Rep. Lundstrom (Daily Times)

Beware the perils of remote legislative sessions. There were major snafus when the NM Legislature did most of their business remotely during the recent special session because of the coronavirus. They continue to do so and continue to suffer technical breakdowns that are a red flag if the Legislature must continue this way of business.

At a hearing Tuesday of the House Indian Affairs Committee Gallup area State Rep. Patrica Lundstrom was embarrassed when she was called on to speak remotely before the committee that was discussing Native voting rights. Instead she was caught talking on the phone for over two minutes about a project she was pursuing in her role as director of the Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GEDC). She chatted on unaware that because of technical issues her private conversation was not private at all

The full Lundstrom conversation is here starting at about 11:57.

(After our posting the Legislature edited out the Lundstrom conversation.)

The committee chair repeatedly interrupted as Lundstrom discussed intricate details of the closing of the Escalante Generating Station in McKinley County, anxiously asking, "Representative Lundstrom, can you hear me?" But Lundstorm was oblivious that her call had an audience of the full committee and the public at large on the net.

Fortunately for her, Lundstrom, chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, wasn't caught saying anything exceptionally controversial or using  coarse language. But she did get in a dig at McKinley County government that's ruffling feathers. She pointed out that GECDS "doesn't get one dime, not one dime" from the county and she wasn't going to be "pushed around" by the county.

Now imagine the entire 60 day session of the legislative session that starts in January being done remotely? If they can't get a simple committee hearing right, what about dozens of hearings? Then there’s the matter of public participation. Often because of technical issues the public was shut out at the special session.

Legislative leaders are discussing the chance that they will again be forced into a remote session. One suggestion is to have some committee hearings conducted away from the Capitol to accommodate the public, perhaps at large venues like the Convention Center. But Santa Fe first needs to better accommodate the technology that continues to baffle it--just ask Rep. Lundstorm who is thankful she wasn't embarrassed right out of her legislative seat.

By the way, in what she thought was a private call, Lundstorm was discussing the shutdown of the Escalante Generating Station in McKinley County and the loss of hundreds of jobs. She won approval of a bill in the January session that would have the county create an authority to focus on redevelopment. As the call revealed, she is having trouble getting the county government to do that.

KELLER PUSHBACK

Mayor Keller

It's been a good week for US Attorney John Anderson who pushed back against the city's accusations that 35 federal agents dispatched to ABQ by the Trump administration to aid in crime-fighting will be akin to secret police. Mayor Tim Keller took the brunt of his pushback and now a senior staffer for the Mayor does some pushing back of his own:

No surprise the former lawyer for the NMGOP is making this about politics instead of crime fighting. The US Attorney’s overblown 8-page response to our deputy city attorney is 90% bluster. The only part that matters is where he does exactly what we asked him to do: guarantee in writing that Operation Legend won’t be what we saw in Portland.

Our concern isn’t a regional Trump appointee. It’s the President’s own words. Mayor Keller stood up for Albuquerque and against those attacks on people of color, immigrants, and protesters. Keller was elected to reform APD and get back to effective community policing, and he’s not going to be intimidated by the President’s rhetoric.

The controversy over the federal agents is covered extensively on our Tuesday blog.
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Southern GOP congressional hopeful Yvette Herrell calls the endorsement of her candidacy by former southern Dem Congressman Harry Teague "huge." Is it?  Well, it could give her a little boost in the Lea County area where Teague, a former county commissioner, is best known. But he served only one term in the US House, winning election in the 08' Obama landslide and getting defeated by Republican Steve Pearce in the Tea Party year of 2010.

While Teague's endorsement touts Herrell's friendliness toward "our important energy industry," it was his vote for a climate change bill that caused him to run afoul of his fellow oil patch owners. Then there was his vote against Obamacare that alienated the liberal Dem base in Las Cruces. He succeeded in making both sides mad in the swing district.

There there is the not so small matter of the NM Oil and Gas Association putting a knife in Herrell's back by coming to the rescue of Torres Small following the Teague endorsement:

The New Mexico Oil & Gas Association, which represents petroleum producers, said the Las Cruces Democrat's record show she understands the role that the oil and gas industry plays in the state. “Throughout her first term in Congress, she has been a strong advocate for our state’s energy interests and responsible production and has stood up to those in her party who want to completely ban fracking,” said Ryan Flynn, the association's executive director.

Herrell's primary opponent Claire Chase once chaired the NMOGA. Whether she had anything to do with raining on Herrell's parade is unknown. Perhaps the association is doing some CYA because they feel XTS is going to win. Maybe it’s some of both. For Herrell it is a near disaster that could hurt her fund-raising.

We received this statement from Chase:

I am supporting Yvette, sent her a campaign contribution, and have encouraged everyone else who has the means to do so.

The endorsement of Teague shows that Herrell is moving a bit to the center. R's fear that Trump is lagging behind Biden in the district and may not have enough mojo to pull Herrell through. (Full Teague endorsement here.)

The DC pundits rate this one "lean Dem."

Another challenger, GOP US Senate candidate Mark Ronchetti, is--like Herrell--still on the sidelines with no TV presence because of financial constraints, but he does take a shot at the latest ad from his Dem opponent Rep. Ben Ray Lujan. In the ad Lujan talks of his support for Medicare but does not mention his support for Medicare for All, a key issue for Dem progressives. Ronchetti's campaign says:

Ben Ray Luján is hiding his far-left D.C. record. . . This is further proof Ben Ray has put politics before the people of New Mexico, and his refusal to mention his support for Medicare-for-All makes it abundantly clear he knows New Mexicans won’t like his radical, D.C agenda.

Unlike Lujan's first two ads this one does not have any optic missteps. It features home movies of Lujan's father, the late and beloved NM House Speaker Ben Lujan, who died of lung cancer. And the Lujan stand-up hits the mark as he is finally at ease and connecting with the viewer.

The DC pundits rate the Senate race "solid Dem."

NORTHERN ALLIGATOR STRIKE

There's an alligator strike on freshly appointed Santa Fe Dem State Rep. Tara Lujan. It comes as the Santa Fe County Democratic Party Central Committee prepares for a crucial meeting to decide who will be their candidate on the November ballot for a full two year term to the District 48 seat.

Lujan, a former aide to Rep. Ben Ray Lujan and currently working in human resources for Dem State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg, was appointed last month by the Santa Fe County Commission on an 4 to 1 vote to fill the seat of former Rep. Linda Trujillo who resigned because of financial considerations. Lujan's term runs only until the end of the year.

As the Central Committee gets ready to name their pick, questions are being raised about Lujan's residency in the district. She says flatly:

I live in my district and am registered in my district.

The Alligator strike has her only recently registering to vote in the Linda Trujillo district--and at her parents house--while she actually lives with her husband in another district--that of retiring State Rep. Jim Trujillo. Her foes say she registered in the Jim Trujillo district with plans to run for his seat but then  the Linda Trujillo vacancy occurred and she made the switch.

The Santa Fe native says that "a couple of months ago" she indeed did move into the longtime home of her parents which is in the Linda Trujillo district and where "she grew up." She is now registered at the home of her parents. She says her husband continues to live in the home in the Rep. Jim Trujillo district. Tara added:

I love living in our multigenerational home. It reminds me of how I grew up surrounded by extended family. Choosing to serve as an unpaid legislator means making changes that I am more than happy to make as I serve my constituents with honesty and integrity.

Lujan was sworn in last week and was required to give up her state job to become a legislator.

Lujan beat out four others for the commission appointment, including heavyweights Tim Garcia, a former Court of Appeals judge, and former County Commissioner Paul Campos who previously ran for the seat.

It will be up to Lujan to put any unease to rest when the Central Committee meets August 15 to make their pick.

By the way, no R's are in the running and none need apply. This district is all D all the time--like since FDR.

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US Attorney Anderson

An astounding takedown of ABQ Mayor Keller and the city's progressives by US Attorney John Anderson continues to reverberate. His eight page missive was in response to the city attorney's letter expressing deep worry over an additional 35 agents being sent to ABQ as part of Operation Legend, designed to assist local law enforcement in fighting the violent crime epidemic here.

We've acknowledged that the timing of the operation lends credence to the argument that this was a political stunt from the Trump administration, but the wild overreaction was unjustified.

Anderson, appointed by Trump, pushed back in no uncertain terms against progressives who labeled the operation "stormtroopers" or "gestapo" that would be infiltrating crime-soaked ABQ and robbing people of their civil liberties. And he called out the Keller administration for accusing the Feds of holding up a promised $10 million grant to hire more police.

Anderson's letter to Keller reads like a wake-up call to him, Sen. Heinrich and others in the progressive bubble when it comes to crime and what most of of the population here thinks. Excerpts:

Operation Legend was not conceived or announced in response to the events in Portland. As I informed you in our telephone conversation Operation Legend is not directed at protecting federal monuments, policing assemblies, or enforcing immigration laws. Operation Legend is. . . to identily and remove the most dangerous violent offenders from our communities.

One reason that Albuquerque was selected for Operation Legend is because, according to statistics published by the FBI, Albuquerque's violent crime rate is 3.7, or nearly four times the national violent crime rate. While we have been eagerly awaiting current, year-to-date statistics, I am sure you will agree that the pace oflethal shootings in Albuquerque from 2019 into 2020 is conceming. Of course, in 2019, the City experienced a record high number of homicides. Now in 2020, in one weekend this month alone, APD has opened four separate homicide investigations And a survey of APD officers at the beginning of this year suggested that those surveyed believed Albuquerque's crime problem was "getting worse."

As for the $10 million the city says it has not collected from federal Operation Relentless Pursuit, Anderson wrote:

You  (Keller) are quoted as saying, "We've had a lot of challenges where the federal govemment will work with us, say. 'Yes' to a program and then either the check never comes in the mail, which is the case with we think roughly $10 million with this past operation."

. . .These funds are the same Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) funds that I have been imploring the City to accept for several months. As further enticement to accept these funds, the Department of Justice even waived the standard 25 percent local match that generally accompanies COPS Hiring Program (CHP) funds. So I am confused by statements. . .that clearly suggest to the public that the City has said "Yes" to these funds, but that the Department of Justice has failed to honor its promise to deliver them.

My office. . . sent the City the grants award package. (It) instructed, in bold lettering on the first page, that the City needed to officially accept the awarded funds within 45 days of receipt of the award package. To date, the COPS Office has received no communication from the City. 

Obviously, no federal funds can be sent to Albuquerque unless the City officially accepts the award. In other words, the ball has very much been in the City's court for more than a month. So it is confusing to the public, and certainly unfair to the Department of Justice, for any City official to represent or suggest that the Department has somehow failed to follow through on its promise to get these funds to Albuquerque.

The newspaper reports:

Anderson and city officials had previously told the Journal that the city’s “immigrant-friendly” resolution did not allow it to agree to some of the grant conditions.

So it is city politics holding up the $10 million. 

After being taken to the woodshed, the Mayor had a mild response:

We asked the US Attorney to give us assurances in writing about Operation Legend, and we got them for our city. Specifically, the US attorney has provided a written guarantee that Operation Legend will not be what we saw in Portland. However, we remain concerned about the President’s own words that contradict these assurances, and we will hold the appropriate people accountable if this is not true.

Even the NM branch of the American Civil Liberties Union lost its way and called for the resignation of BernCo Sheriff Manny Gonzales simply because he showed up at the White House when Operation Legend was announced and offered support afterwards. What happened to the ACLU NM sacred pledge to protect free speech? Apparently it's been undone by the racket from their progressive donors who see a stormtrooper behind every tree, but don't seem to see the hundreds of people of color being maimed and murdered here nor the general lawlessness that has come to define their "Burque."

Progressives truly get our education and environmental challenges but too many appear tone deaf or worse when it comes to the crime and violence that has cost so many lives, caused thousands to flee and businesses to shun us as as we become known as a lawless, dusty border town. The US Attorney will be called a Trump political hack and maybe he is but when it comes to crime he has the truth on his side and for many of our progressives that truth hurts.

THE BOTTOM LINES 

In our first draft Monday we identified Cobre High School as being in Deming. The correct location is Bayard.

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As often happens in New Mexico politics, you heard it here first. Heck, that's our shtick. So no one around here dropped their iPhone when word came Friday that sources "familiar with her thinking" told the NYT that MLG is interested in becoming the cabinet secretary for the Health and Human Services Department--should Biden defeat Trump in November:

Fears should be subsiding about that unauthorized shift of $750 million in federal coronavirus money to plug the state's budget gap at the recent special legislative session. Congress is stuck on a new relief bill but R's say they do want to provide more flexibility for the previously approved virus funds:

Democrats proposed nearly $1 trillion for the local governments confronting COVID-19 emergency costs and declining revenues during the stay-home shutdowns. Republicans offered no new money, preferring instead to give states flexibility to use an earlier $150 billion allotment as needed.

While the state can breathe easier about that $750 million, the foundering of the Dem proposal to provide direct relief to cash-strapped states and cities for the next budget cycle is worrisome for New Mexico. The state is expected to have more budget shortfalls for the fiscal year starting July 2021 and the federal money would help.

That extra $600 a week some 135,000 unemployed New Mexicans have been getting is ending this week. The Congress remains deadlocked on an extension. A plan to reduce the extra payments to $200 a week is circulating. Either way, the state's economy would take a big hit from the reduced stimulus.

One positive: the bear market in the SE NM Permian Basin appears to be bottoming out. Oil is trading at around $41 a barrel, higher than the state was planning on. However, oil demand is expected to remain below 2019 levels.

Perhaps to the chagrin of small government conservatives, federal dollars are taking an even bigger role in the state economy. Significant budget increases for Sandia and Los Alamos Labs are in the works starting Oct. 1. From Sen. Heinrich's office:

Senator Heinrich supported full funding authorization for the NNSA’s nuclear weapons and security programs. For fiscal year 2021, the bill authorizes $2.6 billion for Sandia National Laboratories, an increase of $330 million over fiscal year 2020. For Los Alamos National Laboratory, the bill authorizes FY21 funding of $3.22 billion, up from $2.3 billion in fiscal year 2020. 

Pat Davis (Moore Abq Journal)

That "cancel culture" call last month from progressive group ProgressNowNM for ABQ City Council President Pat Davis to resign has fizzled. No other groups joined in the call. In fact, two Dem ABQ legislators who are progressive on many issues--Sen, Mimi Stewart and Rep. Debbie Sariñana, authored an op-ed to defend former cop Davis:

We were saddened to read “Progressive group wants City Councilor Davis to resign” about ProgressNow New Mexico’s unfortunate demand that Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis resign. Our legislative districts overlap with City Council District 6, where Councilor Davis has been a key leader and ally to us for years on progressive policies related to gun control, criminal justice and police reform, immigration, cannabis legalization, LGBTQ protections and many other important issues.

ProgressNow wanted Davis to resign over his 2004 shooting of a black man while serving on the DC police force. The call was a misfire for the very group that Davis himself led as executive director at its inception. Now ProgressNow and its new leadership may have to keep an eye on its donor base.

LUJAN TV: TAKE 2

Dem US Senate hopeful Rep. Ben Ray Lujan comes with his second TV ad which focuses on the negative impact the coronavirus has had on restaurant sales and Lujan's support (and that of about every other congressman and senator) of the PPP program that is helping restrauteurs and other businesses stay afloat. 

Let's update the two big congressional races in the state with now less than 100 days before election day and a whole lot closer than that to significant early voting. . .

Is the southern congressional contest starting to tilt toward incumbent Dem US Rep. Xochitl Torres-Small? Although national R's say they will come with millions in PAC money to support GOP challenger Yvette Herrell recent fund-raising reports from the individual campaigns prompted longtime pundit Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia to rerate the race from "toss-up" to "lean Dem." His reasoning:

. . . Herrell (won) a nasty primary over Claire Chase, who some Republicans thought could offer the party a fresh start. . . Torres Small more than tripled Herrell’s campaign spending in 2018; that edge could get even more pronounced in 2020, as Torres Small holds a $3.9 million to $379,000 cash on hand edge over Herrell in recent reporting. This is definitely a GOP-leaning district: Trump won it 50%-40%, with another 8% going to Libertarian Gary Johnson. In all likelihood, Trump will carry the district again, although perhaps with a reduced margin. The race is arguably very close right now -- a Republican internal poll released recently had it tied 46%-46% and probably will be close in the end. But we suspect Torres Small will be able to generate enough crossover support to hang on. 

There has been no public polling on the presidential race in the southern district but insider polling we have seen is worrisome for Herrell. One survey showed Trump beating Biden by only one point--not nearly enough to push Herrell over the top. Of course, the southern Congress race is volatile. Things can change.

And the GOP is also fighting new headwinds in the US Senate race where Dem Rep. Ben Ray Lujan faces Republican and political newcomer Mark Ronchetti. The Cook Political Report's new ranking of that race moves it to the "solid Democratic" corner from "likely Dem." Again, fund-raising is a cause. At last report Lujan had $3.3 million in cash on hand and Ronchetti less than $600,000.

In the only public polling on the statewide presidential race, PPP in mid-June had it Biden 53 and Trump 39. In the Senate race the survey had Lujan leading 48-34.

JOE'S #2

In that race to be Joe Biden's running mate, MLG still earns a mention but not much intensity. The pundits are more prone to think her chances are more realistic for a slot in the Biden cabinet (e.g. Sec. of Health). Still the summer guessing game continues and provides some entertainment before the campaigns pick up. Here's the latest from Politico on MLG and Joe:

WHY BIDEN SHOULD PICK HER

. . . She would bring plenty of political and policy-making experience to the ticket. She was chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in her third and final term in the House, and she has major bona fides on the critical issue of health care from her previous positions in state government.

Like Biden, Lujan Grisham has suddenly lost a spouse: Her husband collapsed on a jog in 2004 and died the next day. And Lujan Grisham has a strong electoral record in a state the Trump campaign has crowed about trying to put in play: She routed her GOP opponent in 2018, then-Rep. Steve Pearce, running up a margin of 57 percent to 43 percent in a high-turnout contest.

WHY HE SHOULDN'T

. . .Despite a recent rollback of reopening measures, New Mexico is still seeing a spike in coronavirus cases. She also came under fire back in May for a remote jewelry purchase that was conducted without unsafe personal contact — but also came before the state began allowing retail curbside delivery. Pearce, her 2018 opponent who now chairs the state GOP, called it “really disgraceful.”

She’s the governor of a small state, and few strategists on both sides buy into the Trump campaign’s bravado about contesting New Mexico’s five electoral votes this fall. That means Biden might rather look elsewhere for a home-state bump. And. . . she lacks the national profile that senators have built. . . 

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The temperature is cooling after a firestorm was ignited over Trump's decision to send several dozen federal agents to fight crime in ABQ. Emotions ran high, with warnings that the "secret police" "stormtroopers" and the "Gestapo" were set to swarm into the city to incite violence and cause mayhem. Troubled Portland being the example given.

Our view is that we are not going to be another Portland and that Trump's ABQ deployment--which was not prompted over statue pulling, street protests or damage to federal property as in Portland--is essentially a campaign stunt as he makes a longshot play for the state this November. Also, we point out that ABQ's unrelenting crime wave, unresolved by local officials for years, set us up for further federal intervention--and not without public support.

Our Facebook was scorched with dissent over our being lax in recognizing a clear threat to civil liberties and for trusting anything Trump says or does.

Rather then work independently from APD, the agents will work with it. Contrary to Mayor Keller's initial statement, these aren't secret police. In fact, after the emotional turmoil settled the Mayor and APD chief began to walk back earlier perceptions:

. . . Keller categorized the federal agents as "secret police." KOB-TV asked Keller if he regrets classifying the agents in that manner. "Well it was just two days ago when that's what the president was explicitly talking about," Keller said. "So you know, one day has changed. . . . We're all very concerned about what this is and what it's not. Because the president is saying one thing and I think our local officials are saying another." . . . The federal partnership is not an uncommon practice for the APD. "It's really the original plan from Operation Relentless Pursuit," said Chief Michael Geier. Attorney General Barr said the program was paused due to the pandemic. "It seems to be the same thing. From everybody I talked to in the federal partners they insist it is the same thing and that they're not even here to take it over from us," Geier said. "They're going to work side by side with us."

The Mayor issued a warning letter of sorts Friday to US Attorney John Anderson saying ABQ "does not welcome federal agents hiding their identities or use of unmarked vehicles" and "the City welcomes the continued federal partnerships to carry out those task force operations as they currently operate."

The possibility of an infringement on civil liberties should not be belittled. Heck, in 2016 the ATF came to ABQ and joined with APD in an operation in the SE Heights that seemed to target black residents--and that was under the Obama administration. The latest deployment bears intense scrutiny (as the Mayor is doing) but this is not another Portland. For example, the Border Patrol Tactical Unit wearing camouflage is not coming here as it did in Oregon--and let's keep it that way. Now on to Reader Vox Populi. . .

Mayor Keller

Reader Mitchell Freedman sums up what happened with the heavy handed remarks of Keller and Senator Heinrich, who called for the resignation of Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales who was at the White House for the deployment announcement:

 I was very angry at what happened in Portland, I think that is what prompted Henrich and Keller's remarks. I would not have been as critical of their jumping out in front if Trump is saying he wanted to expand what happened in Portland to ABQ. It ended up being something very different, but one has to be cautious with anything Trump does as he gets more desperate and cops get more anxious about their power position in municipal and county governments.

Reader David Ryan writes:

Hi Joe, Being appalled by the militarized law enforcement actions in Portland does not make one a hard left Democrat. Heinrich may have jumped the gun regarding Manny Gonzales. However, one can be suspicious about Gonzales’ participation in a desperate Hail Mary photo op with a clearly unsuccessful president. One can also be suspicious about Gonzales’ refusal to equip his department with body cameras. Based upon Manny Gonzales’ history, Martin was not out of line.

There was no "photo op" with Gonzales and Trump. Gonzales, a likely 2021 ABQ mayoral candidate, made sure of that.

Reader Mark Horst writes

Joe, your idea of "mainstream" is preposterous. You don't have to be a left-wing firebreather to have serious questions about the use of federal agents that we've seen in Portland. And your idea that "the man on the street" thinks bringing in agents without coordinating with local elected officials is good thing--is absurd. I think you're drinking Trump's bleach!

An anonymous reader writes:

Joe, how about that Martin Heinrich. He sure is getting awfully full of himself, isn't he? Sheriff Gonzales may just take a pass on opposing Keller and instead gear up for a run against Heinrich in 2024. I think it is getting more likely all the time that Heinrich will face some primary opponent in 2024. He is full of hubris, and hubris comes before the fall.

Mike Santullo, former communications director for ABQ Mayor Ken Schultz in the 80's, writes:

While some may say it is political I commend him for sending the federal agents. This damn city is totally in the shitter. Crime is at an all-time high, we have a police chief who's not even awake and a mayor who only cares about kissing babies and cutting ribbons while Rome burns. It's about time we concentrated on the high numbers we have for auto theft, burglary and murder. It's about time we sent out a strong message to these criminals that the party is over. I welcome the federal presence into this city. Then and only then will the pretty faces at City Hall get the message loud and clear.  Enough is enough!

ABQ attorney Israel Chavez writes:

Sen. Heinrich

Pouring in more police is not the answer to crime. As a prosecutor, I take the health and safety of our communities very seriously. But that means. . . taking a broader view of crime. We must be focused on rehabilitative solutions for those struggling. . .It’s not just about punishment it’s about what the road ahead looks like. Our collective well-being. Deploying federal agents to agitate in an effort to curry political capital as “tough on crime” will not produce the results we need and arrests often have years-long consequences for those affected. Additionally, I call on each of those prosecutors employed in the US Attorneys office to condemn these actions. The oath we all swear on admission to the bar demands it. If you are silent then it is noted.

Meli Romero writes:

We’ve got people claiming crime is under control and that the people of Albuquerque, who have been living with the fear of crime for years, have more to fear from 35 publicly announced federal agents than from the violence that puts us on the list of most dangerous cities. That seems very political to me. That’s the only way to explain why the party that claims to stand for Hispanic New Mexicans is not out demanding answers over violence that is disproportionately taking the lives of Natives and Chicanos.

Kevin Wenderoth writes:

Joe, perhaps "Gestapo" or "stormtroopers" is hyperbole. But I can't help but disagree with your calling Mayor Keller's comments "out of the mainstream." President Trump's Federal Protective Service are going around Portland wearing battle fatigues (not police uniforms) that don't have any identifying information (names, agency, or otherwise), driving rental vans with no identifying information, and apprehending & questioning people without probable cause. What else can you call them other than secret police?

Thanks, Kevin. Our answer is that we can't call them secret police in ABQ until we see the same conduct here.

Maria Estela de Rios writes:

The dispatching of Federal agents by the President to “assist” in fighting our violent crime problem angered me. Trump’s hypocrisy and self-serving nature coupled with his incompetence and lack of empathy not only threatens to completely collapse our country but also endangers the lives of so many; some now dead. Faced with a possible loss in November, he has ratcheted up the heat under the guise of law and order. What is worse, his move into New Mexico has been aided and abetted by New Mexicans for their political expediency, many who stand under the banner of States’ rights. Make no mistake, I am appalled at the crime stats for Albuquerque and support a multi-pronged approach with additional resources to help solve our crime problem. 

Laura Sanchez writes:

Joe, I think it’s very touching that you trust the Trump administration to send federal officers to help Albuquerque. However I disagree that they are coming to help us. 1. Trump lies about everything.
2. Trump has never shown interest in helping ordinary citizens, only in aggrandizing himself.
3. About the only support he has left is his “base,” which needs regular doses of red meat.  
4. Albuquerque is not facing a specific crisis at this moment, but New Mexico has a Democratic Hispanic woman governor, a Democratic congressional delegation, Democratic mayors of its largest cities, and a minority/majority population--entirely too tempting a target.
5. “Outside forces” have previously tried to clean up APD. How’s that working out for you?

We didn't say that we "trust" Trump but that the deployment decision did not equate to Portland.

Sheriff Gonzales

Dave Marash of KSFR radio comes with some humor on Trump's rollout of the agents and our calling it a "smooth" PR ploy:

The smoothest thing about it was Sheriff Gonzales' silence. But he did apparently find a camera he's not scared shitless of.

Gonzales has been derided for refusing to equip his deputies with lapel cameras. Marash, a former ABC-TV newsman, lives in Santa Fe. You can listen to his regular podcasts here.

John Rey writes:

Joe, just watched Manny’s excuse news conference. Manny you are a sell out. Here in Crime Ridden Alb. U pose with a mask on but in DC you pose sans mask, why? Because your new best friend orange sunshine doesn’t wear one. 

Thanks to all who took time to write and make this yet another worthy edition of Reader Vox Populi!

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Jacqueline Vigil

It was as smooth as it was divisive when President Trump Wednesday rolled out the placement of 35 federal agents to fight crime in ABQ. (Transcript here.)

The highlighting of the tragic murder of Jacqueline Vigil, the mother of two state police officers who was shot to death earlier this year while in her car on her westside driveway, was especially poignant. The crime shocked the city like few others and the FBI establishing a $25,000 reward Wednesday for information leading to an arrest, was a reminder of the appalling state of crime in the metro. Sam Vigil, the widow of Jacqueline, said at the White House event:

It’s been eight months and there have been no arrests at all, There are other victims in Albuquerque that are in the same boat.

Even though he has now become the target of vitriol from the Democratic Party's left wing, the presence of Bernalillo County Sheriff (and possible 2021 ABQ mayoral hopeful) Manny Gonzales at the White House for the unveiling of "Operation Legend" was also a PR coup. Trump spotlighting himself with an Hispanic Democratic sheriff placed him in a different context--and a more favorable one (although Gonzales sought political cover by rebuking rumors that he had invited the federal agents to ABQ).

Then there was the deployment--35 agents from the many agencies under Homeland Security. While the far left may call that "Gestapo" "Stormtroopers" and worse, for the man in the street it seemed a measured response after the recent uproar in Portland where a federal deployment there raised serious questions.

Then there was the statement from the local FBI, cognizant of the Portland mishap, reassuring the public here that the agents would not be involved in immigration laws or protests but concentrating on violent crime, drugs and firearms activity. The civil liberties watchdogs may doubt it--and that's healthy--but it helps dampen concerns about federal overreach.

Then there's those millions of dollars going to Chicago, Kansas City and ABQ to combat crime as part of Operation Legend. That makes it even more palatable, even as the city complained it has yet to receive $10 million promised by the Feds when they stepped up enforcement here late last year.

But for the not so average voter in the left wing of the Democratic Party Wednesday was apoplectic, with Senator Heinrich getting caught up in the frenzy, labeling the agents "stormtroopers" and making an over the top call for the resignation of Sheriff Gonzales that may be backfiring, especially with Hispanics. Other elected Democratic officials called the agents "Gestapo."

Mayor Keller also strayed from the mainstream, repeatedly calling the agents "secret police" even though they were announced on national TV, hardly a hallmark of secrecy. 

In his longshot campaign for New Mexico's electoral votes, Trump has been citing violent crime in his TV ads. While there's no question this decision Wednesday stiffened the resolve of his opposition, it gave his campaign a window into the world of crime-sickened citizens who don't feel the Gestapo is coming but hopefully some relief--as farfetched as that may be, given a similar "surge" by MLG's State Police into ABQ last year. Most of the arrests did not pan out.

Senator Udall, who is retiring, came with reasoned opposition to the deployment:

We must and will be vigilant about the expansion of ‘Operation Legend.' New Mexico leaders. . . should not tolerate the use of federal forces for political purposes. . . and violate constitutional rights. And we certainly do not need presidential attacks on New Mexico that only inflame tensions in an effort to politicize serious issues like improving community safety, achieving racial justice and better supporting those struggling with addiction. . .I am seeking answers about the exact authorities, missions, duration and conditions attached to this operation. . .and will do everything in my power to protect the constitutional rights and freedom of New Mexicans.

Tom must have forgotten the parts about the Gestapo, Stormtroopers and kicking the Sheriff out of town.

Don't forget. ABQ would not be in the unwanted national crime spotlight and subjected to the President's crime fighting whims if we had done our job and made this a safe and healthy city, instead of the poster boy for violence, mayhem and dysfunction. Parts of the governing political class, so out of sorts over what happened Wednesday and seemingly out of touch when it comes to crime, might want to think about that.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2020

Sen. Heinrich

US Senator Martin Heinrich lowered the boom on fellow Democrat and Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales Tuesday, calling for the Sheriff's resignation because, Heinrich claimed, Gonzales has invited President Trump to place federal troops in Albuquerque to fight crime as he has done in Portland and is threatening to do in other cities.

Operation Relentless Pursuit was initiated in seven high crime cities last year, including ABQ, and saw an increase in federal law enforcement and cooperation.