Bernalillo County District Attorney Kari Brandenburg fears for her safety because of her decision to charge two Albuquerque police officers with murder in the fatal shooting of homeless camper James Boyd last year, she told ABQ Free Press.
The DA said she’s been told by friendly APD officers that she’s a target of forces who want her out of office and punished for daring to challenge the police department. . . “I fear for my safety because other APD officers have told me that I should. I don’t think they’re going to kill me, but I have been told to fear for my safety.” Brandenburg has hinted that APD’s criminal investigation into allegations that she intimidated and bribed witnesses in connection with a burglary case involving her son are part of the wider attempt to intimidate and smear her.
One of our Senior Alligators thinks a special session of the NM Legislature is going to come off in mid-May:
I am hearing a deal has been reached to hold a special session. The Legislative Council Service will soon set a couple of Legislative Finance Committee meetings that will prep the move towards a mid-May call by the Governor for the session. Not sure about the tax package, but I do not think it will be on the call.
The primary purpose of the special would be to pass that $264 million capital outlay bill for construction projects that died in the final moments of the recent legislative session.
There's been pressure to include a small tax break package in any special but that's been resisted by Senate Dems. If a special is going to happen, insiders say mid-May is a good time as the budget year to start spending the construction money begins July 1. . .
Who will be the new chair of the NM Democratic Party? We'll know tomorrow afternoon as the party's central committee members meet at ABQ's Valley High to decide between Richard Ellenberg and Deb Haaland. Whoever takes it, their first order of business will be boosting Dem turnout in the '16 election and raising money to achieve that goal. The party will also elect a treasurer and other officers.
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