ABQ Murder Meter Set To Make Historic Highs So Where's The Outrage? Analysts Explain, Plus: State Makes a Blimp Blooper

ABQ's murder meter for the year has officially hit 40, putting us on the road to an historic annual high of over 100 slayings. The crimes often generate sensational headlines but the public outrage you might expect isn't happening. We asked several political pros for their frank analysis why that is. Here's a consensus of their views:

As tragic as the killings are many involve criminal on criminal. The impact isn't internalized by many residents. Murder has become more widespread geographically but is still centered near or in the city's SE Heights, once known as the War Zone and much of which remains crime-infested. People citywide don't necessarily feel threatened by the increase in homicides because they are not random and not occurring at businesses or because of home invasions. Think the Hollywood Video store murders of 1996 that claimed five innocent lives. That set the city on its ear. What we largely have now, according to police, are murders connected to drug dealing and usage and domestic violence. Yes, there was the shocking murder last year of a woman in her Westside driveway but that random act has been the exception not the rule.

BernCo Sheriff Many Gonzales is making crime the central issue in his campaign against incumbent Dem Mayor Tim Keller. Public reaction thus far indicates Gonzales will need to drive home more than a rising murder meter to get voters off their couches. 

BLIMP BLOOPER

Here's a blimp idea that's a real blooper from the eggheads at the state's economic development department: 

New Mexico is finalizing a $3.2 million contract with an airship manufacturer to study the viability of distributing high-speed internet from the stratosphere. . . The contract to Switzerland-based Sceye (is) still in the works. . .Airships will be launched from Roswell. . .Last year, the department committed $5 million in incentives for Sceye to move its operations to New Mexico but the money hasn’t been released because the company hasn’t met all the benchmarks. . It had committed to investing $50 million and creating 140 jobs.

Never mind that the internet from blimps idea has already been dumped by Goggle or that Elon Musk is investing billions in a satellite network what would serve up broadband to this state and others. Why not simply invest that $3.2 million in blimp bootie in an area already lacking broadband service? Perhaps that's too simple?

THE BOTTOM LINES 

ABQ Dem congressional hopeful Melanie Stansbury goes mostly positive in her latest TV effort, highlighting her legislative priorities. The ad does take a general swipe at Republicans with a statement from a Hispanic mother surrounded by her family, saying: "During the pandemic Republicans didn't do anything for our people. That's why we need Melanie in Congress." Stansbury faces Republican Mark Moores in the June 1 special election as well as independent Aubrey Dunn and Libertarian Chris Manning.

In a first draft Tuesday we identified mayoral candidate Nicholas Bevins as a progressive Democrat. He is a registered independent. 

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021