Year after year Virgin Galactic has announced delay after delay in launching tourists into space from NM who bought expensive tickets. This year is no exception.
This week saw Virgin Galactic stock swoon as the company owned by British billionaire Richard Branson announced "wear and tear" issues with the mothership and that its next test flight will be delayed.
There will be no commercial spaceflights this year and uncertainty remains after that.
This pill was more bitter than previous ones for the state to swallow. That's because as Virgin splashed downwards,Blue Origin, the space company owned by Branson's fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos, was announcing that it planned on sending is own batch of tourists into space on July 20.
If that happens New Mexico will lose the critical first mover advantage that has been an ace in the hole for the taxpayer-financed spaceport since it was built in 2004.
The Virgin Galactic slow motion trainwreck is over a decade old now. It has previously prompted calls from legislators for the state to sell the Spaceport near T or C which continues to get an annual state subsidy.
But maybe there's a way out that keeps the state in the tourist space. That way could be Blue Origin taking over Virgin Galactic. Branson has some 600 customers who have paid $250,000 each for a trip into orbit. After repeated setbacks could he be ready to sell at a bargain price to Bezos? Such a deal would finally put him and space-loving but long suffering New Mexicans out of their misery. And we just might see that Spaceport put to use.
EARLY MONEY
The committee favoring Keller is organized and its treasurer is veteran Dem politico and attorney Robert Lara. It reported no activity for the period.
The committee backing Gonzales and led by Sam Vigil, whose wife was murdered in the couple's westside driveway in 2019, reported raising $16,500. Admiral Beverage Company, a beer distributor, was the main contributor, donating $15,000. They have supported Gonzales in his past elections.
As for the candidates individual accounts, Gonzales reported expenditures of $5,200 to McCleskey Media Strategies, the firm run by Jay McCleskey, the longtime Republican political consultant, whose hiring by Democrat Gonzales raised eyebrows. Progressive consultant Neri Holguin is handling the Keller campaign and collected $5,400 during the period.
Progressive candidate Nicholas Bevins reported $2,150 in cash on hand, after giving himself a $1,000 loan. Keller had cash of $5,500 in the very early going and Gonzales $6,000.
LOTS OF HELP
There's a lot of government money still floating out there to help those financially impacted by the pandemic. Some info from the city of ABQ:
. . . "We have financial navigators providing a free service to any person in the city,” said Eduardo Esquivel-Gonzales. To access resources, visit here or call (505) 768-4242. The program. . .helps residents with utility payments, eviction prevention, meal services, food stamps (SNAP), rental and mortgage assistance, unemployment, Medicaid, childcare, and childcare assistance. Mayor Keller also encouraged local business owners to look at the state’s new LEDA recovery fund. Applications for these grants are open and can be used for rent, lease, and mortgage payments.
OUTTA HERE
On the irony beat, the former cabinet secretary for the state labor department (Workforce Solutions), is joining thousands of other New Mexicans and headed out of state to find a new job and life. Bill McCamley, who recently resigned his pressure-ridden post, made the announcement on Facebook that he is moving to Austin. That city has one of the best job markets in the nation. New Mexico? Not so much.
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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021
(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021