Railyard Cinema Hopeful Has Dubious Record
In case of emergency, break glass: Inside Railyard Co LLC's "offices"
SFR has learned that one of the principals in the company that wants taxpayers to help build a cinema in the Railyard has been charged several times with writing bad checks. Railyard Co LLC principal Richard J Jaramillo was also sued last year by his ex-wife and the New Mexico Human Services Department for child support, and has had the police called to his house more than once regarding domestic violence.
A resolution coming before the Santa Fe City Council’s Finance Committee tonight would begin the process of issuing a $35.4 million bond to build a movie theater in the Railyard, and authorize the city manager to negotiate with Railyard Co.
Why would the taxpayers entrust millions to a company whose leadership includes a man repeatedly charged with failing to meet his financial obligations? Incredibly, despite all the controversy that has surrounded the idea of a Railyard cinema, no one has asked this question.
And it was a question Jaramillo himself was unprepared to answer when SFR reached him by phone on Oct. 16.
“Please put the comment in writing,” Jaramillo said. “I’m an individual that’s part of a company, OK?…I’m only part of the company.”
According to Jaramillo and Marco Gonzales, an attorney and “member” of the Railyard Co partnership, both the Journal Santa Fe and the Santa Fe New Mexican agreed to conduct interviews by email, ostensibly so that the other principals, including Allen Branch and Steve Duran, could agree on a response.
“We took a vote that we will answer any media responsively and quickly so everybody has a chance to comment,” Jaramillo says.
Of course, Jaramillo’s partners may not know all the answers.
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