Editorial: Feds go over the top in fixing courthouse leak

A persistent leak in the underground parking garage at the U.S. Courthouse in Albuquerque has turned into a spending tsunami.

Judges at the Pete V. Domenici Courthouse just wanted to stop water used on the Kentucky blue grass on the roof of the garage from leaking down into it, replace high water use grass with low water buffalo grass and turn off the fountain in the entry. It seemed like a modest fix.

But to the U.S. General Services Department the leak presented an opportunity to come up with an over the top sustainable — and hopefully award-winning — landscape design to work toward the department’s goal of a zero environmental footprint as set out in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 approved by Congress and fast-tracked by President Obama in a 2009 executive order. Plus, no one had to beg for money to do it. Cash was available from the ’09 federal stimulus.

Just one catch. The cost for what began as a repair: $3.4 million — nearly 10 percent of the $41 million it took to build the courthouse — for landscaping, solar panels and giant underground cisterns to recycle runoff.

The judges could holler “whoa,” but the GSA is the landlord and as tenants the judiciary has no say. GSA officials, undaunted by a government drowning in debt and potential cuts and layoffs, seemed delighted with the chance to show it’s following the orders of Congress and the president to spend money on pet projects.

The GSA is notorious for its over-the-top largess with taxpayer money, and this is another example of it on steroids. This is the same agency that in November 2010 spent more than $250,000 for a one-day employee reward and motivation event in Crystal City, Va., for around 200 people. Don’t forget that lavish convention in Las Vegas, Nev., that cost taxpayers more than $800,000.

After these abuses came to light, the Inspector General launched an investigation and the agency’s new leadership started making changes. Meanwhile, judges and court staff can enjoy parking in a dry courthouse garage thanks to a $3.4 million fix.

The landscaping will be pleasing to the eye. For that price, it should be.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.