SpeakUp!: With about half their population ABQ dwarfs San José homicides in 2024

Just read where San José, CA, population 956,000, has already experienced 26 homicides so far this year. On reading that, I checked to see what Albuquerque, population 558,000, has experienced comparatively. I learned that we have experienced 102 HOMICIDES. What causes such disparity? What makes Albuquerque so dangerous? KC

Regarding “Voters should exercise great discernment in judicial retentions” (Oct. 20 Sunday Journal): Thanks for providing feedback on judges. It is fascinating that the JPEC chose to purchase an ad, after being given editorial space, and that Supreme Court Chief Justice David K. Thomson wrote an editorial to further influence voters to retain most judges, regardless of the negative impact their rulings have had. LG

Regarding “APS seeks public feedback on budget” (Oct. 27 Sunday Journal): cites 68,000 students and a 2024-25 budget of $2.15 billion. Please do the math with me: That is over $31,500 PER STUDENT. DP

The lightest lie told every election season is this: A vote for this bond won’t increase your TAXES. Wake up people. TT

Regarding “Paid leave would allow workers to care for loved ones” (Oct. 23, Journal): We don’t need to attract HEALTH CARE WORKERS to New Mexico, we need to take care of the ones we have. JR

Maybe the trial lawyers who support the high MALPRACTICE CAPS, and all the malpractice lawsuits, should lose access to their own doctors. Give them a taste of their own medicine. RB

I am so grateful for the OBAMACARE insurance subsidies. For those of us who are self-employed, small business owners, entrepreneurs or don’t work for a big company that offers insurance benefits, this program has been a godsend. EF

What would happen if the government told men they cannot get a VASECTOMY? JL

It’s time for the POLICE CHIEF to retire. He has proven that he lacks leadership skills and that he should never hold a press conference, that’s why APD has a spokesman. The hardworking officers at APD deserve a chief that has their six, not someone full of excuses. TC

Why is it that every time the MAYOR AND CHIEF of police both talk on the TV it is about what they have done but all we see done is nothing? Oh, that’s right, they’re hoping to get reelected next year. Hopefully this won’t happen again. EM

If I could say one thing to both the mayor of Albuquerque and the MAYOR OF RIO RANCHO, it would be this: This used to be a nice place to live once. AP

Regarding “Fundamental change is the only solution to NM’s woes at this point” (Oct. 27 Sunday Journal) It is so right on. The SINGLE POLITICAL PARTY in power since 1931 and the people that supported and voted for them all these years must like the way things have become so why change now? HH

Insanity is the repeating of the same task over and over, expecting different results. If that’s true, are NEW MEXICANS A CRAZY BUNCH? We rank last in education, 45 in economy, 44 in infrastructure, 38 in health care and the list goes on. What’s the common denominator? We continue to elect the same political party to office and expect different results. The evidence speaks for itself loud and clear; we’re nuts. WU

How many times do Republican Senate candidate Nella Domenici and former U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell have to strongly state, in media interviews, in political ads, in debates, etc., their firm opposition to a NATIONAL ABORTION BAN before their political opponents stop lying about it? MG

What politicians like Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez fail to mention when they talk about fixing SOCIAL SECURITY by making wealthy pay more tax is this: their benefits are capped. If she wants it to be fair, she would also mention raising benefits while raising taxes, but that’s not her objective. JB

A POLITICAL CANDIDATE campaigning from the pulpit of a church is wrong from so many perspectives. DP

Regarding: “NM cannabis firms sue feds” (Oct. 25 Journal): It’s against federal law to possess, use, transport or distribute MARIJUANA. N.M. businesses are transporting marijuana on federal roadways for distribution. Federal officers are enforcing federal law. Guess they’re doing their job. If these businesses have an issue, maybe they should have their great Congressional District 2 representative’s help. JEH

Step one, legalize marijuana in N.M. Step two, expand state government creating a commission to regulate the industry. Step three, expand that commission to take care of the industry’s “bad actors.” None of this was needed. Is CANNABIS really good for N.M. or is this just good money chasing a bad decision? DB

I can’t wait for the election to be over so the back-to-back commercials for various candidates will end. Then we can get back to the back-to-back to back commercials about the DIFFERENT LAW FIRMS we have become accustomed to. SS

Kudos to the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times for NOT ENDORSING presidential candidates. Newspapers and all media should be in the business of reporting the news, not making it. BB

Kudos to the ABQ CONVENTION CENTER for turning down former President Donald Trump’s visit. Maybe there was a repair issue, but the biggest issue is that his campaign owes the city over $444,000 from 5 years ago. Anyone that doesn’t pay their rent gets evicted, so why should we let him “move” in again? MH

More and more I’m seeing evidence that this PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION is narcissistic billionaires against democracy. And I’m not here for it. I voted straight blue and will continue to do so until the Republican Party leadership starts honoring the U.S. Constitution and all the people of this country. KE

Regarding “Harris, the president we should be looking for” (Oct. 20 Sunday Journal): The Counterpoint supporting Vice President KAMALA HARRIS was a microcosm of her campaign: Vague platitudes describing an unaccomplished candidate. Like her campaign, it provided no specifics on how she’d address critical issues, e.g., inflation, the boarder, crime. RB

23 Nobel Prize-winning economists said former President Donald TRUMP’S ECONOMIC PLANS would cause “higher prices, larger deficits, and greater inequality.” They endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, saying her policies would result in a “stronger economic performance, with economic growth that is more robust, more sustainable, and more equitable.” JH

The DEMOCRATS are showing how out of touch they are with their constituents. Of course, with their dismal record from the local to the national levels, they have nothing else to run on. Why do we continue to reelect them? They do not care about us, only power. DO

No matter who wins the NATIONAL ELECTION, state and local law enforcement must be prepared to prevent any armed insurrection on Jan. 6. GEN

As long as states refuse to remove non-citizens, the dead and fake people from their VOTER ROLLS, I reserve the right to question election results. Should be no question about that right, but it should be a practical consideration, why leave the rolls unaudited? Why, indeed. AN

Regarding the SEXUALLY EXPLICIT billboards of Vice President Kamala Harris in Ohio, I am 90 years old and have watched presidential elections since Roosevelt vs. Dewey. All those races were hotly contested. What we are witnessing now is unthinkable. Since former President Donald Trump has entered politics, he has brought the endeavor to a new low and sadly some Americans think this is acceptable. GM

Regarding “Benally makes college choice: it’s Princeton” (Oct.28 Sports Journal) Congrats to Sydney Benally for having her priorities in order and choosing Princeton to continue her college basketball career. Hopefully she will follow in Bill Bradley’s footsteps and lead Princeton to the final four and become a United States senator representing New Mexico. WM

CAL THOMAS is clueless on what it’s like to be a pregnant woman. He’s wrong when he says the unborn child is only a temporary resident of the female body and not a part of it. Ignorant, like-minded politicians should not be making laws concerning women’s bodies. JC

On Oct.26 I went to the FIXIT CLINIC at Fuse Makerspace. Even though it was the wrong day, the two people there couldn’t have been more helpful: Looking at my broken electronics, troubleshooting and then fixing the problem. I just want to say thank you to both of them. RM

ABQ Ride BUS ROUTES just changed all the times for the Lomas buses “to improve on-time service,” yet the buses still continue to be late. I guess some things never change except the scheduled time ABQ Ride will probably be late to arrive at. BV

Please vote for AMENDMENT NO. 1 to support veterans. This state is floating in money. It is clueless on solving problems without raising taxes. We have no income problem; N.M. has a spending problem. It raises property taxes annually without seeing where it could save money, NM needs to live within its budget. MT