Entitled Government Agencies
November 03, 2017 15:24 Book stuff | Food for Thought
Government agencies in New Mexico feel they can do whatever they want because to enforce IPRA takes a huge effort and very few people are going to do that.
We have all heard or know entitled people who think the world owes them everything. In New Mexico, there is a new trend happening quietly – entitled government agencies.
We have a year to go before we have an election for a new Governor and in that time government agencies are doing what they want with tax-payer money. Those same government agencies are also ignoring the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA).
IPRA is a real law – NMSA 1978, Chapter 14, Article 2. It was passed by the New Mexico Legislature and signed by the Governor. Periodically, it has been updated. It has a booklet put out by the Office of the Attorney General and it has very specific things that must be done when a citizen requests a document and the damages for not following IPRA. It also has very clear time deadlines for filling the request.
People are starting to notice that government agencies are not following IPRA. It was in the Albuquerque Journal Monday, the University of New Mexico’s Paul Krebs, who used tax-payer money to take a group to Scotland golfing, that he told everyone in his office to trash their emails so IPRA couldn’t find evidence. Then he “retired.”
I have had my own interesting experience with UNM and IPRA. They said they didn’t have any documents about UNM Press books going to UNC via Tennessee. Funny thing is, I have some emails about that very subject from UNM Dean Clement. Woops!
In my mind the real king of violating IPRA is the New Mexico Public Education Department. My current lawsuit is for 232 violations of IPRA. MASSIVE! NMPED doesn’t think they have to follow the IPRA law – they are above it!
According to Laura Paskus, Santa Fe Reporter, September 29, 2015, “ citizens, including journalists, can expect to remain largely on their own when trying to peer behind the scenes of government and hold public officials and agencies accountable.”
In other words, government agencies in New Mexico feel they can do whatever they want because to enforce IPRA takes a huge effort and very few people are going to do that. The IPRA law was written to give citizens a path to challenge violations of IPRA, but it still is hard and time consuming.
Barbe Awalt
Nov 12: 4th Annual Albuquerque Balloon Museum Arts & Crafts Fair, 9am to 5pm
HENRIETTA CHRISTMAS & PAUL RHETTS ("The Basic Genealogy Checklist")
Dec 9: Los Lunas Public Library, 10am
January 6: Hispanic Genealogy Research Center at National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque, 10am
January 9: El Castillo Living Center, Santa Fe, NM, 7pm
SLIM RANDLES ("The Fly Fisherman's Bucket List")
Nov 9: Bookworks, Rio Grande Blvd, 6pm
JOSEPH SANCHEZ ("Historic Route 66")
Nov 4: Hispanic Genealogy Research Center at National Hispanic Cultural Center, 10am
Nov 18: Bookworks, Rio Grande Blvd, 3pm
JOHN TAYLOR & RICHARD MELZER ("Tragic Trails & Enchanted Journeys" & "Captain Maximiliano Luna")
Nov 11: Treasure House Books, Old Town Plaza, 1pm
Nov 16: Bookworks, Rio Grande Blvd, 6pm
ROBERT TORREZ ("Voices from the Past")
Nov 4: Treasure House Books, Old Town Plaza, 1pm
Nov 30: Bookworks, Rio Grande Blvd, 6pm
ROSS VAN DUSEN ("What Makes the Lightning?", "How the Crocka Dog Came to Be"; and "Lyle Got Stuck in a Tree")
Dec 1: Treasure House Books, Old Town Plaza, 6pm
AT BOOKWORKS
We have a year to go before we have an election for a new Governor and in that time government agencies are doing what they want with tax-payer money. Those same government agencies are also ignoring the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA).
IPRA is a real law – NMSA 1978, Chapter 14, Article 2. It was passed by the New Mexico Legislature and signed by the Governor. Periodically, it has been updated. It has a booklet put out by the Office of the Attorney General and it has very specific things that must be done when a citizen requests a document and the damages for not following IPRA. It also has very clear time deadlines for filling the request.
People are starting to notice that government agencies are not following IPRA. It was in the Albuquerque Journal Monday, the University of New Mexico’s Paul Krebs, who used tax-payer money to take a group to Scotland golfing, that he told everyone in his office to trash their emails so IPRA couldn’t find evidence. Then he “retired.”
I have had my own interesting experience with UNM and IPRA. They said they didn’t have any documents about UNM Press books going to UNC via Tennessee. Funny thing is, I have some emails about that very subject from UNM Dean Clement. Woops!
In my mind the real king of violating IPRA is the New Mexico Public Education Department. My current lawsuit is for 232 violations of IPRA. MASSIVE! NMPED doesn’t think they have to follow the IPRA law – they are above it!
According to Laura Paskus, Santa Fe Reporter, September 29, 2015, “ citizens, including journalists, can expect to remain largely on their own when trying to peer behind the scenes of government and hold public officials and agencies accountable.”
In other words, government agencies in New Mexico feel they can do whatever they want because to enforce IPRA takes a huge effort and very few people are going to do that. The IPRA law was written to give citizens a path to challenge violations of IPRA, but it still is hard and time consuming.
Barbe Awalt
UPCOMING CALENDAR:
RIO GRANDE BOOKSNov 12: 4th Annual Albuquerque Balloon Museum Arts & Crafts Fair, 9am to 5pm
HENRIETTA CHRISTMAS & PAUL RHETTS ("The Basic Genealogy Checklist")
Dec 9: Los Lunas Public Library, 10am
January 6: Hispanic Genealogy Research Center at National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque, 10am
January 9: El Castillo Living Center, Santa Fe, NM, 7pm
SLIM RANDLES ("The Fly Fisherman's Bucket List")
Nov 9: Bookworks, Rio Grande Blvd, 6pm
JOSEPH SANCHEZ ("Historic Route 66")
Nov 4: Hispanic Genealogy Research Center at National Hispanic Cultural Center, 10am
Nov 18: Bookworks, Rio Grande Blvd, 3pm
JOHN TAYLOR & RICHARD MELZER ("Tragic Trails & Enchanted Journeys" & "Captain Maximiliano Luna")
Nov 11: Treasure House Books, Old Town Plaza, 1pm
Nov 16: Bookworks, Rio Grande Blvd, 6pm
ROBERT TORREZ ("Voices from the Past")
Nov 4: Treasure House Books, Old Town Plaza, 1pm
Nov 30: Bookworks, Rio Grande Blvd, 6pm
ROSS VAN DUSEN ("What Makes the Lightning?", "How the Crocka Dog Came to Be"; and "Lyle Got Stuck in a Tree")
Dec 1: Treasure House Books, Old Town Plaza, 6pm
AT BOOKWORKS