Senator Craig Brandt Issues Statement Following Advancement of Racketeering Bill

SANTA FE—Today, Senate Bill 102 advanced through the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee with unanimous, bipartisan support. The bill aims to strengthen the state’s racketeering law to give prosecutors an additional tool to go after modern criminal organizations.  

Senate Republican Whip, Senator Craig Brandt (R-Rio Rancho), the bill’s sponsor, issued the following statement regarding the bill:

“After having conversations with top prosecutors and law enforcement, one thing is clear—it is career criminals who underpin the criminal enterprise fueling our state’s crime crisis. This bill is a key tool in the toolbelt of prosecutors, allowing them to attack and prosecute modern criminal organizations at every link in the chain. I’m thankful to the committee for their endorsement of this essential crimefighting legislation.”

6-year-old Child Shot by 14-year-old in Hurley

HURLEY, NM – On January 12, the Hurley Police Department requested the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau to investigate a shooting involving a 6-year-old child.

State Police agents learned that Hurley police officers responded to the 200 block of D Street for reports that a 6-year-old child had been shot. When officers arrived, they saw a 14-year-old juvenile running from the scene. Officers detained the juvenile, who had a dismantled handgun and ammunition in his pockets.

Further investigation indicates the child was sitting inside a car parked in front of the house at 208 D Street. A black Dodge pickup dropped the juvenile off near the victim’s car. The juvenile fired multiple gunshots into the vehicle, striking the child. The juvenile fled the scene on foot, where he was later apprehended. The Dodge drove away from the scene after dropping off the juvenile.  

Emergency medical personnel transported the child to an area hospital and then later airlifted him to a trauma center. The extent of his injuries and current condition are not known. 

The juvenile was booked into the Dona Ana County Juvenile Detention Center and charged with:

  • Attempted Murder
  • Shooting at/or from a motor vehicle
  • Tampering with evidence
  • Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon
  • Unlawful carrying of a firearm by a person

Many details about this incident are still under investigation by the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau. Contact the New Mexico State Police at (575) 382-2511 if you have information about this incident.

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How to lift New Mexico out of poverty.

New Mexico, a state known for its rich cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes, grapples with persistent economic challenges. This article seeks to delve into the political landscape of New Mexico, examining reasons for its economic struggles and proposing potential strategies to pave the way towards prosperity.

New Mexico’s economic struggles have deep roots, including historical factors such as the decline of extractive industries and the challenges associated with transitioning to a more diverse economy. The state has long faced issues like high poverty rates, limited educational attainment, and inadequate infrastructure.

Political landscape :

  1. Economic Dependence on Federal Spending:
    • New Mexico relies heavily on federal funding, particularly in the form of government contracts and military installations. This dependency can create vulnerability during periods of federal budget constraints.
  2. Education Challenges:
    • The state’s education system faces hurdles, contributing to lower educational attainment levels. A well-educated workforce is crucial for attracting high-paying industries.
  3. Limited Economic Diversification:
    • A historical reliance on extractive industries like mining and oil and gas has hindered efforts to diversify the economy. Economic diversification is key to creating resilience against economic downturns.

Potential Solutions:

  1. Economic Diversification:
    • Invest in initiatives that promote economic diversification, such as supporting emerging industries like renewable energy, technology, and healthcare.
  2. Education Reform:
    • Prioritize education reform to enhance the quality of K-12 education and increase access to higher education and vocational training. A well-educated workforce attracts businesses and fuels economic growth.
  3. Infrastructure Development:
    • Invest in critical infrastructure projects to improve transportation, broadband access, and utilities. Modern infrastructure is essential for attracting businesses and promoting economic development.
  4. Public-Private Partnerships:
    • Foster collaboration between the government and private sector to create a business-friendly environment. Streamlining regulations and offering incentives can attract investment.
  5. Workforce Development:
    • Implement targeted workforce development programs to ensure that residents possess the skills needed for emerging industries. This can make the state more attractive to businesses seeking a skilled labor force.

While New Mexico faces economic challenges rooted in historical factors, strategic policy changes can pave the way for a more prosperous future. By diversifying the economy, reforming education, investing in infrastructure, and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors, New Mexico can break free from the shackles of poverty and build a thriving and resilient economy for generations to come.

How other cities have dealt with crime and homelessness.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, like many cities across the United States, grapples with the complex issues of crime and homelessness. This article aims to explore the challenges faced by Albuquerque and examine how other cities of similar size have successfully tackled these problems. By delving into statistics and actionable solutions, we hope to shed light on potential strategies that could benefit Albuquerque.

Albuquerque has faced an ongoing struggle with crime rates, particularly property crimes and violent offenses. The city’s homelessness problem is also a significant concern, with visible encampments and shelters stretched to capacity.

As of the latest available data, Albuquerque has experienced an increase in both property and violent crimes over the past few years. Violent crime rates per 1,000 residents have been consistently higher than the national average, posing a challenge for local law enforcement.

Comparable Cities’ Success Stories:

  1. Salt Lake City, Utah:
    • Implemented the “Housing First” approach, prioritizing providing stable housing for homeless individuals.
    • Collaborated with local nonprofits to address the root causes of homelessness, such as mental health and addiction issues.
  2. Boise, Idaho:
    • Employed a data-driven strategy to identify and address high-crime areas.
    • Focused on community policing, building trust between law enforcement and residents to improve overall safety.
  3. Tucson, Arizona:
    • Established diversion programs to direct individuals with mental health issues away from the criminal justice system and into appropriate treatment.
    • Fostered partnerships between law enforcement, social services, and community organizations to address homelessness collaboratively.

Actionable Solutions for Albuquerque:

  1. Housing First Approach:
    • Invest in affordable housing initiatives to provide stable living conditions for the homeless.
    • Collaborate with local organizations to offer supportive services, addressing mental health and addiction issues.
  2. Community Policing:
    • Prioritize community engagement to build trust and foster cooperation.
    • Implement data-driven strategies to identify and address crime hotspots effectively.
  3. Diversion Programs:
    • Develop and expand diversion programs for individuals with mental health issues, steering them towards appropriate treatment instead of incarceration.
    • Invest in rehabilitation and reintegration programs for non-violent offenders to reduce recidivism.

Albuquerque faces challenges with crime and homelessness, but by learning from the successes of comparable cities, it can implement effective strategies. A combination of the Housing First approach, community policing, and diversion programs may offer a path toward a safer, more compassionate city for everyone.

Legal Announcement

Notice of Assumed Name
To Whom it may Concern:
Notice is hereby by given to the Public that BRIAN VINCENT ROBERTSON, a Limited Liability Company and is doing business as BRIAN VINCENT ROBERTSON, and is doing business at the following address: 2201 Menaul Blvd NE, Suite A, Albuquerque, NM, 87107, and all notices, demands, and processes must be sent to NORTHWEST REGISTERED AGENT, INC. 2201 Menaul Blvd NE, Suite A, Albuquerque, NM, 87107.

Governors open carry ban places Albuquerque citizens at further Risk.

I could understand making tougher penalties against criminal gun usage, but to ban open carry is a mistake.Many of the open carry gun owners are good people that deter criminals, to prevent their right to open carry places the public at further risk to criminals that don’t follow the law anyway.This ban takes away the citizens right to defend themselves and makes them citizens more susceptible to crime.

Hiring City Manager Bad Idea.

The Albuquerque city councils plan to shift the leadership format from a strong mayor system to a city manager system is a bad idea.If the city is having issues maybe get a new mayor?

Changing the leadership system could possibly open the city up to more corruption and bureaucracy within the council , seems like we are going from a more streamlined system that is decisive to a system that needs a vote for everything.

Even thinking about legislating this shows that the city council is out of touch with the needs of the city.

Murderers on the loose

Today 3 people were killed and 1 injured with the assailants unknown and on the loose.

In a separate incident a person killed another person in an apartment complex , then , ran off after shooting at police , that person is identified but still on the loose.

Incidents like these have become common place in the Albuquerque area as weak laws,absentee leaders and catch and release policies have left the city a crime field.

Albuquerque needs sanctioned homeless camps.

Leaving homeless on the streets without solutions is inhuman , the homeless don’t need a service center , they need a place to live.it has been suggested that we create sanctioned homeless camps in Albuquerque but nothing has been done; Portland Oregon and other cities are leading the way. Sanctioned homeless camps will give the unhoused a sense of autonomy while ending camping on city streets , the following link is from Oregon giving an idea of how it works.

https://www.portlandmercury.com/homelessness/2023/03/09/46393967/portlands-first-sanctioned-mass-homeless-camp-expected-to-open-this-summer-in-central-eastside

Albuquerque citizen begins Tim Keller Recall

A local Albuquerque citizen is fed up with the Keller administration and has began the campaign to recall Keller . Amidst high crime and homeless rates many citizens feel Keller is only about photo ops and neglected his duties leading to the closure of many parks. Only after much public pressure has he seemed to begin fighting crime although it might be late in the game. To support the recall of Tim Keller you can go to the go fund me link below.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/recallkeller?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

Rent Cap legislation bad for New Mexico.

Much research has shown that passing rental limit legislation not only is unfair to property owners and against capitalistic principles but that it takes away incentives for property owners to maintain properties leading to a decay in values and widespread ghettos. The solution to high rental rates is not attempting to force owners to limit their rates against a free market but to create more housing and increase wages and job opportunities.

Cart before the horse project : ABQ Rail Trail

You can’t build a new “ rail trail “ pedestrian park around downtown if you can’t even keep small parks open because of the crime and homelessness problem .When you can operate basic city parks then think about building others , and the money you raised for this cart before the horse project should go to the needs of the people , like the warrant backlog , then when the crime and homelessness problem is fixed , then maybe do your pet project;this is what’s wrong with New Mexico , politicians asking for money for pet projects then asking for more money for projects that actually help the people ..