OPINION: Talk of the Town

New chief should be hired based on merit

Jeff Tucker’s column (Dec. 22) claims he’s against affirmative action and diversity, equity and inclusion hiring. He then goes on to push, by naming certain individuals who are Hispanic or female, for the position of chief of police. DEI is alive and doing well in Albuquerque, especially with columns like Tucker’s, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Mayor Tim Keller follows his recommendations. My concern, not one mention of the words qualified or merit. We have a crime-ridden city and it’s been like it is for the past eight years. So many of my former colleagues at the Albuquerque Police Department express the same sentiment. New officers don’t know how to or are not allowed to deal with criminal elements in order to reduce crime. The force is short 400 officers with traffic stops being a rarity. We need a chief who can bolster the officer ranks, allow them to do aggressive proactive constitutional policing, not one micromanaged by the mayor as was done with a former chief under Keller.

We are told a national search will be undertaken to fill the position. We’ve done that in the past with questionable results. One thing is for sure, whoever is selected, that selection must be based on merit, not DEI.

David Gilmore

Albuquerque

New Mexicans will go hungry because of One Big Beautiful Bill

Thanks to the Journal for the Dec. 19 article detailing how many New Mexicans will lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits due to the new work requirements. Whether this move will actually result in a net savings to the program remains open to question, since other states that have tried to implement work requirements have found that they actually cost more than they save. It would be simpler and more humane to just provide SNAP benefits.

But without question, 55,000 New Mexicans will face hunger as a consequence of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which also cut health-insurance subsidies, a move that will mean that health insurance premiums double or triple for millions of Americans. Many will be unable to afford them, and so they will lose their health insurance.

Cuts to SNAP and health-insurance subsidies were said to be too expensive to maintain. In the case of the health insurance subsidies, the cost was estimated to be $450 billion —seemingly a big number. But these cuts were deemed necessary to cover tax cuts for the wealthy over the next 10 years. Take note of the cost of the tax cuts: $4 trillion.

The New Mexico congressional delegation opposed these cuts to SNAP and health coverage. I agree with them that we should make sure people have enough to eat and have access to health care before we give away money to the wealthiest in our country. Wealth disparity in our country is greater than it has ever been.

Those in Congress who voted for these should reconsider their priorities. Or perhaps their constituencies will vote them out come November.

Heidi Brooks

Albuquerque

Thanks for the COVID study summary

Kudos to Dr. Jeff Mitchell for his recent user-friendly analysis of a recent JAMA paper on COVID vaccination. It is imperative that the Journal continue to invite translations of scientific knowledge to a general readership. Far too often the translation of important scientific findings are over-simplified and fail to reflect the nuances of the science. In this important JAMA four-year followup of a huge cohort of individuals receiving a COVID vaccine compared with a large group of unvaccinated individuals across a spectrum of ages, we can see a significant lower risk of COVID-related death and possibly long COVID. New Mexicians should take home a message that the COVID vaccine is safe and effective, and that they should make it a priority this season to get a COVID vaccine for their own health and the health of those around them.

Robert Annett

Albuquerque

Demand proof of Trump administration's claims

I recently heard about a severe water shortage in Afghanistan. One claim the Taliban made is that the drought came about because of women who aren’t conforming to the Taliban’s strict rules about wearing the hijab.

Lacking proof and a logical connection between drought and women’s attire, we can see the claim for what it is: a ploy to pass blame and shirk responsibility.

Here in the U.S., in the face of rising costs, I read that President Donald Trump has claimed the problem of “affordability” is a democrat “hoax.”

We should not hesitate to hold Trump to the same standard as we would the Taliban. Donald Trump often claims problems are a “hoax” and “fake news." In this way he routinely passes blame to others for problems he and his administration are dealing with; proof is not required. Another case in point is the alleged drug boats he is blowing up. Are they carrying drugs? Maybe. But where is the proof?

It is not being disloyal or unpatriotic to expect and demand proof of what our president and his administration claim is true. It’s what smart people do.

Linda Wolcott

Corrales

Heinirch should support Fix Our Forests Act

During the holiday season, as people across New Mexico are spending time with family and friends, it’s hard not to see the beautifully decorated Christmas trees and think about the state of our local forests. According to Wildfire Risk to Communities, New Mexico has a higher risk of wildfire than 82% of states in the U.S. We’ve already seen this play out in recent history with the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, a moment of destruction which is still impacting local communities.

Thanks to legislation currently moving through Washington, D.C., we can take measures to prevent future wildfires and protect our forests for Christmases to come. The New Mexico chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby is excited to see the Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA) move to the Senate floor for a vote. FOFA will help US forests increase overall resilience to catastrophic wildfires, restore forest health and build fire-safety defenses for communities in high-risk areas. This bipartisan bill will ensure that all people can continue to enjoy the benefits of healthy, protected forests.

We are calling upon Sen. Martin Heinrich to vote yes on FOFA when it eventually reaches the Senate. His “yes” is a resounding show of support for a future of fewer catastrophic wildfires, stronger environmental safeguards and a promise to future generations of New Mexicans that they will be able to enjoy the beauty of our state forests and wildlife for decades to come.

Sarah Hayes

Los Alamos

Lawmaker had decades to propose solutions

Retired New Mexico Representative Gail Chasey's letter in the Sunday Journal (Dec. 7) reveals a lot about how little is being done in the state Legislature regarding the doctor shortage. 

She starts her letter mostly regurgitating previous columns written by local trial lawyers who make a lot of money suing medical professionals. The difference is that retired Chasey was in a position to effect a change in the situation and instead, chose to do nothing. 

Chasey, who was in the Legislature for nearly 30 years, noted the state had a long-standing doctor shortage and that this shortage is impacting the broader population. Even with these realizations, she voted to increase the medical malpractice bill doctors are required to pay. 

She mentioned that "only 24%" of doctors consider medical malpractice when considering places to practice. While that's not a majority it sure would be nice to have potential health care providers not have to worry as much about that if they're considering practicing in New Mexico. 

The most ironic part of Ms. Chasey's letter is her list of five recommendations to persuade doctors to practice in the state. Some of those ideas might well contribute to attracting doctors. Unfortunately, she didn't seriously propose any of those ideas during her nearly 30 years in the Legislature either.

 It makes you wonder what she was doing in Santa Fe; just watching health care in New Mexico turn into a train wreck? We should rejoice that Ms. Chasey is out of office and hold the incoming chair of the state House Judiciary Committee accountable for making positive changes. Doing nothing about this bad situation year after year is not acceptable.

Will Dearholt

Los Alamos