SpeakUp!: Our representatives need to stop Albuquerque's endemic crime problem

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez’s latest TV spot refers to him as “keeping New Mexico safe.” So, exactly when did NEW MEXICO BECOME SAFE? BH

So, GOV. MLG has an executive order on green energy for N.M. How about the same for CYFD, education, crime, the southern border, homelessness and drugs, jobs etc.? Obviously, these urgent issues are just not important enough to warrant an executive order or her attention for urgent action. Typical nonaction. ML

Really our CRIME PROBLEMS fall on Mayor Tim Keller, Chief Harold Medina and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. All three of them are just out to secure a job. If we the people elect them again, we’ll be in the same boat with nothing positive happening. EM

There’s an unfair and mean-spiritedness toward MAYOR TIM KELLER. His homeless plan “falling short” of 5,000 belies that 2,000 people found permanent housing. Keller’s not a magician, he’s limited by other funding agencies. Keller is a good mayor, a bit dreamy, but I’d rather have that than a do-nothing sourpuss. AH

Gov. Gavin Newsom of CA can get rid of HOMELESS ENCAMPLMENTS and is not required to shelter their occupants. I believe that this is due to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Why can’t Mayor Tim Keller do the same, cleaning up our city and saving us tax dollars? DAW

The U.S. House passed the Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act (H.R.7909). Such crimes would be grounds for DEPORTATION committed by those here illegally. U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez and U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury voted against the act. Unbelievable. SO

U.S. Rep. GABE VASQUEZ is just a Democratic flunky. Wants to defund police. Don’t vote for this dude. He is just wrong. Don’t know how he won the last time. JH

N.M. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver fights to keep a mill levy, funding Guadalupe County Hospital, the only health care center for many eastern N.M. residents, off the ballot. Yet, state officials enthusiastically flaunt a new state funded ABORTION CLINIC in southern N.M. Good grief. Disordered for sure. SO

Seems strange to me that Gov. MLG and the Democratic people in charge are more interested in building a $10 million ABORTION CLINIC in Las Cruces than in maintaining the terrible roads we find all over New Mexico. DD

If Gov. MLG and other politicians were serious about the GREEN NEW DEAL, all vehicles in the state would have to get an emissions test. Residents of Bernalillo County are unfairly targeted every two years even though residents in surrounding counties commute to work in Albuquerque every day. PJ

Based on Democrat election ads, ABORTION is the No. 1 issue in the state. Never mind crime, economy and being last in the nation in education. TS

This fact about New Mexico is an example of why our state’s Legislature is so messed up: “While NM can sell shotguns and rifles to age 18, but no handguns until 21, there is no clear law limiting the age of AR-15-style sales.” Change it now or leave office. ML

Of course, more people want the age raised for purchasing rifles. With our impotent education system, youth cannot be trusted. And with in-school FIREARM EDUCATION being seen as poison, what do you expect? Thank goodness youth are required to take driving training, even though cars are just as dangerous. GT

Why are New Mexicans persisting on the notion that an AR-15 is such a bad weapon? It comes from the drumbeats that it is dangerous. There are many weapons that are more powerful. The AR is cosmetics. JMW

If someone is old enough to wear the uniform of the armed services and willing to fight for this country, they should absolutely be allowed to OWN ANY FIREARM. The real issue is a legal system that refuses to hold people accountable. Quit punishing responsible gun owners. MD

Experience teaches us that no form of prohibition ever works, in fact the prohibitive behavior or object is always replaced with another form or object. Just maybe we should try PUNISHING THE CRIMINAL instead of the law-abiding citizen. HH

It’s amazing how many people believe the Republican propaganda that we need a new law to make it illegal for NONCITIZENS TO VOTE. It’s already illegal, we have laws for that. Republicans are trying to confuse people and look like they’re actually trying to accomplish something. JRH

Channel 4 KOB political soundbite has Vice President Kamala Harris proclaiming she’ll protect the MIDDLE CLASS. No administration has been worse for the middle class. Harris really only wants two classes: The leftist elite and the class they control. There is no middle MM

Former President Donald Trump said he would open “limited portions of federal lands” for affordable new housing. Subsidized housing? That’s SOCIALISM. He’ll never do it. JPO

Regarding “320,000 missing migrant children should disqualify Harris for president” (Sept. 21, Journal): correctly cites Vice President Kamala Harris’ incompetence, also noting former President Donald Trump’s “moral” inadequacies. Incompetence is clearly disqualifying. But “moral” judgments — don’t we and most, likely all, politicians have such shortcomings? We’re choosing a GOVERNMENT LEADER, not a moral leader. Comparing Trump and Harris, certainly Trump’s administration was far more competent than President Joe Biden’s administration. BG

We’re headed for WAR WITH IRAN. Israel’s right-wingers and their U.S. friends have been wanting this for decades and these folks usually get what they want. There will be some protests against another needless and costly Middle East war. But they’ll have as much effect as the anti-Iraq war protests did. RM

It’d be nice if UNM invited someone to lecture who has an accurate history of the MIDDLE EAST and who does not regard Israel’s self-defense in Gaza as genocide. What’s wrong with taxpayer funds being used to present both sides of a controversial issue? RJB

It is disturbing that we have to keep wasting our time on CLIMATE CHANGE, energy saving, green renewable and Earth Day. Everything now is being blamed on climate change. Boarders are wide open, President Joe Biden’s economics and green energy failed. Normal people waking up to the climate change hoax. DV

Quit minimizing our CLIMATE DISASTER. It is not a change in climate, it is a world climate crisis due to petroleum. Citizens must put the cancer blame on petroleum products that are also causing climate change and keep cancer research from telling us the truth that they are the killers. KN

Don’t forget it’s TARANTULA season. Keep a respectful distance, try not to shout and flail and you’ll be OK. Despite media and our gut fears, spiders — and most animals — don’t want to harm us. Treat them like a honeybee and keep your distance and they’ll ignore you. AJ

Is the city going to tell BALLOON FIESTA attendees to remove their belongs from their cars because of high crime rates or how their mass ascension photos next year will include the potential soccer stadium in the background? Will they be made aware of less parking next year? HJ

The AIRPORT FOOD COURT construction delay is another abject failure by the city. The vendors are missing out on job creation and revenue. The city always has excuses, placing blame on unforeseen circumstances. Our Balloon Fiesta visitors will be disappointed at the lack of food available at the Sunport. TC

I was very impressed with both vice president candidates in the VP DEBATE Tuesday. Candidates were civil, with minimal interruptions. I would consider voting for either if they were running for president. However, with the presidential candidates we now have, I will not be voting for president. Horrible choices. RF

PROJECT 2025 is nothing more than a plan to downsize the federal government. What is wrong with that? Have we been brainwashed into believing that a large government is a good one? Our government is out of control in spending and in violating our civil rights. Time to change. GH

A HOMELESS WOMAN has been squatting outside the Los Ranchos Bank of America drive-through and walk-up ATMs for several months. I have complained to several managers because this is a safety issue. Apparently loitering is allowed at this business. PD

Is it just me, but when corporations collude together it called a monopoly. So, when UNIONS COLLUDE to shut down a multitude of ports, it is OK and not a violation of anti-trust. I think an imbalance between corporations and labor needs to be fixed. Labor greed? GT