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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This Saturday’s Pride parade was replete with everything such a parade needs to be a resounding success: floats, banners, people en masse wearing flamboyant costumes and, of course, a motorized harp. It is the newest model of motorized harp, Motorized Harp 350 SX, complete with two pre-recorded electric harp solos, an after-market black umbrella and gold rims. This season, don’t be seen at a parade without one.

The city and other organizations have lots planned for Earth Day (April 22). Here’s what’s going on (feel free to add your own events)

Wednesday, April 22
9:15 am
“Coffee with Mayor David Coss” on Sustainability on Earth Day. City Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 Lincoln Ave.

All Day
$1 ice-skate rentals if you bring a recyclable item to the Genoveva Chavez Center, 3221 Rodeo Road.

11:30-12:30
Rally with WildEarth Guardians in favor of Gov. Richardson-related efforts to protect waterways. East Concourse, The Roundhouse.

Noon

,
Noon i

A special Earth-Day showing of Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America, in which filmmaker Jeff Barrie turns the camera on himself and asks, “How can I make a difference?”
Discussion leader: Randy Grissom, Director, Santa Fe Community College Sustainable Technology Center
Sponsored by the Department of Service-Learning and Staff Senate. SFCC, Board Room, 223.

6 pm
The Santa Fe Alliance presents free screening LEGACY-Generations of Family Business, a documentary portraying the dreams, stories and future prospects of families running businesses over multiple generations. Mayor Coss will present the film and a discussion will follow. At the New Mexico Film Museum (Jean Cocteau Theatre on Montezuma Ave.,)

Saturday April 25

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Events kick off at the Santa Fe Railyard Park with music from the Santa Fe Concert Band and Mariachi Estrella, a youth open mic event with poetry and other performance art by local youth, information tables and fun activities from local environmental and youth groups (and announcement of the winners of the first annual Sustainability Awards from the Sustainable Santa Fe Commission). Santa Fe Railyard Park

2:30 to 5:00 pm
Tree Planting with Santa Fe Watershed Association and Santa Fe County at the San Ysidro Park in the village of Agua Fria, located along the Santa Fe River from San Ysidro Crossing to Caja del Oro Grant Road.

6 to 8 pm
Evening Workshop on Sustainable Santa Fe Plan Implementation at the Clear Light Book Store, 851 W. San Mateo Street.

This morning a notice for a job fair for the new Flying Star Café showed up in my inbox. Wow, someone’s hiring. And the Flying Star is actually going to open—it was originally slated for December according to Albuquerque staffers whom I tormented every time I was in the Duke City—but was eventually pushed back to April.

Anyway, the deets on the job fair are that Flying Star is looking for…pretty much everyone. The fair itself is from noon-5 pm Monday, March 23 at the Farmers Market (1607 Paseo de Peralta). But that’s not what’s worth blogging here. Oh no, what’s amazing here is the video from Flying Star’s website. A virtual tour of the new store. Make sure to turn up the volume for the full effect. And then sit back, relax, ask WTF? and hope to God they don’t play this music on repeat in the new restaurant. This, my friends, is video art at it’s worst.