UPDATE 12:42pm Wed. May 18th, 2016:
FGGAM NEWS just received this news release from the Republican Party of New Mexico:
Sandia Pueblo Changes Tribal Policy, Allows Press at RPNM Quadrennial Convention
Albuquerque, NM – After announcing Tuesday that press would not be allowed on Sandia Casino Property during the Republican Party of New Mexico’s 2016 Quadrennial Convention, Sandia Pueblo reversed that policy Wednesday following a meeting of the Tribal Council. Press will be welcomed at the 2016 Quadrennial Convention at Sandia Resort & Casino.
The announcement Tuesday came as a surprise to Republican Party officials, who had not been made aware of the Sandia Pueblo’s policy beforehand. Sandia Casino had previously asked for a list of press that would be attending before informing RPNM that no press would be allowed. RPNM Communications Director Tucker Keene quickly reached out to Sandia Pueblo Governor Isaac Lujan’s office to ask for an explanation and protest the last-minute change in policy. Governor Lujan said allowing press was against council policy, but that he would raise the issue in the Tribal Council meeting Wednesday morning.
“We are glad that Sandia Pueblo has reconsidered their policy and allowed the press to attend and cover our convention,” said Keene. “We had not been made aware of this no-press policy when we signed our contract with Sandia Casino back in October, and would not have hosted our convention there had we known otherwise. We have been excited to host our Convention this Saturday at Sandia and welcome the press to see our well-managed Convention process.”
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My friend, award winning journalist Peter St. Cyr of Albuquerque put it this way on his Facebook page: A Sandia Pueblo council policy apparently bars media from attending and covering the New Mexico Republican’s 2016 Quadrennial Convention this weekend. I’m told Gov. Isaac Lujan will ask his council to review that decision tomorrow. (Today) Maybe he should tell them that Republican Party rules require all their meetings to be open to the public. #FirstAmendment ABQ Journal Story Here
I will add that this is the same GOP bunch who wanted to charge the media to attend their convention. This is the same messed up bunch who have wasted the years of having a Republican Governor, nothing has changed for the good of the people, the common people, it has gotten worse for us. These folks have money to spend on a private party!
Someone failed again to do their homework. Should have known about the ban.
So, once again the Republican party has failed. If the leaders of this party cannot do their homework on their own convention, how can the people of this state trust them to lead us out of last place?
I would not put these folks in charge of a one car funeral.
I still cannot get over that they wanted to charge us media folks to attend their circus!
It’s dysfunction like this that caused Franklin Graham to quit the Republican Party!
The Democrats are no better, thus the rise of a person like Trump. The people are having a Boston tea party!
I wonder if the Governor is serving pizza and beer?
