Thursday, March 17, 2022The Check’s In The Mail; New Mexicans Could Be In Store For Second Round Of Rebates With Both Hitting In July, Plus: Outrageous Overtime; APD Does It Again; Officer Paid Over $242,000 In One Year; Ongoing Scandal Brings No Accountability From Elected Watchdogs Lawmakers already approved a round of rebate checks of $250 at the '22 session for single households with income below $75,000 and $500 for $150,000 for two person households earning less than $150,000. Over 800 thousand households are eligible and will see the checks in July. The cost comes to only $338 million. We say "only" because the state is carrying a nearly 30 percent reserve for its General Fund of about $2.5 billion, not to mention even more billions squirreled away in other reserve funds. Lower and middle income households are going to get a $500 boost come July, if the second round of checks are approved. But what about the BMW and Mercedes crowd? Those folks drive to work too and there's discussion of raising the income limit so they can also get a break from the war-caused spike in gas prices. And you could start hearing the phrase "you ain't seen nothing yet!" when it comes to the state surplus. That's because the Permian Basin in SE NM is going full steam again and with the low cost of production there even an oil bear market may not be as disruptive to the state's cash flows as they once were. OUTRAGEOUS OVERTIME  Edison's abuse was obvious. His documentation for the overtime read like fiction. It violated APD rules and if it wasn't criminal it surely bordered on it. The report comes after State Auditor Brian Colón released a stinging report last year on APD overtime abuse, the 7th such report from the state since 2014. Colón said it must stop, but it hasn't and Edison's scheme was going on while Colón was auditing the problem. Retired APD Sergeant Dan Klein says all of this leads to the doorstep of Attorney General Hector Balderas, the recipient of all those Auditor reports. He points out that Balderas has sat on them with no prosecutorial action of any kind to stop the abuse, including the infamous case of overtime king Simon Drobik. Mayor Keller and Mayor Berry before him did some handwringing over the shady overtime culture but still it persists. Ditto for the asleep at the switch ABQ City Council. Edison's overtime was approved by Deputy Chief Smathers who received a slap on the wrist (a one day suspension) for approving the eye-popping overtime. APD Chief Harold Medina excused the rip-off by claiming the chief's office is too busy to do a rigorous check before approving overtime. Too busy doing what? asks Klein, who says gaming the overtime system is the preoccupation of a number of officers, including those at its highest levels. That's time and effort not being directed at the ABQ crime crisis that goes on and on. Now Colón and BernCo DA Raul Torrez are running to replace Balderas as AG but, if elected, will they do anything and finally bring an end to the chronic abuse that is compromising the integrity of the state's largest police agency and wasting of millions of dollars? Klein argues that "for corruption to run rampant we just have to have the watchdogs of the public trust remain silent. Nothing will change at APD until those in command are held accountable. Hello, Hector, Brian and Raul"? FLASHBACK From the blog on March 17, 2007: Despite calling it "the most productive session" in state history, NM Governor Bill Richardson wants more, and is going to take a gamble and call the Legislature into special session starting at noon Tuesday. By most accounts, the past 60 days in Santa Fe were productive with a lengthy list of accomplishments for the Guv and the lawmakers to brag about. But the Governor wants remaining items on his agenda approved and will risk a special session where the politics can be unpredictable. All this to get what he wants before taking off on the 2008 presidential trail. The more things change. . . Thanks for stopping by this week. Reporting from Albuquerque, I'm Joe Monahan. 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 2022 Wednesday, March 16, 2022Extraordinary Legislative Session Appears Out; An April Special Session Called By Guv Moves To Fore; Political Peril Or Peace? MLG Needs Lawmaker Bailout After Rash Veto Reports surfacing from last night's caucus meetings of House and Senate Democrats indicate lawmakers will likely not call themselves into an extraordinary legislative session, opting instead to have MLG call them back April 5 with the intention of a two day session. A special that strays from a simple agenda would be fraught with political peril, if she agains misfires, but if kept on track it could have the Dems unify and get back to an election year playbook that is not riddled with dysfunction. It was the Governor's rash veto of a $50 million pork bill prized by and approved by all 112 lawmakers that had the damage control engineers placed on high alert. Among them were House Speaker Egolf and Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth running interference for the Fourth Floor by talking down the extraordinary session where lawmakers would override the pork bill veto thereby causing major embarrassment for the Governor and a scoring opportunity for the Republicans. The problem with a Governor shooting themselves in the foot is that the blood spurts everywhere. After her veto misfire the worry warts are now worried about what she might place on an April session agenda. She has mentioned providing relief for high gas prices and there was talk circulating Wednesday night that that could come in the form of a $250 rebate check to taxpayers, on top of a $250 rebate approved at the last session. That's a possible solution to the political logjam suggested on Monday's blog. That's fine. But will MLG load up her call and try to win bills already shunned by the Legislature? If so, there could be more bloodletting. And if she's looking at two days and not one, that's plenty of time for a fracas. Legislators have the leverage to insist on a pre-session deal. As evidenced by the recent session, this is not a chief executive who always believes cutting deals in advance is an essential governing tool. That's why she was splattered with egg over the failure of the hydrogen act, her crime legislation and voting rights reform. If she is tempted to try to overturn the negative in a short special with Republicans growling for red meat and her Dem Senate opposition not moved to back off, she could find herself in yet another deep hole. And for what? She already has plenty of victories to advertise with the millions in TV money she will shower the state with in a few months. There is no extremely urgent business that needs to be conducted at a special session, none that can't wait until the next session in January. As one lawmaker put it, a special would be a face-saving session for a Governor gone astray not a call to arms to revive her rejected agenda. An override of the pork veto and gas price relief and everyone walks away a winner. (Too simple for Santa Fe?) Of course, the out-of-state funded advocacy groups may see it differently and push a voting rights reform bill, beguiling her with how popular it would be with independent voters and also creating a windfall for her campaign fund-raising. She had the votes last time but the GOP caught it in a filibuster. Would it be easier at a special? Only if she has the votes whipped and the timing nailed down with a jackhammer. And that goes for anything else. Stay tuned. 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 2022 Tuesday, March 15, 2022Time For Another Edition Of Reader Vox Populi Reader Chad Thompson writes: Reader Stephanie DuBois adds: Hi Joe, An FYI. I filled for County Commission Dist 2. in Alamogordo. There are 2 Republicans and 2 Democrats. This was Cuoy Griffin's seat. A reader writes of the possibility of former ABQ Chief Administrative Officer and current Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Rael becoming CAO again now that CAO Sarita Nair has announced she is leaving the post: Hi Joe,
Lawrence Rael as CAO? Well, let’s hope they give him a chauffer to drive to and from work since he doesn’t seem to know the city rules and regulations anymore.
Had Rael not been involved in an accident that has raised eyebrows for his intentional nonreporting (as required by city rules, rules he enforces upon others) I would say Rael would be a shoo-in. But because of this accident and the cover up and ridiculous response from the city, I don’t think Rael will be the CAO. But then again it would be nice to see Councilors Dan Lewis and Louie Sanchez getting to question him about the accident and his lack of knowledge of city rules and regulations.
Bring on Rael and some buttered popcorn. It’s going to be a brawl at the city council. SECOND TERMITIS?  A Senior Alligator writes of the city council's recent repeal of the ban on single use plastic bags and Mayor Keller:Joe, 2nd term-itis is clearly kicking in. No one in the Administration read the votes right on the plastic bag repeal because the Mayor and his team have become insulated. That's why they didn't reach out to Councilor Brook Bassan to see if there was a compromise to be struck. She seems reasonable and she backed Mayor Keller on his choices for City Clerk and City Attorney. Why pick a fight and flex the Mayor's (alleged) political muscle on a female councilor who's more friend than foe? The answer is: hubris. In terms of the Council's 6-3 vote in favor of the plastic bags, Keller could focus on "flexing" again and trying to flip a vote in his favor. But the smart move is to reach out to Councilor Bassan and see if she's willing to negotiate. If she is, it would avoid another lengthy Council debate, and both sides could declare victory and move on.
What path Keller chooses will speak volumes about the degree his administration is inflicted with 2nd term-itis. Our City Hall sources say Keller is poised to veto the repeal. The council is then expected to override that veto. Reader Pancho A. Quiñones adds: With so much going on in our city, this is what ABQ City Councilor Brook Bassan has decided Albuquerque needs? This is the fight? This is what you get when you elect people with no ideas. No vision. Let’s fake outrage ourselves out of this mess. These people have absolutely no policy substance. Reader and Dem state auditor candidate Joe Maestas writes to say thanks but no thanks to that PAC just formed to support moderate Dems like himself in the June primary: Hi Joe. I read your blog today as I so often do. Here is my statement regarding the Working Together New Mexico PAC: “I have not sought nor do I accept any endorsement or funding from corporate PACs such as Working Together. I am a proud Democrat with a long record of standing up for people over powerful corporate interests. That’s what I will continue to do as State Auditor.” NEW JULIE JOB? A reader writes of the wife of US Sen. Martin Heinrich: Judging from Facebook it looks like Julie Heinrich has left her DC job and has a big new job here. Not announced yet. Sen. Heinrich is said to be eyeing a run for the governorship--someday. Julie Heinrich specializes in communications and marketing, IN OUR TIME Joe: I can't let today (March 11) go by without recalling that it was two years ago today you called me at home to let me know Governor Lujan Grisham had just held a press conference announcing the Declaration of Public Health Emergency in New Mexico. She used for the first time the Governor's powers in the NM Public Health Emergency Response Act (PHERA), enacted by the NM Legislature and signed by Governor Bill Richardson during the 2003 Legislative Session. As a then-attorney for the NM Department of Health, I co-authored and testified for enactment of the PHERA. I'm proud of how well the PHERA has worked to decrease illness and death from COVID-19. For my efforts, I've been thanked profusely and also called "a tyrant who shredded the Constitution" on social media. We've all no doubt changed for the better or worse during the past two years. I'd love to hear from your readers what we've learned about ourselves and our society here in New Mexico during the COVID-19 Pandemic. And there you have another edition of Reader Vox Populi. Thanks for tuning in. 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 2022 Monday, March 14, 2022Guv-Legislative Showdown Muddies Election Year Waters; Veto Of Pork Bill Sparks Bipartisan Revolt As She Eyes Shifting Landscape; Possible Special Session In Works, Plus: PAC Backing Moderate Dems Dives Into House Races, And: Dem Preprimary Results; No Shockers But Movement Lawmakers were incensed over the veto of the smallish $50 million bill but one that contained a small batch of meaningful pork for each of their districts. So incensed that party caucuses met in the veto's aftermath to determine if the Legislature should call themselves into extraordinary session for only the second time in history to override her veto. At last check that move had generated considerable support but was coming up short with some Senators balking. The possibility of MLG calling a special session was also out there as well with all the election year danger that could entail if there is not a pre-determined outcome. It takes a lot to unite conservative Republicans with progressive Democrats but MLG has managed to do that nearly impossible feat with her in-your-face veto. If the Guv is mad she has plenty of reasons. The Legislature took her to the state Supreme Court and won over her insistence that she could direct federal Covid relief money on her own; they rejected her controversial pretrial detention crime bill; ditto for the voter rights reform and that curious hydrogen act that she has developed a near obsession over. If it's the polls she's upset about there's cause for that as well. Independents are adrift, Republicans are unified against her handling of Covid and Hispanics are not as sure as a bet as they have been for the Dems. The Indys lean fiscally conservative so roughing up the Legislature and their pork bill could play well with them. But the recent legislative session was not a disaster for the Governor--a mixed bag, yes. So putting a hot poker in the eyes of the lawmakers comes across as overreach and could hurt politically later in the election year. The uncertainty of a session--special or extraordinary--during a primary campaign with many competitive races and which would halt fund-raising for a time--is a delicate matter. That's especially so after she has alienated so many of the electeds as well as her progressive base with her increasing tack to the right out of fear of a conservative surge. Her best bet? Either a special session or extraordinary one where her veto can be overridden but also pass rebates (at her request) for gas price relief which would nationalize the session and give both sides a win. Anything more ambitious is a trek into a dark forest. There's much to ponder and that's the problem. After a session blessed with historic surpluses and that will rain down goodies on every corner of the state, the expectation was that MLG would settle into a rebuilding mode, soothing key constituencies and gradually moving the race into the "likely Dem" category. But her suddenly rocking the boat leaves this race unsettled and the political waters murky. As the saying goes: "Revenge is a dish best served cold" not in the heat of the moment.
MODERATE DEM SUPPORT  Whether that happens or not it appears the progressives will have their hands full. A group that expects to raise considerable funding from pro-business interests such as oil and gas has formed the Working Together New Mexico PAC to target a half dozen House progressives as well as support Brian Colón for Attorney General and Joseph Maestas for State Auditor. Moderate Dem ABQ City Councilor Louis Sanchez is co-chair of the PAC with former PRC Commissioner Karen Montoya. He says: Our children, families, and businesses continue to grapple with what seems like endless crises surrounding lack of economic opportunity, poor education options, explosive crime, and a crippling addiction epidemic. It’s time for politicians to stop pandering to the far extremes and start solving our multitude of problems at home in New Mexico. The Dem challengers of progressives being supported by the PAC directed by consultant James Hallinan, are: Doreen Wonda Johnson House District #5, Cherise Quezada House District #26, Dr. Ravi Bhasker House District #38, Rudy Martinez House District #39, Joseph Sanchez, House District #40 and Henry Roybal House District #46. The PAC, which says it is focused on backing "commonsense Democrats," is also supporting Dem BernCo commission candidate Erin Muffoletto. SARITA LEAVES
Keller hailed Nair, the first woman to hold the top job, as a "transformative leader" who helped lead the city thru the pandemic. That she did but the escalating crime crisis the city faced during her tenure and her struggle to manage APD will also be hallmarks of her tenure. Insiders say Nair and other progressives at City Hall are upset with the Mayor’s turn to the right on crime and the inattention to the behavioral health crisis. The earth has shifted under Nair's feet and this is a good time for a reset. In addition to the council leaning more centrist, they also are asserting themselves more by demanding to reconfirm top Keller executives now that he has been re-elected. Never mind that the president of the USA has to win Senate confirmation for his cabinet picks just once, not again when he is re-elected. As for who replaces Nair, the obvious choice is Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Rael who previously served many years in the post. No-one will call Rael "transformational" but he does keep the trains running on time. And he is a moderate Hispanic male, a Dem constituency that has felt left out in the cold. As for Nair, walking in her shoes is like walking on hot coals. Her service is noted. DEM PREPRIMARY RESULTS  A candidate must receive at least 20 percent for an official ballot position. If not, they can get on the ballot by submitting additional petition signatures. In the closely watched Dem race for Attorney General, former Dem Party Chairman and State Auditor Brian Colón beat Bernalillo County District Attorney Raul Torrez 61 to 39 percent. Political consultant David Alcon says Colón "did well." In the hotly contested Dem Treasurer's race, former Sandoval County Treasurer Laura Montoya aced Heather Benavidez, earning 58 percent to Benavidez's 42. In the Auditor contest, Zack Quintero beat out Public Regulation Commissioner Joseph Maestas 62 percent to 38. Alcon says that's better than expected for the former MLG aide and is a boost the progressive Quintero needs. Maestas is expected to perform well in his native north come primary night. Quintero is from the Las Cruces area. Gabe Vasquez received 80 percent of the delegate support in the contest for the Dem nod for the southern congressional district. Darshan Patel, a first-timer on the political circuit, received 20 percent. Vasquez, a former Las Cruces city councilor, is expected to win the June primary and face GOP Congresswoman Yvette Herrell in November. The Dems say 1,141 delegates voted in their preprimary. THE BOTTOM LINES Some clean up from last week's monster blogs on candidate filing day. Rep Karen Bash is retiring after her her second term not her first and Rep. Susan Herrera is currently serving her second term. Rep. Willie Madrid is, of course, a Democrat and we erred with the first name of BernCo Assessor candidate Stephen Sais. 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 2022 |
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