Jerry Ueckert of Edgewood, N.M., submitted a letter to the editor to the Albuquerque Journal and its coverage of the El Vado Motel hearing. He’s brought up some interesting issues (especially since he’s a newspaper reporter himself), and he’s gave me permission to post it here.
The Albuquerque Journal’s report on the El Vado Motel, “Sides Square Off Over Motel” November 15th, 2005, is one that is sure to gain the favor of every Route 66 enthusiast and activist.
It is not altogether difficult to paint Richard Gonzales as the villain in a fight to save this historic landmark and the Journal quite effectively presents a picture of “the World” vs. “Gonzales”. However, I attended that very same meeting, and I question the Journal’s motivation, or at least their accuracy in reporting.
For instance, the article’s sub-headline read, “El Vado’s owner wants property razed, while neighbors want it saved”, is misleading because Mr. Gonzales has not wavered from his proposal to save a portion of the motel, (as much as 30% of the entire property in his present proposal), while some high profile neighbors have stated they would like to see the property razed.
Gonzales presented maps, showing how much of the property would be set aside with his proposal. He also submitted pictures of the well known postcards showing, from the street side, how much would be lost with his proposed construction. (The head-on shot of the property with the “razed” portion blacked out, represented a visual loss on the postcard approximately the size of a little fingernail.) Whether he is “right” or “wrong”, or whether he has a “good” or a “bad” plan is not my the basis for my question. Gonzales presented a good argument with impressive graphics. Why didn’t the Journal report on that?
The Historic Landmark Commission and their attorney agreed that the meeting was illegal, and would HAVE to be rescheduled because of irregularities in the mayor’s application and the fact that there was NO publicly posted notice of the hearing. Why didn’t the Journal report that?
At least two people at the hearing quoted the mayor from two months ago as saying, “Go ahead and tear it (the El Vado) down, but I want the sign.” Why didn’t the Journal report that?
A group, the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce, told the commission that it is actively negotiating with Mr. Gonzales in purchasing and restoring a sizable portion of the El Vado motel. Why didn’t the Journal report that?
Commenting on the irregularity of a mayor submitting an application on behalf of a property owner, Pat Bryan, a former city attorney, told the commission, “We’ve got something brewing in the private sector. Why don’t we wait and see what comes of it?” Again – no reporting on the part of the Journal.
So, while the issue remains a hot potato, there is apparently more to this than meets the eye and I am disappointed in the Journal’s quality of reporting.