The latest addition to MLG's cabinet is Emily Kaltenbach, a top promoter of legalized marijuana for New Mexico during her role as director of the NM Drug Policy Alliance. 

She's the new Secretary of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department, but let's hope that turns out better than the state's pot party that she helped author. 

Investigative reporter Larry Barker reports the latest:

Despite stringent laws and regulations a dark cloud hangs over the cannabis industry plagued by a thriving black market, flagrant criminal activity, and hundreds of millions of dollars. . .  “It sounds like complete lawlessness but the reality is, it’s more true than not,” said Duke Rodriguez, CEO of Ultra Health, the largest licensed cannabis operation in New Mexico. “The industry is running amok,” said Will Glaspy, Executive Director of New Mexico HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas). “We gave a storefront to the drug cartel when we passed recreational marijuana,” state Rep. Bill Rehm said. 

. . .There are so many cannabis-related violations, that regulators at New Mexico’s Cannabis Control Division are powerless to curb the illicit activity. “It’s horrible. It’s not the idea that I have for New Mexico,” Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Joseph Cervantes said. “We know there’s crime, massive crime worth millions of dollars right under our nose and we’re not willing to do anything about it."

The Guv and Kaltenbach were repeatedly warned about the downside of legalizing weed, but those expressing concerns were dismissed and they responded that the industry would be an economic game-changer. 

Well, they were right--but in all the wrong ways. 

In any event Kaltenbach's gubernatorial reward is a $200,000 annual salary. 

Congrats on your appointment, Emily. . . or something.

Reader Freddie Lopez writes this on the drug topic:

Joe, Everyone seems to be expressing the same sentiment that drugs are the leading cause of the crime, specially in Albuquerque. If the Legislature and the Governor truly care about addressing this, there would be funding for addiction treatment programs and bills introduced to get people who are struggling with the help they need. But as you mentioned, local law enforcement and the city council have a responsibility to address this first and foremost. Fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics are coming through our Southern Border which is a crisis. If the Governor declared an emergency and the Legislature came together just on that issue, crime would come down significantly. There should be more treatment for drug users and more punishment for drug dealers. 

REPAIRING DOWNTOWN 

Terry Brunner, director of ABQ's Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency spearheading downtown revival efforts, disagrees with the view expressed here that the plan to pump $200 million into the downtown over the next 20 years would take money from other neighborhoods: 

 Joe, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) areas do not “shift revenue from other neighborhoods” as some have claimed. Whatever revenue the City has been earning from a (TIF) area continues to come into general funds when that TIF is established. The city has the option to collect up to 75% of gross receipts and property tax revenue growth above that baseline amount and reinvest it in the area it came from. 25% or more of the any revenue growth goes into the City coffers to be spent city-wide. 

For instance, if the base revenue received currently in a TIF area is $1,000 and it grows by $100 to $1100 over the course of a year, $75 is reinvested into that TIF area and $1,025 is spent City-wide. If the TIF is successful in increasing private sector growth Downtown, collections into the City’s general fund will increase over time and benefit the entire city. 

NELLA'S DIVE

A Dem political operative responds to our Wednesday blog detailing why Republican Nella Domenici's campaign to unseat Sen. Martin Heinrich has stalled out:

A big reason she’s failed to gain traction is that her advertising strategy has been all over the place. From a content standpoint, you’re right that her early ads missed the mark and did little-to-nothing to help define her. She’s also failed to pick up steam because of her lack of investment in a sound ad strategy. She rarely lets her ads accumulate enough frequency for them to have a high impact and her campaign vacillates between running them at very low levels over long stretches of time or putting them up and then pulling them down. Nothing has stuck. I think she’s out of gas and doesn’t want to spend any (more) of her own money. Can’t say I blame her. It seems like amateur hour over there.

PROPERTY TAX CUT

Damian Lara

Who says taxes don't go down? 

It's just a smidgen of a reduction but Bernalillo County Assessor Damian Lara reports property tax bills for homeowners in 2024 will drop from $1,627 per $100,000 of assessed value to $1,608.67. Says Lara:

The office staff been working diligently to make sure that every property is assessed fairly and equitably. When the assessments are accurate, everyone shares in the tax burden equally and this year that means a small decrease.

Lara, a Democrat serving his first term, is not up for re-election until 2026. 

He adds that the state has approved a mill rate of $1,838 per $100,000 of assessed value for commercial real estate, a reduction from $1,843 per $100,000.

That residential tax break translates into about $55 bucks a year on a home with an assessed value of $300,000. As they say, don't spend it all in one place.

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They say the apple doesn't fall from the tree but in the case of Nella Domenici Nella she's not even in the same orchard as her legendary father, Pete Domenici, the longest serving US Senator in state history. 

She is getting blown out in the polls, whatever missiles she fires at Sen. Martin Heinrich don't seem to hit their target and there is zero national buzz about her reclaiming the seat.

What is going so wrong for a candidate who is much better than her dreary polling numbers indicate? 

This is a candidate who had the acumen to amass a multi-million dollar fortune; a woman able to survive the rough and tumble of male dominated Wall Street to amass that hedge fund fortune; a candidate who took a law degree at Georgetown while holding down a full-time job and later graduated from Harvard Business School. And yet. . .

Domenici, 63, tried to sell herself as an updated version of her moderate GOP father but the introduction immediately fell flat for several reasons. She has lived primarily on the east coast her adult life and has had very little involvement in public affairs here. She was unknown and neither liked or disliked. Worse, her initial pitch did not make voters seem curious to find out more. 

By clinging tightly to her father's coattails at the outset of the campaign, but having no record of her own (being born here is not a record) she looked more like an opportunist than the scion of a legend. That was back in June and July but the image appears to have stuck. 

The same thing happened to her brother, attorney Pete Domenici, Jr. who entered the 2010 gubernatorial race with a splash only to finish fourth in a five way primary that was won by Susana Martinez, even though his father had only left the Senate in 2009.

It’s not all their fault. New Mexicans don't take kindly to dynastic politics.

Gary King, the son, of three term Governor Bruce King, couldn’t get his engine started when he ran for Governor in 2014. Edward Lujan, brother of popular US Rep. Manuel Lujan, Jr. faltered when he tried to succeed him in the late 80's. Mike Runnels, son of former southern Dem US Rep.  Harold Runnels, made it to lieutenant governor in the 80's but that was the end.  

That mold was broken once when Ben Ray Lujan, son of longtime state House Speaker Ben Lujan, was elected to the US Senate in 2020.

THEN THERE’S TRUMP

Then there's Trump. 

That may be even more important to why Nella has not caught fire. In an era of hyper partisanship, she shied away from the former president, trying to appease Dems and swing voters by refusing to say whether she would vote for him this year or had voted for him in the past. 

She also threw water in the face of the Trumpers by saying she would not go after his endorsement. 

But today’s GOP is Trump's GOP. On her own she has simply been unable to consolidate the conservative GOP base in the state, never mind make inroads with the Dems and independents she must have to get close to Heinrich. 

TALE OF THE TAPE

Let's look inside Nella's numbers in the SurveyUSA conducted September 12-18 in which Heinrich beats her 47 to 34 percent with 19 undecided. They tell the tale:

In the presidential poll released this week Harris beats Trump here 50 to 42 percent. That's an eight point deficit for Trump compared to Domenici's 13 point deficit--47-34--with Democrat Heinrich.

Among Republicans Domenici manages only 74 percent support against Heinrich while Trump receives 88 percent GOP support against Harris. (There's her Trump problem) He has consolidated the GOP base and she still has not.

Women, who Domenici has courted assiduously while stressing that she is not an anti-abortion zealot, aren't buying in. Domenici loses them 50 to 28 percent. Abortion remains an albatross for most Republicans, no matter how they try to fade the heat. 

Hispanics, who one might think Domenici would have entree with because of her father, fail to show up for her. Heinrich out polls her 46 to 29 percent while Trump manages a much better 39 percent of the Hispanic vote against Harris who gets 53 percent.

In Bernalillo county, key to a statewide victory, Domenici has not even begun to chip away at the Blue wall. She trails Heinrich here by a massive 55 to 30 percent.

Domenici even loses men to Heinrich, the most reliable GOP voters, who give him 45 percent to her 39. 

That does nothing to help her overcome the huge if not unexpected gap she has with women where Heinrich scores 50 percent to her 28.

DECEIVINGLY VULNERABLE

Not that Heinrich, 52, isn't showing some weakness as he seeks a third term. In the ABQ Journal poll he is right on the money number of 50 percent--not above. Domenici is still breathing, if struggling for air.

His name ID has not been particularly strong and encouraged Domenici's bid against him. 

His identity despite nearly 20 years on the scene remains muddled. And his legislative record is not robust. 

Would a different GOP candidate, say a youngish Hispanic man or woman, have a better shot? Perhaps.

But Heinrich is one the more effective campaigners the state has produced, starting his races low and finishing high. He can be seen as overcautious--as when he recently dumped Biden--but his chess moves work. And his low-key personality has worn well. Think of a laid back Jeff Bingaman, another longtime NM Senator. Heinrich's middle class background rounds out an image that many voters find relatable.

While Heinrich has appeared deceivingly vulnerable, the past glory of Domenici's father has failed to form a solid foundation for her and Donald Trump is a wall that the determined Domenici has yet to jump over.

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After months of legal wrangling the NM Project threw in the towel Monday and agreed to settle the case brought against them by the State Ethics Commission, agreeing to fully comply with state campaign reporting laws and disclose all of its donations and expenditures. (Full settlement here.)

District Court Judge Joshua Allison had rejected the Project's argument that it was not required to report to the state because it was an educational group exempt from such reporting by federal regulations.

The group further asserted it was advocating for issues important to Hispanics and not directly supporting the conservative legislative candidates listed on their website. 

Project co-founder Jeff Apodaca, a Dem Guv candidate in 2018 and son of former Gov. Jerry Apodaca, had told us the group would appeal the court ruling but Monday the Ethics Commission announced they have prevailed and settled the matter:

TNMP Inc. will. .  .disclose information relating to its donors and expenditures, providing New Mexicans with necessary information regarding who is attempting to influence their votes. The settlement includes that (TNMP) register as a political committee with the Secretary of State. . . shall file with the Secretary of State all required reports of its expenditures and contributions. . .shall provide a check to the State for $1,000, corresponding to a civil penalty for a violation of the Campaign Reporting Act. 

Jeremy Farris (Sun-News)

“The State Ethics Commission remains committed to ensuring that New Mexico’s campaign finance laws are followed,” said Jeremy Farris, Executive Director. The Commission’s commitment to disclosure and to the rule of law is independent of and irrespective of the content and viewpoint of political speech. This settlement. . . reinforces the importance of transparency in New Mexico’s political process. The Commission will continue to work to protect the public’s right to know who is funding efforts to influence New Mexico’s elections.”

Apodaca and Project attorney A.Blair Dunn, came with this response:

(We were) able to reach an agreement with the Ethics Commission that allowed for transparency in elections while pushing for reforms in the Commission regarding the process by which they address concerns for violations of law and constitutional protections for private citizens. Jeff Apodaca. . .stated “The New Mexico Project has never been a Dark Money PAC. We are a 501(c)(4) organization committed to advocating for First Amendment rights, with a focus on amplifying Latino voices and ensuring our votes matter. . .

Attorney Dunn said "we appreciate that we have been able to have the Ethics Commission hear our concerns . . . regarding how Commission staff interacts with members of the public. We hope that litigating this matter has shed important light on the needs for due process versus a rush to judgment coupled with statements to the media to attack citizens and will push needed First Amendment reforms in all state agencies.” 

Apodaca says the group will continue "to stand up for Latino voters across our cities and state, challenging the attacks from these ultra-liberal progressives who target our Latino political leaders—leaders who truly represent our interests.”

The Project was ordered to file its donations and expenditures by October 2. They spent money for radio ads in the primary and Apodaca has said the group also plans on spending for the general election.

ANOTHER BATCH

Another batch of polling has dropped, confirming that Sen. Heinrich holds a commanding lead over Republican Nella Domenici and that MLG's approval rating is below the key 50 percent mark but not in the cellar. 

In the survey conducted by SurveyUSA online Sept. 12-18 for KOB-TV Heinrich gets 47 percent, Domenici 34 and undecided is 19 percent.

The margin of error is put at plus or minus 5.4 percent. 

Never mind that Heinrich is below 50. The big news in all the Senate polling has been Domenici's inability to break the 40 percent mark. Actually, it's kind of startling.

The assumption is that she will move to the low 40's in October as more undecided break, but landing in the winner's circle is a longshot. 

MLG'S approval rating in the SurveyUSA is 47 percent and her disapproval 45 with 8 percent not sure. That's her best showing in three recent polls. Her approval rating average from the trio of polls is 44.3 percent. 

Not that the numbers mean all that much. She has already gone bust with the legislature and can't seek re-election but she continues to be mentioned as a possible appointee if VP Harris takes the White House.

SurveyUSA results of the southern congressional district race are also expected this week. 

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After years of hearing that a broken criminal justice system is to blame for the ongoing crime crisis, the voting public is still able to sort out what is really behind the problem--rampant drug abuse, stubborn systemic poverty and homelessness--all making for fertile ground for fentanyl pushers and wannabe criminals.

A full 26 percent of likely voters point to drugs as the "leading cause" of crime with 16 percent citing poverty and 12 percent homelessness. 

An argument can be made--and tough on crime advocates make it--that if law enforcement is stepped up and the flow of fentanyl from Mexico and the cartels is interrupted the crime crisis takes a major hit. 

But it is mainly people on the lower income rungs who are looking for a fix or a house or business to break into to feed their habit or themselves. The public rightly believes drugs combined with impoverishment has caused this hard rain to fall.

As for how serious voters consider crime, the poll confirms the theory that this is chiefly a city problem:

The poll found that 60% of those who live in the Albuquerque metro area, where the majority of the state’s crime occurs, feel it is a very serious problem while 37% in eastern New Mexico and 39% in Las Cruces and the southwestern part of the state agree. In north central New Mexico, 22% see crime as a minor problem. Pollster Brian Sanderoff pointed out that area encompasses more than just Santa Fe and includes Taos, Las Vegas and smaller communities. “So we’re seeing a big difference in perceptions regarding the seriousness of crime when it comes to how very serious it is,” he said. 

The Legislature and Governor have a major role in crafting solutions to the underlying causes of crime such as poverty and drug addiction but when it comes to actual law enforcement, this poll shows why local mayors and city councils--especially in ABQ--should be held responsible.

Speaking of which. . .  

BACA BAN BOMBS

ABQ City Councilor Joaquin Baca, whose district includes downtown, was almost run out of town when he proposed banning the homeless from sleeping on downtown sidewalks. But that liberal attitude is a relic of the past in liberal San Francisco where homelessness has been rampant for years. The latest:

Sidewalks once teeming with tents, tarps and people passed out next to heaps of trash have largely disappeared from great swaths of San Francisco, a city widely known for its visible homeless population. The number of people sleeping outdoors dropped to under 3,000 in January, the lowest the city has recorded in a decade, according to a federal count And that figure has likely dropped even lower since Mayor London Breed — a Democrat in a difficult reelection fight this November--started ramping up enforcement sof anti-camping laws in August following a U.S. Supreme Court decision.   

This raises the question of how a city proposal that would invest millions of dollars in tax revenue into downtown redevelopment would ever work if people are allowed to sleep on its streets.

CABINET SHUFFLING

Padilla (Journal)

As for the state crafting long-term solutions to the drug and poverty mentality, that falls in part on the leaders of the Public Education Department (PED) and  the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD). The news from there is not especially encouraging: 

“I will be here till the end,” said the incoming Secretary of Public Education." 

If that sounds something like a death march keep in mind that Mariana Padilla is the fifth PED Secretary under MLG's watch and the same stubborn education issues persist.

Other than having spent time as an elementary school teacher, Padilla, a longtime ally of MLG who worked in her congressional office and has been serving as director of the Children's Cabinet, does not have substantial education experience. 

Previous Secretary Arsenio Romero was forced out when the Guv objected to him applying for the presidency of NMSU. Romero made the wrong bet and last week was not chosen by the school's Board of Regents. Talk about flunking out. . .

Another MLG political ally, Teresa Casados, was taken from the Governor's office and put in charge of the dysfunctional Children, Youth and Families Department. Like Padilla, her credentials for the position were sketchy and her leadership is now being faulted by an impatient Legislature balking at the agency's continued failures. 

House Speaker Javier Martinez says a bill calling for more stringent oversight of CYFD will be brought back at the next legislative session. (And come on Teresa, stop with the pushback. This is your shot to make a real difference.)

The state has literally billions in excess revenue because of the oil boom but remains stymied when it comes to the critical areas of education and child well-being. 

As we've said four previous times, congrats to new Secretary-designate Padilla. . .or something. 

GABE BOLTS ON BILLIE JEAN

It seems as if the legendary Billie Jean King, who ran circles around her opponents on the tennis court, has southern NM US Rep. Gabe Vasquez on the run. 

Vasquez, apparently worried about keeping his swing House seat this November, took a walk on a measure awarding Billie Jean, a prominent advocate for the LGBQT community, a Congressional Gold Medal:

MEDAL FOR BILLIE JEAN KING: The House has passed the Billie Jean King Congressional Gold Medal Act (S. 2861), sponsored by Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, D-N.Y., to award a Congressional Gold Medal to King, a women’s tennis player of primarily the 1970s and an advocate for higher status for women athletes. The vote, on Sept. 17, was 308 yeas to 87 nays.

YEAS: Stansbury, Leger Fernández NOT VOTING: Vasquez

The act now goes to President Biden for his signature. We don't suppose Gabe will be at the signing ceremony. 

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