Wednesday, October 11, 2023Balloonists Share Hot Air With The Politicos, Plus: Improving The Fairgrounds And Moving The Fair And Latest Radio Ratings This may be the perfect sign to go with what so far has been a glorious 51st ABQ International Balloon Fiesta.We hope BernCo District Attorney Sam Bregman and his new primary challenger, former US Attorney Damon Martinez, don't take offense since theirs is the race that is on the front burner of La Politica as the balloonists decorate our legendary skies. (Our coverage is on the Tuesday blog.) It's going to be a good race for the '24 Dem primary nomination for DA which also includes public defender Mathias Swonger. No Republican has announced. BernCo DA one of the highest profile positions in New Mexico, given the reach of TV news and the constant crime to report. Already supporters of Martinez are resurrecting Sam's old nickname of "Showboat Sam," claiming he is all black hat and no cattle. Meanwhile Bregman backers are not reluctant to call the low-key Martinez "a weenie" who criminals will roll right over. We suspect the contenders public talk will be a bit more uplifting than the cackles heard on Alligator Alley. Alligators checking in agree that Bregman doesn't have the greatest appeal to the many progressives among the Dems, but they point out that progressive Dem US Rep. Melanie Stansbury endorsed Bregman on the same day Martinez announced his bid. They also point out that a number of other progressives are already in Sam's corner, including state Senate President Mimi Stewart. House Speaker Javier Martinez and Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino. Most important, the competitive DA primary race will finally give us a serious debate over ABQ's relentless crime, featuring two guys who are not lightweights. The city was deeply disappointed when the BernCo Sheriff faced off with Mayor Keller in 2021 and the debate quickly turned desultory. Competition can only sharpen the city's crime fighting abilities. Everyone can vote for that. GOOD MOURNING  Joe, is anyone in La Politica considering relocating the State Fairgrounds to the outskirts of Albuquerque and opening the fairgrounds to new development? It’s an obvious solution for a city looking to expand its housing stock. The fairgrounds sit in the middle of the city but is grossly underutilized. At a time when the state is rolling in dough, building a new Fairgrounds in the west exurbs or South Valley would be easy enough. Imagine the development opportunities for the existing fairgrounds site: an entire new neighborhood with low-cost housing, mixed-use commercial development, walkable streets and bike trails for the greenies, etc. The possibilities would make a city planner salivate. I’m sure there are political barriers to this scheme, but I’m surprised this is not on Mayor Keller’s big-thinking agenda. This proposal has been making the rounds for quite a while and deserves another look with the oodles of state capital outlay funds available due to the oil boom. A brand new fair with brand new buildings and a revitalization of the current fairgrounds? There's a great idea in there somewhere and it would sure be a brilliant career capper for Mourning who is one of the state's longest serving fair managers. Of course, we're still waiting for a new Tingley Coliseum. We'll keep trying. . . KEEPING KIDS SAFE On our first edition of "Other Voices" on last Thursday's blog we heard ABQ attorney and child law specialist Marron Lee tackle the state's difficulties keeping children out of harms way. That drew this reaction from Kevin Berry, a marriage and family therapy specialist: Joe, I have spent over 19 years serving in the child welfare system in New Mexico. As Marron Lee pointed out, the system has continually become worse. However, solutions and reforms need to address more than just CYFD.  "When the rights of the parents clash with the efforts to safeguard their children, the child's safety takes precedence." We also need District Attorneys who will prosecute every substantiated case of abuse or neglect, judges who will enforce the law instead of giving lenient slaps on the wrist, a governor who will make the safety of New Mexico's children their top priority and who will appoint a secretary of CYFD that actually has experience in child welfare. The child welfare problem in New Mexico is not a Republican or Democrat problem, it is a priority problem. Until the citizens of New Mexico make it a priority, and hold those who are elected accountable for fixing it, the system will continue to fail the children it was meant to serve. THE BOTTOM LINES Checking on the latest ABQ radio ratings, public radio station KANW 89.1 FM, known for its Spanish "New Mexico Music," and NPR coverage is back in the #1 position after sharing it on and off with KZRR-FM (94 Rock) which comes in second. News/talker KKOB-AM is #3. The full ABQ Nielsen ratings that measure the audience listening from 6 a.m. to midnight in the month of August are here. . . This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023 |
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