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Friday, August 30, 2013
The New Mexic an’s Weekly Maga zine of Arts, Enter tainment & Cultu re
August 30, 2013
www.santafenewmexican.com $1.25
Murals spur worries
Preservationist fears fate of historic artwork if post office leaves federal building Murals by Gerald R. Cassidy hang in the lobby of the Joseph M. Montoya Building at 120 Federal Place. The mural shows Coronado, mounted and in full battle armor, accompanied by other Spanish soldiers and a Franciscan friar reading from a book.
British Parliament rejects prime minister’s push to endorse military action By Paul Richter, Christi Parsons and Henry Chu Tribune Washington Bureau
Cassidy’s murals were mounted in the lobby of the federal building, which houses Santa Fe’s main post office, in 1964.
Across the high-ceilinged lobby at the downtown federal building, a mural depicts a group of Zuni warriors, spears at the ready, with a multistoried adobe pueblo on a mountaintop behind them. Cassidy painted the two triptychs, each 10 feet 5 inches tall and nearly 30 feet wide, in 1921 for a theater just off the Plaza, where the First National Bank is now. PHOTOS BY JANE PHILLIPS/THE NEW MEXICAN
By Tom Sharpe
The New Mexican
P
eople entering the lobby of downtown Santa Fe’s Joseph M. Montoya Federal Building, if they bother to look up, are confronted with two large murals depicting the first confrontation between the Old World and the New World in New Mexico. Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, mounted and in full battle armor, accompanied by other mounted, armored, armed Spanish soldiers and a Franciscan friar reading from a prayerbook, stares across the high-ceilinged lobby at a similar
number of Zuni warriors, spears at the ready, with a multistoried adobe pueblo on a mountaintop behind them. Now that the cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service is considering leaving the federal building and setting up a new post office in the Sanbusco Market Center, at least one preservationist is calling attention to the 92-year-old artworks out of fear about what could happen to them — although there is now no apparent threat to the paintings. “This is a preventive approach,” Kathy Flynn said. “Plus, I thought it was a cool story. Most people don’t know it. … “Most people who come to the post office, they
Federal officials allow marijuana laws to stand By Brady Dennis
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Thursday that it would not challenge laws legalizing marijuana in Colorado and Washington state as long as those states maintain strict rules involving the sale and distribution of the drug. In a memo to U.S. attorneys in all 50 states, Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole said the Justice Department is “committed to using its limited investigative and prosecutorial resources to address the most significant threats in the most effective, consistent and rational way.” He stressed that marijuana remains illegal under federal law. The memo, which was welcomed by proponents of marijuana legalization, directs federal prosecutors to focus on eight areas of enforcement rather than spending time targeting individual users. Those aims include preventing distribution of marijuana to minors, stopping the growing use of marijuana on public land, keeping pot from falling into the hands
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Index
U.S. to act solo against Syria
Calendar A-2
Classifieds C-9
Comics A-12
don’t go in here to look at the murals, and I don’t care what state you’re in, what town you’re in, people don’t go and look at art in public buildings.” Artist Gerald R. Cassidy painted the two triptychs, each 10 feet 5 inches tall and nearly 30 feet wide, in 1921 for a theater just off the Plaza, where the First National Bank is now. When the theater closed, the artworks were purchased by John Hardin of Oklahoma City, who put them in his hotel in Hobbs, then in his hotel in Acapulco. In 1948, Hardin donated them
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WASHINGTON — The White House signaled that the United States would act alone in Syria if necessary to protect its national security interests, as a Western coalition that just days ago appeared determined to launch a joint military action split wide open. President Barack Obama appeared increasingly isolated after British Prime Minister David Cameron lost a vote Thursday in the House of Commons on endorsing military action. It was a stunning defeat for a government that days ago called for punishing Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces for alleged use of chemical weapons against rebel-held neighborhoods last week. Britain “will not be involved” in any military strikes on Syria, Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said after the vote. However, he added, “I don’t expect that the lack of British participation will stop any action.” Obama administration officials made their case for armed intervention in a conference call with congressional leaders Thursday night. “As we’ve said, President Obama’s decision-making will be guided by what is in the best interests of the United States,” said Caitlin Hayden, spokeswoman for the National Security Council. “He believes that there are core interests at stake for the United States and that countries who violate international norms regarding chemical weapons need to be held accountable.” As the Pentagon moved a fifth destroyer armed with cruise missiles into the eastern Mediterranean for possible action against Syria, other major allies also appeared to pull back.
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InSIDe u Extremist fighters opposed to President Bashar al-Assad fear U.S. strike. PAge A-4
Gonzales in running for Santa Fe’s top job Champs start fresh Horsemen will attempt to defend title with new quarterback, backfield and offensive line. SPOrTS, B-1
Today Warm with clouds and sun. High 87, low 61. PAge A-10
PAge C-2
Lotteries A-2
Opinions A-9
By Steve Terrell The New Mexican
Obituaries Ramon Apodaca, 90, Santa Fe, Aug. 27 James (Jim) Stevens Gilmore, 92, Los Alamos, Aug. 20 Volker de la Harpe, 84, Santa Fe, Aug. 25 William Stewart Johnson, 80, Santa Fe, Aug. 21 Rudolph “Rudy” Maestas, 76, Gilbert, Ariz., Aug. 25
Former state Democratic Party chairman announces candidacy for mayor
Police notes C-3
Editor: Ray Rivera, 986-3033, rrivera@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Carlos A. López, clopez@sfnewmexican.com
At a south-side restaurant crowded with family, friends, supporters and a handful of onlookers, Javier Gonzales, former state Democratic Party chairman and onetime Santa Fe County commissioner, announced Thursday morning that he will run for mayor of Santa Fe. “We are not a collection of demographics or lifestyles,” said Gonzales, who last week declared on a blog that he is gay. “We’re no longer going to separate ourselves by longevity or geography. We are one city. One community,” he told the cheering crowd at Cafe Castro on Cerrillos Road. “We’re proud of our city’s last 400 years, and we’re ready to shape the next 400 years.”
Sports B-1
Time Out A-11
Gen Next D-1
Main office: 983-3303 Late paper: 986-3010
His supporters held blue signs that said, “Run, Javier, Run.” Gonzales, 47, promised to be a mayor “with the business acumen and progressive values to ensure we can continue to afford, protect and enhance our Javier Gonzales quality of life.” Gonzales works for a company called for Rosemont Realty, whose website lists him as vice president for sales and marketing. He also has done paid and unpaid consulting work for Santa Fe Studios, a film studio south of the city that has received more than $10 million worth of public funds earmarked for economic development. His work included advising the company on county and state grant processes. His family owns and operates radio station KSWV.
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Four sections, 32 pages Pasatiempo, 84 pages 164th year, No. 242 Publication No. 596-440