SpeakUp!: Keller's lack of action and focus is leaving our city unsafe and unappealing

First Mayor Tim KELLER KILLS CORONADO PARK by his inaction, apathy and no regard for the neighbors, followed by his decision to sell the nearby dog park to Creamland Dairy with no neighborhood input. He then rearranges the Wells Park Center’s expansion to his liking, contrary to input from neighbors. All concrete, no green space. CM

I visit Montgomery Park daily. Lately I have noticed an increase in the number of apparent LOITERING HOMELESS individuals and a decrease in the number of children playing. I suspect that young mothers do not feel their children are safe and have sought alternative places to play. KH

So, Mayor TIM KELLER wants to build thousands of homes for the homeless? Is this his solution to this crisis? Instead of dealing with the root causes of homelessness, he is contributing to it with free stuff. All he is doing is moving the mess and lifestyle to a specific area. GH

While I am no fan of the ACLU, I fully support them in their LAWSUIT AGAINST APD to hold them fully accountable for the DUI scandal, that APD Chief Harold Medina evidently had knowledge of. I hope they take APD to the cleaners and Medina finally is relieved of his duties. RF

So APD is cracking — pun intended — down on “open-air” DRUG USE. According to APD this is the result of “we’ve heard that there’s a lot of concern” by the community. Gee, maybe they should consider just doing it as part of their job? JP

Our local AUTO THIEF steals our vehicles then drops them all over the neighborhood. This has been going on for years and APD Northeast Command can’t seem to put a stop to the numerous thefts. We need a change of what’s a priority. RS

We attended the Albuquerque CONCERT BAND‘s concert this past Sunday. It was wonderful. Kudos to the new conductor, Brett Penshorn. The music selection was perfect, and the conductor himself was fun to watch. SM

It’s nice to see that Albuquerque INCREASED SPENDING on extra security for Balloon Fiesta by millions of dollars. Since I am one of the many residents of Albuquerque that are paying for this, why don’t we do it 52 weeks a year instead of 10 days a year? ECH

N.M. taxpayers and state “invest” $3.8 BILLION annually on K-12 kids’ education, yet we rank dead last statistically. Why not emulate a successful state’s curriculum? Focus on reading, writing, STEM, and the trades? Ensure kids advance when academically ready, and spend a full day in class? Wasting more cash isn’t a solution. SD

APS graduation rates are low, along with math, science and reading proficencies. APS demands and gets more money to fix proficiency and graduation problems, but their fix is to add art and music classes in all APS SCHOOLS. Next up walking to the washroom equals a physical education class credit to fix scores. MB

Average cost of SCHOOL SUPPLIES is more than $200 for a small family, then explain to me why the school taxes … are so ridiculously high. I never had to purchase supplies when I went to K-12. And yet, billions go toward education in N.M.? Gov. MLG has some explaining to do. MT

Regarding “Historian discusses Israel-Hamas Conflict” (Oct. 1 Journal): Thank you for the story on ISRAEL and Jewish Holocaust expert and his talk at UNM. I learned a lot and he described Israel’s actions as genocidal and how they are not a true democracy. SN

Regarding “What happened to protesters arrested on UNM campus?” (Oct. 7 Journal): I’m all for PEACEFUL PROTESTS. However, if the protesters break the law and are arrested, they should pay some type of penalty. It seems there is no penalty for those who broke the law at UNM. Our criminal justice system just does not work. JH

Nowhere have scientists been able to find a time when the Earth is warming as fast as it is right now. We’re changing EARTH’S TEMPERATURE at a rate that exceeds anything we know about. We can’t accept the status quo when human life, really all life, is so threatened. WS

Another decent showing of democracy in N.M. Federal Judge David Urias barred UNM from charging security fees at amounts of their own discretion for speaking events. Brought forward by two conservative groups, Judge Urias found that UNM’s at-whim fee policy infringed on the constitutional speech rights of the student groups. SO

Why would New Mexicans, even Democrats, vote for Democrats currently in office? For years we have been at the bottom of all good lists and the top of all bad. Do we want to stay in these positions? Why not VOTE FOR SOMEONE else? What do we have to lose? DW

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich’s only issue is about abortion, while Republican Senate candidate NELLA DOMENICI covers crime, the border, inflation, higher taxes and drugs. Heinrich only contributed to all the problems and doesn’t want to mention them. DD

I am so tired of hearing about all of this ELECTION NEGATIVITY where no one is saying what they will do for us. Instead, they are too worried about attacking each other. Who wants to vote because of this? Not me. I’m so sick of it. EM

Notice to writers of NEGATIVE POLITICAL ADS: My television automatically goes on mute and my head swivels to the side. You’re wasting your candidate’s money. So many nasty ads, now I miss lawyer commercials. NG

The so-called “mainstream media” has abandoned any pretense at OBJECTIVE REPORTING and gone full-on “woke” partisanship to get back at former President Donald Trump for his nasty cracks about them. Get over it, kids, unless you want to be considered akin to Pravda. Tell both sides and let the reader or viewer decide the truth. JG

What is the purpose of a DEBATE that does not allow fact-checking? It only rewards the smoothest liar who often is considered the winner. If that is the requirement of the debaters, it is better to just not bother. I won’t bother next time. DW

It’s going to be close, but my money says former President Donald TRUMP WILL WIN. Netanyahu and most other Israelis favor him over Vice President Kamala Harris. Their allies in America will be doing whatever they can to give him victory, and the current administration’s poor response to hurricane destruction will certainly help them. RM

Former President Donald Trump admitted to CBS News that he lies: When asked why he refused a “60 MINUTES” interview he said one of the two reasons was he feared the network program would fact check him. JL

A vote for Harris/Democrats says it’s OK to give America’s assets and resources away. It’s OK to steal my children’s and grandchildren’s country. With the world in such turmoil why are Democrats working so hard to deplete America of money, resources and arms? VOTE EARLY. Save your country. MM

JD Vance says he and former President Donald TRUMP are trying to earn your trust. That’s possible for people, such as them, that embrace lying blatantly and constantly for any “reason” they see fit. They should be fact-checked daily and published. Wholesale lying is unacceptable and shouldn’t be tolerated. MY

People should desist blaming Vice President Kamala Harris for some of the decisions made by President Joe Biden. Biden is the president; he makes the decision whether Harris agrees or not. Just like Vice President Mike Pence didn’t always agree with decisions made by Trump. Read the Constitution regarding VP duties. STOP BLAMING HARRIS for Biden’s decisions. PP

ELECTION FRAUD? If it’s a myth, let’s try a little experiment. A national two-year election cycle with no electronics, only paper ballots and voter ID. The results would likely be shocking, and we can fix this issue for good. SS

POLARITY IN D.C. is so extreme one party could come up with a plan that would balance the budget, lower taxes, provide affordable housing, health care and education for all, fix the immigration problems, heal the environment and the opposition would vote against just because they are the opposition. GLS

Love the councilor’s idea of a wall listing those who died from COVID-19. Dedicate one panel for the anti-vaxxers, for those who wouldn’t wear a mask and those who swore it was a hoax. RT

Again, they are making us crazy about TOILET PAPER. Folks, this indispensable item is manufactured domestically, it is not imported. You will not find it being brought ashore. The shelves are already starting to empty. Get a grip. PKC

To the shopper who turned in my car keys on Sept. 30 at the SPROUTS ON COORS and Montano: Thank you so very much. AG