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County Commissioner’s Stadium Claims Disputed by Former Mayor, Governor’s Office
Bernalillo County Commission Chair Adriann Barboa sparked controversy Wednesday with claims of a secretive $100 million plan for the New Mexico State Fairgrounds, only to face immediate pushback when unable to substantiate her allegations.
In an early morning press conference at the Expo New Mexico entrance, Barboa told reporters that “people who represent the governor and the state” had informed her of secured legislative funding for the fairgrounds. According to her claims, the package included $70 million earmarked for a stadium and $30 million for housing development.
When pressed for specifics during the briefing, Barboa declined to identify any sources by name. “I keep saying the state, because I don’t need to name anyone,” she stated. “The state has the money, the state has the authority, and the state has contacted myself and these people here with me today to say that there is the opportunity for a stadium to come here.”
The press conference quickly unraveled as Barboa failed to provide evidence supporting her claims. Minutes after she finished, former Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez held an impromptu briefing at the same location, directly contradicting Barboa’s assertions.
Chavez, who serves as a paid contractor for Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s fairgrounds initiative, characterized the opposition as shortsighted. “We wonder why we don’t do great things sometimes in New Mexico,” Chavez said. “What we heard this morning from the commissioner was one reason, because people say no without even listening to the facts.”
The governor’s office responded swiftly to Barboa’s claims. Communications Director Michael Coleman told The Paper that Governor Lujan Grisham was disappointed by what he described as “attention-seeking gossip and fear mongering” from the commissioner.
“The governor is disappointed that Commissioner Barboa has resorted to attention-seeking gossip and fear mongering to pre-empt a public process that exists precisely to give every community member a voice in the Fairgrounds’ future,” Coleman said. “Anyone who has been paying attention knows that some type of public events facility has been a part of this discussion for months.”
The dispute highlights growing tensions over the future of the state fairgrounds, a significant public asset in Albuquerque. Ben Lewinger of Stantec, the firm contracted by the state to develop the fairgrounds master plan, urged community members to remain patient and trust the established process.
According to Lewinger, the draft plan is scheduled for public release this Friday, when a third community survey will open to collect final input. While he acknowledged that Stantec has consulted with New Mexico United (the local soccer team) and studied various stadiums nationwide as part of their comprehensive research, Lewinger emphasized, “But we’re in no way working directly with the soccer team.”
Barboa appeared at her press conference alongside neighborhood representatives and residents who expressed concerns about being excluded from decision-making processes. These community members suggested the alleged stadium proposal followed what they see as a pattern of developments planned without adequate local consultation.
Chavez dismissed these concerns, stating firmly: “There are no agreements, there are no decisions. That’s why we’re a little bit baffled by what is purely amateur.”
The public will have an opportunity to engage directly with the fairgrounds redevelopment process at the final community meeting scheduled for Friday, March 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Alice K. Hoppes African American Pavilion on San Pedro Drive.
The fairgrounds redevelopment represents a significant economic and community planning initiative for the region, with potential long-term impacts on surrounding neighborhoods, local businesses, and Albuquerque’s broader development strategy.
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5 Comments
While I’m glad the fact-check has cleared the air, this episode highlights the need for elected officials to be extremely cautious and precise in their public statements, especially around sensitive topics like government funding.
This whole saga raises some important questions about transparency and accountability in local government. Were there any legitimate discussions about stadium relocation that got misconstrued? Or was this just a case of unfounded rumors taking hold?
I appreciate the transparency from the former mayor and governor’s office in swiftly refuting these unsupported allegations. Fact-checking is crucial to maintaining public trust, especially around high-profile infrastructure projects.
Interesting allegations from the County Commissioner, but I’m glad to see the fact-check has debunked these claims. It’s important that officials back up major statements like this with concrete evidence, rather than relying on vague ‘state sources’.
It’s disappointing to see such an explosive allegation turn out to be unfounded. But I’m encouraged that the city and state authorities moved quickly to provide the facts and set the record straight.