Santa Fe New Nexican, July 23, 2013

Page 1

‘Seat-of-your-pants entrepreneurialism’ thrives at Design Center Business, A-9

Locally owned and independent

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

www.santafenewmexican.com 75¢

‘The New Mexican’ names new editor

Royal baby: It’s a boy Britain welcomes the birth of Prince William and wife Kate’s first child, an 8-pound, 6-ounce boy who was born Monday afternoon. The child, whose name has not been announced, is third in line to the throne. WORLD, A-3

Ex-coach, foster dad arrested on abuse charges Man accused of raping, molesting girls; police expect more victims

Former New Mexican reporter and sports editor Ray Rivera, who has worked most recently for The New York Times, will return to lead the Santa Fe newsroom. LOcAL NeWS, A-6

BITE BACK

Couple who ran iconic burger joint prepare for new venture at Garrett’s Desert Inn, set to open next month

By Phaedra Haywood The New Mexican

By Barry Massey

Traditional New Orleans-style brass band The Mil-Tones, 6 p.m., jazz/rock guitarist Larry Mitchell, 7:15 p.m., on the Plaza, santafebandstand.org, series continues through Aug. 23. More events in Calendar, A-2 and Fridays in Pasatiempo

Obituaries David John Gonzales, July 19 Margaret O. King, 99, Santa Fe, July 9 Joyce Milgram, 63, July 18

Today Mostly sunny and warm. High 91, low 63. PAge A-12

Index

Calendar A-2

Classifieds B-5

Please see BITe, Page A-4

Please see BAN, Page A-4

LEFT: Santa Fe Bite owner John Eckre stands in the restaurant Monday with Owen the dinosaur. PHOTOS BY JANE PHILLIPS/THE NEW MEXICAN

The New Mexican

J

ohn and Bonnie Eckre, who until early June operated the legendary burger joint Bobcat Bite southeast of Santa Fe, are ready to rejoin the local restaurant scene with their new, larger eatery at Garrett’s Desert Inn, 311 Old Santa Fe Trail. Santa Fe Bite, tentatively set

to open Aug. 15, will have longer hours and a bigger menu, in addition to the Eckres’ famous green chile cheeseburgers, general manager Walter Espinosa said Monday. The Eckres left Bobcat Bite after a dispute with the property owner, the late Mitzi Panzer. The Panzer family also retained the rights to the Bobcat Bite name. Espinosa said Santa Fe Bite

Human Services keeps state auditor waiting Department fails to comply with request for provider audit details By Steve Terrell

The New Mexican

PAge A-7

will distinguish itself from Bobcat Bite. For starters, the menu won’t be limited to burger and steak options. Customers will be able to order dishes such as enchiladas, tacos, fish and chips and a 16-ounce burger known as the “Big Bite.” Santa Fe Bite also will serve breakfast items such as huevos

New Mexico Attorney General Gary King told the state’s highest court on Monday that a prohibition on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. In written arguments filed with the court, King said the justices should invalidate the state’s ban on gay marriage if they agree to resolve the issue in a lawsuit filed by two Santa Fe men who were denied a marriage license. King, a Democrat who plans to run for governor next year against Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, said New Mexico law effectively doesn’t allow gay marriages although there’s no statutory provision that specifically prohibits, or authorizes, gay couples to be married. “New Mexico’s guarantee of equal protection to its citizens demands that same-sex couples be permitted to enjoy the benefits of marriage in the same way and to the same extent as other New Mexico citizens,” King said in the filing. The five-member court had asked King’s office to respond to the lawsuit. No hearing has been scheduled in the case so far, and it’s uncertain whether the Supreme Court will issue a decision resolving the samesex marriage dispute. The lawsuit was filed directly with the justices to try to get a speedy decision. However, the court could decide that the case should be handled differently and has to work its way through the legal system as an

ABOVE: Ronal Garcia, left, and Lester Lopez work in the new Santa Fe Bite kitchen Monday. The restaurant is tentatively scheduled to open at Garrett’s Desert Inn on Aug. 15, and its menu will feature familiar fare from the Bobcat Bite, as well as new offerings.

By Chris Quintana

Santa Fe Bandstand

King says law can’t ban gay marriage The Associated Press

Please see ABUSe, Page A-4

www.pasatiempomagazine.com

Says a state ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, but urges justices to deny a Santa Fe couple’s request for license.

Attorney general tells justices matter is one of ‘equal protection’

Santa Fe police have arrested a former coach and foster parent accused of raping and molesting at least three young females over the past three decades, beginning in 1979. Sevedeo Lujan, 52, of Santa Fe was arrested Thursday after an 11-yearold Santa Fe girl reported July 15 that Lujan had sexually assaulted her in 2011. Sevedeo Five other Lujan females, who are now adults, have come forward during the course of the investigation to say they also were sexually assaulted, according to Santa Fe Police Department Sgt. Andrea Dobyns. Dobyns said police are trying to determine if there are other possible victims, given the fact that Lujan worked extensively with children over the past 30 years. “This is a very big case and we do expect it’s going to get bigger,” Dobyns said. Lujan is being held at the Santa Fe County jail in lieu of a $100,000 cashonly bond on two charges charge of criminal sexual penetration of a minor (one a first-degree felony and

Pasapick

Gary King

The state Human Services Department ignored a Monday deadline to allow State Auditor Hector Balderas access to an independent audit that reportedly found $36 million in Medicaid overpayments and “credible allegations of fraud” against 15 mental health providers whose Medicaid

Comics B-12

Lotteries A-2

funds were subsequently frozen. State Human Services Secretary Sidonie Squier earlier this month refused Balderas’ request for a copy of the audit, which Sidonie was performed by a Squier Boston company. So Balderas took the matter to court last week and got a subpoena signed by state District Judge Sarah Singleton of Santa Fe. Department spokesman Matt Kennicott said Monday that Attorney

Opinions A-10

Police notes A-7

Interim Editor: Bruce Krasnow, 986-3034, bkrasnow@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Kristina Dunham, kdunham@sfnewmexican.com

Sports B-1

General Gary King, whose office is investigating the fraud allegations, is trying to work with the auditor’s office to provide Balderas with what he needs. King’s chief deputy, Al Lama, confirmed that he has been in contact with the state auditor’s staff about the special audit. But Balderas said Squier will have to explain to the judge why she didn’t comply with the subpoena. She has 14 days from the time she was served — which was last week — to challenge the subpoena. Balderas said he needs access to the audit — which cost the Human

Time Out A-8

Local Business A-9

Main office: 983-3303 Late paper: 986-3010

Services Department $3.2 million — because of his duty to examine and audit the financial affairs of the state agency. Human Services has refused to let anyone — including the State Auditor’s Office and the 15 providers who are under investigation — see the Public Consulting Group audit, saying sharing the audit could jeopardize the investigation by the Attorney General’s Office. While Lama said such concerns about jeopardizing the investigation are legitimate, he said, “We’re not

Please see WAITINg, Page A-4

Two sections, 24 pages 164th year, No. 204 Publication No. 596-440


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