On Sunday, May 12, the Albuquerque Journal published the following guest opinion column written by Pete Dinelli entitled “Survey says: Public has lost confidence in APD”:
On April 16, the results of the annual city of Albuquerque Citizen Perception Survey were released. The survey is done to determine residents’ satisfaction with city services and issues. The poll of 400 adults was taken Feb. 26-28, with a margin of error of +/- 4.9% points. The results of the survey are as follows:
QUALITY OF LIFE
Financial security deals with “quality of life.” Fifty percent of city residents feel their personal financial situation has largely stayed the same over the last six months. Thirty-seven percent report that their personal financial situation has gotten worse over the last six months, while just 12% feel their financial situation has gotten better.
PERSONAL SAFETY
Sixty-nine percent of city residents report feeling safe outside in their neighborhoods. Eighty-one percent of city residents say that speeding and reckless driving affects their feelings of safety. Illegal drug use is the second most significant contributor to residents not feeling safe. It edges out speeding and reckless driving in intensity with a whopping 77% of residents saying very much or somewhat.
CITY SERVICES
Sixty-one percent “disagree” and 35% “agree” that “the Albuquerque City Government is responsive to our community needs.”
HOMELESSNESS
Twenty-three percent of residents feel panhandling impacts them and their family the most, while 17% feel homeless encampments impacts the most for a combined total of 40% for the two issues. Homeless numbers have spiked dramatically despite the Keller administration spending over $100 million the last two years on assistance and shelter to the homeless.
DIRECTION CITY IS GOING
Sixty-three percent of city residents report feeling concerned about the direction of the city with only 31% say they are hopeful about the direction of the city.
ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Sixty percent of city residents “disagree” and 35% “agree” that the APD is doing a good job addressing property crime. Fifty-six percent of city residents “disagree” and 39% “agree” that APD is doing a good job addressing violent crime.
Fifty-one percent of city residents “disagree” that “the Albuquerque Police Department is ready to transition away from oversight by the federal government and operate on its own” while only 39% “agree.”
APD’s budget is $271.5 million and is the largest department budget, representing upwards of 33% of the city’s $845.9 million general fund budget. The survey reflects the public has lost confidence in APD and is dissatisfied with how APD is dealing with property crime and violent crime with the resources it has.
The ongoing FBI investigation of the entire DWI unit of APD for bribery and conspiracy and dismissal of hundreds of DWI cases has destroyed APD’s reputation. APD’s finding that Chief Harold Medina’s car crash critically injuring another was “non-preventable” reflects APD is unable to police itself.
It has been reported APD ranks No. 1 in civilian killings out of the 50 largest city police departments in the country.
The city’s annual budget is $1.2 billion and it employs over 7,000 full-time employees, yet residents do not believe city government is responsive to their needs.
It’s alarming that 63% of city residents say they are concerned over the direction the city is going and 61% disagreeing city government is responsive to community needs. These ratings reflect the general public believes Mayor Tim Keller and the City Council are failures managing city resources.
The Citizens Satisfaction Survey is a reflection of Mayor Keller’s poor job performance as he prepares to run for a third term. Voters want results when it comes to APD and the direction the city is going.
After seven years in office, Mayor Keller and his APD management team have failed. Mayor Tim Keller should be denied another term.
Pete Dinelli is a former Albuquerque city councilor, former chief public safety officer and former chief deputy district attorney. You can read his daily news and commentary blog at www.PeteDinelli.com.
The link to the related blog article is here: