Wednesday, March 22, 2023Vasquez DC Crime Vote Has GOP Pouncing; Herrell Too, Plus: More ABQ Journal Watch As Layoffs Hit Gabe Vasquez is a radical Democrat who supports defunding the police and reducing penalties for violent crime. After just a few months in Congress, Vasquez has aligned himself with the extreme Left, which will come back to haunt him in 2024,” Delanie Bomer, a spokeswoman for the NRCC, said. That forced Vasquez onto the record with this: My vote on H.J. Res. 24 was a vote to give the residents of Washington, D.C. autonomy over their own city and their own local decisions, particularly because they lack federal representation, as our states do. As a former (las Cruces) City Councilor, I believe local governments should have a say in important local decisions without federal government overreach.” The vote overturning the DC crime code was supported by Dem Sen. Martin Heinrich who also faces re-election next year. All three NM members of the House voted against. President Biden did not discourage the measure and signed it into law. And former GOP Rep. Yvette Herrell, who Vasquez narrowly ousted after one term last year and is expected to seek a rematch next year, surfaced to pile on Vasquez: National Republicans are listing Gabe Vasquez as one of the most vulnerable members of Congress. Why? Because in his short time in office, he has prioritized his radical agenda over hardworking Americans. Voting to empower dangerous criminals and against common sense policies that would move New Mexico forward. We deserve better… The vote is a flash point in ABQ where the crime wave rages and where Vasquez now represents a large swath of the city's westside. Vasquez and his rookie press staff can wave off any comment to us but they can't wave a crime wave away. JOURNAL WATCH  However, the paper did let go veteran photojournalist Roberto Rosales, a member of the unit that has traditionally been one of the paper’s strongest. The paper has seen a dramatic reduction in advertising by Dreamstyle Modeling (which appeared to be their largest advertiser for years) and other enterprises that would often pay for large display ads. Journal Publisher William Lang referenced "current economic conditions" in announcing the staff reduction. Unless there is a rapid advertising recovery for print (unlikely) the layoffs may not be over. But the next time the newsroom could be vulnerable as most other divisions of the paper have already been hit with cuts and streamlining. As for the Internet, readership is large but monetizing those eyeballs remains an issue for the newspaper industry. Reader D. Reed Eckhardt, former executive editor of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and now an industry consultant reading us from Santa Fe, writes of speculation that the family-owned Journal could be the target of a buyer: Despite all the shrinkage that has occurred at the ABQ Journal, it’s far better than what will come with the purchase by a chain or some investor group. Their goal will be one thing — to make money — and that will entail further cuts of staff, which, of course, is the greatest source of overhead left now that the Journal is published in Santa Fe. It’s an unfortunate reality. I’ve seen what the guys do to family- owned papers personally, including their ending my 43-year career in the business. But the truth is, the trend will strike here sooner or later. I’m praying for later. The title of this piece "Journal Watch" is borrowed from a column of the same name that was written for a number of years by retired newsman Arthur Alpert who died in February. He also founded the ABQ senior magazine PrimeTime (which we wrote for) and served as news director at KRQE-TV after a career in media around the nation. Obit here. Arthur Alpert was 90. RIP. 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 |
|
