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| Gonzales and Keller |
So it went at the first forum of the 2021 ABQ mayoral contest last night, the first of what will be many as the state's largest city prepares to elect a mayor November 2.
The full debate is here.
The Near North Valley Neighborhood Association forum did not provide for direct engagement but the candidates did provide contrasts as they answered a variety of questions about the future of the city.
As expected, Republican radio talk show host Eddy Aragon came with the most controversial comments as he worked the Trump angle. They included his "my body my choice" platform when it comes to taking the Covid vaccine which he has not. He said:
My body my choice has applied to abortion but doesn't apply when injecting yourself with vaccine.
Aragon also argued for "longer detainment" of arrested drivers who are found to have THC in their bloodstream.
As we said, he drove hard to the right last night to let conservatives know he is out and about.
BernCo Sheriff Gonzales, a Democrat making an appeal to conservatives, tried to hang on with a reference to Trump supporting his battle against crime by having the feds work with him.
CANDIDATES AND CRIME
Keller, seeking a second four year term, did not promise to reduce the record setting homicide rate or other crime but said he has put in place building blocks for improved crime fighting, including the new homeless shelter, increased investment in technology and working with MLG and other elected officials. "No one can do it alone," he said.
And he trotted out the "sound bite" and "talking points" zingers several times to try to keep Gonzales and poltical newcomer Aragon in their places.
Gonzales may yet hone a finely tuned crime fighting policy but it wasn't on display at the first forum. Rather, he touted what he said was his outsized success as sheriff and said he would bring the same vision to APD. Keller retorted that the numbers show "crime in the county is as bad as the city."
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| Eddy Aragon |
Keller said the elimination of overtime would "descend the city into chaos" as APD is already short staffed. He pointed out he added more officers during his first term but noted the many retirements that have prevented him from meeting his hiring goal.
On the controversial soccer stadium Aragon was dead set against it, calling the $50 million bond that city voters will decide at the election a waste. He predicted the bond will be defeated by taxpayers.
Keller, who supports the stadium, said he is not wedded to a downtown location and will keep an open mind. Gonzales said if the bond is approved he would do an evaluation as to where the stadium should go.
FINAL TAKE
Aragon helped himself the most because he had the easiest task--pick up hardcore conservatives. But getting beyond that group will be a challenge.
Keller's soft tone approach on crime keeps his progressive base in line but exposes a potential weakness with other voters.
As sheriff, Gonzales, Keller's main rival, has instant credibility on crime but he has not put together the robust messaging or the passion that would start a drift his way. He will need that as well as tough TV ads to threaten Keller.
CRAZY EYES
Joe, I don't think it is fair to describe the Ojos Locos bar as you did: "Another homicide--one that apparently tied the record--was not a homeless transient. He was a 30 year old man shot to death at a bar in one of the most affluent shopping areas in the state."
Sure, the Uptown area may have many upscale shops, but Ojos Locos is not one of them. That bar caters to the "thug" half of "drug and thug" culture. Albuquerque cannot continue to hypocritically glorify gangster culture as I argue that Ojos Locos (Crazy eyes) most certainly does.
I do not agree with the characterization you are using (drug and thug culture). It seems to diminish the depth of the problem and suggest simplistic answers. I do not dispute that our city has a generational problem with violence and addiction. I also don't disagree that the city has a crime problem as a result. In fact, I was shot (in the arm through a car door) by a road rager on an Albuquerque street on Monday night. I just call into question washing a problem bar clean of its sins because it happens to be located half a mile or so away from upscale shopping. Ojos Locos was and is a problem waiting to get worse.
Thanks Brandon. Your comment raises the question of why we have such a "thug" bar in what is supposed to be one of the premier shopping districts in the state. The answer? That's part of the “drug and thug” culture that has taken over much of the city. That may sound simplistic but it is simple truth. The murder rate and the amount of drugs here confirms that.
And on the topic of a "generational problem," our Legal Beagles gave us heads up on the criminal record of Juan Saucedo, Sr., father of Juan Saucedo Jr., who is charged with murdering a fellow 13 year old student at Washington Middle School last week. The Beagle barking is confirmed:
In 2013, Saucedo Sr. was arrested on drug trafficking charges after police found a methamphetamine pipe and several bags of the drug on him. Saucedo Sr. told police he was selling meth to get extra money for his daughter’s 15th birthday, according to a police report.
MERGER CONCERN
Reader Loyola Chastain writes of the proposed merger of electric utility PNM with Avangrid and its parent company, Iberdrola:
Hi, Joe, I'm concerned about this merger and what it will mean for us - the ratepayer. Look at this:
The Spanish government has launched an inquiry after it emerged that a power company drained two reservoirs during a heatwave and drought in order to profit from exceptionally high electricity prices. Iberdrola, the country’s second biggest producer, drained the dams in Zamora and Cáceres provinces in western Spain over a period of a few weeks to produce cheap hydroelectricity while the price to consumers is at a record high. Air conditioners and fans are going flat out as Spain remains in the grip of a heatwave. It recorded its highest ever temperature on Saturday, 47.2C (117F), in Córdoba in Andalucía. . . The minister for ecological transition, Teresa Ribera, said she viewed Iberdrola’s actions as irresponsible, but that they were not illegal because the company was allowed to use a fixed quantity of water a year whenever it wished and regardless of climatic conditions.
The PRC wraps up its week long public hearings on the merger today. The panel's decision on whether to approve or disapprove the proposal is expected in mid or late September.
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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021
(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021