OPINION: Talk of the Town

Governor sends mixed messages on drugs

Gov. Michele Lujan Grisham has worsened New Mexico’s drug problem with her highly vaunted April 2021 special session called just to legalize cannabis. Now Lujan Grisham’s response to drug-addicted infants in New Mexico is reminiscent of the classic film Casablanca where Captain Renault states, “I’m shocked-shocked to find gambling is going on in here,” only to have a dealer come up to him and say, “Your winnings, sir.”

The governor campaigned on the promise of legalizing dope while still protecting children but no new legislation has been passed since to uphold her promise. Now the governor proposes removing children — whom she vowed to protect — from families addicted to drugs. The Children, Youth and Family Department has long known that drugs are the key factor in the destruction of New Mexico families.

Last session, the state Legislature’s only solution to CYFD’s failure was to add more bureaucracy on top of the system. A well-known saying is, “The law is a teacher.” What the Lujan Grisham administration has taught us is “Go ahead and get high, we’ll take your kids.”

J.D. Vasquez

Santa Fe

United States no longer a helping hand

As the popular meme goes, “I’m old enough to remember” when polio vaccines first became available. We kids had all seen pictures of mysterious “iron lungs” and knew that didn’t look like fun. But with the new vaccine, everyone could breathe easier. The polio vaccine was followed by vaccines for other contagious diseases, and child death rates plummeted. Vaccines (and American science) had changed history.

This success expanded to other diseases and around the world. Child deaths plummeted from around 40,000 per day in the 1980s to around 14,000 per day in 2020, with immunizations playing a major role. But amazingly vaccine programs and other life-saving world health organizations are now under attack.

By law, the U.S. contributes no more than one-third of the budget of GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and other successful international health initiatives. Congress has final say, and right now they are looking at cutting our funding in the future. To top it off, the administration is withdrawing us from participating in GAVI, and Congress has voted to go back on our previous promises of funding for the Global Fund in a process called rescission.

The clear message: The U.S. is no longer a helping hand.

New Mexico’s senators and members of Congress have spoken out against these and other short-sighted and cruel cuts to our “soft-power” humanitarian efforts. Call them today and thank them, and ask our senators to vote against rescission and for healthier children.

Roxanne Allen

Albuquerque

Wolf pack needs to be quickly released

I am writing on behalf of millions of animal lovers and wolf supporters who are filled with utter dismay over the current situation in which we find ourselves.

Earlier this month, 36 conservation groups submitted letters to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior, demanding the release of a Mexican gray wolf named Asha, her partner, and their five puppies (collectively known as the Caldera Pack). This wolf family was promised release by June 23, after her pups were born, but it has been continually delayed without any specific reason given. We fear this is politically motivated, as the livestock industry vehemently protests these wolves’ release.

Their timed release during this specific period is crucial, as this is when the pups would be taught to hunt native elk herds and assimilate on this private land they were granted on Ladder Ranch. Delaying this chance could significantly impact their future forever. This family’s release isn’t just symbolic, it’s essential. Releasing them now gives the pack the best possible chance to survive, thrive and contribute vital genetic diversity to a fragile population.

Asha’s story of resilience has inspired people across the country. But inspiration isn’t enough, we must act. Keeping her in captivity breaks the promises made to the public and puts recovery at risk.

We ask you bring this situation to light and help us press the Wildlife Service to release the Caldera Pack. Their future and that of the entire subspecies is very dependent on their welfare.

Rachelle Duncan

Scottsdale, Arizona

Mayoral hopeful wrong to criticize Keller

Now that the mayor’s race is officially on, we can expect the negative, often misleading, attacks to start. Oh, wait. They’ve already started.

While some may object to Mayor Tim Keller’s plan to keep citizens better informed of Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Albuquerque, it actually makes sense from a public safety standpoint. Shouldn’t we all want to be aware and avoid areas where known police actions are occurring?

But not Keller’s opponent and ex-Sheriff Darren White. He’s asking the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico to investigate whether or not Keller’s initiative violates federal law. Perhaps White should be more concerned about whether or not his own actions violate federal law. Like violating election law in New Mexico or tax laws in Florida. Come on Darren, you can’t request and get a huge property tax break in Florida as a permanent resident and declare residency and vote in New Mexico. But you did.

Jeffrey Paul

Albuquerque

Biden administration policy led to ICE raids

On July 8, I read two side by side articles on the Journal Opinion page. One titled “Let heroes be heroes in the heat” and the other titled “History will not look kindly on ICE raids and birthright citizenship threats” The “Heroes” article was written by a state legislator, the other article by a law professor at the University of New Mexico and two state legislators. All four are females and it speaks well for the rise of female representation in our legislative process, which was long controlled by the “old boy,” “patron” system.

Great article juxtaposition by the Journal.

What caught my attention in these articles was the difference in tone and philosophy. The “Heroes” article was positive and provided due praise to workers in our society who labor long and hard performing essential tasks and work best when the government stays out of their way and lets common sense and teamwork prevail. It stressed not to overkill with regulation. Conversely, the article on birthright citizenship and ICE raids had a negative connotation. The argument that such citizenship is constitutionally authorized wears thin in view of today’s world and the fact that the U.S. and Canada are the only two advanced economies in the world granting such citizenship and that birthing “anchor babies” in the U.S. has become a cottage industry over the past few decades. Congress for years has failed to deal with the huge “dreamer” population and it’s past time for that to happen.

Concerning ICE raids, if the last administration had not allowed millions of illegals to enter the country the ICE raids would not happen.

President Biden had a favorite saying, “Come on, man.” To the one triad of letter writers I say, “Come on, ladies.”

Dave Coulie

Albuquerque

Cyclist killed was a beloved neighbor

At approximately 8:15 a.m., July 2, outside our apartment community on Central and San Pedro, I saw a white sheet covering a deceased person. I was told the person had been knocked off his/her bicycle. Three hours later the body remained covered under the white sheet in the middle of the road. I felt sad for the person’s family, knowing that the deceased was someone’s father/mother/child.

The police came to our offices late morning to tell us that the person killed was our beloved resident, JW, who was a permanent fixture in the neighborhood, walking his dog, Autumn, and occasionally riding his bike. He had been a resident for over a decade, and volunteered with gardening at the property.

We were shocked to hear that people nearby rummaged through his backpack as he lay on the pavement.

His distraught family from out of state came down immediately, and found a groundswell of support from fellow residents. We held a memorial service for JW.

John Bloomfield

Albuquerque