Guv Digs In With Casados; Makes Her Permanent CYFD Chief As Some House Dems Get Antsy Over Beleaguered Agency; Major Reform Measure Remains Iffy At Roundhouse As MLG Charts Own Course, Plus: Soccer Fans Give Thanks As ABQ Council Approves Lease For Stadium

Digging in

Will continued public pressure force the Governor to permit the Legislature to consider a major reform of the Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD) at the 30 day session that begins January 16? 

MLG seems as determined as ever to oppose a measure that would establish an independent child advocate to oversee the deeply troubled CYFD. HB11 and SB 373 stalled at the last session as the Governor signaled her opposition, despite solid lawmaker support. 

She must put a similar bill on her Legislative "call" if it is to get consideration at the short '24 session but it doesn't look good despite the continued embarrassment CYFD is causing the chief executive.

CYFD vacancy rates have created "a state of chaos," according to expert reviews, and now the Legislative Finance Committee reports the agency's spending to prevent repeat child abuse plummeted 77% in the last fiscal year, even as child abuse cases soar.

CYFD Secretary Teresa Casados dismisses the report, saying it has bad math. The LFC pushed backed and said it was based on "consistent methodology."

MLG's extremely slow roll on CYFD reform is maddening to proponents of the advocate bill such as Maralyn Beck, founder of the NM Child First Network, who notes the state's child abuse rate is among the worst in the nation:

It defies logic that CYFD had ample funding available for critical prevention services and yet failed to act in the midst of New Mexico's ongoing behavioral health crisis.

PROGRESSIVE ANGST

Rep. Thomson

Even progressive Democratic women lawmakers in the House are getting antsy as report after report continues to reveal CYFD's mismanagement woes. After all, they are up for re-election next year. 

Here's ABQ Dem Rep. Liz Thomson, chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, putting some room between herself and the Guv:

I wish I knew what the answer was. We’ve had a lot of bills. Some of them have really been thought-provoking and good, and other ones just ... want to punish CYFD, which I can totally understand. But that doesn’t help anybody. So I’m guessing there will be more. Whether they get on the (Governor's) call or not, I can’t say. Thomson called the reported drop in abuse prevention spending very concerning. “My reaction is, ‘Wow,’ ” she said. “Of course, I would like to know more details, but that doesn’t seem like we’re going in the right direction.” 

Not exactly a forthright call for bold reform but still a mild but telling criticism of CYFD leadership.

And from ABQ Dem Rep. Meredith Dixon, Vice-Chair of the Appropriations Committee:

Looking forward, it is critical for CYFD to work with LFC to leverage federal funding to prioritize effective data-driven prevention programs.

Again, not very bold but still a gentle separation from CYFD policies by a leading Dem.

GOP Senator Crystal Diamond Brantley doesn't have to tiptoe around the Democratic Governor. A co-sponsor of the bill to increase oversight of CYFD, she says of the latest LFC report:

This  is a clear example of what an Office of the Child Advocate can do — cut through the department's pitiful excuses and bureaucracy to understand why one of the most basic duties of the department is being internally defunded. The attorney general and the Legislature unanimously agree on this solution. Now the governor must do her part and support this proposal by adding it to the call in 2024.

As a longtime MLG watcher, we're well acquainted with the aspect of her political personality that often has her digging her colorful cowboy boots in the sand, but her resistance on CYFD in the face of so many damning reports and continued child abuse is baffling. 

New Mexico awaits a change of heart and inclusion on her '24 legislative agenda of this desperately needed legislation. 

AN IDELIBLE MARK?

Sec. Casados 

As we said, there seems no give in the Guv's position on CYFD. In fact, in the wake of Sec. Casados going into the bunker on the LFC MLG made it a point Monday to make the appointment of Casados, who has been serving as interim CYFD secretary, her permanent choice: 

Teresa Casados has left an indelible mark at CYFD over just a few months, delving into evaluating processes and structures to make sure they all squarely support a singular goal: to serve the state’s most vulnerable children. She has already delivered results, and I have no doubt the momentum will continue from here. 

And Casados:

We are making great strides in restructuring the organization, hiring, and ensuring transparency, and there is much more work to do for the children and families in our care. I am grateful to the Governor for this opportunity. 

And just in case Reps. Dixon and Thomson had any ideas, there's this from fellow liberal Dem and House Majority Leader Rep. Gail Chasey: 

Acting Secretary Casados is a strong choice to lead CYFD at this pivotal moment for New Mexico families. Gov. Lujan Grisham’s decision to nominate Casados as Secretary of CYFD allows for critical stability and continuity as the agency works to implement necessary changes to improve the safety and well-being of our children, while increasing accountability and transparency.

That's a generous welcome for the new Secretary who in those first six months has vigorously defended the culturally flawed agency and resisted legislative involvement to end the crisis. Just like her boss. 

Casados is the third CYFD secretary under this Governor who is in her fifth year in office. Like her predecessor, Barbara Vigil, who bowed out of the job, Casados has no experience in child health or family psychology. Until her appointment, she had been serving as the Governor's Chief Operating Officer.

STADIUM GOAL REALIZED

ABQ soccer fans and the community at large gave thanks last night as the ABQ City Council overcame partisan strife with Mayor Keller and approved a lease agreement on a 7 to 2 vote with NM United. That paves the way for the soccer team to build a new stadium at Balloon Fiesta Park. 

United pledged to invest a minimum of $30 million to build the stadium with seating for 8,000 to 10,000 fans--most of whom are young Albuquerque residents. The state will come with $13 million in capital outlay for improvements to the Park.

GOP Councilor Dan Lewis summed it up best as he argued that the city needs to encourage those who want to make a major investment with their own money and that too often restrictions and infighting get in the way of improving the quality of life in the state's largest city. So true. 

United made a major mistake in first asking voters to approve an expensive taxpayer paid downtown stadium that was firmly rejected but the owners learned their lesson, came with an alternative plan and listened intently rather than trying to shove a plan down taxpayers throats. It was a fine moment for United and its investors. 

It was also a fine moment for the seven Councilors voting in the affirmative, many of whom have become alienated from Mayor Keller but put that aside and created momentum for a sorely needed investment here. The two naysayers--Republicans Renee Grout and Brook Bassan--could not let go of their grudges against Keller and voted their emotion not their logic. 

ABQ has had a hellish run with the crime crisis but the paralysis that crisis has caused was shaken off last night as the city's Mayor and Council (and United investors) looked ahead to a future where ABQ reasserts itself as a thriving, captivating metropolitan area. Keep it up.

NOT JUST ONE

 

There are three law firms sharing $148 million in settlement fees in New Mexico's opioid abuse case against Walgreens. In a first draft Monday we said the Robles Rael & Anaya law firm would be the recipient of the full amount The other firms are Baron & Budd of Dallas and Levin Papantonio of Pensacola, Fl. The settlement of $453 million is being paid out to the state over 15 years, says the AG's office. We apologize for the error.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023