"Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!"*

At the beginning of June the ABQ Journal revealed the first signs that Rio Rancho's top banana was looking bruised and overripe.

Rio Rancho city staff have revoked Mayor Kevin Jackson's city-issued credit card over nearly $8,000 in purchases primarily made at the Santa Ana Star Center for renting out suites, buying food and paying for concert tickets.
"It would be very difficult to determine a public purpose for just handing out tickets," interim city manager Jim Babin said Friday.
City Fiscal Services director Dick Kristof said Friday that Jackson's purchasing card— a city-issued credit card— was canceled May 17 and a new one has been issued to the city. The new card "is not available" to Jackson, Kristof said.
City spokesman Peter Wells said a city audit into the credit card records will continue.
Jackson's attorney, B.J. Crow, said Saturday that he has not seen any details to allegations against Jackson and has only one comment until he does.
"Mr. Jackson is adamant that no city funds have been misspent," Crow said.
Jackson has been out of town and has not returned Journal messages.
In a May 24 letter to his administrative assistant, Jackson claims he did not specifically ask for some of the entertainment charges to be put on the city's card.
"This past week, I was shown a bill for my credit card that had many charges on it that I did not make," the letter states.
His letter recommends changes that better track expenditures for travel and the event center, and requests a monthly report on all expenses from the mayor's budget.
He also said in the letter that he realizes that his administrative assistant is "often put in a position to charge something based on calls from others for tickets, events, etc. especially when others say that the Mayor said so or this is official business."

Memo stated concerns
All of the questionable purchases appeared on the monthly summary of purchasing that Jackson signed.
Babin sent a memo to Jackson on May 18— a day after Jackson's card was canceled— outlining concerns that city personnel had raised over Jackson's purchasing habits throughout the year.
"Again, we are not authorized to expend public funds to purchase tickets in order to give them to other people, including City or State employees, unless there is an official city function being hosted— one which has a defined benefit to the city as a whole," the memo said.
The memo also questioned "various lunches" and one purchase for $11 worth of alcohol. City policy does not allow public funds to be spent on alcohol.
Jackson signed a card holder agreement in March 2006 for the credit card that outlines the rules of using the card.
The agreement states "under no circumstances will I use the Purchasing Card to make personal purchases."
City records show that Jackson on May 24— after his credit card had been revoked— reimbursed the city for about $600 of the $8,000 questioned.
It was to refund $216 worth of Moody Blues tickets, $184 for refreshments at the concert and about $200 worth of food from Sal E Boys Pizza in Rio Rancho and Chili's Grill, according to a memo sent to city staff from Jackson's administrative assistant.
Among other purchases that raised concerns included:
• April transactions for about $2,600 worth of tickets and refreshments for concerts, New Mexico Scorpions playoff tickets and a business dinner with new city manager Jim Payne.

• March transactions of about $1,100 worth of Santa Ana Star Center purchases.

• February transactions of about $1,900 in tickets— including $1,600 worth for Willie Nelson tickets.

• November transactions of $1,281 for travel and events center tickets.
Babin said that Jackson has been asked to justify the use of the credit card for those transactions and others but that he has not heard from him on the issue.
"If they were for private purchases, he would have to reimburse us," Babin said.

Check fraud alleged
Jackson is already facing an investigation by a U.S. Inspector General over allegations that he misspent federal grant funds while running his former nonprofit, New Mexico Family Council— Best Choice.
And Family Council officials say that they filed a report with the Rio Rancho Department of Public Safety on Thursday alleging that Jackson committed check fraud.
Family Council officials have also sent a demand letter to Jackson for a refund of at least two trips.
City records show that two trips made by the mayor— one to Fort Meyers, Fla., from Nov. 2-5, and another to Baltimore from March 18-21— were charged to the city credit card.
Family Council officials have said their records show that Jackson was reimbursed by that organization for those trips, as well.
Meanwhile, Jackson has had large increases in his mayor's budget in comparison to former mayors.
All of the Santa Ana Star Center charges fall under the "other costs" portion of the mayor's budget. Traditionally, that portion of the budget has been set at $500 a year.
Jackson's "other costs" budget has been increased to $9,600 through the fiscal year, which ends June 30, using transfers from other line items in the mayor's budget.
The total mayor's budget has increased about $18,000— to $83,000. Of that, about $69,000 has been spent.
Travel costs have gone above originally budgeted levels and an increase of about $8,500 has been added this year.
Jackson, who started the Family Council in 2001 and managed it until three weeks ago, was fired amid allegations of "mismanagement" of federal grant funds, including giving himself a raise from $62,000 to $85,000 without board of directors or grant administrator consent.
The Family Council also cited questionable travel expenses and unauthorized donations to other nonprofits as reasons for the firing.

But the bruised banana has quickly turned into a joke.

Even though Rio Rancho Mayor Kevin Jackson has not spent much time at the office in the past month, he has found time to use his city computer to ask for a vehicle allowance, admit to actively avoiding the media, and suggest he may no longer be in office by August.

Much of the criticism against Jackson, beyond his misuse of city funds and double-billing of a plane ticket to Florida, is due to his absence from City Hall and his unwillingness to address the allegations.

...

Shortly after Jackson and his wife, former Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education member Kathy Jackson, filed a restraining order against their former friend and coworker, Tony Oliva, Jackson said the media was attacking his family for pointing out Kathy entered false information into the form.

"It is tough because now they are going after the family," he wrote on June 17.

...

Even though he wanted to avoid media scrutiny, Jackson seems ready to bring negative attention back upon himself.

On June 13, the city council censured Jackson and cast a vote of no confidence against him. That resolution also cut the mayor's in-state and out-of-state travel budgets.

Jackson has since returned his city-owned vehicle, which is no longer funded for his use in the budget.

Jackson claims he should receive a vehicle allowance because of his decision to willingly return the sports utility vehicle.

"Per our meeting this morning, I recommend that I be provided with a car allowance commensurate with you, (city attorney Jim) Babin, and the other department heads in exchange for turning in my vehicle," he wrote to Payne. "I have not used the vehicle in many weeks other than to fill it up and an appointment or two."

Jackson also promoted his decision not to use the city vehicle on his two most recent trips.

"I took my private vehicle to the Leadership NM conference last week and will once again drive my private vehicle to the US Conference of Mayors this week," he wrote.

Jackson proposed the city would benefit from him having a vehicle allowance.

"I believe that this is the proper and safe thing to do for our city and I am pleased that you concur as well," he wrote.

Jackson suggested Payne move money out of his suspended travel budget to pay for the vehicle allowance.

"You can simply reallocate my gas, oil, maintenance, and the amortization cost of the vehicle to the line item and reduce my out of state travel to make up the difference," he wrote.

Payne, informing the mayor that a budget adjustment was the decision of the council, offered to prepare the proposal. Jackson agreed.

"Yes, I did want you to prepare a request for the council for the car; that is what you and I talked (about), that it would be (in) the best interest of the city," he wrote.

Payne said Thursday he had not begun preparing the document because Jackson had not given him the necessary details of the request.

...

Although most of the councilors said Jackson should resign, they are yet unable to pursue his removal through the courts. City Clerk Roman Montoya said people have inquired about the process of recalling the mayor, but no one has yet taken the necessary steps.

Tickets, anyone?

Jackson's e-mails do show that he has accepted city staff's warning not to spend money on Santa Ana Star Center tickets, the first issue raised by the city against the mayor.

On June 1, Eeds asked Jackson for tickets to an event at the Star Center.

"Is it still a possibility for (Bernalillo County District Attorney) Kari Brandenburg and myself to go to the Alison Krauss concert at the Star Center on the 25th and sit in your box?" he asked Jackson.

"On the tickets, I will have the box office and suite holder call you directly to arrange that now. Apparently, I am not permitted to arrange such things anymore," Jackson responded on June 4.

"We can buy the tickets," Eeds wrote back. "No big deal."

Jackson's final response showed his acceptance came with regret.

"I would have been honored to host you but better steer clear," he wrote.

Jackson also offered to repay some of the tickets, but he maintained that some of the charges should not be his responsibility.

"I will repay the following: $105 for two tickets to ZZ Top. I had ordered these to be able to be with Mayor Chavez and his group. Mayor Chavez cancelled, so I feel obligated to pay for these even though I did not attend.

"$157.50 for George Lopez event. I ordered these to be there with the hosted group from Scott Scanlon and did not feel it was right that he pay for me to be there.

"$108 for February hockey tickets. I am not sure if I ordered these for special guests or my family, but since I am not sure, I will agree to pay for them. I have already mailed a check for $375.50 today to your attention.

"The other items I do not feel are my personal responsibility, and I have already reimbursed the city for Moody Blues refreshments. Half of Moody Blues tickets since Mayor Chavez did not show up. $47.71 for box lunch tours and other expenses.

"I strongly believe that the Willy Nelson show tickets and refreshments should not be my responsibility since they were requested by another for the overall benefit of the city to host dignitaries and elected officials. Please see Scott Scanlon letter which I understand he has sent you and I."

Jackson did not mention another $745 spent on Willie Nelson tickets that he listed for Mayor Chavez's use...

I wonder what an in depth investigation would reveal about the nature of the relationship between Santa Ana Star Center and Rio Rancho's movers and shakers.

I'm with Irshad A. Siddiqi, who wrote in to the Rio Rancho Observer the following suggestions:

1. Investigate all higher echelons.

2. Investigate all councilors.

3. Investigate all builders and developers, contracts, and establish visible controls on men, money and material.

4. Report cards to be presented to public in order to give raise to counselors and city officials.

5. A quarterly local Activity report shall be made available to public. Not only discussing developments but expenditure of funds (dollars and cents).

6. An annual overall financial report from inspector general shall be made available to public.

Even the Rio Rancher Observer called for the mayor's resignation. Now that is a surprise.

*courtesy of G. Pyle

I'm Too Popular for My Graduation

This recent letter to the editor in the Albuquerque Journal illustrates, once again, the thoughtless and meanspirited tone that dominates every letter or op-ed piece that rushes to the defense of RRPS:

THE GRADUATING class in Rio Rancho has taken on the appearance of a popularity contest, in which the one with the most "invitations" is the winner.
I've always thought that announcements were sent out to the families, not invitations to a family of 30 to 50 relatives. When a group of people gather together to celebrate an occasion in New Mexico, it seems there is always a fight, a stabbing or a shooting.
This is a Rio Rancho school graduation, not a game for the Albuquerque Pit. The TV interviews with people who have issued "invitations" to everyone they consider "family" shows more than normal arrogance on their part.
One person said she sent out "invitations" to 50 people, some out of state or out of country, but the school board only allows eight people per student, and she is incensed that such a paltry limit was put into place.
A graduation? Not really, just an event to show who has the largest amount of friends and family participation.
The Santa Ana Star Center will hold the graduation ceremonies, which is in Rio Rancho, not Albuquerque.
BOB HARPLEY
Rio Rancho

Okay, let's review:

• Announcements of the date, time, and, if you're lucky, the correct location of an event, should never be mistaken for an invitation to come to the event. Especially if your family adds up to 9 or more.

• "When a group of people gather together to celebrate an occasion in New Mexico, it seems there is always a fight, a stabbing or a shooting." Is that how Bob Harpley's get-togethers end up? Or did he really mean to say when a "group of Mexicans" gets together "there is always a fight, a stabbing or a shooting?"

• "Popularity" is when your family wants to attend your graduation. Too much popularity is when your family is larger than the number RRPS thinks is just the right amount of family.
  

What the...?!?

Political cartoons exist to attack the system, speak truth to power, skewer the Man. The cartoon above barely begins to address the situation between the buffoons at RRPS and the Rio Rancho High School families who have been cheated out of seeing their seniors graduate. The pomp and circumstance they expected has turned into smoke and mirrors thanks to RRPS.

Rubbing salt in the wound is the condescending dismissal of valid protest and real grievances by editors at the Rio Rancho Observer, who weigh in with a nasty editorial that may as well have said: "Sit down and shut up."

Graduation at The Star is the right decision

We said it in this space last month and it still holds true this month: It would be a reasonably safe argument that when someone (parents with students in Rio Rancho Public Schools) isn't happy with something someone else (the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education) is doing, then they (the school board) must be doing something right.

And RRPS made the right decision when it voted unanimously in March to move graduation ceremonies from The Pit in Albuquerque to the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho.

Now that the city has a sparkling new jewel of an establishment where it can hold such an important local event, that's exactly how and where it should be.

People of this city and parents of children in the school district should be honored to have such a quality venue to now hold graduation ceremonies. It sure beats the dark and dingy Pit or putting folding chairs on the football field and praying that it doesn't rain.

And to the few who think that the world will come to an end because their cousins twice removed can't attend the graduation ceremonies because the venue is too small, we have this to say: Get over it and move on to something else.

Want to complain about Rio Rancho Public Schools? How about complaining over something that impacts education. Namely why the school has a difficult time meeting AYP, which determines which schools are "failing" and which ones aren't, per the federal No Child Left Behind mandate.

That's a reason to complain.

Additionally, school officials are most certainly doing everything they can to accommodate graduates and their families. First, the number of tickets to graduation has gone from six tickets to eight. Second, RioVision has agreed to air ceremonies on channel 15, with one caveat: You have to subscribe to CableOne. Also, school officials will route a feed to the Performing Arts Center, where guests of the graduates can also view the ceremony.

Santa Ana Star Center is also working to help graduating seniors as some suite holders are allowing controlled access to their seats. That could mean up to an additional 700 seats.

All benefits.

When you get right down to it, RRPS doesn't have to make any concessions as it relates to graduation. Basically you get what's available, like it or not.

To the graduates and their families who believe that graduation will be "completely ruined" because the ceremonies have been moved, life - the day after May 19 - will go on.

Granted most people (as evident here) don't like change - especially when it happens to them. A different mind set is needed. As the Cheryl Crow song says, "A change will do you good."

Finally, one ranter said it best. "It's obvious some of the Class of 2007 are ill-prepared for life's challenges. Some things in life aren't fair to some. You need to learn to be flexible and make the best of it. Or you'll be miserable the rest of your life."

It is not only obvious, but glaring. Embarrassingly glaring.

Accept now that life doesn't always go as planned - no matter how much time and effort you put into something. Accept that there will be ups and downs, heartaches and disappointments. It's only just beginning.

Accept that life is difficult and if the worst thing to ever happen to you in life is that your favorite cousin can't attend your high school graduation, consider yourself lucky.

Extremely lucky.

Copyright © 2007 Rio Rancho Observer

No reference to the fact that the decision to move the graduation out of The Pit and into Rio Rancho's Santa Ana Star Center was given to seniors a mere 2 months before the graduation.

People of this city and parents of children in the school district should be honored to have such a quality venue to now hold graduation ceremonies.

No matter that families had ordered announcements, invited loved ones, and made plans. No skin off the Observer's nose.

"It's obvious some of the Class of 2007 are ill-prepared for life's challenges. Some things in life aren't fair to some. You need to learn to be flexible and make the best of it. Or you'll be miserable the rest of your life.

Okay, wait a minute...the saying goes like this: Some things in life aren't fair. PERIOD. Notice the Observer's "ranter" added a little something:

"Some things in life aren't fair to some."

Are some people able to skip the school of hard knocks and remain inflexible? Who are those people and how can the Observer discern that those complaining about the graduation are not among this blessed group? Maybe the Observer can let the rest of us know so we can "move on to something else."

Two Faces Have I

Apparently, the Rio Rancho Observer has a history of playing nice with RRPS. Diane Velasco, executive director of The Citizen Media Group, was an up and coming journalist when she crossed paths with the Observer:

She went to work for Publisher Mike Ryan at the Rio Rancho Observer. As managing editor, and using her business education, she turned a 3 percent loss into a 17 percent profit after only two months on the job.

She did a series of investigative reports on the Rio Rancho School District and exposed 19 fire code violations in the newly built high school, funded by Intel. She also reported that a high school teacher had raped six students and one teacher.

Velasco infuriated school officials to the point they insisted that any question she had must be forwarded in writing. Her publisher thought it was OK for school officials to make such a request.

She then became involved in a First Amendment battle with the assistance of Bob Johnson of the Federation for Open Government and Attorney Bill Dixon.

On three occasions, Ryan turned over Velasco’s interview notes to citizens and to “the fat cat millionaires, Don Chalmers and others,” Velasco said. That she said destroyed the trust that reporters have to develop with sources, especially when the issues are about the sources’ bosses.

Emphasis mine.

Notice any familiar names in this story? Does the name Mike Ryan ring a bell? Could that be the same Mike Ryan of the Albuquerque Journal's Graduation Gripes? Get Over It fame? (see post below) Well slap my ass, and call me Fannie!

Good old Mike Ryan and his old fashioned "Common Sense."

Good old "doesn't bite the hand that feeds you" Mike Ryan.

Follow the money, my friend. Follow Mike Ryan and the money.

A thousand thanks to M. G. Bralley over at What's Wrong With This Picture? for the link, the tip, and the wisdom. You will be added to our blogroll just as soon as we get one.

April Fools

Well, the trolls are out in force today over at Back to The Pit. And, of all things, they're there to defend the tacky April Fool's Day joke the Observer hatched over the weekend. No surprise there...after all, it is their patron saint's day.

One comment defends the paper this way:

retired reporter said...

How does the Observer know that you want them to do a story? Have you called them, or are you just expecting them to respond to your calls to the TV stations? No need to send a reporter, they are allowing you the space to tell your own story in letters and comments.

Um...real newspapers actually go out and find the news. The news doesn't have to come looking for a reporter. And, hasn't the Observer already received letters and emails concerning this story? KOAT has done three newscasts on it. Is the paper waiting for someone to say pretty please?

It's interesting, and quite revealing, that the Observer's first front page news article about the Rio Rancho High School graduation ceremony being hijacked by the school administration, is not serious coverage, but a lame joke. That's exactly how they see this situation: as a joke.

Yvette Aragon may have to drive over to the Observer's offices and stand outside holding something shiny to get their attention.

Whaaaat?

The shameless face of bigotry rears its ugly head:

"I agree with the guy on the Ford advertisements speaking in Spanish, and some of the furniture stores do the same. I won't buy from any of them, either. If you want to speak Spanish, move back to Mexico. Also, I have never seen so many whiners about where they're going to have the graduation. If they hadn't acted so rude and out of order last year, maybe they would have listened to them. Also, Ned Cantwell's (columns) are very good."

This is just straight-up prejudice. FYI, amigo, Spanish was spoken in New Mexico long before English. I notice Mr. Herron didn't add his two cents to this rant.

50 Relatives

One reason I woke up yesterday and got my blog on was the barely veiled contempt some people have for large families. That really pisses me off.

When you start talking about someone's family, you are crossing a line. That's just common sense and basic courtesy.

"Well, why do they all have to come?" "Can't you leave some at home?"

To even ask those questions is to remove all doubt as to who you really are: a slack-jawed yokel.

Gary Herron's Rants and Raves

The following rant was in yesterday's Observer.

"If you agree with the folks who believe, in error, that they have a constitutional right to invite 50 relatives to little Johnny's high school graduation, then you should go to the Web site they've setup on blogspot and type to your heart's content. If you are among those of us who are glad that we are finally able to hold graduation in our own city, forget about the site. All opposing points of view are being promptly deleted. So much for inviting public comment. The funny thing about it is how many of the posts there are all about rights, equality, public debate, and amber waves of grain. The good news is that little Johnny is almost a graduate. At least he will know what 'hypocrite' means."

Here are a few points little Johnny noticed right away:

• Now, I looked in the Constitution and I can't find any mention of high school graduations, Rio Rancho, or The Pit. So the graduates who have 50 guests may not have a right stipulated in the Constitution, neither are they prohibited from having a seat for each guest.
• The ranter has the bad manners of not including a link to "the Web site they've setup on blogspot..." So I had to look it up, myself. It's Back To The Pit.
• Now, right off the bat, the first post says

  Add your name and/or comments to this thread. If you want to go BACK TO THE PIT click on "COMMENTS" below and write in the space provided.

• Further down another post says

  If you are against the move to return to THE PIT, email echarles1234@aol.com with your comments.
  Thank you

• Off to the right side there's a statement of purpose that says:

  Please join us in moving the graduation ceremony back to The Pit. Sign the Petition by adding a comment to the open thread.

• The bloggers don't claim that their site is "open for public debate." It seems to me that they want to OPEN UP a debate. After all, the RRHS administration pretty much made this decision without public input. Calling the bloggers hypocrites isn't really accurate.
• The ranter seems to be saying, "Your opinions were unimportant and unwelcome when RRHS Principal Vonancken made his decision to move the graduation to Rio Rancho, so what? Get over it. But if I can't comment on your blog, you're not being fair! I hate you, you're mean! Why won't you let me talk?"
  

Here's the thing...

Here's a situation which, on the surface, appears to be a simple change of venue. But just below the surface lies a power play that requires the sacrifice of many for the benefit of the few.


Rio Rancho High School, home of the Rams, New Mexico State 5A Basketball Champs, has the largest graduating class in the state. Normally, their graduation ceremony would take place in The PIT, the world-famous University of New Mexico athletic arena.


But not this year.

The venue was changed suddenly, sometime in early March, to the Santa Ana Star Center, a spanking new corporate partner to the Rio Rancho casino of the same name.

Here's a situation that disproportionately affects large families. Is it an "unintended consequence" that most of the large families who will have to pare down there numbers to 6, are Hispanic? The arrogance and thoughtlessness surrounding this questionable decision are up for discussion.

What do you think of Gary Herron?

The following OpEd piece appeared in the Rio Rancho Observer over the weekend:

Psst, buddy. Who needs 4 tickets?

What’s the best whine to serve this spring?
How about “Why can’t Rio Rancho have graduation at The Pit?”
Could this be any more tiring? Or how about that e-mail that keeps getting longer and longer every day, with pleas to Superintendent Dr. Sue Cleveland to change the venue from Santa Ana Star Center, mysteriously tied in to Santa Ana Star Casino for effect, yet the original sender remains anonymous.
And the lengthening e-mail contains a lot of misinformation, like “four ways to enter The Pit and “the whole two ways to get (to Santa Ana Star Center) on a two-lane road with only one lane going in and only one lane going out.” (There are four ways, the four directions, to get there, too, just like The Pit.) And hinting that the Star Center is tied into the Santa Ana Star Casino is an underhanded way to convince others the board is up to no good. (I can guarantee you there won’t be any one-armed bandits lurking at the Star Center. I’m not so sure if there’ll be any scalpers, though.)
And challenging the media to do stories on your plight, then chastising any of them that (God forbid) balance such a story. I’ll forget your reference to “Mr. VonDucan,” which I believe you should spell as “Mr. VonDuncan” and, again, underhanded and nasty at best.)
Yep, now that’s the way to take a stand. And I’m involved in this: Two of my recent stories about the move of the ceremonies from The Pit to the Star Center are attached, as are several other media accounts.
As my favorite fictional detective, Adrian Monk, would say, “Here’s the thing.”
The “thing” is, for years we’ve heard people complaining about RRPS’s inability to stage graduation ceremonies in Rio Rancho.
Now that we’ve got a gorgeous venue, it became a no-brainer: Have the ceremonies there.
I usually think the high school football stadium would be a great place, but you know Mother Nature would pick that May day for a heavy rainstorm … or think about last year’s hellacious wind before graduation at The Pit.
People really don’t know the proper way to protest in Rio Rancho.
Sending anonymous e-mails and calling Rants & Raves isn’t the way to get things done.
At Monday’s school board meeting, more than the usual number (none) or people who wished to speak in the “public comment” session signed up. I figured the bulk, if not all, of them would complain about graduation at the Star Center. Wrong. Only one man stood up to request moving it back to The Pit.
My advice to those using e-mails to try to get their point(s) across is to use factual information.
Or asking for a vote. Let me play devil’s advocate here.
How would you hold this election? One vote per parent of a senior? One vote per family? One vote per graduate? Only registered voters eligible? Online? Who pays for it?
People say they want to vote on everything, but that’s why you vote (well, a few hundred of you vote) to place five people on the school board – to make those decisions for you.
You don’t get to vote every time a decision needs to be made, ranging from dress code to sex education to identification cards to school names to graduation venues.
Here’s an illustration.
A couple years ago, one woman was so incensed about something happening at Independence High that she called me to rant about the situation and said she was going to run for the school board.
By golly, she’d make some changes.
“What district do you live in, ma’am?” I asked.
Guess what? She didn’t know.
I told her if she lived in one of three districts, there wouldn’t be another election for almost four years. She’d have to move into one of the two that had its representatives coming up for new terms in 2007.
Needless to say, I haven’t heard from her since. And four of the five board members who have been on the board since 2003 are still there, and not many of you voted at the last board election.
By my figures, there’s no way there were 14,000 attendees last year to see the Class of 2006 receive its diplomas, which occurred during some horrible conduct by the audience.
Let’s say The Pit holds 18,000 for a basketball game. Almost half of the west side isn’t available for seating, so let’s knock off, say, 7,000 seats right there. That leaves 11,000.
Now, take the number of children under the age of 10 that attended – that should have stayed home or with a babysitter if they were too young -- and there were a lot.
I think that number gets you closer to the seating available at the Star Center.
And it’ll be great to keep graduation here. Gas prices keep rising, the traffic keeps getting worse, and not only do we keep the Star Center and its throng of local employees busy, the gross receipts taxes stay in Rio Rancho.
I’ve heard that if the RRHS Class of 2007 ceremonies are successful, other West Side schools may follow suit.
And that, too, bodes well for the city.
If you’re a CableOne subscriber, you’ll be able to see the ceremonies live on channel 15, says Edit House’s Kim Smith.
Batch up some popcorn your “extra” guests that couldn’t secure tickets and leave them at home on the couch to watch it. (They’ll be closer to the fridge and the bathroom.)
For those who don’t have cable, Smith said the ceremonies being broadcast on channel 15 would be shown on a big screen at the Performing Arts Center that day.
Free. Without a ticket. And the PAC has comfy seats.

Gary Herron covers sports and education for The Observer. His kids graduated from Johnson Gym (RR’s first graduation) and The Pit and he was there to see them. He would have been more comfortable, however, at the Santa Ana Star Center