On August 8, KRQ News did a story about a residential property in Four Hills where neighbors are dealing with a trashed-out property and some proclaiming they have a nightmare neighbor.  Below is the unedited news story followed by the link:

“People living in a quiet Four Hills neighborhood are dealing with what some call a nightmare neighbor. The house is barely visible, and the front yard is filled with furniture, appliances, and trash.

The mess is four years in the making. Neighbors said not only is the house unsightly, but it’s also a huge safety risk.

“I see it getting much worse unless the city steps in immediately,” said one neighbor.

The house is in the Four Hills neighborhood. At the house, you can barely see it. It’s covered by couches, bookcases, construction material, and toppled basketball hoops.

“It’s been ongoing for about four years now, and the owner, she brings things home just on a daily basis,” that neighbor said, “It’s oddball things. It’s tires. It’s refrigerators. It’s pallets. It’s basketball hoops. It’s, you name it, she brings it home.”

The City of Albuquerque explained that they’ve received 25 calls about the home so far this year. When KRQE visited the house Wednesday, a city vehicle showed up. An employee got out, walked toward the home, but realized there was no clear path, and left.

The owner of the house is listed as Jessica Rhiger. According to court records, she was charged with a zoning violation for the mess in April, failed to show up to court, and a warrant was issued for her arrest. Neighbors said the house is dangerous and are calling on the city for help.

“It’s a dangerous situation. I truly feel that it is. I would like the city to step in as soon as possible, like I said before, this home catches on fire and takes out a neighborhood.”

KRQE asked the city what their next step is, but they did not give any details. The homeowner does not have a criminal record other than DWI.”

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/complaints-stack-up-about-messy-dangerous-four-hills-property/

 COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

It’s disgusting to see stories like this about residential homes that are trashed out by homeowners and who violate city codes, ordinances and nuisance laws and the city gives  the neighborhood excuses saying it cannot do much, which is a lie and it has not always been the case.

From 2002 to 2009, the Safe City Strike Force was created to combat blighted, nuisance residential and commercial properties.  Deputy City Attorney Pete Dinelli was the Director of the Strike Force and oversaw a team of 30 to 40 representatives from the City Attorney, the APD code teams, Fire Department and Fire Marshal’s Office, the Planning Department code inspectors, the Family Community Services and DA’s Office.

Together, the Strike Force took enforcement action against 75 to one 150 properties a week, mainly residential properties.  Over 8 years, the Safe City Strike Force took civil enforcement action against some 7,500 properties, both commercial and residential properties.

Mayor Tim Keller dismantled and defunded the Safe City Strike Forced 5 years ago saying it did not fit into his “ONE ALBUQUERQUE” philosophy and slogan. Keller replaced the Strike Safe City Strike Force with a very watered-down program that is a low key “conciliatory approach” dealing with substandard properties and property owners and slum lords.  Experience shows that “conciliatory approach” with slum lords and irresponsible property owners who do not want to spend the time, money nor want to make any effort to take care of their properties simply does not work.

No thanks Mayor Keller for being more concerned about public relations, imagery and slogans and not clean and safe neighborhoods.

“A Stronger New Mexico”, a political action committee linked to the Democratic Governors Association, released a TV ad which asserts Republican candidate for Governor Mark Ronchetti “opposed a woman’s right to control her own body ‘at all stages’ and praised” the U.S. Supreme Court “for giving that power over women to politicians like him.” The ad claims “governors get power over abortion rights” with Roe v. Wade overturned.

The TV ad also links Ronchetti to a 2020 endorsement for US Senate from “National Right to Life”, the nation’s largest anti-abortion group, when it says “Extremists who’d outlaw abortion even in cases of rape and incest said he’s their choice for New Mexico, which makes Ronchetti the wrong choice for governor.”

In response to the “A Stronger New Mexico” TV ad, Ronchetti  released his own rebuttal TV ad on abortion. The ad is entitled “You Deserve the Truth”. It has Ronchetti sitting on a leather couch, ostensibly in his home, wearing an open collar shirt and blue gens, as he speaks directly into the camera and “over articulating” his words, as he tends to do, and exposing his TV weatherman “bleached” white teeth. Ronchetti says this in the ad:

“You deserve to know where candidates stand and not be scared by false ads. … The governor supports abortion up to birth. … That’s extreme. … I’m personally pro-life, but I believe we can all come together on a policy that reflects our shared values. … We can end late-term abortion while protecting access to contraception and health care.”

The on-screen graphics say first that Governor Lujan Grisham  supports abortion “up to moment of birth” and that she made New Mexico the “late-term abortion capital of U.S.” The ad goes on to say Ronchetti proposes banning abortion after 15 weeks of gestation, with exceptions for rape, incest, and to preserve the life of the mother.”

MARK RONCHETTI MAKES CONFESSSION IN PRIVATE TO LEGACY CHURCH PASTOR STEVE SMOTHERMMON

On Sunday, July 10, the very conservative Republican pastor Reverend Steven Smothermon of Legacy Church during his Sunday church service, exposed Mark Ronchetti’s new moderate stand as nothing more than ruse to get elected. Ronchetti’s new stance on abortion is approving abortion for up to 15 weeks of pregnancy and in cases involving rape, incest and when a mother’s life is at risk. This is what Smothermon preached and said from his pulpit:

I know Mark Ronchetti came out, and some people are very upset, because he said I think [abortion] is reasonable up to 15 weeks. . . I know a lot of us got mad. I did too. I had a long talk with him for hours. I said, dude right out of the gate you blew it and he said here’s what I was trying to do. I know what you were trying to do but you didn’t do it and here’s what he said.

He said, ‘listen, I just want to start with getting rid of partial birth abortion in the whole state’–which we should be happy with–and he said ‘but I can’t just go in and do it 100 percent because we won’t ever get elected.’ He said I just want to start but his goal would be to end abortion in New Mexico. Just so you know.

How do I know that? Because I talked to him for hours and I said I won’t support anybody that believes in killing a baby ever. I don’t care how much you are right on other issues. That one issue is enough for me because if you don’t believe in life, something’s wrong.

The full video of the Smothemon sermon can be viewed with comments on Ronchetti starting at 27:10.

https://subsplash.com/legacynm/media/mi/+d3rwjh2

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s campaign was quick to seize upon Smothermon’s revelations and called Ronchetti a liar who is trying to trick voters to get elected. Kendall Witmer, a spokeswoman for Lujan Grisham’s campaign had this to say:

[“Ronchetti is] dangerous for women who depend on abortion health care. The rights of women to make decisions about their own bodies in New Mexico depends on reelecting Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.”

“Lujan Grisham told CNN  New Mexico doesn’t have any restrictions on abortion, which she supports. There are no restrictions, she told CNN’s Jake Tapper, because “this is a privacy right and a personal decision between a woman and her doctor, and to interfere in any of these medical decisions creates … unknown, untold reductions in civil liberties for any number of individuals, including women’s access to contraceptives.”

The link to the quoted news source material is here:

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-ad-by-pac-hits-ronchetti-on-abortion/article_33ffe662-01f2-11ed-917e-237f98db4b09.html

In 2021, in anticipation of Roe v. Wade being overturned, Governor Lujan Grisham worked and lobbied the New Mexico legislature to repeal the state’s 1969 criminal law that made abortion a crime so that the state law could not become enforceable. In June, Lujan Grisham issued an executive order aimed at protecting patients and providers from lawsuits and arrest warrants filed in other states.

A HIDEOUS ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL GUEST COLUMN

On Sunday, July 31, the Albuquerque Journal ran a guest column that was a hideous, inflammatory attack on New Mexico, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, the New Mexico Legislature and all of its citizens who support a woman’s right to choose and a woman’s reproductive rights. The guest column was written by Stephan Helgesen who says he is a retired career U.S. diplomat who now resides in Tijeras, New Mexico.  According to the Journal biographical foot note, Helgeson has lived and worked in 30 countries for 25 years and is the author of 12 books and has written more than 1,200 articles on politics, economics and social trends.

Following is the full, unedited column with link to  the Albuquerque Journal:

HEADLINE: New Mexico has become the land of disposable life

BY STEPHAN HELGESEN / TIJERAS RESIDENT
PUBLISHED: SUNDAY, JULY 31ST, 2022 AT 12:02AM 

“Get ready my fellow New Mexicans, your state is soon to become the abortion equivalent of the ubiquitous 7-Eleven convenience store thanks to a progressive governor and a doctrinaire Democratic Legislature that care more for living voters than womb-bound future ones.

Tough words admittedly, but it’s time we all took the gloves off and stopped hiding behind a sense of fair play or giving the left the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their real attitudes toward human life. Truth is, their actions show they care more about protecting their ideology than protecting innocent life.

This whole “reproductive health care argument” and a “woman’s right to choose” is just a smoke screen for a self-centered egotistical bias toward women who don’t want to suffer the inconvenience of bearing a child. While I’m willing to admit there are instances when an abortion can be morally justified – in cases of rape and incest and when there is a real and present danger to the health of the mother – those instances are few and far between the millions of abortions that occur every year in the USA.

It pains me to say it, but we have become a nation of blame-shifters. “It was his fault that I got pregnant!” “Of course I knew what a missed menstrual period means, but I knew that I could always get an abortion if I was pregnant, so no big deal.”

Now that the Supreme Court has reversed the Roe versus Wade decision of 1973, we will soon see if our states will also avoid their responsibility to protect human life, or, as with the recent easing of marijuana laws, they will see dollar signs in the continuance or expansion of their abortion industry.

New Mexico will probably become a one-stop shop for out-of-state expectant mothers. “Come to New Mexico. Bienvenidos. End your pregnancy here in just 24 hours and use the rest of your time to see our glorious Land of Enchantment. See the sights. Taste our culture that celebrates life in all its forms.”

What hypocrisy. The native peoples of New Mexico have always revered life. Elizabeth Terrill wrote a piece for the Navajo Times in which she said, “As a Native American woman, I know this (that life is sacred and begins at conception) to be true at a fundamental level. It has taken centuries for our Native peoples to be afforded the human rights that all people deserve by their very nature.

Precisely because of our history of being discarded and disdained, we have an obligation to stand for those who are today being denied the rights that we have fought so hard to obtain.”

How did our state go from one that respected and revered indigenous people’s cultural and religious beliefs about the sanctity of life to an abortion sanctuary state? The answer is simple – politics, simply politics.

A true-blue state, New Mexico has sold its morals for 30 pieces of silver and the prospect of being viewed as progressive rather than a state steeped in traditional values. Human life is expendable. Women must have the sovereign right to decide who lives and who dies, and the state has the responsibility to uphold those new moral rights. That’s basically what Senate Bill 10 passed in the 2021 legislative session says.

Given the laws being passed in neighboring states limiting abortions, we are bound to see an influx of abortion tourism. This will please the pro-abortion zealots, but it will really please organizations like Planned Parenthood that stand to do a land office business.

Abortion gold has been found in them thar hills. At a time when the left is steadfastly protecting the lives of (undocumented) immigrants pouring into our country it strikes me as paradoxical that we are willing to sever the lifelines of the innocent and vulnerable unborn. Is this the new New Mexico True? If so, count me out.”

RESPOND TO HIDEOUS COLUMN

After reading the inflammatory Helgeson guest column, this author was  compelled to respond directly to Stephan Helgesen as well contact the Albuquerque Journal editors to question why the column was published in the first place  given the inflammatory and many falsehoods contained in the guest column.

Following is the email exchange that ensued:

Date: 8/2/22  From Pete Dinelli, To  Stephan Helgesen, Subject: Helgeson Trash talking; Albuquerque Journal guest column

“ Mr. Helgeson

I read your opinion column published by the Albuquerque Journal on Sunday,  July 31 with the link here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2520412/new-mexico-has-become-the-land-of-disposable-life.html

Why the Albuquerque Journal editors would even publish it is astonishing given how offensive it was to the State, which is the reason for me sending this email  to the Journal editors.

Your column  is replete with  rhetoric and downright lies that you are trying to pawn off as legitimate  commentary.  It  really amounts  to nothing more than offensive, inflammatory rhetoric, including the following:

“Get ready my fellow New Mexicans, your state is soon to become the abortion equivalent of the ubiquitous 7-Eleven convenience store thanks to a progressive governor and a doctrinaire Democratic Legislature that care more for living voters than womb-bound future ones.”

…

“This whole “reproductive health care argument” and a “woman’s right to choose” is just a smoke screen for a self-centered egotistical bias toward women who don’t want to suffer the inconvenience of bearing a child.”

…

“While I’m willing to admit there are instances when an abortion can be morally justified – in cases of rape and incest and when there is a real and present danger to the health of the mother – those instances are few and far between the millions of abortions that occur every year in the USA.”

…

“… we have become a nation of blame-shifters. “It was his fault that I got pregnant!” “Of course I knew what a missed menstrual period means, but I knew that I could always get an abortion if I was pregnant, so no big deal.”

…

“New Mexico will probably become a one-stop shop for out-of-state expectant mothers.”

…

“Come to New Mexico. Bienvenidos.  End your pregnancy here in just 24 hours and use the rest of your time to see our glorious Land of Enchantment. See the sights. Taste our culture that celebrates life in all its forms.”

…

“A true-blue state, New Mexico has sold its morals for 30 pieces of silver and the prospect of being viewed as progressive rather than a state steeped in traditional values. Human life is expendable. Women must have the sovereign right to decide who lives and who dies, and the state has the responsibility to uphold those new moral rights.”

…

“Abortion gold has been found in them thar hills. At a time when the left is steadfastly protecting the lives of (undocumented) immigrants pouring into our country it strikes me as paradoxical that we are willing to sever the lifelines of the innocent and vulnerable unborn. Is this the new New Mexico True? If so, count me out.”

TRASH TALKING COLUMN

For a man who is supposedly a retired career U.S. diplomat and who has lived and worked in 30 countries for 25 years, author of 12 books and has written more than 1,200 articles on politics, economics and social trends, your column reflects that of an obscene right-wing fascist who has no tolerance for Democrats, no tolerance for human rights, no tolerance for civil rights and especially no tolerance for constitutional rights of woman. You even managed to bring up your dislike or undocumented immigrants in your column on abortion.

Your column amounts to nothing more than trash talking of a state that you show an absolute ignorance and disdain for including the people who have lived here all of their lives and dealing with all of its problems.   You sound like so many of those who move to the state and then proceed to try and save us from ourselves.  We do not need saving from people that are the likes of you who are intolerant.

At the end of your column you say “Is this the new New Mexico True? If so, count me out.”  I would like to take you up on that and ask that you count yourself out and  move to Texas, Mississippi  or Florida, or perhaps  even  Afghanistan or Iran where woman have no rights and treated as chattel,  and  where you and your right-wing ideology will fit in just fine. Just think, if you were to move to Afghanistan you could offer your diplomatic skills to the Taliban.”

Date: 8/3/22:   From Stephan Helgesen;  To: Pete Dinelli;  Subject: RE: Helgeson Trash talking Albuquerque; Journal guest column

Interesting response. It is precisely what I expected from someone like you.

Stephan.

Date: 8/3/22:  From: Pdinelli;  To: Stephan Helgesen;  Subject: RE: Helgeson Trash talking Albuquerque; Journal guest column

Thanks for agreeing with my assessment of you and what you stand for and not taking issue with it.

Date: 8/3/2022: Subject:  Helgeson Trash talking Albuquerque Journal guest column; From: Stephan Helgesen;  To: P Dinelli

“Are you kidding! I know you and have followed your failed political career over the years and dismiss you and your far-out opinions. I have nothing but pity for you and the far-left looney characters that you align yourself with.  But, since I am a Christian and see life as sacred I will pray for yours along with all the aborted babies that negligent mothers have destroyed since Roe versus Wade in 1973 (62 million in case you didn’t know it).”

Stephan

Date: 8/3/2022:  Subject: Clownish, right wing Pseudo Christian; From: P Dinelli; To:   Stephan Helgesen

Mr. Helgeson:

Failed political career?  Now that’s rich and clownish coming from a right-wing fool such as yourself.   You have not lived in New Mexico long enough to know me nor who I am.  Otherwise, you would know practicing law has been my career for 42 years and not politics.  This includes   being a successful prosecutor for 15 years with high conviction rates, having my own successful  law firm, being an elected city councilor, being a judge, and being Chief Deputy District Attorney,  Deputy City Attorney and Chief Public Safety Officer.

You on the other hand really have nothing to show for  as a failed diplomat, otherwise you probably would open that big mouth of yours and tell the whole  world  what you actually accomplished during your 25 years globetrotting.  Instead, you embellish your credentials.  The only “far out opinions” and looney characters are  pseudo-Christians such as yourself who I will never have pity for. You’re such a hypocrite when you say “life is sacred” and then say in your Journal column you have no problem with exceptions for rape and incest.  There are no exceptions for Christians such as Pastor Steve Smothermon.

Please look in a mirror so you can see what a real loser looks like.

Date:  8/4/2022:  Subject:   Re: Clownish, right-wing pseudo christian; From: Stephan Helgesen; To:  PDinelli

The last word is yours. Go in peace.

Stephan

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

There are many who believe what is published in the Albuquerque Journal as guest commentary should be simply ignored.  Still others believe that no one reads the Albuquerque Journal and so why even bother challenging anything the paper publishes in its editorial sections.  Such beliefs are misplaced, short sighted and are dangerous. Political propaganda, such as what Stephan Helgesen wrote, that goes unchallenged is viewed as the truth by too many who are just plain lazy to seek the truth.

Way too many believe that our first amendment right of free speech does not have any limitations and that one is allowed to just simply lie and distort facts and that it is somehow protected free speech.  Our former President Donald Trump is one such person who believes lying is “free speech” as he promotes the big lie that he won the election in 2020.   It led to a January 6, 2021 attempted coup to overthrow our democracy. Michelle Obama famously said, “when they go low, we must go high” but that only gets you so far.  Lies and extremism must be dealt with and challenged aggressively and assuredly, otherwise they will be accepted as the truth by those unwilling to even try and find out what the truth really is.

Discourse as reflected in the Journal Helgesen guest column that promotes intolerance, promotes hate and distrust of others, and that denigrates women and seeks to deny basic civil rights and human rights and a woman’s right to choose and to have control over her own health care decisions must be challenged in no uncertain terms, even if only published in the Albuquerque Journal.

There is absolutely no doubt that the July 31 inflammatory Albuquerque Journal Stephen Helgeson guest column combined with the outing of Republican Mark Ronchetti’s and his intention to ban all abortions are clear evidence of what New Mexico Republicans are really up to when it comes to abortion and woman’s reproductive rights.

A Mark Ronchetti ad blasts the Governor saying she lied about his record to defund the police saying it’s dangerous when a Governor lies.  Failing to disclose is lying.  Ronchetti can proclaim all he wants that he supports a “reasonable approach” to abortion when the truth is Ronchetti confessed behind closed doors that there is absolutely “nothing reasonable” about what he wants and what he will advocate for if he is elected.  The truth is Mark Ronchetti lied to the public about his intent to destroy a woman’s reproductive rights in order to get elected.

Woman’s rights are under siege by the right-wing New Mexico Republican Trump Party and the Trump US Supreme Court.  Make no mistake, a woman’s right to choose and their reproductive rights in New Mexico are on the 2022 ballot in the form of the Governor’s race.

Behind the bleached teeth, phony grin of TV personality Mark Ronchetti is a dark and sinister political agenda to destroy a woman’s reproductive rights to the point that his campaign lapel pin might as well be a coat hanger.

August 19, 2022, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (DWS) released an Economic Update on the state’s unemployment rates.  Highlights of the report are as follows:

New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in July, down from 4.9 percent in June and down from 7.0 percent in the previous year. The national unemployment rate in July was 3.5 percent, down from 3.6 percent in June and down from 5.7 percent in July 2021.

Total nonagricultural payroll employment grew by 31,700 jobs, or 3.9 percent, between July 2021 and July 2022. The majority of gains came from the private sector, which was up 31,500 jobs, or 4.9 percent. The public sector was up 200 jobs, or 0.1 percent. Most private sector gains were in the private service-providing industries, which were up 21,400 jobs, or 3.9 percent, while the goods-producing industries were up 10,100 jobs, representing an increase of 10.6 percent.

Within the goods-producing industries, mining and construction employment rose by 8,000 jobs, or 11.8 percent. The majority of gains were within the construction industry, which grew by 6,700 jobs, or 13.7%.  Mining employment was up 1,300 jobs, or 6.9 percent, over the year.

Manufacturing was up 2,100 jobs, or 7.6%. Within manufacturing, durable goods manufacturing employment was up 1,400 jobs, or 9.2%, over the year.  Non-durable goods manufacturing was up 700 jobs, or 5.6%.

Within the private service providing industries, trade, transportation, and utilities was up 2,400 jobs, or 1.8%. Within this industry, retail trade was up 1,800 jobs, or 2.0%; transportation, warehousing, and utilities was up 800 jobs, or 3.2%; and wholesale trade was down 200 jobs, or 1.0%.

Professional and business services was up 5,400 jobs or 4.9%.

Education and health services was up 5,100 jobs, or 3.8%. Within the industry, educational services was up 4,300 jobs, or 26.7%, and health care and social assistance was up 800 jobs, or 0.7%.

Leisure and hospitality experienced a gain of 10,200 jobs, or 10.9%, compared to the previous year, while miscellaneous other services was up 200 jobs, or 0.7%.

Employment in information and financial activities declined from July 2021; information was down 800 jobs, or 7.3 percent, while financial activities was down 1,100 jobs, or 3.3%.

Within the public sector, state government was up 1,000 jobs, or 2.0 percent. Within state government employment, state government education added 1,400 jobs, representing an increase of 7.7%.

State government excluding education was down 400 jobs, or 1.3 percent. Federal government was down 200 jobs, or 0.7%, from last year’s level.

Employment in local government was down 600 jobs, or 0.7%. Within local government, local government education was down 1,100 jobs, or 2.6%, and local government excluding education employment increased by 500, or 1.0%, from last year.

The link to the Department of Workforce Solution report is here:

https://www.jobs.state.nm.us/vosnet/gsipub/documentView.aspx?enc=JdKtFhuODzQ+aO5C6MuCGQ==#:~:text=New%20Mexico%27s%20seasonally%20adjusted%20unemployment,5.7%20percent%20in%20July%202021.DI

DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

The August 19   Department of Workforce Solutions (DWS) reported that New Mexico’s unemployment dropped to the lowest it has been since September 2008.  The DWS  reported that the unemployment rate for the state in July stood at 4.5%, a drop from 4.9% in June of this year and a year-over-year decrease from 7% from July 2021.  This is the second month in a row the unemployment rate has come in below 5% this year.

Even with the unemployment rate dropping, there is still a need for more workers across all industries.  According to DWS, online job postings have soared over the past year. State records show that more than 23,000 new jobs were advertised online in New Mexico than the same time last year.

The largest gains in employment came in the goods-producing sector.   It  saw an increase of more than 10,000 jobs year over year.   The construction industry saw an increase of 13.7%, or about 6,700 jobs, since the same time last year.  Professional and business services  saw an increase of 5,400 jobs.  The Department of Workforce Solutions  report showed Bernalillo County’s unemployment standing at 4.2% in July.  Santa Fe County had an unemployment rate of 4.1% and Doña Ana had a rate of 5%.

New Mexico’s employment levels have grown since plunging in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the states   4.9% unemployment rate for June was the nation’s highest, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s unemployment trails nearly all other states across the country.  New Mexico’s unemployment rate is tied with Alaska.   Only the District of Columbia has a higher rate of unemployment.

According to state Taxation and Revenue Department data, while  national employment has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, the state is about 10,000 jobs short of reaching its total workforce of 861,200 residents that existed in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic.

STATE STRUGLES WITH EMPLOYMENT SHORTAGES

Despite the reduction in unemployment rates, the state is struggling with a low workforce participation rate which is the measurement of working-aged adults that are participating in the labor force and who are looking for a job.  According to the Department of Workforce solutions (DWS), there is a need for more workers across all industries.  The DWS says it has been focusing on the issue by setting up programs funded largely by federal dollars and creating a template for outreach to non-working New Mexicans.

INDSUTRIES NEEDING FAR MORE WORKERS

According to the Department of Workforce Solutions report, industries where there is a major need for more workers include the construction industry, the health care industry, the manufacturing industry and government.   The Manufacturing industry saw an increase of 2,100 jobs needing to be filled within the last full year. Professional and business services  saw an increase of 5,400 jobs needing to be filled.

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Jim Garcia, the Executive Director for the Associated Contractors of New Mexico, said there is a need for increases in the construction industry.   Garcia noted that jobs in the construction industry typically start at $20 an hour.  The construction industry is looking to market higher paying jobs benefits to prospective job seekers. Garcia said this:

“We could use 5,000 more employees tomorrow. … There’s a heavy need for it now and we’re going to be an attractive future for a lot of people. …  Essentially, we became a good place to work. … It could be a lot of things, but, you know, you don’t have to have a degree to get in our industry and make a lot of money.”

THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY

Janna Christopher, director of clinical recruitment for Presbyterian Healthcare Services, handles the hiring of registered nurses, physical therapists and other licensed clinicians. According to Christopher, the hospital has seen an overall decrease in the number of applications through her office.

The decrease in applicants is not limited to Presbyterian.   Health care providers across the state are struggling with hiring and retaining clinicians.  Many health care providers are simply leaving the state’s health care industry and leaving the state to go elsewhere to be paid more. A 2021 report from the New Mexico Health Care Workforce Committee showed the state needed about 6,223 more nurses to hit benchmarks for the state based on population.

Christopher said Presbyterian has shifted its focus on new graduates, investing in its nursing residency program “so that we can really fill that void.”

THE LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

The leisure and hospitality industry had the largest growth in employment by headcount of all industries across the state.  The leisure and hospitality industry saw substantial growth over the past year with 11,000.

Jim Long, the CEO of Heritage Hotels & Resorts Inc., which owns Sawmill Market, Hotel Chaco and a list of other resorts across New Mexico, said that the growth in the Leisure and Hospitality Industry is largely due to the industry recovering slower than others. His company has seen an increase of about 750 employees in the past year, and it is still hiring.  Long said this:

“I don’t see it … [as a] hiring frenzy as much as just getting back to normalcy.”

GOVERNMENT

According to the DWS report, state government employment is down with 400 jobs vacancies while local government employment is down by 600 jobs, or 0.7 percent.  Local government education employment is down 1,100 jobs, or 2.6 percent, and local government excluding education employment increased by 500, or 1.0 percent, from last year.

REACTION TO UNEMPLYMENT RATES

Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said the state’s lower unemployment rate is a win for the state. Grisham said this:

“We continue to see substantial job growth in nearly every sector, from hospitality and retail to construction and manufacturing. … As we continue to expand the state’s workforce by investing in free college and workforce training, creating more opportunities than ever for New Mexico families, our state’s economy is going to continue to improve.”

Belen Republican State Senator Greg Baca disagreed with the Governor’s positive assessment of the state’s low unemployment rate with Baca pointing to a University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research that predicts slower economic growth for the state compared to the national average. Baca said this:

“This is politics at its worst. … The real story here is that New Mexico has the highest unemployment rate of any state in the country, and according to analysts, we are currently on track to experience slower than national economic growth.”

Links to quoted sources are here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2525949/new-mexico-unemployment-rate-drops-to-45.html

JUNE 2022 DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS REPORT

The June 2022 New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions report on unemployment and job numbers are worth noting given the extent unemployment was reduced.

In June 2022, the Department of Workforce solutions reported the number of unemployed New Mexicans was 46,432, a decline of 32.5% or 22,393 people, from 2021. Since May 2020 when it peaked at 88,330, the number of unemployed has declined by almost half.  There are currently less unemployed New Mexicans than before the pandemic.

In June, New Mexico’s labor force saw an over-the-month increase of 0.1%, or 971 people. Since June 2021 the labor force grew by 5,779, or 0.6 percent. In June, New Mexico’s labor force saw an over-the-month increase of 0.1%, or 971 people. Since June 2021 the labor force grew by 5,779, or 0.6%.

Over the year, New Mexico’s total nonagricultural employment increased by 45,100 jobs, or 5.6 percent. Most of these gains were in the private sector, which was up 41,300 jobs, or 6.5 percent. The public sector was up 3,800 jobs, or 2.2%. Eight of the nine major private industry sectors reported employment increases over the year.

Leisure and hospitality reported a gain of 13,500 jobs, or 15.1%. Employment in mining and construction was up 8,300 jobs, or 12.7%. Most gains in mining and construction came from construction, which grew by 7,000 jobs, or 14.8%.

Mining employment was up 1,300 jobs, or 7.1%. Professional and business services employment expanded by 6,200 jobs, or 5.7%.

Employment in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was up 4,400 jobs, or 3.3%.  Within the industry, retail trade was up 2,600 jobs; transportation, warehousing, and was up 1,200 jobs; and wholesale trade was up 600 jobs.

Miscellaneous other services employment grew by 1,100 jobs, or 4.0%.

Manufacturing was up 2,400 jobs, or 8.8%, with the majority of jobs in durable goods manufacturing.

Education and Health Services was up 4,900 jobs, or 3.6%. The majority of gains within the industry were in education services.

Information Technology was up 500 jobs, or 5.3%.

Financial activities was unchanged from the rate in June 2021.

In the public sector, local government was up 3,000 jobs, or 3.3 percent. Employment in state government was up 1,100 jobs, or 2.2 percent.

The federal government reported a loss of 300 jobs in New Mexico, or 1.0 percent.

Over the year, the Albuquerque metro area grew by 16,200 jobs in total nonfarm employment, representing a gain of 4.3 percent.

The following is the breakdown in the private sector industries that  added jobs:

Leisure and hospitality:  up 5,500 jobs, a 13.9% increase

Trade, transportation, and utilities:  up 3,900 jobs, a 6.3% increase

Mining and construction employment: up 3,300 jobs, a 13.0% increase

Professional and business services:  up 1,700 jobs, a 2.8% increase

Manufacturing: up 1,000 jobs, a 6.2% increase

Information and Technology:  up 500 jobs, a 9.8% increase

Miscellaneous other services: up 400 jobs, a 3.5% increase

Education and Health Services: up 300 jobs, a 0.5% increase

Financial activities was unchanged from the previous year’s employment level.

Public sector, state government: up 200 jobs, a 0.8% increase

Federal government: down 400 jobs, a 2.7% decrease

Local government:  down 200 jobs, a 0.6% decrease

Links to Department of Workforce Solutions source materials are here:

Click to access LMR_2022_June.pdf

https://www.dws.state.nm.us 

https:// www.jobs.state.nm.us/analyzer.

DRAMATIC SPIKE IN STATE REVENUES

On August 16, during a meeting of the influential New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee held in Chama, New Mexico, legislators were told the state will have a staggering projected $2.5 billion in “new” money during the 2023 budget year that starts on July 1, 2023.  The total revenue is forecast is to rise from $9.2 billion in the fiscal year that just ended to nearly $10.9 billion for 2023.   The projections were reported by the LFC executive economists.

The LFC economists reported that the $2.5 money, which represents the difference between current spending levels and projected new revenue, is in addition to a projected budget surplus of nearly $3.8 billion for the current fiscal year and with upwards of $2.6 billion to go into the state’s early childhood trust fund.

The LFC economist report indicated New Mexico’s economy will experience slower than national economic growth in the near term but will have relatively faster growth in 2023.  The LFC economist report said the state’s economic outlook is tied to inflation, monetary policy, and other broader economic mechanisms as the national outlook.”

The projected $10.9 billion in revenue for the coming fiscal year will be more than double the $5.4 billion in revenue the state took in a little over a decade ago during the 2011 fiscal year.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

It’s truly pathetic how Republicans such as Republican State Senator Greg Baca refuse to acknowledge the leadership of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham when it comes to job creation and economic development. It is Republican fools like State Senator Greg Baca who “plays politics at its worse”  with his propaganda conveniently ignoring what happened for the full 8 years under the leadership of former Governor “She Whose Name Must Not Be Spoken”. 

Under the former Republican Governor’s watch for 8 years, and with the “lock step” loyalty of the likes of Senator Greg Baca, New Mexico’s unemployment rates reached the all-time record high of 7.8% and for a full 7 years of her 8-year term unemployment rates hovered at 7.8% and 6.1%.   Vacancies in state government spiked and reached all-time highs as she gutted state government and programs to balance the budget proclaiming as Republicans do that government was too big in order avoid any and all tax increases.  The Republican Governor destroyed the state’s Public Education System to the point that in a landmark court hearing, a judge declared at risk students were being deprived of the constitutional right to an education and the same Republican Governor gutted the State’s Mental Health Care system falsely claiming criminal by 15 mental health care providers with the Attorney General investigating and eventually absolving the 15 mental health care providers of all wrongdoing.

In 3 years and 6 months under the leadership of Lujan Grisham, the unemployment rate is now 4.5% and is going down even further, the education system is finally being funded as it should, the state’s mental health care system is being restored and economic development is surging.  Despite all the negativity espoused against Governor Mitchell Lujan Grisham by the Republican party and her weatherman Republican opponent, it is clear that the state is in fact pulling out of and is on the road to a full recovery of the effects of the pandemic.  The states revenues are up dramatically with the state experiencing record levels of income and the State’s unemployment rates are in fact making a dramatic decline to pre pandemic levels.

On August 16, during a meeting of the influential New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee held in Chama, New Mexico, legislators were told the state will have a staggering projected $2.5 billion in “new” money during the 2023 budget year that starts on July 1, 2023.  The total revenue is forecast is to rise from $9.2 billion in the fiscal year that just ended to nearly $10.9 billion for 2023.   The projections were reported by the LFC executive economists.

The LFC economists reported that the $2.5 money, which represents the difference between current spending levels and projected new revenue, is in addition to a projected budget surplus of nearly $3.8 billion for the current fiscal year and with upwards of $2.6 billion to go into the state’s early childhood trust fund.

The LFC economist report indicated New Mexico’s economy will experience slower than national economic growth in the near term but will have relatively faster growth in 2023.  The LFC economist report said the state’s economic outlook is tied to inflation, monetary policy, and other broader economic mechanisms as the national outlook.”

The projected $10.9 billion in revenue for the coming fiscal year will be more than double the $5.4 billion in revenue the state took in a little over a decade ago during the 2011 fiscal year.

WHAT’S DRIVING THE SURGE

According to the economic projections reported, the revenue flow is showing no signs of slowing down.  It is inflation related consumer spending, strong wage growth and increased oil production that is spiking the state’s revenue flows to historic heights.  The Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) chief economist Ismael Torres told the committee this:

“Consumer spending has remained strong, wage growth has been robust, and high oil and gas revenues are supported by global supply-side constraints raising prices and encouraging production expansion. … It’s remarkable to see New Mexico is the only state that has recovered to pre-pandemic levels [in oil production]”

What is driving the historic surge in surplus revenue is oil production in the state’s Permian Basin. Oil and gas revenue strength is pushing severance tax and federal royalty collections higher above their 5-year averages.  Upwards of two-thirds of the projected revenue growth for the fiscal year 2023-2024 budget year will come directly from oil and natural gas receipts.

Torres told the committee that New Mexico is projected to produce 590 million barrels of oil during the current budget year.  The state is becoming more and more reliant on oil and natural gas as a revenue source.  A whopping 35% of the state’s direct revenue comes from the oil and gas industry and it is up from 31% of all revenues during the fiscal year just ended.

While oil and gas is New Mexico’s biggest source of income, other sectors also are projected to flourish in the next fiscal year. Manufacturing is expected to grow 41%, and economists are forecasting a 27% increase in leisure and hospitality services.

LFC economists noted that inflation is driving up gross receipts tax collections as a result of rising costs for food, construction materials and other goods and services, as well as personal income taxes linked to higher wages.

SPENDING INCREASES

State spending has increased by about 30% over the past 3 years, with Governor Lujan Grisham signing off this year on a $8.5 billion state budget.  Lujan Grisham has increased spending dramatically over the last 3 years for public education, teacher pay raises, early childhood development programs, economic development programs, tax incentives, rebuilding the state’s mental health care system decimated by the previous Republican Governor, crime initiatives and law enforcement pay raises and tax rebates for state residents.

Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham who is seeking a second term sought to take credit for the record-high revenue levels and said this in a statement:

“The record-high revenues we are anticipating are no accident.   They are a direct result of responsible fiscal policy on the part of this administration and the healthy economic climate we are fostering.”

The spending growth drew sharp criticism from TV weatherman Republican Governor candidate Mark Ronchette who said he would push to use surplus funds for annual rebates and tax cuts if elected.

“ONCE-IN-A-CENTURY” OPPORTUNITY

The revenue surge could prompt a feeding frenzy in a state with high Medicaid enrollment levels, ageing roads and bridges, and a public school system that for years has been among the worst in the nation.

Gallup Democrat Senator George Muñoz called the revenues a “once-in-a-century” opportunity and said this

“If we want to really change, for once and for all, and keep our commitment to reducing tax rates, lowering the [gross receipts tax and] making New Mexico competitive with other states, this is one of the greatest opportunities we could have. … You can change the complete path of this state … Your phones are going to be ringing off the hook [with demands on how to use the new revenues].”

Senator Munoz proclaimed the spike in state revenues   could allow New Mexico to avert the big budget swings consisting of   cycles of spending growth followed by cuts that have plagued the State for at least the past decade if not longer.  Muñoz suggested $1 billion of the state’s additional revenue could be used to overhaul New Mexico’s tax code, even though such changes could have lasting budgetary impacts.

WORDS OF CAUTION

Despite the optimism expressed by Senator Muñoz, other committee lawmakers and top state budget officials expressed caution, saying the recent revenue growth will likely not be sustainable in the long term.  Finance and Administration Secretary Debbie Romero had this to say:

Finance and Administration Secretary Debbie Romero warned lawmakers that they will have to consider supply chain issues, a possible economic recession and volatility in the global energy market and the impact of the ongoing Ukraine conflict on energy markets as risks to the state’s revenue forecast.  Romero said this:

“I think the number one thing to be cautious about is growing our budgets.”

Gallup State Representative Patricia Lundstrom, the LFC’s chairwoman, said year-over-year spending growth should be kept in line with the state’s annual average over the past decade.

Links to quoted news sources are here:

https://www.sfreporter.com/news/morningword/2022/08/18/state-economists-forecast-25-billion-revenue-boom/

https://www.abqjournal.com/2525070/nm-revenue-explosion-continues-as-lawmakers-weigh-next-steps.html

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-mexico/articles/2022-08-18/oil-gas-revenues-to-drive-new-mexicos-next-budget-windfall

Oil, gas revenues drive New Mexico’s projected budget windfall (lcsun-news.com)

SEVERENCE TAX REVENUES UP

On August 20, Taxation & Revenue Secretary Stephanie Schardin Clarke in a news release reported that Severance tax revenues are projected to increase from $644 million in Fiscal Year 2022 to $987 million in Fiscal Year 2023, and increase of $343 Million. Federal and state rents and royalty revenues are projected to increase from $808 million in Fiscal Year 2022 to $1.01 billion in Fiscal Year 2023.

The improved revenue projection suggests total general fund reserves will increase to about 36.7% of recurring appropriations, or $2.73 billion, at the end of Fiscal Year 2022 and 44.8%, or $3.76 billion, at the end of Fiscal Year 2023.

In addition, Cannabis Excise Tax has an estimated general fund revenue of $22.7 million for Fiscal Year 2023 and revenue is forecasted to grow by about 10.6% per year

Finance And Administration, Taxation And Revenue Secretaries Report General Fund Revenue Outlook To New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee

LFC CAPITAL OUTLAY QUARTERLY REPORT

On August 19, 2022 Legislative Finance Committee released its report on the state capital outlay. It was reported that the state has nearly $4 Billion in outstanding capital funds that will be spent.

According to the report, strong state revenues and an influx of federal funds have contributed to historically large investments in capital projects at the same time supply chain, construction cost, and labor issues are slowing progress on the projects, contributing to outstanding balances of $3.8 billion across about 4,600 active projects.

The following key points are listed in the August LFC Capital Outlay Quarterly Report:

• “At the start of FY23, outstanding capital outlay funds totaled approximately $3.8 billion, including projects authorized by the Legislature through 2022 ($2.1 billion), earmark projects ($295.6 million), supplemental severance tax bonds for public schools ($539.2 million), and special appropriations to capital projects ($905.9 million). The last figure represents uncommitted and unspent funds from $977.4 million in special appropriations during the 2021 special and 2022 regular sessions.
• The Board of Finance split the severance tax bond sale for new projects into two issuances due to market conditions. Roughly $322.5 million was sold in June, with a second sale planned for September.
• Roughly 4,600 active projects are underway.
• Funds for state-owned projects have been spent more quickly than local project funds, with 56 percent of statewide appropriations through 2021 expended compared with 39 percent for local projects.
• Severance tax bonds are the primary source of outstanding balances, accounting for 65 percent of unexpended funds ($1.5 billion). Other major sources include general fund ($360.5 million) and general obligation bonds ($239.6 million).”

$823 MILLION IN THE 2022 CAPITAL BILL WAS ROUGHLY EVENLY SPLIT BETWEEN LOCAL AND STATEWIDE PROJECTS

“In Senate Bill 212, the 2022 Legislature appropriated $396.2 million to 79 statewide projects and $394.2 million to 1,147 local projects, with the local project funds distributed at the discretion of individual senators, representatives, and the governor.

Major statewide appropriations in the bill include

• $20 million for a Department of Public Safety administration building in Albuquerque, • $20 million for new small homes at the New Mexico Veterans’ Home,
• $20 million for a film academy, • $26 million for public safety radio communications infrastructure, and
• $75 million for maintenance and repair of public schools. Appropriations to local projects in 2022 fell into several major categories
• $87.2 million for water, wastewater, solid waste, and utilities projects; • $48.5 million for law enforcement and public safety projects;
• $46 million for highways, roads, and bridges;
• $35.2 million for parks and recreation projects; and
• $33.1 million for public school projects. Both the number and average dollar value of appropriations to local projects have increased since 2018, but it remains difficult to fully fund critical infrastructure with capital outlay.

The $394.2 million appropriated to local projects in 2022 represented a 563 percent increase over the $59.5 million that went to local projects in 2018. The increase in revenue has allowed lawmakers to fund more projects at higher amounts.

For instance, 222 water, wastewater, dam and acequia projects received capital outlay in 2022 compared with 86 in 2018, and the average value of those appropriations was 204 percent higher in 2022.

Nevertheless, most of those appropriations were likely insufficient to fully fund the projects. The average capital outlay appropriation to water projects was roughly $298 thousand in 2022.

 In comparison, the average project award from the Water Trust Board was $2.1 million.”

The link to the full August 19 LFC Capital Outlay Quarterly Report which list projects is here:

Click to access Capital%20Outlay%20Quarterly%20Report%20August%202022.pdf

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The upcoming 2023 New Mexico legislative session that begins January 17 is a 60-day session. The is no doubt the debate on how to spend the historic surpluses is now underway.  Job creation, economic development,  public education,  early childhood care development programs, the courts and law enforcement funding, funding for our behavioral health care system destroyed by the previous Republican Governor, major infrastructure needs such as road and bridge repair,  complete funding of the 222 water, wastewater, dam and acequia projects identified by the 2022 legislature, major capital outlay projects,  funding for  the courts and the criminal justice system, funding for the Public Employee Retirement funds to deal with underfunded liabilities and benefits  and tax reform will all be likely topics of discussion during the 2023 legislative session.

Indeed, the 2023 legislative session could very well turn out to be a “once in a century opportunity” to really solve many of the state’s problems that have plagued it for so many decades.

On August 16, 2022, the online news outlet New Mexico Sun published a Pete Dinelli column on the City Planning Department granting an application to allow Dawn Legacy Point to establish a Safe Outdoor Space at  1250 Menaul, NE for a homeless tent encampment to house woman who have been victims of “trafficking and exploitation”. Below is the column followed by the link:

HEADLINE:  Mayor Tim Keller ‘sneaks’ approval of ‘safe outdoor space’

“On July 30, Dawn Legacy Point filed the first application ever for a ‘Safe Outdoor Space’ homeless encampment. On August 8, the City Planning Department approved the application for a homeless campsite at 1250 Menaul, NE. Dawn Legacy Point said the homeless encampment will provide accommodations for upwards of 50 women who are homeless and who are “sex-trafficking victims” and other vulnerable populations.  

The City Planning Department unilaterally reviewed the application behind closed doors with no notice to surrounding businesses or neighborhood associations, no public hearing and no public input. The application was “fast tracked” by the Planning Department to approve the application just 8 days before the City Council was scheduled to repeal the Safe Outdoor Spaces zoning use on August 16.

There is no getting around it. What the Planning Department did does not pass the smell test. The application approval was as sneaky and underhanded as it gets. The planning Department decided it had the authority to simply grant the application before the City Council votes to repeal Safe Outdoor Spaces on August 15.

With acquiescence from Mayor Tim Keller, the Planning Department approved the Safe Outdoor Space on city owned property valued at $4,333,500 to be operated by Dawn Legacy Point and subsidized by the City to house women in tents who are victims of “trafficking and exploitation”. It is something that progressive Democrat Keller should be absolutely ashamed of with “trafficking and exploitation” victims being housed in tents as a housing solution thereby being exploited gain by denying them proper housing.

What is being created at 1205 Menaul, NE is a location for victims to become victims once again. The actual location is troubling and has the potential of becoming a magnet for crime, prostitution or illicit drug trade. It’s located in close proximity to a truck stop known amongst law enforcement for prostitution and illicit drug activity. It’s directly across the street from a major call center, a motel suites and is walking distance of Menaul Boarding School and apartments. Occupants of the ‘Safe Outdoor Space’ are obviously not confined and would be free to go and come as they pleased and could easily wind up uninvited wherever they want to go. This includes the truck stop and disrupting the peaceful use and enjoyment at nearby locations or engaging in illicit activity. 

Dawn Legacy Pointe board chair Kylea Good bragged that the approval represents years of “behind-the-scenes work” with the Keller Administration and others going along to get approval at the exclusion of the public. Why bother going public and being transparent when you can sneak around city hall with the mayor’s support to get something you want and the general public be damned.

It’s repulsive and irresponsible when applicants Kylea Good and Brad Day proclaim that the Safe Outdoor Space encampment will be for “sex-trafficking victims”. When the words “trafficking and exploitation” are used, what is being talked about are woman who are victims of crime such as kidnapping or forced prostitution. They are saying that they want to provide tents in city sanction encampments to women who have already been victimized believing they are somehow acting compassionate. Victimized women need actual, compassionate treatment and permanent housing that is safe and secured and not living in a tent city. 

Safe Outdoor Spaces are not the answer to the homeless crisis. “Safe Outdoor Spaces” will be a disaster for the city as a whole. They will destroy neighborhoods, make the city a magnet for the homeless and destroy the city’s efforts to manage the homeless through housing. 

The homeless crisis will not be solved by the city, but it can and must be managed. Safe Outdoor Spaces represent a very temporary place to pitch a tent, relieve oneself, bathe and sleep at night with rules that will not likely be followed. The answer is to provide the support services, including food and permanent lodging, and mental health care needed to allow the homeless to turn their lives around, become productive self-sufficient citizens and no longer dependent on relatives or others.

A Mayor loses credibility and public trust when they cram a political agenda down people’s throats. What Mayor Tim Keller has done is to cram Safe Outdoor Spaces down the throats of surrounding property owners. Mayor Tim Keller has mishandled the homeless crisis, including the closing of Coronado Park. Safe Outdoor Spaces and Coronado Park are Mayor Keller’s symbols and legacy of failure as the city deals the most vulnerable homeless population, female victims of “sex-trafficking”.

The link to the New Mexico Sun guest column is here:

Mayor Tim Keller ‘sneaks’ approval of ‘safe outdoor space’ | New Mexico Sun

CITY COUNCIL ENACTS MORITORIUM ON SAFE OUTDOOR SPACES

The Dawn Legacy Point homeless tent encampment is a “Safe Outdoor Space” zoning conditional use.  “Safe Outdoor Spaces” are organized, managed homeless encampments with 40 designated spaces for tents that allows for upwards of 50 people, require hand washing stations, toilets and showers, requires a management plan, 6 foot fencing and social services offered

On Monday, August 15, the Albuquerque City Council passed on a 6 to 3 vote a moratorium that bars the City Planning Department from accepting or approving any pending applications for Safe Outdoor Spaces. Under the legislation, a complete moratorium is in effect until August 1, 2023, unless the City Council enacts a separate bill removing them totally from the zoning code.

Mayor Keller has up to ten days to decide to veto or sign the legislation of do nothing in which case it becomes law. The fact that the vote was 6-3 likely means the council has the necessary votes to override a Keller veto.

The vote was bipartisan. Voting YES for the moratorium where Republicans Brook Bassam Renee Grout, Trudy Jones, and Dan Lewis who were joined by Democrats Klarissa Peña and Louie Sanchez. Voting “NO” on the moratorium were Democrats Isaac Benton, Pat Davis and Tammy Fiebelcorn.

Before passing the moratorium legislation, the City Council amended the bill to ensure that the moratorium stopped the City Planning Department from approving any “pending” applications and to add language stopping the city from authorizing any “Safe Outdoor Space” on city property.

The prohibition to stop the city from authorizing “Safe Outdoor Spaces” on city own property was likely in reaction in part to the City Planning Department approving a Safe Outdoor Space Homeless campsite application made by Dawn Legacy Point to be located at 1250 Menaul Blvd, NE.

The tent encampment is to be located on two parcels of city own open space lots at 1250 Menaul, NE. The city sanctioned encampment is intended to provide accommodations for “sex-trafficking victims” and other vulnerable populations.

Still pending before the city council is another resolution that will totally eliminate and prohibit “Safe Outdoor Spaces” from the Integrated Development Ordinance altogether. The City Council will likely vote on the legislation eliminating or prohibiting Safe Outdoor Spaces from the IDO within a month to 6 weeks.

MARTINEZTOWN – SANTA BARBARA NEIGHBORHOOD APPEAL

On Monday, August 15, the Martinez Town – Santa Barbarbar Neighborhood Association (SBMTNA) filed an appeal requesting the City Planning Department to reverse its decision and deny the Safe Outdoor Space application of Dawn Legacy for 1250 Menaul. Specifically, the neighborhood association wants the City and the Planning Department to set aside and rescind its approval and not allow any Safe Outdoor Space at 1205 Menaul, NE.

Under the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO), appeals of zoning application approvals must be filed within 15 days from when an application is approved and within 30 days of filing of the appeal, the city must hold on the appeal.

On August 16, the City Planning Department sent a  “Notice of Appeal” to SBMTNA that its appeal filing had been accepted and that a Notice of Hearing will be sent scheduling the appeal before a Land Use Hearing Officer.   The assigned docketing information is:

CITY COUNCIL APPEAL NUMBER:  AC-22-11

PLANNING DEPARTMENT CASE FILE NUMBER: PR-2022-007490, VA-2022-0023

APPLICANT:  Santa BarbaraMartinez Town Neighborhood Association

AGENT: Loretta Naranjo Lopez

The major grounds for the appeal are outlined in the appeal documents filed and they are:

1. The City Planning Department failed to follow City policies, procedures, and regulations required for the approval of the Safe Outdoor Spaces and applications for “special use” or “conditional use” zoning.
2. The city planning department “fast tracked” the Dawn Legacy application to approve the application just 8 days before the City Council could repeal the Safe Outdoor Space amendment on August 16 thereby acting in bad faith and to the determent of other property owners and businesses in the area.
3. The City of Albuquerque Planning Department unilaterally decided to review and grant the Dawn Legacy Point application behind closed doors without any public input, without notice to adjacent and surrounding property owners and without any public hearings.
4. The City of Albuquerque failed to notify the SBMTNA of the Safe Outdoor Space application filed by Dawn Legacy Pointe for 1250 Menaul NE and failed to allow input thereby denying the association due process.
5. The City Planning Department gave preferential treatment to the Dawn Legacy applicants by working with the applicants to identify city property to be used for a Safe Outdoor Space and with the City Family and Community Services Depart agreeing to fund operating costs, with both city departments not affording other potential applicants the same opportunity.
6. The city council failed to enact operating procedures for Safe Outdoor Space encampments and failed to provide direction to the City departments charged with approving or disapproving Safe Outdoor Spaces applications and has allowed approvals to be made without any kind of objective, standards-based decision-making process.
7. Dawn Legacy has submitted a plagiarized operating procedure of a nonprofit unsanctioned encampment in another city and the City accepted those operating procedures.
8. The security plan offered Dawn Legacy Pointe and approved by the city for the homeless camp is defective and insufficient for the campsite to ensure safety of the tenants.
9. The City of Albuquerque Planning Department and the Solid Waste Department are knowingly allowing the establishment of a public nuisance in the form of a Safe Outdoor Space in the Martinez Town Santa Barbara Neighborhood. The Planning Departments actions are tantamount to the City allowing Coronado Park to become the city’s DeFacto city sanctioned homeless encampment in violation of the city’s own public nuisance law and city ordinances.
10. The City of Albuquerque Planning Department did nothing to provide processes for development decision of 1250 Menaul NE to ensure a balance of the interests of the City, property owners, residents, and developers and ensure opportunities for input by affected parties.
11. The operation and existence of a Safe Outdoor Space encampment at 1250 Menaul NE will have a determental impact on the Martinez Town Santa Barbara neighborhood and will adversely affect property values and interfer with residence peaceful use and enjoyment of their residential properties.
12. The encampment as proposed for 1205 Menaul, NE will become a magnet for crime and prostitution, or illicit drug trade given that it is in close proximity to a truck stop known for prostitution and illicit drug activity amongst law enforcement. The location is directly across the street from a major call center and a Quality Inn & Suites and within walking distance of Menaul Boarding School and apartments. Occupants of the Safe Outdoor spaces are not confined and are free to go and come as they please and could easily wind up uninvited wherever they want to go, including the truck stop, and disrupt the peaceful use and enjoyment at any one of those locations or engage in illicit activity themselves.

Under the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO), appeals must be filed within 15 days from when an application is approved. On August 8 the City Planning Department approved the Dawn Legacy application. The IDO also requires that within 30 days after an appeal is filed, a hearing must be held on the appeal. In the case of the Martineztown-Santa Barbara Neighborhood Association, the hearing must be held on or before September 14.

PLANNING DEPARTMENT REFUSES TO ACCEPT APPEALS; TIME RUNNING OUT FOR OTHER APPLICANTS TO APPEAL  

Confidential sources have confirmed that when Santa Barbara-Martinez Town Neighborhood Association attempted to file its appeal on August 16, the agent attempting to file the appeal was turned away.  The planning department initially refused to accept the filing of the appeal.  It took over 4 four hours before the appeal documents were accepted and only after a threat was made by the Martineztown-Santa Barbara Neighborhood Association that it would go to the press and complain.

Another confidential source has claimed that the Crown Plaza has attempted to file an appeal, and the Planning Department has refused to accept the appeal. It is also understood that the Menaul School and the T-Mobil call center across the street from the Dawn Legacy Safe Outdoor Spaces want to file an appeal.

The City Attorney and the City Clerk, if they have any lick of sense of fair play and due process of law, should contact the Planning Department and tell it to knock it off refusing to accept appeal filings of those who have a legitimate right to appeal by those who want to appeal.

Because the Dawn Legacy Point application was approved by the Planning Department on August 8, the other effected property owners have only until August 23 to file their appeal.

APPEAL MUST MOVE FORWARD

Despite the city council placing a moratorium on Safe Outdoor Spaces, it was a moratorium only for “pending applications” and not “approved applications” such as the Dawn Legacy Point “Safe Outdoor Space” located at   1205 Menaul, NE

The Martineztown – Santa Barbara neighborhood has made it clear it intends to   keep moving forward with its appeal. The Martineztown-Santa Barbara Neighborhood Association feels that it has been betrayed and discriminated by the city with the city totally ignoring the historic community’s needs for decades.

Loretta Naranjo Lopez, president of the Matineztown – Santa Barbara neighborhood association said this:

“The association is tired of the discrimination and racism toward the neighborhood. … The city has imposed on the residents’ methadone clinics, crime, property destruction and filthiness throughout the neighborhood. The residents and their properties have been under threat for a long time. This needs to stop now.”

“As you can understand, [we are] very angry that the city didn’t even have the decency to meet with us.  …  We cannot take it anymore. Something has to get done. There has to be a plan. And they need to listen to the community. …  We have no services here no community center for the seniors or the youth. We were, we’re tired of what they’ve done to us.”

Victor Apodaca, a resident of Martineztown-Santa Barbara said this:

“You know, now they’re hearing our voice, you know, they apparently it didn’t seem like they just, they had a, they had a solution. You know, they shut down Coronado Park without having a solution.”

Sources have said that the homeless that have been evicted from Coronado Park are making their way to Martineztown an attempting to set up camp at its park and other open space areas.

The links to quoted news source material are here:

https://newmexicosun.com/stories/630378009-the-association-is-tired-of-the-discrimination-and-racism-toward-the-neighborhood-sbmtna-opposes-approved-safe-outdoor-space-encampment

Martineztown residents frustrated over planned camp (krqe.com)

In the event that the Planning Department hearing officer decides not to grant the Martineztown-Santa Barbara appeal, the neighborhood association would have the option to appeal the decision to the city council as a whole. The City Council has the ultimate authority to grant or denying zoning change applications.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS  

In New Mexico politics, this is what you call brazen “political movidas.”

The entire process and sequence of events  from Mayor Tim Keller supporting and funding “Safe Out Door Apaces” to the tune of $950,000  and cramming a political agenda down the publics throats, to the city council creating and reversing course to allow Safe Outdoor Spaces, to Dawn Legacy Point filing an application  for a ‘Safe Outdoor Space’, to the city giving preferential treatment to Dawn Legacy Point for location and operations funding, to the City Planning Department  fast tracking  and granting the application, to the Planning Department refusing to accept appeals all  reeks of political  corruption and incompetence at all levels of city hall.

It is this type of city government dysfunction and sinister “political movidas” that results in contempt of elected and government officials.

Frank Baca is a life-long resident of Albuquerque, having graduated from Rio Grande High School, Yale University (B.A., History) and the UNM School of Law. Mr. Baca is  retired after 40 years of practicing law, including work as a criminal defense lawyer and as a prosecutor. Mr. Baca has submitted the following guest column to www.PeteDinelli.com for publication.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this guest column written by Frank Baca  are those of Mr. Baca  and do not necessarily reflect those of the www.petedinelli.com blog. Mr. Baca  has not been paid any compensation to publish the guest column and has given his consent to publish on www.PeteDinelli.com.

A CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERVENTION PROPOSAL

“Recently, I  experienced a situation that I heard about occurring in other locations but never thought I would personally experience, that being an attempt to evict an extremely violent and uncooperative “tenant.”   I never thought I would be writing an obituary for Ricky Newman. One reason is, I do not know Ricky Newman.  He was a squatter living in a unit in a small apartment complex that I own.   He was abusive to his “girlfriend” and to the various female neighbors in the complex; he threatened and assaulted people and pets, damaged property and generally made life miserable for a whole lot of innocent folks.

 I had predicted on many occasions, to police officers, probation officers, assistant district attorneys and basically to anyone who would listen, that he would eventually kill someone or be killed. The latter occurred on or about July 19, 2022 when he was found lying dead along 2^nd street, a victim of homicide. I am not prophetic but, quite frankly, it was not difficult to see he was on a path towards destruction, of self or otherwise.  I do not know the circumstances of his life and upbringing that caused him to become who he became. I strongly speculate that he contributed greatly to his own condition by a multitude of bad choices.

 It is not total speculation.  A brief review of his criminal record shows a dozen or so arrests for domestic violence and many, many other charges, including Aggravated fleeing from an officer, Aggravated DWI, Aggravated Assault and Battery-you get the picture. At the time of his death, he was on pre-trial release and awaiting disposition of charges for Receiving Stolen Property and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He left a trail of destruction that, in fact, leads me to believe that the world is now a safer place to live.

 After his life ended the way  it  did, I wrote an email to friends and family to vent over the experience. The result is a conclusion that is an approach to deal with violent individuals who are causing havoc in an array of contexts and not only evictions.  The approach I suggest  is similar to the crisis intervention initiative that APD currently maintains, but it must be  much broader. There may be similar programs that currently exist in other jurisdictions.

 The approach must be broad, as crises comes in many shapes and forms, including mental health/suicide issues, substance abuse, domestic violence, homelessness and financial desperation. This approach involves boots-on-the-ground intervention, which serves the purposes of addressing the underlying causes of the dysfunctional conduct and the safety concerns of the immediate victims and the community at large.

A key aspect of my proposal is to develop “teams” comprised of the following components: 

1.   People with multi-disciplinary backgrounds,
2.   Government involvement (law enforcement, CYFD, probation and parole) 
3.   Non-profit service providers involvement (domestic violence, housing,  substance abuse etc.).

The tactical approach would involve the following steps:

 1.  Contact the individual/family in question based on calls for service from ANY of the above-listed entities or members of the public (APD program only takes referrals from a patrol officer)

2.  The intervention would be with NO intent to file new charges (with obvious potential exceptions).

 3.  There would be temporary separation of all the individuals involved to identify issues.

 4. Law enforcement must offer the individuals a no-nonsense assessment of future consequences and to advise them that they will be closely monitored.

 5.  non-profits should offer the individuals immediate access to resources (housing/treatment etc) and

 6.  Both law enforcement and non-profit reps MUST communicate with victims (they become the eyes and ears of both groups and they can start to feel safe).

 7.  Social workers to make contact with the family members of the targeted individuals who could be helpful in many ways.

 Follow up measures would be critical.  Support of the  “the team” and acknowledgment of the importance of their work is crucial.  The private sector or  business community could be involved in this aspect.  On-going communication with victims is also vital to demonstrate that their concerns are being heard.  Regular follow-up by “the team” with the targeted individuals and family members.”

 FINAL COMMENTARY

 Had Ricky Newman been taken into custody, as was attempted, or had he been diverted to an in-patient substance abuse treatment program, he would be alive today and the community and his family would still be safe.

 I absolutely advocate for consequences for violations of the law.  It’s  a matter of common sense. However, I also understand that to end the cycle, often requires more than punishment. I further understand that this proposal only scratches the surface and this approach requires funding. I am calling on elected officials to develop a task force to consider and fine-tune this model. This approach absolutely requires political will and support.