OPINION: Talk of the Town

Tariffs need to be watched closely to prevent fraud

This president is playing with fire! He is knowingly or unknowingly manipulating the stock market by using his tariffs boondoggle to bully foreign countries to do his bidding. By doing so, he is making his rich and serious stock market investors richer. Every time he imposes a tariff, the stock market drops and stocks lose value; however, when he pauses or stops the tariff, the stock market goes up and stocks increase in value. Knowing when the tariff is going to be imposed allows investors to sell their stocks before the tariff goes into effect and the market declines. And knowing when the tariff is going to be paused or stopped allows the investors to buy stock back before the tariff is paused or stopped and the market goes up. I just hope that the SEC guardians are keeping a sharp eye on the selling and buying of stocks to determine if any investment shenanigans are going on and the guilty parties are prosecuted to the greatest extent of the law.

Nahum Castillo

Albuquerque

Children’s shows can help teach social skills

When I read about the teenagers, including an 11-year-old, who killed Corrales bicyclist Scott Habermehl, I doubt I was the only one to wonder: Where were the parents — not only at the early morning hour when the boys decided to “bump” the bicyclist with their car, but for the previous formative years of their childhood? It would be a miracle if improving the state and local government services to support youth and families could prevent such disturbing behavior, but in my opinion, raising healthy children isn’t up to the government. Parents are the first teachers; children learn good and bad behavior by example, by watching the people in the environment they grow up in.

As I listened to the testimony about the possibility of cutting funding to NPR and some of the programming targeting children, I was reminded that watching Sesame Street was part of my children’s lives. My kids grew up watching Kermit, Bert and Ernie, Miss Piggy, The Count, Cookie Monster as well as other “real” actors, and through their exposure to this program, they absorbed not only academic content, but also acceptable social skills and behavior.

Obviously, I watched the show with my kids, but lacking responsible parents in a child’s life, TV can be a babysitter. As stated during the testimony, shows such as Sesame Street that target children are expensive to produce since specialists in child psychology are part of the staff. The healthy emotional and social development of children is a focus. Should we not welcome funding such programming in hopes that children can be positively influenced no matter what home environment they grow up in? I say yes.

Linda Wolcott

Corrales

Have you had to go out of state for care?

In 2021, the Democrats in the Legislature passed legislation, sponsored by the trial lawyers, dramatically increasing the liability of doctors. No Republican votes for it. Average medical liability insurance skyrocketed and for an independent doctor. Then it is compounded by low Medicaid reimbursements and gross receipts taxes on medical procedures. By the way, New Mexico is one of the only states that burden doctors with this additional tax. Doctors are leaving in droves and no new ones coming in. Most of the doctors in the state are over 50 and will be retiring. Patients now are waiting months to see a doctor at the detriment of their health. Something must be done as it will keep getting worse and worse. Where is our governor? Why isn’t she addressing this crisis? Why aren’t the Democrats in the Legislature addressing the issue they created? We need a drastic change in Santa Fe.

C.L Groghan

Rio Rancho

Mayor Keller refuses to back down to Trump

“I Won’t Back Down” was the name of the song by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers popular during the late 1980s, and it applies in spades to Mayor Tim Keller and his response to President Trump’s efforts to eviscerate climate change efforts.

Albuquerque has made considerable progress with Keller at the helm, transitioning away from fossil fuels. It has reduced energy consumption in city buildings and is using electric vehicles in its fleet and on city buses. All that is threatened by the federal administration’s efforts to promote coal, weaken vehicle emissions standards, enable methane emissions and dismantle clean energy infrastructure.

That’s why Keller got big applause from attendees at the Electrify NM conference in Albuquerque April 11. His vow to keep prioritizing sustainability and climate resilience in planning, housing and transportation decisions was also in synch with New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich. Heinrich, who addressed the conference via video, pledged to protect funds already directed to New Mexico for clean energy jobs and projects in the Inflation Reduction Act.

In the coming months, there will be retaliation from the MAGA forces and their allies in the fossil fuel industries. This seems to be the era of intimidation. It’s refreshing to see someone who doesn’t cave in immediately. Now Albuquerque residents need to stand behind the mayor, and continue to move forward, not backwards.

Don Meaders

Albuquerque

Coverage shines light on lack of transparency

Your investigative report on April 5, 2025, “City watchdog wants investigations released” is indicative of what is taking place nationally. It practically coincides with President’s Trump “DOGE,” Department of Government Efficiency. What a coincidence. It is apparent from your investigative reporting that accountability and transparency are unwelcomed and feared by our current administration that has probably persisted for years. Your eye-opening reporting is refreshing and crucial, but not surprising. Your investigation into this waste, fraud or abuse is just the tip of the iceberg. They may attempt to silence any further investigation, and it is hoped that you will continue to push forward without hesitation.

Julian Cordova

Albuquerque