan says it is ok, so there. And besides, you all are not going to care for this one bit, but since christmas and Easter are over and we have a ways to go before the holy days are upon us, I got to tell you that I was hanging out at an illuminati picnic planning session and I got me a good look at a couple of special Bibles them free masons use for special purposes like when the president gets sworn in. And I got to tell you, it is nothing like the Good Book that we all know and love. Hell no. It's full of stupid pictures of old timey French people having sex with Chinese people and one shows a giant conga line dance but all the dancers are getting eaten by a big snake. and there is even a picture of carmen miranda without any under pants on! I'll tell you, if them churches are using those Bibles and someone important tells. there is going to be a pretty busy day in Rome.
Better be careful who you tell about this. I'm not making it up though. I hang with those shriners all the time and they got some strange notions about who runs what.
All the best and Good Bless
Texino
Thomas
All Of New Mexico,New Mexico,
U.S.A.
If you don't Like it leave
#10Consumer Suggestion
Wed, June 02, 2004
If you dislike Silver so much get the fudge out. That will fix all your problems (yeah right). I 'm sure that where ever you move you will know how to manage the town and county governemnt better. Bud you are obviously on the outside lookin in and after the fact you say well If it had been done this way. I have been delivering to Silver for a good many years longer than you've been there and if this town was so terrible than I couldn't make a profit and I'd never come here but it's been good for me. So you really need to just get over yourself and move out because people like you cause most of the community a big headache.
Next Mr. s****.>
From The Outside Looking In
Silver City,New Mexico,
U.S.A.
stores closing, and the general depression
#10Consumer Comment
Tue, February 24, 2004
Ed,
I see some of what you see. That is the price of rent, the shop owners having a hard time, stores closing, and the general depression of the city and it's people. The garbage and trash, and high prices for low value. I s****.>
Edward
silver city,New Mexico,
U.S.A.
clearly the frozen North has frozen his brain
#10Author of original report
Fri, October 31, 2003
Thanks Grizzly
I don't know who appointed "Tex" as a refferee , but clearly the frozen North has frozen his brain. How some one can make an assesment of a situation in a place he has never been is amazing. He also obviously watches too many cowboy series re-runs to make assumptions about my mode of transportation. Actually , I am pretty "hip" as he puts it .One of a group of "progressives" that have never been too welcome in this community , where by the way I am one who doesn't drive a truck with a gun rack in it . I'm sure his information comes from some article written to lure retirees and city dwellers here. Sounds like he is pretty sharp though. Maybe he should hitch up his dog sled and come on down and have dinner with the"little lady" at Golden Corral and they can find ways to B.S. some more people. I'll bet he'll be missed up there in the tundra.
Boz
Gold City,Yukon,
Canada
And The Winner is....
#10Consumer Comment
Wed, October 15, 2003
Kim! That's right folks the little lady takes home the Blue Ribbon! Refferee Texino (that's me gang) has rulled.
Sure Kim may be a little perky and Republican, but, what the hey, the gal can spell and wrangle a sentence with the best of them. As for Ed, Who pissed on your flowers big guy? Come on Eddy, get a life. I'll bet you drive a buckboard or ride a mule. No wonder you are not a side kick or comic deputy sherriff. I think the last anti hip deputy on the Western Scene was that fellow Festus on Gun Smoke, that show out of Dodge. I never could cotten to that character; he was just too darn dirty for my taste.
So that's it; show's over;girl wins. Ed, you go on over to Luna and bother them, ok? Thanks!
Texino
Kim
Silver City,New Mexico,
U.S.A.
Do not make assumptions...
#10Consumer Comment
Tue, October 14, 2003
Perhaps I should clarify. I am a businesswoman and a business owner in Silver City! Yes, I did leave grant county to get my MBA but I came back to better "MY" community. The recent County Atty and Chamber Director that you mention in your rebuttal are personal friends of mine and they would be disgusted to read what you write about their county and city.
Trader Joes, Wild Oats, Home Depot...give me a break! It has only been recently that our closest metropolitan city of Las Cruces (Pop. 74,267) has obtained stores such as these. Yes, maybe we get shoppers from Catron County, but Luna County? Maybe you need to get out some, and then you'd know that Deming already has a KMart and a Wal-Mart.
As for the City Council, County Commission, Planning and Zoning meetings I don't watch them I am usually there PARTICIPATING, making a difference, not bad-mouthing everyone and everything. I do not have to watch TV to get my community information.
Stream International! Have you researched to see how many other small communities they have gone into and made promises of numerous jobs and high pay only to pull out of them within 3-years without ever fulfilling their promises and obligations? Stream leaving Silver City had very little to do with the town but much to do with poor management.
As for the Hispanics of Silver City, the ones that want to work do! Many of my Hispanic friends and family (Yes, I have Hispanic family members, though they call themselves Mexican) that were laid off from the mines have since started their own businesses and are prospering. And yes, many others left the state to find other jobs. That is the cycle of industry/commerce and business and if you don't understand that then you have never owned a business or worked for a corporation. And one more thing, when and if the mines ever re-open those same people that left will come back in a heartbeat. We've seen it many, many times throughout our history.
Lastly, I will not reply again. I know that I will NEVER change your opinion nor do I care to. I just wanted to let others know Silver City is not filled with negative, nasty, small minded people like you.
Edward
silver city,New Mexico,
U.S.A.
talk to the local hispanics and see if I am lying ..Why do the majority of the kids leave here for greener pastures?
#10Author of original report
Tue, October 14, 2003
I don't know and don't care who you are related from, since you are "from here" as the favorite saying is here, but you might want to talk to the local hispanics and see if I am lying. They don't have the options that many people do here and when the mining jobs go so do they.
Why do the majority of the kids leave here for greener pastures? Affordable housing? Affordable to whom? Look in the paper.It looks like a whole lot of foreclosures to me. That is cheap pickins for the same people that have always controlled the county.Speaking of the county, remember why we got in the pickle to begin with.CORRUPTION!!
Remember?Maybe thats why there is no woman county attorney any more, or woman planning director. Or why the woman director of the Chamber of Commerece resigned. The shopping dillema..Well if we are so prosperous then why don't we have a Trader Joes, Wild Oats, Home Depot? The population base is not just the county but all the remote areas around us in Catron County, Luna County..
Talk to some of the business operators that have invested thier own money into run down buildings only to have the greedy landlords raise thier rent. If you knew any business owners theyn could enlighten you.
I personally know two business owners that are done..And another on his way out at the end of the month. Yeah, lots of new businesses open and usually last less than two years. These are facts madam, not something I am manufacturing. Our new police chief says there is little he can do about the drug problem because everyone knows everyone and they warn eachother before the police can bust them,that is if they aren't related to begin with.Thgis was on TV. Do you ever watch local programming? Watch, it is rerun many times.Watch the council meetings.Watch the planning and zoning meetings.Watch the county commissioner meetings and if you still maintain your attitude you prove my point.
What about the fiasco to bring Stream here and the people that lost thier jobs there? Where is this wonderful economy? I guess the rich people from California will continue to flock here and cycle through in 2 or 3 years like they do before they figure out the truth.
Yeah. I am gladly leaving to go somewhere that the brains aren't all eaten up by copper and crystal meth.
Kim
Silver City,New Mexico,
U.S.A.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out...
#10Consumer Comment
Mon, October 13, 2003
I am a native of Grant County and currently reside in Silver City. While there is truth to your rant about everyone being related to someone else, it is a small rural community after all, there is very little truth in your outlandish accusations of corruption in city and county government and local business.
As for the shortfall in the county budget in past years, yes we needed to tighten our belts and determine ways to better use our funds as many municipalities do from time to time. As a result of the hard work and determination of the town manager and commissioners our county is projecting a budget that will be 1.3 million over the required three-twelfths reserve at the end of the year.
Contrary to your report, the local economy in Silver City is not taking a "nose dive" we have new businesses opening all the time in Silver City. Many open in the downtown area and the rents charged are no more or less than that charged in other communities of our size. Check your facts. Although Phelps Dodge did partially close down it's mines they are still employing scores of local residents and are continuing to re-hire in many cases.
I agree that our County needs a code enforcement officer and as of September the county hired one and he is working hard to get rid of some of the eyesores you mentioned. I would say though you seemed to have seen a nastier side of Silver than I do every day; i.e. sewer running down the streets, fecal matter in the water, dead animals, and construction debris. I dont think so! Its a wonder anyone ever moves here! And move to Silver City they do, it is hard to find a decent rental and homes that are priced appropriately sell quickly.
I totally take offence to your portrayal of our local law enforcement. We have a fine city police department, sheriffs department and local state police department. Crime wise, we are a relatively quiet town. We do not have the problems with local gangs that other cities have. This is in large part due to the local police agencies working hard to ensure that our local community is not infiltrated by gangsters and drug lords.
I had a good chuckle over your tirade about the shopping in Silver City. We are a rural community. You don't come to Silver City expecting to see a metro mall. Yes Wal-Mart is the main shopping available in Silver and yes we only have three grocery stores but with a population of around 30,000 in the county what more can you expect?
Lastly, I am really sorry that you had to spend SEVEN years in a place you didn't like. Seems to me that if I were living in a place that I hated as much as you seem to detest Silver City I would have hit the pavement running a lot sooner than seven years. I seriously have doubts but can only hope that you are happier where you are now.