Mayor pokes at state government

It's not unusual for Mayor Martin Chavez to take jabs at other local governments. He has mixed it up in the past with the school district, Bernalillo County and even the courts.

His latest target? The state.

Chavez announced Thursday that the city had spent $2.1 million to buy some land near Broadway and Lomas NE to serve as a flood-control pond. The city has spent roughly $9 million on drainage improvements in the Santa Barbara-Martineztown area, he said.

Chavez pointed out that the state had held news conferences two years ago after the area flooded. He maintains they didn't do much to help after that.

"It was kind of a smoke-and-mirrors type of deal," Chavez said.

Councilor Isaac Benton chimed in later that state Rep. Rick Miera had helped secure $500,000 from the state.