OPINION: Agitated mayor presiding over a crime-plagued city

The mayor of Albuquerque stood on a stage at Civic Plaza last Saturday and shouted, “legislate, litigate, and agitate” to a crowd of far-left political allies. At a time when the city is buckling under violent crime, growing homelessness and a stagnant economy, this is his call to action — provocation over policy, and noise over leadership.

Instead of guiding the city forward, Keller performs for the cameras, using borrowed slogans meant to rally a radical base rather than govern a city. Just a week after the state Republican party headquarters in Albuquerque was firebombed, the mayor offered no condemnation — only a vague, borrowed, reckless call to “agitate.” What does that mean? And who pays when someone takes it so seriously, they become violent?

On the matter of “legislate,” the record is clear: The City Council is passing hundreds of policies targeting crime and homelessness. These are not symbolic gestures — they include funding, enforcement and support for the very systems meant to keep residents safe. The mayor has received nearly everything he’s asked for: full funding for 1,100 police officers, hundreds of millions for homelessness programs every year and economic incentives that other cities fight for. And still, this mayor has nothing to show for it.

City Hall could be the nation’s poster child for waste, abuse and misuse. The mayor’s administration has ballooned to unprecedented levels, packed with political appointees who answer only to him. Instead of growing the police force, Keller’s response to his far-left base to “defund the police” was to create a new department (Albuquerque Community Safety) that sends unarmed caseworkers to emergency calls. He funneled millions into a Department of Equity and Inclusion to win points with progressive donors, while simultaneously declaring the city will not work with federal authorities — even in cases involving violent undocumented offenders. Now he stokes fear that the federal government might pull funding. Yet, he just sent a $1.5 billion spending plan to the Council — almost double the budget of when he started eight years ago. A recent Inspector General investigation revealed Keller’s team gave federal ARPA cash to high-level city staff intended for childcare workers in our community centers. There’s no financial crisis — only a crisis of competence.

On top of Keller’s massive spending sprees every year are fee increases for families for everything from using city pools, golf-courses, the zoo, to starting a business or operating a food truck. In a time of unprecedented inflation, more and more money out of the pockets of hard-working Albuquerque families goes directly to city coffers, and the people of Albuquerque are not getting anything close to what they’re paying for. This mayor has failed — and he knows it. That’s why he’s hiding behind a meaningless slogan instead of a plan.

Then there’s “litigate.” Again, a vague borrowed slogan. The mayor could be referring to a recent lawsuit filed. Last month he decided to sue the City Council for siding with firefighters and union members who opposed his plan to reduce medical personnel on rescue vehicles. Rather than work with the council — or the people risking their lives every day — he took the council and union to court. He didn’t defend workers; he tried to silence them.

And still, no explanation for “agitate.” He borrowed that line from far-left political figures who have used it to justify civil unrest across the country. It’s not leadership — it’s opportunism. It’s a signal to escalate, not to solve anything. The last thing our city needs is an agitated mayor who oversees a city with high crime rates and teenagers killing teenagers.

As for the council — the legislative body of city government — we will continue to fight for the quality of life our districts deserve. Once again, we’ll likely hand this mayor the full budget he requests — a blank check — with the hope that, this year, his administration or the next might produce real results. Meanwhile, we’ll keep doing our job: offering responsible policies that enforce the law, support cooperation with federal and local law enforcement, confront drug addiction with honesty and urgency, and create an environment where our economy can grow and Albuquerque families can succeed.

When a mayor has no solutions, he yells. When a mayor has no results, he blames. And when a mayor is out of ideas, he reaches for borrowed lines and empty threats.

Albuquerque deserves better than a showman with a megaphone and no results.