New Mexico

THE EARTH IS ON FIRE, screams Michelle Lujan Grisham

10 Comments / New Mexico, News, Opinion / By

On Monday, scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham sent out yet another panicky fundraising email, this time on the topic of “climate change,” which she insists is the cause of “wildfires.” 

In the email titled “Climate change is fueling wildfires. Here’s how we’ll fix it,” Lujan Grisham claimed, “Climate change has caused higher temperatures and drought – which lead to the kind of staggering wildfires that fill our skies with plumes of smoke.” 

She then touted her work to pass New Mexico’s radical “Green New Deal” in the form of 2019’s Energy Transition Act, which will completely wipe out the oil and gas industry by the year 2045. 

In the email, she wrote, “To mitigate this climate crisis, I’m leading New Mexico to transition to clean, renewable energy sources – preserving a livable climate and creating jobs in the process. During my time as governor, I’ve mandated that gas companies reduce pollution and signed laws to expand our state’s green infrastructure, which will help New Mexico hit my administration’s goal to become carbon-free by 2045.” 

She added, “I have a vision for a greener New Mexico, where our state relies not on dirty fossil fuels but on clean energy sources that don’t take a toll on our climate, water or air.” 

But apparently, her work to destroy the state’s primary source of funding is not done, as she failed to ram through extreme policies to pound the final nail in New Mexico’s energy coffin, which is why she asked her donors “This reality is within reach, but only if we do the hard work to act on climate change immediately – so I need your help to reach our $5,000 goal by our midnight deadline, elect Democrats in New Mexico and keep acting on our green agenda.” 

During the 2021 Legislative Session, Lujan Grisham was unsuccessful in forcing through her 20+ cent per gallon gas tax on the poor and her added “climate” proposals that would institute so-called “environmental rights” to the New Mexico Constitution.

Now, extremely vulnerable Gov. Lujan Grisham, who even the Santa Fe New Mexican notes is not safe for re-election, faces a tough election in 2022 to hold onto her seat. She is apparently clinging onto “THE EARTH IS ON FIRE” rhetoric using climate change conspiracies to justify her far-left agenda.

Lujan Grisham’s panicky email comes one day after she joined British-American billionaire and Jeffrey Epstein associate Sir Richard Branson as he launched his rocket into the sky from Spaceport America in Sierra County.

So-called climate activists did not take too kindly to Branson’s space launch:

So, if Lujan Grisham is so serious about her EARTH IS ON FIRE rhetoric, why is she applauding what other liberals clearly see as hypocrisy?

THE EARTH IS ON FIRE, screams Michelle Lujan Grisham Read More »

In defense of far-left Santa Fe mayor, Cathedral rector threatens Caballeros De Vargas

7 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Wednesday, Ron Trujillo, the president of the Caballeros De Vargas and a former Santa Fe city councilor, among other members, resigned amid threats from the high towers of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. 

During a meeting for the group, the Caballeros appeared to have the votes to send a respectful request letter to Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber asking to return the statue of Don Diego De Vargas back to them following a resolution previously passed by the group to do just that. 

The statue was removed during the George Floyd insurrections happening across the country, where radicals restarted a race war in order to tear down sacred monuments, including the Soldiers’ Monument in the heart of downtown Santa Fe. At the time, Webber removed the De Vargas statue from Cathedral Park and stored it in a city worker’s back yard unprotected. Webber also let insurrectionists attack and destroy the ages-old downtown obelisk by telling his police officers to stand down. The First Judicial District Attorney, Mary Carmack-Altwies, let the rioters go free with no jail time — a move that was widely criticized, even by Democrat the former District Attorney Marco Serna.

Rev. Tim Martinez, the rector of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, who previously served as a chancellor for the Archdiocese, claimed during the meeting that the letter to Webber would threaten the Caballeros’ 501(c)(3) status. After the treasurer of the group told him it would not since the group is a 501(c)(4) organization and can do such activity, Martinez reportedly became hostile toward the organization.

According to Virgil Vigil, the president of the Hispanic fraternal group Union Protectíva de Santa Fé and a 37-year member of the Caballeros, Martinez “personally threatened” the organization “and stated that if they sent this request to Mayor Webber, the Caballeros would not participate in any church functions.” 

Vigil writes, “This action by Father Tim Martinez is a strong indication he is [a] strong supporter and ally of Mayor Webber and his actions are positive proof of such.  It is certainly heartbreaking to see a leader of the Church take political sides and not support the members of the Caballeros, Church, and City resident[s].” 

The Church cares after La Conquistadora, a Marian statue housed in the Cathedral that was brought from Spain by Don Diego De Vargas. The statue holds centuries-old historical and religious significance to the Faithful of New Mexico and has survived throughout the years despite troubling circumstances. 

Each year, the Church holds an annual novena, as promised years ago by Don Diego De Vargas, in gratitude for the peaceful reconquest of Santa Fe. The Caballeros were noticeably absent from the novena this year, which appears to be by design, since Rev. Martinez, as rector of the Cathedral, is responsible for the annual ceremonies.

In Trujillo’s resignation letter, he writes, “The ramification the Church was threatening was our beloved La Conquistadora would be taken away from the Caballeros.” He added, “I will not go down in history as the president who lost La Conquistadora as that is the direction that the church will take if the Caballeros send the letter.”

Following Martinez’s reported threats toward the Caballeros in defense of radical Democrat Alan Webber, he sent in a letter to the Santa Fe New Mexican apparently to cover his bases, writing, “The Caballeros de Vargas is a group of men who hold dear the traditions of the church and the traditions of Santa Fe…. They have served faithfully for many years with many of their members being lifelong servants of the community and of the church. I personally have observed them over the years and admired their devotion to the church through our blessed mother Mary. I continue to support them in their mission and look forward to being with them in prayer soon. I am in communication with their leadership and have every confidence that they will continue to be the beloved faithful servants they have always been.” 

The apparently politically motivated letter and previous actions in defense of Webber by Martinez led Vigil to write, “I am of the opinion that Father Tim Martinez crossed a line which no Priest has ever done so in our City of Holy Faith.  He is the first and we pray the last to hold this distinction.”

It is unclear if Archbishop John C. Wester has given Martinez the authority to withhold La Conquistadora and other Church functions from the Caballeros, but he appears to not have commented as of yet. However, Wester was a big proponent of taking away the annual Entrada procession, which radical left-wing groups took issue with.

At the time, Wester said, “From my point of view, it has to” change, Wester said in an interview with The New Mexican. “Obviously, there are parts of it that are difficult for some people — for many people, I would say — and so we need to look at that.”

He also said he would push to “get rid of any of those signs or symbols that cause pain for any of the cultures.”
“I’m going to say, ‘Let’s choose to celebrate an Entrada that celebrates all peoples and everybody can get behind and everybody can celebrate.’ That’s going to be my voice,” Wester said in 2017.

Archbishop Wester and Rev. Martinez can be reached here:

Rev. Timothy Martinez, Diaconate Formation, Director | 505.821.1571 | admin@cbsfa.org

Most Rev. John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe | 505.831.8120 | archbishop.office@archdiosf.org

In defense of far-left Santa Fe mayor, Cathedral rector threatens Caballeros De Vargas Read More »

Rep. Yvette Herrell speaks at CPAC in Dallas: ‘We deserve to be energy independent’

Leave a Comment / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Sunday, Republican Congresswoman Yvette Herrell of New Mexico’s Second District joined Congressmen Michael Burgess and Lance Gooden of Texas for a segment during CPAC 2021 in Dallas about energy moderated by Tammie Bruce of Fox News. 

“I really think what’s very ironic about this is the topic here is energy security. And it’s a sad day that we’re having to fight against our own administration to secure our energy independence because they’re more than willing to give our independence away to China and Russia and other adversaries,” Herrell said. “We deserve to be energy independent, just like we were under the Trump administration.”

“And even more so to think that they are locking us away from our public lands. So, in New Mexico, fifty percent of our oil production comes from public lands, sixty percent of our natural gas. And now, we are so running down the path of stupidity that we are going to cut off our producers from being able to drill on public lands.” 

“We’ve got to protect our America from our government,” Herrell said. “And we’ve got to be able to have the ability to understand that if we go in our homes and our offices when we flip on the switch, it’s going to turn on the lights. Or we can go to the gas pumps and afford the fuel there…. We’ve got to stand up to our government so that we can protect our energy and our natural resources.” 

What we have to remember: It is not just about starting the car. I mean, let’s just be honest. Right now, if we got rid of everything in this room that was touched by a petroleum product, it would look very, very different,” Herrell continued. “The truth is, we don’t talk about the things that are in our daily lives that we take advantage of…. Plastics, medical supplies, eyeglasses, asphalt, makeup, lipstick, clothing, [sporting goods], there are so many things.” 

“I would just implore that you start talking about the day-to-day items that [we] really take advantage of, that are touched by the petroleum products. In fact, if you’ve gotten the vaccine or if you’re thinking about getting the vaccine, thank the oil and gas industry because almost every one of those syringes was touched by the petroleum products out of the ground — the fossil fuels.” 

Herrell ended her remarks by saying, “We are living in the greatest country on the Earth, and thank you to our veterans, to our Military who fought for our freedoms. ANd we will stand and fight for our energy independence and all our other freedoms because we as Americans deserve them and we owe all the gratitude to our veterans and our service members, so thank you.” 

Herrell’s speech came before 45th President Donald Trump addressed the conference, where he spoke about his America First agenda and taking back America for the people. 

Watch an interview with Rep. Herrell at C-PAC with Right Side Broadcasting:

Rep. Yvette Herrell speaks at CPAC in Dallas: ‘We deserve to be energy independent’ Read More »

Pro-life group calls for the removal of priest who persecuted now-deceased parishioner

2 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Thursday, the pro-life group New Mexico Alliance for Life (NMAFL) called for Archbishop of Santa Fe John C. Wester to remove a heretical priest, Fr. Vincent Chavés of St. Therese parish in Albuquerque, for his treatment of a pro-life parishioner. 

Chavés accused the late Mary Martinez, who tragically passed away in a ballooning accident, of attending an “armed protest” in a bizarre letter, writing, “I hope the Lord understands that eternity is too short for me to ever have to run into you in heaven,” and “the Archdiocese has a formal process of reconciliation between parishioners and pastors but as you were with armed protestors, I am not interested in any conversation or association with you in this earthly existence.”

NMAFL wrote, “We would like to express our deepest condolences to the Martinez family, please keep them in your prayers.” 

Chavéz is known for controversy, with his praising of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, despite their deeply held pro-abortion beliefs, as well as his criticism of President Donald Trump, even going so far as to place an image of the baby Jesus in a cage in supposed protest to the 45th President’s immigration policies.

The pro-life group wrote: 

In May, Chavez penned a highly one-sided political opinion piece in the Santa Fe New Mexican, claiming “the Eucharist cannot become political.” The Catholic Church teaching is clear on this, and yet Fr. Chavez is in a small but loud minority: 74% of Catholics believe that Catholic public officials who disagree with their Church on grave matters should avoid creating confusion and disunity by not presenting themselves for Communion.

It should be noted the vast majority of Catholics oppose elective abortion, a position far from that of “Catholic” President Biden, Governor Grisham, ABQ Mayor Tim Keller, NM Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino and others. In June, the U.S. Bishops voted overwhelmingly in support of a measure to address Catholic politicians presenting themselves for communion.

In fact, in October 2020 Chavez erected a chain-link fence around a statue of the Baby Jesus on church property – his actions made local headlines and he was asked by Archbishop Wester to remove the display. Chavez said he was “dumbfounded” by the request. 

Our readers may also recall that New Mexico Alliance for Life’s investigative work exposed Fr. Chavez for allowing pro-abortion politician Brian Colon to lead a Catholic men’s group at his parish in 2017. The national founders of the men’s group, “That Man Is You” thanked NMAFL for bringing the matter to their attention, and denounced pro-abortion politicians using this program to support their political agenda. The St. Therese group was temporarily disbanded and renamed by Fr. Chavez.

Elisa Martinez, the Executive Director of New Mexico Alliance for Life wrote, “Rather than work to end the brutal deaths of innocent babies and women harmed by abortion just 3 miles from his church, Fr. Vincent uses his platform to heap praise upon the very politicians perpetuating this evil.” She added, “To add insult to injury, he wrongly persecuted one of his own pro-life parishioners who died tragically in the recent balloon crash in Albuquerque – at a time when the family is grieving, Fr. Chavez’s comments are hurtful and inappropriate.” 

Previously, Chavéz told the Archbishop that his parish could not pay its fair share to victims of clergy abuse, while other parishes did as the Archdiocese of Santa Fe asked and pulled together funds to help pay legal expenses relating to abuse. 

NMAFL is urging the public to “[c]ontact the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and politely ask Archbishop Wester to remove troubled Fr. Chavez from public ministry for promoting confusion and division in our community.” 

The Archbishop’s contact information is below: 

Most Reverend John C. Wester, Archbishop archbishop.office@archdiosf.org | 505-831-8120

Pro-life group calls for the removal of priest who persecuted now-deceased parishioner Read More »

Gov. Lujan Grisham brings NM more national attention over her groping scandals

2 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Friday, the news organization National File wrote about a three-year-old video from an alleged sexual assault victim of scandal-ridden Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham named Eddie Dehart. The video was published on October 30, 2018 — before the election and before another similar allegation was uncovered in 2019. Dehart claims Lujan Grisham grabbed his penis while at a party in 2005.

“In 2005, we have a party at my girlfriend’s house. It was an artisan party to showcase some art in Santa Fe and help the artists out to sell their products…During the game, it was Michelle’s shot. And she walked around the pool table and walked by me. When she walked by me she grabbed my crotch,” Dehart said in the video. He said that Lujan Grisham exclaimed to his girlfriend that “you have a man here.”

“Michelle was asked to leave the party,” he said. “I didn’t do nothing to provoke it.” Dehart said that Lujan Grisham’s conduct led to a rift with his girlfriend. “Michelle’s drunkenness and her touchy hands ended up breaking us up in the long run.”

Previously, Gov. Lujan Grisham’s campaign paid over $62,500 to a former staffer, James Hallinan, who has an eerily similar accusation. Hallinan said that Lujan Grisham poured a bottle of water over his crotch and then grabbed his penis through his pants.

After Lujan Grisham’s hush money payments were exposed, the Governor’s senior staffer Dominic Gabello, who allegedly pressured Hallinan to keep quiet at the time of the groping incident, left the administration, although he still consults on her campaign. 

Lujan Grisham claims the payments to Hallinan were made so she could focus on the “pandemic,” adding, “I’ll stand by that decision [to settle] every minute of every day.”

After the Eddie Dehart video was reported by the National File, the Republican Party of New Mexico responded. Chairman Steve Pearce wrote, “This is now the second on-the-record account of Michelle Lujan Grisham grabbing people’s crotches without consent. This disgusting behavior is clearly disqualifying and must be thoroughly investigated. If the accusation is true, which seems likely given the emerging pattern, the governor must resign immediately before she embarrasses New Mexico further.”

Gov. Lujan Grisham brings NM more national attention over her groping scandals Read More »

After leftist paper claims GOP candidate ‘distances’ herself from ‘Trumpian poison,’ she fires back

2 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Friday, the Santa Fe New Mexican editorial board lauded state Rep. Rebecca Dow who recently announced for governor.  

In the editorial, the paper writes, “Republican state Rep. Rebecca Dow has announced she will run for governor, and her candidacy offers the opportunity for Republicans to remember their roots — conservative values, fiscal prudence and common sense — while distancing the party from the Trumpian poison that threatens to strangle the GOP.” 

“Her voice will add to the debate in the GOP primary for governor, which is getting crowded,” continued the piece. 

The editorial board notes, “Elections that serve voters and lead to improved governing must start at the local level. After competitive primaries, Democrats in Santa Fe County too often run unopposed in November. That’s the wrong way to approach politics and, in the end, bad for government, because it lessens the opportunity for compromise and only hardens the far edges of party dogmas already out of control.”

But the Santa Fe New Mexican, which now wants to come off as an impartial voice, despite bashing Republicans on the Fourth of July, praising rioters for tearing down the Soldiers’ Monument obelisk in the Santa Fe plaza, and other divisive statements. 

After the editorial board bashed pro-Trump candidates as spewing “Trumpian poison,” Dow shared the article and wrote on Facebook, “It’s time for New Mexico to thrive. 48 hours after our official launch and the momentum keeps growing. Dow has focused her campaign on improving education, increasing child well-being, as well as calling out embattled Gov. Lujan Grisham for her scandal-ridden tenure.

In a comment provided to the Piñon Post about the New Mexican’s bashing of Trump supporters, Rep. Dow said, “It’s a typical progressive tactic to distract from the failed policy of MLG (Michelle Lujan Grisham). I’m focused on advocating for the everyday New Mexican and the hard task ahead of creating hope and opportunity for our children.” 

Dow joins Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block of Rio Rancho, businesswoman Karen Bedonie of Mexican Springs, financier Greg Zanetti of Albuquerque, and ex-Gary Johnson staffer Tim Walsh of Albuquerque in the Republican field to take on Lujan Grisham.

After leftist paper claims GOP candidate ‘distances’ herself from ‘Trumpian poison,’ she fires back Read More »

Report: ABQ Public Schools social studies book list chock-full of Critical Race Theory, indoctrination

Leave a Comment / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Thursday, mathematician James A. Lindsay, Ph.D. released what he claims to be the book list for Albuquerque Public Schools obtained by a whistleblower, which includes everything from Critical Race Theory, “queerness,” revisionist history, among other divisive titles. 

The book list includes the revisionist “A People’s History of the United States” by discredited leftist indoctrinator, Howard Zinn, “A Queer History of the United States for Young People” by left-wing activist Richie Chevat, “THINK Race and Ethnicity” by Mona Scott, which is chock full of racist Critical Race Theory principles and “social justice” indoctrination regarding feminism, immigration, and race in general. 

Dr. Lindsay writes on Twitter, “This isn’t education. It’s Critical Theory programming.” He noted that the books shown are for the “social studies curriculum only. Don’t be alarmed that no math or science, etc., is on there. It’s not meant to be.” 

“Nearly all of the proposed social studies curriculum in Albuquerque, NM, schools is geared around Critical Theory interpretations of American history and social life. The goal would obviously be to make students think negatively about their country and state. I should also point out how much of the recommended reading list is feminist, which will serve the same Critical agenda. The goal is, yet again, to criticize the existing society (per Marx’s ‘ruthless criticism of everything that exists’) to demolish faith and support for it.” he continued. 

“Many of these books will be defended as ‘providing a different perspective/voice,’ and people will be challenged to say what they think is wrong about alternative perspectives/voices. That’s a trap. It’s the leveraging of all curricula to Critical Theory ends, which is wrong.” 

“There is a limited time in the curriculum in schools, and everyone knows that. Virtually every book on that list short of the core textbooks is either Critical or easily leveraged to Critical ends. Core civics competency and understanding of the state/nation should be the goal.” 

The revelations come as Albuquerque Public Schools parents have been protesting the Critical Race Theory agenda in the schools, along with forced inoculation of children with the experimental virus jab. 

Photos of the July 7 protest taken by activist Katrina Griego are below:

Report: ABQ Public Schools social studies book list chock-full of Critical Race Theory, indoctrination Read More »

Dem DA’s predecessor roasts her for letting obelisk rioters go free: A ‘perversion of justice’

Leave a Comment / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Saturday, former District Attorney for the First Judicial District, Democrat Maro Serna, broke his silence on current district attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies letting rioters who toppled the Soldiers’ Monument obelisk go scot-free with no jail time.

Carmack-Altwies said her “restorative justice” approach was “supposed to bring both sides together and get everyone to come to a resolution or conclusion about what they should do as part of their punishment. And it is a punishment.” She added, “It’s not punitive, necessarily, in that it’s not jail. But it is a punishment — they have to participate in this. And if they drop out and they don’t do it, then we lift the stay and prosecution keeps going.”

At the time, Carmack-Altwies claimed the toppling of the obelisk was “a political problem that got forced upon the criminal justice system” in the defense of her weak prosecutorial decision to let the criminals slide.

Some pointed out her tone-deaf comments, with one person writing, “Well, I suppose the storming of the national capitol was ‘a political problem that got forced upon the criminal justice system’ too. For that matter, were the bombings of abortion clinics, vandalism of fur farms, and burning of draft offices ‘political problems’? No. They were crimes.”

But Serna, who immediately preceded Carmack-Altwies by choosing to run for the 3rd Congressional District seat instead of seeking reelection as district attorney, wrote, “I cannot sit idly by as actual justice is averted under the guise of ‘restorative justice.’ When the mob descended on our beloved Plaza with the intent to cause destruction, I, like many others, was committed to bringing the vandals to justice.”

He added:

 At the time I was district attorney, and when the parties were identified and charged, I indicated I would move forward with full prosecution. I am no longer DA but instead a community member who is deeply concerned with the actions of my successor. Justice is not being served. That District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies is attempting to use pre-prosecution diversion as a front for restorative justice is dishonest and destructive to the program.

Pre-prosecution diversion is intended to help those struggling with substance abuse, mental health diagnoses, endemic social injustice and other factors that unfortunately lead our residents to crime. Everyone who goes through pre-prosecution diversion must write a letter admitting to what they did. But these defendants, many of whom are from out of town, destroyed public property in a riot-type setting. To be clear, the destruction of the obelisk was not a peaceful protest. In addition, these criminals intimidated police and, shamefully, Mayor Alan Webber would not send backup. To dismiss these cases under a cloak of darkness and the misuse of pre-prosecution diversion is unacceptable and an abuse of power. I am completely in favor of pre-prosecution diversion as well as restorative justice; however, this is not it. It is a perversion of justice to serve political ambitions.

Other sacred monuments across New Mexico have been destroyed by the left-wing mob, including the desecration of the statue of Fray Angelico Chavez which sits outside the History Museum in Santa Fe, the bronze statue of Don Diego de Vargas, who peacefully reconquered Santa Fe, statues of Don Juan de Oñate, among other monuments that hold historic value in New Mexico.

Dem DA’s predecessor roasts her for letting obelisk rioters go free: A ‘perversion of justice’ Read More »

NM legal group asks citizens to send notices of demands to the governor, Legislature

1 Comment / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The public service legal firm “New Mexico Stands Up!” led by attorneys Ana Garner and Jonathan Diener, is ready to move forward with a constitutional remedy to the Governor’s and the Legislature’s violations of their oaths. 

“This constitutional remedy is being [used] throughout the nation to hold public servants accountable and it is getting results! Notable victories include the election audits in Arizona and Georgia, the removal of COVID-related restrictions in Minnesota, and the rescinding of COVID-related Executive Orders in Arizona. But the best outcomes are achieved when everyone participates,” writes the group.

The group is asking citizens to help them by sending notices of demand orders to the Governor and the Legislature for violating their oaths. One passage from the notices of demand letter prepared by the attorneys reads, in part:

The chief executive officer of the state has no business legislating, rulemaking, appropriating funds, or establishing fines for non-compliance with unconstitutional mandates as these are not powers granted to that office by the Constitution.

Also, please take notice that the constitutional provision regarding “disaster emergency” management requires that the Governor call a special session of the legislature within 7 days of a declaration of a state of emergency so that the legislature may act in its constitutionally ordained capacity to faciliate the effective operation of the state and establish emergency procedure.

The below information includes instructions on how citizens can help. 

Citizens can download the documents linked below and follow the instructions for serving our public servants.

The documents and instructions are here: https://www.nmstandsup.org/urgent-call-to-action 

The overall process will include printing and signing forms on 8.5″X14″ legal size paper*, mailing the forms to NM officials via certified mail, and sending a copy to NM Stands Up! For extra credit, also send a copy to your local Sheriff. See the NM Stands Up! website for full instructions.

These steps must be completed by Saturday, July 10th, but earlier is better. The recipients have a limited time to respond, after which, if needed, New Mexico Stands Up! will take the next steps.  (More about next steps to come later.)

*The documents need to be executed on legal size paper.  Legal size paper is used for contracts, notices, and other legal instruments in extrajudicial processes and will therefore support the legitimacy and success of this process.

NM legal group asks citizens to send notices of demands to the governor, Legislature Read More »

Las Cruces City Council candidates claim the city is ‘defunding the police’

Leave a Comment / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a joint statement on Tuesday, Las Cruces City Council candidates William “Bill” Beerman in the Sixth Council District and Ronnie Sisneros in the Fifth District claim the City of Las Cruces is “quietly defunding the police by keeping the starting pay rate low, while crime increases in the city, and the councilors inflate the overall city payroll.”

According to Beerman and Sisneros, on May 24, 2021, the Police Department reported to City Council that the City of Las Cruces had 52 vacancies on an authorized force of 202 sworn, commissioned officers. This caused a burden of excessive overtime on the force, Chief Miguel Dominguez said.

“Also on May 24, Police Department officials told the City Council that violent crimes per year had more than doubled from 251 in 2016 to 546 in 2020,” the candidates said in their statement. “In the first 4 months of 2021, the Police Department reported, violent crimes had increased 43 percent over the first 4 months of 2020, from 131 to 187.”

“A review of city budgets shows that City Council cut the total number of Police Department employees, sworn and not sworn, by 11 from 329 in the 2018 budget to 318 in the FY 2020 and 2021 adopted budgets, while the number of city employees went up 89 for the same period, from 1,583 to 1,672,” Beerman and Sisneros said.

While City officials have talked about increasing hiring bonuses, paying bonuses to police for Council-endorsed activities such as “building trust with the community,” and even renting houses in the city for new recruits, a noncompetitive starting salary effectively has prevented adequate recruitment, according to the candidates.

Chief Dominguez told City Council on May 17, “We have increased first year officer and cadet pay by $1 per hour and hiring bonuses have also increased from $3,000 to $4,000, but that pales in comparison to other agencies that are offering $10,000 to $20,000 to hire qualified personnel.”

“At a City Council meeting on May 24, officials said Las Cruces paid a starting hourly rate of $18.83, compared to $21.27 in Albuquerque and $22.31 in El Paso,” the candidates note.

Councilor Johanna Bencomo of the Fourth District pointed to a bar graph at the Council’s budget session on April 26, reading, “WHERE OUR MONEY GOES,” while complaining that the bar for the cost of the Police Department was by far the highest.

“You know I’ve been reflecting a lot on sort of this visual representation of what our budget looks like,” said Bencomo. “When I consider some of those really serious challenges that put a lot of our residents in very vulnerable positions when I look at this visual representation of the budget, I do not feel that it is representative of those challenges,” she continued.

The candidates quoted Bencomo: “And you know, for the police department to have such a disproportionate chunk of the budget, to me feels like we need to do some serious reflection on the creation of this budget in terms of how we are really thinking about public safety, re-thinking about public safety, and what that looks like.”

The police budget, at $27.8 million, is about 25 percent of the City’s $111.6 million general fund budget.

“For there to be a decrease in any sort of property crime, we must meet people’s needs. People must have their needs met and crime will be reduced,” Bencomo said.

Bencomo promised to “keep advocating” for the Council to address her concerns, the candidates wrote in a press release.

“Rather than take temporary measures like bonuses, City Council should permanently solve this problem by paying what is fair and necessary to ensure the city has the police officers it needs,” Beermand and Sisneros proposed. 

According to the Las Cruces Sun, Beerman said he “most recently worked nights for the Defense Intelligence Agency for eight years in the Pentagon as an editor for the nation’s morning military intelligence report.” The Sun reports that “Before that, he was director of the editorial division and a certified internal auditor for the U.S. Navy Audit Service and worked for newspapers for eight years, including a year as managing editor of the Monongahela (Pennsylvania) Daily Herald.” 

The Sun reports that Sisneros, who walked away from the Democrat Party, is a licensed occupational therapist who moved to Las Cruces 16 years ago to work for a long-term care facility. He said, “Simply, my goal is to essentially oppose all of the present city council and all of the decisions they’ve been making for as long as I’ve been here and as long as they’ve been in office.” 

Las Cruces City Council candidates claim the city is ‘defunding the police’ Read More »

1 … 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 … 230
Scroll to Top