OPINION: Speak Up!

Just in case you thought the city was done wasting taxpayer money and regressing, I offer the latest interchange “improvement” at PASEO AND TRAMWAY. What a colossal waste of time and money, all to make driving less efficient. Very helpful. Thanks. LM

If UNM Athletics generated record fundraising this year, why did the UNM Regents recently approve an 87.5% athletics STUDENT FEE INCREASE over the next two years bringing the total each student is forced to pay to $450 per year? BV

Another day another Journal front page Trump hit-piece article, “Albuquerque shops brace as Trump’s trade wars hit Korean and Japanese imports.” Isn’t Trump the U.S. PRESIDENT? I never saw a headline about Biden’s war with Ukraine? How about Biden’s autopen scandal? SE

Keller has an understaffed police force, governor has to send National Guard and State Police to Albuquerque because Keller won’t do the job. Now Keller wants to continue protecting criminals with his ANTI-ICE STANCE. It’s time we get someone who will do the job. JMW

I have no doubt of our congressional delegation’s support of RECA; I have much doubt for the logic of Mr. Tucker’s condemnation (July 20 Sunday Journal). How can anyone agree with everything in a 1,000-page document? If you only agree with perhaps 20%, your only choice is rejection. Blame the “process,” not the people. SK

Free bus rides have turned the transit system into a MOBILE SHELTER, sparking safety issues and disturbing nearby neighborhoods. Elderly riders — like my parents — now avoid buses, citing harassment and unstable individuals. City leaders: reinstate the fare and provide hardship passes for those in need. Transit should serve all, not endanger the vulnerable. AM

Back in my day, we were typically ordered to do 10% cuts in our semiconductor industry personnel count when those inevitable slowdowns occurred. Now, here at INTEL, we’re seeing a cut of around 7%. With Intel’s dramatic worldwide cutbacks this little RIF shows high praise for Rio Rancho’s Intel. KMC

INTEL headline on July 23 Journal: ”Leaner, faster and more efficient company.” Translated to show reality: “We put profit over people.” CS

The truckers must loathe coming thru ABQ on I-40 since the highway is SHUT DOWN almost on a daily basis due to accidents. It is not a big surprise there are so many accidents since there is absolutely no traffic enforcement. WT

In America, BAD GUYS hide their faces with kerchiefs, Good Guys don’t. LR

Kevin O’Hea’s excellent op-ed (July 22 Journal) nailed it. Albuquerque has DRAMATICALLY DECLINED during the Keller term and unless city voters demand a change, everything will get worse before getting better. We tend to overlook the little things like appearance and bad service but they are part and partial of the big stuff. GH

Felicia Tuchman’s submission (July 21 Journal) didn’t just make my day, it made my year. A thoughtful and IMPORTANT COMMENTARY, based on her highly individual experience, from which we could all learn — perhaps this inspires other young people to contemplate getting involved to prevent harmful policy changes. TEP

For God’s sake only America has any influence on Israel to end the carnage in Gaza. So many children and elderly wantonly killed and FOR WHAT? I am getting emails from overseas that blame America for such viciousness. I just don’t buy the targeting Hamas anymore. I feel so helpless. CE

Deep gratitude to Operation Bosque Guardian deputies, behavioral professionals, firefighters, city and county workers who clean up filthy encampments and reduce fire hazards in our BOSQUE. Homelessness is a tragedy, and it’s vital to keep up the spirits of the housed so we can work on it. MP

The president wants to RENAME EVERYTHING like the Gulf of Mexico, Washington football team, Cleveland baseball team, etc. Perhaps we should just change or countries name to TRamericaUMP. DD

What a nice Marxist chant: “Workers over billionaires.” I guess government must create jobs, like the job the professor has here in NM. It is all about FREEBIES through college and then on to welfare once a real job has been attained for a week. GG

Funny how having ICE officers wear a mask is all about their safety and security but getting Republicans on board with wearing masks during a pandemic was like PULLING TEETH. Mask wearing was part of a conspiracy and restriction of their freedom. DP

Ben Ray Luján’s level of HYPOCRISY is beyond my ability to comprehend. He states that RECA was expanded and passed because “... lawmakers on both side of the aisle finally listened and acted.” He and every Democrat in both houses of Congress voted against it. LRS

After reading about LOS ALTOS PARK’S condition after recent renovations, I have to agree that every single state other than NM maintains their parks/open spaces better than we do. The city park we live next to is deplorable, weeds, no mowing, full trash bins, dog feces. Shameful. GG

NPR and PBS may provide some useful programming, but they sealed their OWN FATE by consciously deciding to restrict conservative voices and to amplify biased liberal propaganda for decades using public resources. SM

By “clawing back” funding for public radio and television, this administration has demonstrated it does not want transparent information available in the media. The defunding threatens responsible BALANCED JOURNALISM and makes it more likely that our “news” will be driven by commercial bias and ideologically slanted misinformation.