SWOPblogger

Channel 13's coverage can be seen here. [Transcript]

Mayor blocks “repugnant” youth event
Source: KRQE News 13

Watch Addie Knowlton's report.

ALBUQUERQUE -- City officials have canceled a youth event in the works for three months with organizers saying it’s a sign the mayor doesn’t care about young people.

Leaders of SWOP--the Southwest Organizing Project--and the South Valley Male Involvement Project planned to host an event they called Rock Out With Your Cause Out. But today Mayor Martin Chávez pulled the plug.

While organizers said they wanted to entertain and educate young people, the mayor said some of its elements, particularly a graffiti-painting contest, would “ghettocize” the city.

Chavez said the reason a permit was not granted is because the group didn't want to provide security and clean-up and they didn't want to pay a fee to hold the event.
SWOP said it was willing to meet the city's requirements, and the planned graffiti battle represents graffiti as art.

“The kids were going to do graffiti in a controlled and safe environment,” Monica Cordova of SWOP said.

Chavez said he sees it differently.

“For this group to pretend to enhance youth pride under the guise of graffiti is repugnant to Albuquerque,” he said.

The city has spent $1 million dollars cleaning up graffiti that's here, according to Chavez who said the event would send a bad message to kids. SWOP countered by accusing Chavez of not supporting youth in Albuquerque.

SWOP also said it’s not giving up and plans a rally at Civic Plaza on Saturday.

[karlos says] Mayor Marty should be called on his inflamatory rhetoric - particularly as it's pointed at young people who are involved with and care about their communities.

He's the mayor of a major city and he can't go around attacking young people just because they disagree with his policies.

If you're serious about stopping people from spray painting your walls, you offer space - controlled, safe space - for young people to express themselves.

His comments about "ghettocizing" the city are over the top and insulting. Mayor Chavez should be ashamed of himself using such race-coded language against young people of his city.

Young people deserve access to public facilities, yes, sometimes under their terms. The complaint is that young folks don't have enough positive, culturally relevant things to do in this city.

The Mayor seems mean, negative and vengeful at every turn. It's time he deal with young people, particularly those who care about this city and want to make it a better place to come of age - even if they disagree with him.

It's what responsible, caring Mayors do.

This one just doesn't get it.