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Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Debate Over Homeless Shelter Won't Stop With Election; Location Battle Expected, Plus: More Benton Bashing And An Alligator Strike On UNM 

Winning voter approval for a $14 million bond issue to construct a large ABQ homeless shelter may be the easy part. Where to put it could provoke a battle for City Hall as the NIMBY forces--not in my backyard--rush to reject any selected site. 

To tamp down objections before the November 5 election the city is being  intentionally vague about where the shelter would be built. But already concerned residents are expressing fear that the 300 person capacity shelter could be situated near them.

Government insiders point in the direction of Lomas Blvd. east of downtown as a possible shelter location. There are large swaths of vacant land there owned by UNM. Whether UNM or other potential sellers would be amenable to the land being used as a homeless shelter is another matter.

There isn't much residential development immediately around the Lomas land but neighborhood opposition can be expected within several miles of any shelter address.

The Westside Shelter in use in the winter months is too far out to effectively serve the homeless and it costs the city too much for transport.

The bond issue for the shelter is not a stand alone item but is lumped in with bonds totaling $21 million for community and senior centers. That will make its path easier, but if the approval percentage falls to 60 percent or below it will be a red flag for Mayor Keller.

Also, because of widespread addiction and mental health issues among the homeless, Mayor Keller says the new shelter will accept anyone--sober or not. Behavioral health, housing and other services would be offered.

The Lomas location is liked because it is on the bus line and close to downtown where a myriad of other homeless services are already offered.

Whatever the proposed shelter location there will likely be a pitched battle.

MORE BENTON BASHING

Benton bashing begets more Benton bashing as veteran Dem City Councilor Ike Benton fends off five challengers.

The latest is over a campaign mailer posted here Monday that shows Benton listening intently to a police officer. The headline said: "Isaac Benton is working to keep our families safe." The mailer could easily be interpreted that Benton is endorsed by ABQ police.

APD union president Sean Willoughby pointed out that APD officers don't lend themselves to campaign literature and that the officer posing with Benton was likely an actor. He also decried the piece because Benton has said publicly that he did not want the endorsement of the APOA because he says it has "obstructed" police reforms. The union endorsed Zack Quintero in the District 2 race. Said Willoughby:

We have a video of Councilor Benton disrespecting police officers. For him to use the mantra of pro-public safety and supportive officers is a slap in the face because that's not what he told his constituents when he said he would not seek or want the APOA endorsement. We have been good stewards in the federal oversight process, not that we don't sometimes disagree. What we have from Councilor Benton is a sleight of hand in his mailer. 

The Benton campaign retorted that Willoughby's complaints are a "nothing burger."

Candidates can't use city resources for campaigning or political purposes, so of course these aren't actual APD officers. Ike talking with police officers is something he does regularly, and in no way does he imply or say the police union has endorsed him. The Albuquerque Police Officers Association (APOA) who endorsed Trump over Clinton and Steve Pearce over Lujan Grisham has endorsed Zack Quintero for District 2. This is a nothing burger.

ALLIGATOR STRIKE

The news here Monday that Barbara Damron, former Sec. of Higher Ed under GOP Governor Martinez, has taken that plum position of UNM government relations officer at least until June 30 had the Alligators writhing. One came with this:

Your item about UNM hiring Barbara Damron is an eyebrow-raiser because it was Damron’s actions as Secretary of Higher Education that put UNM’s accreditation in danger and was one of the main causes of UNM’s controversial decision to cut sports last year.

As Secretary, Damron came down very hard on UNM and its athletic department. She put UNM on an “Enhanced Fiscal Oversight Program,” demanding that the athletic department “pay back” $4.7 million in budget overruns. UNM strongly objected. Damron’s action led to the Higher Learning Commission to closely scrutinize UNM to the point that its accreditation was in jeopardy.And UNM President Garnett Stokes cited Damron’s action as one of the reasons that it made the controversial decision to cut sports last year.

Barbara Damron and Garnett Stokes, you've just been subjected to an Alligator Strike. Congrats. . . or something.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2019
 
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