Posted on 01/17/2011 8:28:06 AM PST by CedarDave
Once aimed at completion last year, the $209 million taxpayer-financed project in the southern New Mexico high desert stands half-finished.
In her first two weeks in office, a wary new governor sacked both the Spaceport Authority's board and its executive director. Records show the ambitious project launched under Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson has faced construction delays and a lack of planning. Competition from other states interested in commercial space flights continues to loom. There's also the prospect that the state may need to spend an additional $10 million to $20 million to build a second runway to deal with the problem of crosswinds.
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, signaling a possible change in direction, on Friday removed the Richardson-appointed board of directors for the spaceport. A week earlier, she sought the resignation of Rick Homans, the second executive director to leave in the past year.
Martinez also ordered a financial audit of construction costs of the project, which have so far totalled about $130 million.
"The state has already contributed more than half of the project construction costs to date, so it is important to explore ways in which increasing private sector involvement might decrease the significant level of taxpayer responsibility," said Martinez spokesman Scott Darnell.
Martinez believes the "state can continue to be a partner in the project, but no longer its major financier," Darnell added.
A Martinez transition team studying Spaceport operations, financing, contracts and other facets is expected to give its recommendations within the next few weeks, Darnell said.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
Located in a remote area 30 miles southeast of Truth or Consequences, ...
Remote is the word -- nothing there but sand and creosote bushes.
This is a lengthy, well documented article on the history, current progress and financing of what is supposed to be a private-public partnership. However, the new governor is very wise to require a financial and construction audit because, as with most everything else Richardson had a hand in, there is likely corruption, pay-to-play scandals and campaign donations in return for contracts.
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” 30 miles southeast of Truth or Consequences, ... “
I live close enough to TorC that it’s where I go for my shopping every week....
In the weeks prior to the Groundbreaking (What, two years ago?) officials flooded the airwaves with hosannas about what an economic boon this project was supposed to be for the area...
[crickets] I’ve lived in construction boom towns, and TorC ain’t one of ‘em... Not only was there no noticable hike in hiring - but the crews that reportedly are working (how many of them speak English??) sure ain’t doing their shopping here....
We’ve been duped all up-and-down the line, here.....
this is what EVERY new governor should do
Come into office and audit the crap out of every democrap project and throw everyone involved in jail
an airstrip on the cheapest land in America, a few hangers,,,, 200 million, and Bill Richardson. Nooooo corruption there,,, nosirrrrree
Los Eisley ping
Well now the airstrip is in, perhaps NM could create an industrial park for hazardous materials - the neighbors shouldn’t complain. /S
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