New CYFD Secretary Brian Blalock has a real culture problem on his hands, but he already knew that:

A former social worker with New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) is being investigated for child abuse and delinquency of a child. Police say Natalie Nicotine is accused of driving a juvenile to court while drunk in September. She's also accused of asking a juvenile for money and taking another teenager to buy marijuana.

Secretary Blalock was brought in from California to straighten out this messiest of departments. Would he do some good by bringing in some social workers from out of state and increasing the salaries of those trained to more rigorous standards? He's new and he has time to change the damaged culture. But not that much.

(And "Natalie Nicotine" is accused of buying marijuana for a kid? Folks, we just report this stuff).

JABBING BACK AT JANE

Reader Laura Stokes differs with the comments of GOP State Rep. Jane Powdrell-Culbert who praised the state Senate conservatives for holding at bay liberal legislation from new state House Dems:

Joe, in response to Ms. Powdrell’s lecture to progressive legislators noted on your blog this week, I would ask why shouldn’t they expect to make big changes? After 8 years of neglect, incompetence and corruption by an administration which had no idea how to govern, there is so much to be done and these legislators set out to do it. An awakened constituency elected them and our governor to do just that and they did their best. And, in fact, some much needed legislation was actually passed after years of stagnation.

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the state ranks dead last in the country in overall child well-being. . . Are these Republicans and conservative Dems so proud of their fiscal conservatism that they are willing to sacrifice our kids and our state’s future in the name of austerity when, in fact, there are resources that can be used to invest in children and families? They may gloat but they should know that even though this session has ended, the fight has only just begun. 


BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

Rep. Alcon & Sen. Heinrich

Here's a bright spot to end the week on:

This is a pic of Dem State Rep. Eliseo Lee Alcon and US Senator Martin Heinrich. Heinrich's office explains:

Heinrich presented service medals to Vietnam veteran and Rep. Alcon of Milan. 

. . "Alcon spent over a year on the battlefield working to save the lives of his fellow soldiers. However, like so many Vietnam veterans, recognition for his service and sacrifice is long overdue. These medals are nearly 50 years past due and I am honored to present them to him on behalf of a grateful nation.”

“I'm excited to finally receive these medals and grateful to Senator Heinrich for helping to retrieve them,” said Rep. Alcon. “It really shows his commitment to our veterans and the value he holds for those who have served our country.”

Alcon was drafted in 1969 and served as a combat medic. . . He never received the medals he had earned.

Alcon, 69, has represented House District 6 since 2009. It includes portions of Cibola and McKinley Counties.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2019