Espanola 2023 by Cynthia P. Lentini, Espanola Resident and Community Advocate.
When a small municipality is being destroyed by its Mayor and his administration of sycophants, who do we turn to? Who will hold them accountable as our city is destroyed bit by bit, day by day? City of Espanola 2023, ruled over by the crown of nepotism. The wheels of our city’s demise began turning 4/1/2022 when John Ramon Vigil took office. It isn’t so much Mr. Vigil’s inexperience as it is his emotional immaturity and the “mijito” syndrome – a physical adult with the emotional maturity of a child.
Life teaches us humility. Our egos inflate and life deflates it and like Icarus we crash back down to earth. What if we are so shielded that we never feel the consequences of our actions? What if we are so used to immediate gratification that we cannot tolerate being told no? What if you are a narcissist and “no” sets you off into narcissistic rage? Instead of a rattle our emotional toddler wields a gavel. His rages come at a cost of millions to the people of Espanola. For each employee lawsuit, the city pays a $350,000 deductible. How many lawsuits will the Espanola taxpayer be responsible for?
We are still in the dark on the City’s current finances. Mr. Vigil would like to spin this now, saying he is disappointed in the leadership of the finance committee and public works committee. There are “personnel issues” with the suspended City Manager and now the Finance Director is on “administrative leave.” A new comptroller is in place. Is it so hard to see that he is being retaliatory? How many employees has the City of Espanola lost since Mr. Vigil began his constant presence at City Hall?
Mr. Vigil and I agree on something, I am equally disappointed in the leadership. The fault lies in Mr. Vigil, and the Mayor Pro Tem Peggy Sue Martinez. Normally prone to crocodile tears, Mayor Pro Tem dropped all those pretenses and showed her true self at the July 11th, 2023, city council meeting when she engaged a constituent during public comment and immaturely made faces, rolled her eyes and shook her head. She then finished strong holding up her fingers signaling an L – Ace Ventura, Loser style while another councilor was speaking. Her argument based on the admission that she only missed 2 calls from Councilor Salazar-Torrez instead of the 4 he stated. Whether 2 or 4 is irrelevant. When a city emergency like the absence of a city manager has occurred, the mayor cannot simply appoint himself acting city manager or then simply point and say the HR Director is now interim city manager. A complaint was filed by the finance director just 2 days before he was placed on administrative leave, a complaint against Sally Baxter. These the action of immature vindictive toddlers. If I don’t get my way, I will make you pay. The Mayor Pro Tem’s silence spoke volumes. Whatever is going on, they are all tied together. Perpetrator and enablers.
Mr. Vigil’s unabashed retaliation against the councilors that were attempting to hold him accountable is plainly visible. The Council is clearly divided. Mr. Vigil holds the tie breaking vote. Where are councilors Aaron Salazar, Nanette Rodriguez and Dorothy Valdez? Are they voting for the good of their constituency or the good of their mijito? Is a City Attorney supposed to serve the will of the Mayor or serve as a representative of what is in the best interest of the City (the constituency), his client?
When did Mayor and Mayor ProTem become King and Queen of Espanola? The Mayor’s constant presence at City Hall interferes daily in process and procedure causing unnecessary problems and delays, clearly evident in the City’s Finance Department – terribly impacted by bullying tactics. The city staff live in fear of their wrath. Checks and balances completely out the window. The Mayor does not have the right to bar the city staff from establishing boundaries and demanding courtesy, respect and professionalism. Staff are entitled to a safe work environment to their emotional and physical health.
The Mayor has his City Clerk dictate to councilors and staff when and if they can speak to constituents. Email issued by Debbie J. Garcia the City Clerk dated September 28, 2022, did just that. “Please be aware, per the Mayor, we are not to engage or communicate with….” That is grossly inappropriate and how is it legal to bar a taxpayer and voter from speaking with their elected representative? They certainly don’t hesitate to collect my utility payment.
Next meeting an Interim City Manager is to be named and interviewed, the new Comptroller introduced, and the clearly biased vote tilted in the Mayor’s favor to change committee chairs. The councilors who oppose these selections are left powerless. It is a travesty to see governance reduced to this. The Chief of Police is cousin of the comptroller. Mayor John Ramon Vigil, Mayor Pro Tem Peggy Sue Martinez and Councilor Aaron Salazar are cousins. There are so many interconnections the business of the City of Espanola is lost in the shuffle. In Espanola, New Mexico how can we find elected officials not tainted by conflicts of interests and nepotism?
New Mexico 2023. We have been a state of the United States of America since 1912 and a territory long before that. How are we allowing this type of governance that violates the very foundation of our democracy – the United States Constitution? Is there really no entity to bring this under control? The public is speaking, and the response is “We can’t just go in.” Why not? Isn’t that your job State of New Mexico? Why is this ok? Didn’t we learn the damage that can be done when such severe immaturity taints administrative decisions? Is this representative of Espanola and of New Mexico? Turn a blind eye to the destruction of an entire community at the whim of a mijito who thinks he was crowned King instead of elected Mayor. It is now a badge of honor to be terminated by this City of Espanola administration. It instantly shows that you have the skill set necessary for your work and you have integrity. Things go too long ignored and the buck passed one time too many. Who is going to help a small municipality from those in power who aren’t acting in the best interest of the people?