Joe Monahan

Dem US Rep. Gabe Vasquez isn't walking. He's running from the Biden border policy that has resulted in havoc on portions of our state's border with Mexico in Vasquez's southern congressional district. 

While Republican Yvette Herrell breathes fire down his neck, Vasquez has been busy breaking with his Dem colleagues in the House on several immigration votes, including this latest one: 

 The House has passed the Police Our Border Act (H.R. 8146), sponsored by Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., to require the attorney general to submit to Congress a report on the impact of problems at the border with Mexico on federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies. The vote, on May 16, was 254 yeas to 157 nays. NAYS: Stansbury, Leger Fernández YEAS: Vasquez.

Meantime, there's this polling from neighboring Arizona: 

Hispanic voters. . .are concerned about the border. And there is a sizable number of Hispanic voters who now say recent immigrants have made Arizona life worse, as well — effectively even with those who say they've made it better.

Vasquez vs. Herrell. The rematch. It's at the top of the watch list in Election '24.

Oops. Almost forgot this one:

The House has passed the Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act (H.R. 7343), sponsored by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J. The bill would direct the Homeland Security Department to deport any unauthorized U.S. resident who has been charged with or convicted of assaulting a police officer or other type of first responder. The vote, on May 15, was 265 yeas to 148 nays. NAYS: Stansbury, Leger Fernández YEAS: Vasquez 

A MUM SAM

Here in the present in Primary '24 the Bernalillo County Dem race for District Attorney continues to top the bill. The latest is an ironic complaint from contender Damon Martinez that his usually loquacious opponent, appointed Dem DA Sam Bregman, doesn't want to talk:

Bregman' ducked opportunities to debate me so that voters can decide for themselves who will best represent them in the District Attorney’s office. What is my opponent afraid of? Is he afraid to defend his record? Is he afraid to talk to voters about his plan to address the issues we face in Bernalillo County? Is he afraid to face the very people he wants to represent as District Attorney. The fact that we have to ask these questions is all the answer we need. For me, this is a question of accountability. Bernalillo County deserves an experienced prosecutor who will be accountable to the community. I’m the experienced, accountable public servant our community deserves. 

When Sam stops talking you know it's a quiet campaign.

FIRE WATCH

Over in commentary corner, we come with this:

Is the state tiring of the moaning, groaning and political posturing over aid to those impacted by the April 2022 Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire in the north? 

Probably.

The US government, which is to blame for starting the blaze by having the US Forest Service fail to control a "controlled burn," came with the massive relief sum of $4 billion and a presidential visit to make good the losses from the tragic fire, the largest in state history.

So far $577 million for 3,000 claims has been rolled out to those impacted, not as fast as everyone would like but still an enormous inflow of cash into a traditionally economically depressed region. 

The good news is the Feds are not going to renege and stop the money flow. They have also made personnel changes to satisfy complaints from locals on the pace of relief. 

Yet the law firms are swarming and the politicians looking for easy votes doing more finger-pointing. 

There's even a call for the state of New Mexico to take over disbursements of the funds and later be reimbursed by FEMA.

New Mexico? The state that has $5 billion in capital outlay funds stuck in no-mans land for years and can't seem to roll it out?

The Feds slower rollout than expected is frustrating but not unexpected for a program that is the first of its kind. The slow roll is not life-threatening but an inconvenience that will be followed by compensation that will adequately compensate victims. And if they don't feel it does, they can appeal. 

(An April public meeting in the north did not generate widespread complaining among the fire victims. That's mainly coming from the law firms and politicos hoping to take advantage.)

The Feds built a multi-billion defense establishment here that has been the backbone of the state's economy for 80 years. They can and will get this done despite the pseudo-drama drummed up by legal vultures and politicians posturing. 

From FEMA: 

. . .FEMA has paid $577.8 million to 3,165 claims. . . (That's) 69% of claims that have all documentation and are being reviewed or have been. . .FEMA is committed to speeding up the claims process and maximizing payments to people affected by the fire. We are committed to working with people one-on-one to help with their specific needs. The agency, he wrote, regularly holds town hall meetings and has provided residents with a list of the types of documents they can use to show what they lost in the fire.

 50 YEARS AGO

UNM 1970 (Bralley)

What can we say? We started young. 

We interviewed recently with KOB-TV newsman Tommy Lopez on the anti-war protests of the early 70's on the UNM campus and what they were like half-century ago compared to the pro-Palesntian protests of today. 

As pro-Palestinian demonstrations continue on American college campuses, including UNM, they remind many of a series of protests that took place 54 years ago. There were large protests against America’s actions during the Vietnam War on the UNM campus. Famous anti-war protester Jane Fonda took part. 

One day in May 1970, the National Guard tried to clear out a demonstration at the Student Union Building and stabbed 11 protesters with bayonets, including a KOB reporter. They sustained injuries but survived. The Guard arrested more than 100.This came during the same week of the Kent State incident in Ohio – where the National Guard shot 13 students, killing four, at a protest.

“Here in New Mexico, it was a very big deal, the Vietnam War. There were many protests,” Joe Monahan said.

Monahan has covered politics in New Mexico for 50 years. He was in Albuquerque to see many protests in the early ’70s.

“The protests were much bigger in New Mexico then. And, of course, people were getting drafted and sent to Vietnam,” he said. “For many, it was a matter of life or death. They did not want to go to Vietnam.”

He said there were demonstrations at UNM and up and down Central.

“There was a lot of tear gas, and there was a lot of street fighting with the National Guard,” Monahan said. “The demonstrations had an edge to them. There was a lot of tension, and it was a relatively new thing.”

In 1970 law enforcement were dealing with new situations at universities.

“The police were more aggressive and more in your face as a demonstrator, and they didn’t hesitate to break them up,” Monahan said.

And that's the way it was---over 50 years ago in La Politica. . .

Reporting once again from Albuquerque, NM, I'm Joe Monahan and. . .  

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.