[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6311411,"mediaKeyId","2396079-05fedabf69cb5668a3eb7df507f87dc1","parentId",2396079,"title","Public commenter warns against censoring city social media; mayor cites legal advice for comment policy","audioSeconds",287,"startMs",4156000,"endMs",4443000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396079-05fedabf69cb5668a3eb7df507f87dc1&start=4156&end=4443","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396079-05fedabf69cb5668a3eb7df507f87dc1/thumbnail_4156000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6311411/Alamogordo/Otero-County/New-Mexico/Public-commenter-warns-against-censoring-city-social-media-mayor-cites-legal-advice-for-comment-policy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311411-400561881ad8f1880d9ba5aa46ad6dff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190034&Signature=NcOpFJE7Wzfhfc846NP8A8OO~3kSyZ4nR~p1zsv9I0lhgmNMoDcMQGlsSJMaVE5Klrraji0MyRwAgkoz2EoKHyv7nMpJSOptLRbNI2kyfAnK6YpsHZ8XDbIak1stwt1DqIms2iSnAjPR~paCK1Pl9vpMmzhK8D-R2VEdDq-TtovXd8oQqEhvxXJs6qzknySnyuRcsRX5OaUjqSPS9RNIf-nO3XHlLWCFnzBahiISc4z9SxpMPOkl5pS8jylviy5Ji5ZprAIkN7smDcZ4Vlw9Tmbtt87pcYq374KjCdHydbI6AfwBiyDs5LjfoYc9MZCvXl9~nQOqaosMbUuQdT3PCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Alamogordo","date","2025-02-26T01:29:32Z","article","A member of the public addressed the commission during public comment Tuesday to warn that government cannot lawfully silence speech on public platforms and cited several court decisions, while the mayor and staff explained the city’s decision to disable comments across its social-media pages.

Joseph Lindsey (identified in the record as Joe L.) urged the commission to preserve “the modern public square” and cited United States Supreme Court decisions and other cases in support of his position, saying “you can't simply shut that down without tampering the Constitution.” In his remarks Lindsey referenced Hague v. CIO (1939), Packingham v. North Carolina (2017), Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015), and more recent litigation raising First Amendment issues for state actions involving online speech.

Mayor Susan Paine and staff responded on the record, saying the city consulted legal counsel before disabling comments. Paine said state case law permitted the city to “turn off comments” if the account is treated uniformly as an information-only bulletin, and that the policy has been applied across all city social media pages. The mayor added she did not make the decision herself but must follow legal advice and said alternatives for public contact include direct messages to elected officials, the mayor’s Facebook Messenger and traditional channels such as email and phone.

City staff noted the practical concern that city social pages are not continuously monitored and that consistent, uniform policies are required to avoid selective enforcement. The city manager’s report that followed reiterated that legal counsel had advised the approach and that a local case interpreting the law supported treating the pages as informational bulletins.

The exchange left the legal issue framed as a matter for counsel and for public-policy decisions by the commission; commissioners did not indicate a vote to change the current online-comment policy during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commmission Meeting 02/25/2025","oneSentenceSummary","A speaker urged the commission not to silence public speech on city platforms, citing U.S. Supreme Court cases; the mayor and staff said legal counsel and state law allow treating city pages as information-only and uniformly turning comments off.","taxTitle","Alamogordo, Otero County, New Mexico","taxId",58077,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6311416,"Alamogordo mayor outlines priorities, $300M-plus infrastructure slate in State of the City",1532,2418000,3950000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396079-05fedabf69cb5668a3eb7df507f87dc1&start=2418&end=3950","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396079-05fedabf69cb5668a3eb7df507f87dc1/thumbnail_2418000.jpg","/articles/6311416/Alamogordo/Otero-County/New-Mexico/Alamogordo-mayor-outlines-priorities-300M-plus-infrastructure-slate-in-State-of-the-City","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311416-b4f114c0d6c9c4f819d82fd365f645e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190034&Signature=OaK0G4O0kyfrPRzMKhMzLnYD53i2qzAbY3cECGgbyURyqgANAENsb1KbWJJNXvLENxAF6LCwUV~P~SgKAGlAEjLEHfv44KwRPvq7JTH2FjpwMghKq8pXd55D1uq9ztV9fOFVZxBoKIR5SLxUgsEW7NcipB39RJ4~Yr7O~OzoO-x~CQ8I4jC2V6YtlJcLKydlmjHtJ0x~fOAWMPO7TzJIedzp~tnfzNBu-KciFeVKHIFuh4OBl7n0yHgkMeotD~3JpigBBvpvvb0V6CvVh8JuTsEqgXx0cMDs5LuFyKw6doWDAzu4bM10liSDXVELQrW4uHbQWBppsWCESaTytLRZOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Susan Paine delivered the annual State of the City address Tuesday, outlining public-safety staffing, a multiyear water-infrastructure program, downtown utility upgrades tied to a Great Blocks project, and several quality-of-life and economic-development initiatives planned or underway in 2025.

Paine told the commission the city had 46 sworn police officers last year with 10 vacancies, and that the police department fielded about 35,000 calls in 2024. She said the mobile crisis team — funded through prior grant awards — received 372 referrals last year and an additional 28 referrals from the county.

The mayor also described public-works activity the city is pursuing: 52 projects currently in various design and implementation stages with a combined project value “in excess of $300,000,000,” according to the address. Paine outlined immediate priorities that will be funded in part by grants, including planned rehabilitation or replacement of several major water tanks (Foothills Park and Lower Heights among them), a phased citywide water-infrastructure replacement beginning in the south end of town, inspection and work on bridges after a crack was discovered on the Washington Bridge, and a replacement/upgrade of water and sewer lines on Oregon Street ahead of a planned pool replacement.

Paine described a successful, targeted effort that she said saved Bonita Lake after wildfire-related risk: staff and contracted crews dug sediment ponds to catch post-fire debris and prevent re-siltation of the reservoir, work she said was coordinated with state and federal partners.

Other projects noted: a New York Avenue utility upgrade coordinated with Alamogordo Main Street and the Great Blocks project, airport pavement rehabilitation funded with a combined $1.5 million in federal, state and local sources, library patio and telehealth booth improvements funded through ICIP, and zoo fencing and exhibit upgrades funded by ICIP with further requests planned for an education building.

On housing, Paine said two new apartment complexes are scheduled to begin construction soon — one described as dorm-style targeted toward lower-ranking enlisted military personnel and another expected to provide more than 100 rental units — and staff continue to pursue additional housing options.

The mayor described Project RISE, a joint initiative with the Chamber of Commerce and other partners that adopts core values of “respect, integrity, service and excellence,” and announced a forthcoming Gateway Freedom Monument that will feature a refurbished F-4 aircraft and a commemorative brick wall to honor military service; that memorial is scheduled for unveiling later this summer.

Paine urged residents to support downtown businesses during utility work on New York Avenue and said the Family Fun Center procurement process is being kept public: eight companies completed the mandatory walk-through, proposals are due March 10, oral presentations will be held in public and the commission will select a bidder in a public meeting on April 22.

City staff and commissioners emphasized that many of the large infrastructure efforts will rely on grant funding and multi-year construction schedules and that some choices, including prior rate increases for water, were made to ensure long-term service reliability.","Mayor Susan Paine delivered the 2025 State of the City, highlighting public safety staffing, water and bridge projects, downtown utility upgrades, Bonita Lake protections and housing initiatives; several projects rely on grant funding and multi‑year implementation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6311421,"Alamogordo commissioners appoint Crystal Guthrie to fill District 1 vacancy",172,1914000,2086000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396079-05fedabf69cb5668a3eb7df507f87dc1&start=1914&end=2086","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396079-05fedabf69cb5668a3eb7df507f87dc1/thumbnail_1914000.jpg","/articles/6311421/Alamogordo/Otero-County/New-Mexico/Alamogordo-commissioners-appoint-Crystal-Guthrie-to-fill-District-1-vacancy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311421-908b1a952893dfeef2bf8db11e0bb652/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190034&Signature=OEvDSLUhxX-yPizBPWBnH0TN1Q4dSxgk2vQYwBkJnZNuJeaZW2oz3VQyW4gno6WKefVghGxPkq7z1RASVsj5U0cREIZyoPbyGBKmz9EFYbdqfsYRk0ye6-F-URw8hp2-TQ8qMVqvrQ5euBTigwxtJipa13eZsXfxt6gnMmN3siaTBbkX1LSnA5MvsrX9R8BKo2V3slpQbuMAWKWeJf-huP3rJgE6gvDKEtytrn--NLBg5mmiIoiNlfyonXovn7XE~lbxQkjwgwpZ9udU1NqwJpXOXpsstITUrQJPYlwXBqGrfPtzG3m5KEUIVIXIudUnCnVLK7ZyCeC589DDD2RMFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Crystal Guthrie was nominated and confirmed Tuesday to the Alamogordo City Commission seat representing District 1, and she took the oath of office to complete a term running through Dec. 31, 2025.

The commission voted to appoint Guthrie after taking public interviews of applicants for the vacancy. Mayor Pro Tem Sharon McDonald moved the nomination; Commissioner Mark Tapley seconded the nomination. The motion to appoint passed 6-0 at the time of the vote; Guthrie was sworn in shortly afterward.

Guthrie introduced herself to the commission before the vote and described long family ties to the city and work in local real estate. After the vote, Guthrie repeated the oath in the meeting record, saying, “I, Crystal Guthrie,” as part of the administered oath pledging to “support the Constitution of the United States” and discharge the duties of office \"to the best of my ability.\" Following the oath, commissioners welcomed Guthrie and scheduled short onboarding assistance with staff, including an orientation to the commission’s computer system.

During the applicant interviews earlier in the meeting, candidates described their reasons for seeking the seat and answered questions about familiarity with city government, budgeting and the city charter. Guthrie told commissioners she has been a longtime resident, works as a qualifying broker in local real estate and described priorities including housing, safety and youth amenities.

The commission chair said staff will provide Guthrie with office access and training and that she will be fully participating in subsequent meetings. The appointment timeline and vote counts were recorded in the meeting minutes.

Votes at a glance: The nomination and appointment of Crystal Guthrie passed 6-0 at the vote immediately preceding her swearing-in.

Guthrie will serve the remainder of the term through Dec. 31, 2025; commissioners said they will follow up with onboarding and a future agenda item to integrate the new commissioner into ongoing priorities.","The Alamogordo City Commission nominated and voted to appoint Crystal Guthrie to the vacant District 1 seat and administered the oath of office; commissioners discussed onboarding and next steps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenter warns against censoring city social media; mayor cites legal advice for comment policy

Alamogordo mayor outlines priorities, $300M-plus infrastructure slate in State of the City

Alamogordo commissioners appoint Crystal Guthrie to fill District 1 vacancy