SpeakUp!: Ushering in the new year with generosity and a revitalized local newspaper

To the kind man who found my daughter Caitlin’s wallet at MOUNTAIN RUN and took it to a Chase Bank branch: They called her, and she was able to retrieve it and make her flight back to Baltimore. She thanks you from the bottom of her heart. May God bless you. JR

It is a joy to read, Editor-in-chief JAY NEWTON-SMALL has turned the Albuquerque Journal into a genuine newspaper. The front page is no longer the crime news, and long articles by whiners are gone. Informative journalism is here, with local news on broad interests as the focus. Thank you. DS

It would behoove Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, the Hispano Chamber of Commerce, Native American tribes and the state of New Mexico in being part of an exploratory committee to build a WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL Association franchise team in the Albuquerque Metro area. Caitlin Clark is creating expansion possibilities never seen before. RMG

How does New Mexico respond to educational institutional corruption? I guess you discourage it by allowing WNMU‘s president to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on himself, get caught, then the university president receive an almost $2 million severance package, including an eight-month vacation, to let the dust settle. Nice. MK

What can be done to clean up the TRASH ALONG TRAMWAY Boulevard? The trash is unbelievable. There are pieces of plastic, paper, cans, bottles, boxes, you name it. Looks terrible. Even bags of trash that have been picked up by residents, but the full bags remain. FW

First responders, or members of government, arrested and JAILED FOR DUI, speeding or reckless driving, etc. are put on “paid leave.” If found guilty, they should be required to return those “paid leave” taxpayer-funded wages. They’re innocent until proven guilty, but once guilty, pay it back to our N.M. Legislature. JK

President-elect DONALD TRUMP messed up big time, and he hasn’t even been sworn in yet. Bad cabinet nominations, tariffs that won’t work, out maneuvered by Elon Musk and playing around with government shutdown. We have four years to regret this election decision. MY

From day one of incompetent President Joe Biden’s administration, his decisions have been the product of a team of EXTREME LEFT advisers. Their goal was, and still is, to destroy the U.S., aided and abetted by the legacy media. We will hopefully learn about these anti-Americans, ideally before it’s too late. JG

In the end, it looks like MATT GAETZ was everything that MAGA wanted Hunter Biden to be. AP

President-elect Donald Trump hypocrisy begins, again. DEPORT IMMIGRANTS, except those needed to work in high tech empires. Try to ban TikTok because China is spying on Americans, but now it’s OK. Democrats who oppose him should be jailed as criminals, says the convicted felon. It’s only the beginning. PS

While I acknowledge that former President JIMMY CARTER was an outstanding humanitarian, he was the worst president in my seven decades. I remember the events that overwhelmed it — outrageous inflation, the energy crisis, war in Afghanistan and U.S. hostages in Iran. It’s no surprise that he had only one term. AA

Writer for the Israeli publication Haaretz says the war in GAZA IS OVER and now Israel is only about killing as many Palestinians as they can get away with. CE

Americans are crushed by skyrocketing premiums, crippling MEDICAL DEBT and denial of care that devastates millions of lives. Frustration has reached a boiling point, igniting a fierce, widespread demand for real, systemic change. People are clear that insurance companies exist to protect and maximize their profits. We demand change. WS

Could someone explain the economics and ergonomics of MOVIE THEATERS installing those dreadful recliner chairs. This has ruined my once enjoyable big screen movie experience. MB

Regarding “Talk of the Town: Let’s take microplastics off the menu” (Dec. 15 Sunday Journal): The writer said banning plastic shopping bags will keep MICROPLASTICS out of our bodies, but the real culprit is microwaving food in plastic containers and eating and drinking out of plastic containers. Shopping bags that end up in landfills won’t harm us. PP

Regarding “The tamale tias who make Christmas” (Dec. 25 Journal): Why does the HEALTH DEPARTMENT allow the sale of thousands of tamales from a presumably uninspected home kitchen? TBW

Regarding “The TAMALE TIAS who make Christmas” (Dec. 25 Journal): A wonderful and heartwarming story about proud New Mexicans working hard to sustain a yearly tradition. In a country of fast food and large corporations, it’s refreshing to support a small family on the holidays. Fantastic coverage Allison Carpenter and Nakayla McClelland. AJ

So sad to hear about the passing of NFL sportscaster GREG GUMBEL. Whether hosting or calling games, Greg did it with passion and poise and made it look effortless. One of the best ever. Rest in peace, Greg. PB