Albuquerque Mayor Berry once again revealed his hypocrisy at a press conference to announce the creation of the city department the “Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs”. (See Albuquerque Journal, “City unveils immigrant affairs office”, Metro & NM, Section C-1, February 8, 2017.)

The office is intended to serve Albuquerque’s immigrant and refugee community by acting as a point of contact with other agencies that serve them.

Berry said the new city department will help immigrants and refugees without regard to their legal immigration status and that it will help allay the fears of people in Albuquerque’s immigrant and refugee community.

When asked if the office would serve people who lack legal immigration status, Berry said “It is not our job to check on that. That’s not what this office is about.”

Berry in the past has had no problem inviting immigration authorities into city facilities to check on immigration status of people.

Berry said “There has always been rhetoric from the left and right regarding immigration … But I do not think it has ever been ramped up to the level we’ve seen most recently”.

It has been mostly right wing Republicans that have ramped up the rhetoric on immigration in the past and it was done by none other than candidate Richard Berry.

Berry used the issue of “sanctuary city” in 2009 to get elected the first time with his supporters driving a vehicle around the city with a billboard mounted on it condemning then Mayor Marty Chavez making Albuquerque a “sanctuary city” for immigrants.

After elected, Mayor Berry declared that Albuquerque was no longer a sanctuary city.

In 2010, Berry ordered the implementation of a policy that screened every person who is arrested, no matter the offense, such as misdemeanor DWI, shoplifting, drug possession, to see if the person is in the country legally.

By Berry’s orders, US Immigration and Customs agents (ICE) were allowed into city jail holding facilities to screen virtually all people arrested and brought in by APD and determine their immigration status.

In 2010, Berry said, “If convicted, they will serve their sentence and could be deported. I’m not looking at this as an immigration issue, but more as a public safety issue,” said Berry.

The truth is once ICE determines a person is not in this country legally, it will take that person into custody and institute deportation action.

What Berry was endorsing with allowing ICE into city holding facilities to screen people is the deportation of people no matter the offense and no matter their guilt or innocence of people arrested and taken into custody by APD.

Albuquerque City Councilors introduced a measure to reaffirm a 16 year old resolution making Albuquerque an Immigrant friendly community.

I wonder if Berry will have a press conference to sign it if it passes or will he veto it?

To me, the need for comprehensive immigration reform is a very personal because of my grandparents who were Italian immigrants.

In the year 1900, Albuquerque had a population of only 10,000 people and New Mexico was a territory.

Around 1900, Italy was governed by a very oppressive and corrupt government imposing restrictions on people’s freedoms and unemployment was very high.

According to the manifest of the ship my grandfather Lorenzo Dinelli came to the United States on, he arrived in New York City on March 24, 1900, 12 years before New Mexico became a state.

My grandfather was from Luca, Italy, he was 19 years old, single, he could not read nor write, he could not speak English, his occupation was listed as a “farmer” , he had one piece of luggage, a little money and that was it with dreams of becoming an American citizen.

My grandfather’s ultimate destination was Albuquerque, New Mexico to be with his brother Pietro Dinelli who settled in Albuquerque around 1898.

My grandfather and his brother became American citizens years later as did my grandmother, Rachaelle, who also immigrated from Luca, Italy.

After immigrating to the United States, my grandparents became American citizens, lived in Albuquerque the rest of their lives and lived the American dream.

My grandparents raised two sons, Pete my uncle, who I was named after and Paul my father.

My grandparents also sent their two sons off to fight in World War II.

My Uncle Pete Dinelli paid the ultimate price to fight for and preserve our freedoms and he was killed in action when he stepped on a landmine.

My father Paul Dinelli became a disabled American Army veteran, and he too paid a price with a service connected disability.

During World War II, the United States was at war with Italy and the Fascist Dictator Benito Mussolini and the Axis powers including fascist Hitler’s Germany and Imperial Japan and Emperor Hirohito.

A story my father once told me was that before enlisting to fight in World War II, things got so bad for Italian Americans that he remembered federal government officials showing up to my grandparents home to find out if they owned “radios” and any guns and if they still had loyalty to Italy their country of origin.

Also during World War II, internment camps were set up in California for Japanese Americans, which is a shameful chapter in our country’s history of intolerance of minorities, perceived as enemies of the state, even when many were Americans.

I have no doubt my grandparents loved this country unconditionally, understood completely the meaning of our freedoms, what this country is all about and the importance of preserving our way of life and our freedoms.

Our freedoms of religion, free speech, freedom of the press, freedom of association and due process of law, presumption of innocence until proven guilty are among the most precious rights we have that so many have fought to preserve and who have given so much for in this country’s history, including members of my own family.

President Trump to his chagrin is quickly learning that this country is one of laws, not of men.

Mayor Berry is about to learn a similar lesson and how he has dealt in the past with the Albuquerque’s immigrant community.

A U.S. Federal Judge imposed a nationwide hold on President Trump’s ban on travelers and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslims countries, siding with two states that challenged the President’s executive order. (See Albuquerque Journal, “U.S. Judge blocks Trump’s travel ban”, February 4, 2017, page A-1)

The federal judge ruled that the states suing had met their proof of “immediate irreparable harm”.

Trump quickly “tweeted” his objections by referring to that “so called judge”.

President Trump’s executive order to ban Muslims traveling from Muslim countries is alarming and no doubt unconstitutional.

Days after President Trump spoke of a “running war” with the media, Chief White House strategist Stephen K. Bannon said the media had been “humiliated” by the election outcome and describing the media as “the opposition party” and that the media needs to just “keep its mouth shut”.

Trump and his administration obviously have forgotten that religious freedom, freedom of speech and of the press is guaranteed by our constitution and that we are a nation of laws and immigrants.

Then you have Albuquerque Mayor Berry’s hypocrisy on full display when he met with members of the Albuquerque’s Islamic community after President Trump’s ban on Muslims traveling to the United State from Muslim countries. (See January 31, 2017 Albuquerque Journal, “Mayor, Islamic leaders meet; New round of concerns for safety of Muslims”.)

Berry was quoted as saying “We need a city where all of our families and communities feel safe. It’s time like this where we have to stand shoulder to shoulder regardless of background.”

The hypocrisy is that Mayor Berry used the issue of “sanctuary city” in 2009 to get elected the first time with his supporters driving a vehicle around the city with a billboard mounted on it condemning then Mayor Marty Chavez for making Albuquerque a “sanctuary city”.

In December, 2000, by a unanimous bipartisan vote, the Albuquerque City Council enacted an “immigrant-friendly” policy sponsored by former City Councilor Hess Yntema, a Republican, and it was signed into law.

The 2000 city council resolution “welcomes and encourages” immigrants to live and work in the city and directs the city to give immigrants access to all programs and services “to the fullest extent allowed” by the law including providing legal drivers licenses, health care and education. (See Albuquerque Journal, June 26, 2009, Immigrant Policy Written by Republican www.abqjournal.com/news/state/262250301766newsstate06-26-09.htm,)

Most important to APD police procedures, the 2000 City Council resolution “called for no city police resources to be spent determining the immigration status of a person or to take anyone into custody solely for determining immigration status.”

Municipal police resources should never be used to enforce federal immigration and customs laws even for screening people and that is why we have US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

On May 14, 2010 Mayor Richard Berry declared that Albuquerque was no longer a sanctuary city. (See http://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-no-longer-a-sanctuary-city/5033128)

In 2010, Berry ordered the implementation of a policy that screened every person who is arrested, no matter the offense, such as misdemeanor DWI, shoplifting, drug possession, to see if the person is in the country legally.

In 2010, by Berry’s orders, US Customs agents were allowed into city jail holding facilities so that virtually all people who were arrested and brought in by APD could be screened by ICE.

In 2010, Berry said, “If convicted, they will serve their sentence and could be deported. I’m not looking at this as an immigration issue, but more as a public safety issue,” said Berry thereby endorsing deportation of people no matter the offense and no matter their guilt or innocence on people arrested and taken into custody by APD.

Mayor Berry’s declaration that Albuquerque was no longer a sanctuary city also meant he did not want to “stand shoulder to shoulder” with Albuquerque’s immigrant community, as he supposedly wants to do now with the Muslim community, who no longer felt safe because of his declaration and their fear of being reported to immigration authorities by APD.

Albuquerque City Councilors are now introducing a measure to reaffirm the 16 year old resolution making Albuquerque an Immigrant friendly community. (See February 6, 2017 Albuquerque Journal article “Councilors: ABQ still ‘immigrant friendly’, Section C, Metro 7 NM).

What make this country the greatest country in the world is our freedoms as guaranteed by our constitution, including the freedoms of religion, free speech, association and our civil rights and liberties guaranteed under the constitution including due process of law and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

What this country needs are elected officials who respect our laws, our guaranteed freedoms under the constitution, not the hate and intolerance towards a religion or an immigrant community that we are getting from our President as well as our Mayor of Albuquerque.

http://www.kob.com/investigative-news/officers-issuing-fewer-dwi-tickets-while-dwi-related-deaths-rise-bernalillo-county-albuquerque-mayor-richard-berry-police-apd/4389402/?cat=500

Why is Berry and APD always in “spin” mode even when it comes to something that supports their own complaints that APD is seriously understaffed?

In this Channel 4 Investigative Report report, Berry himself acknowledges that DWI checkpoints have gone down dramatically but says staffing levels are not the problem causing the reporter to even do a “double take” and repeat Berry’s comments admitting checkpoints are down.

Mayor Berry was specifically asked if the city had any concerns about the officer shortage that may be contributing to fewer traffic stops and he said “We had 32 stops the year before last and we had in the high 20s last year—those are rough numbers,” Berry said. “We have the capability of putting these DWI checks together.”

The Mayor admits there were fewer checks points last year than the year before but refuses to acknowledge the reason for that are fewer officers.

“To the families that have lost loved ones in recent years, how do you explain the recent phenomenon of deaths going up to them?” 4 Investigator Jen French asked Berry.

“I think a lot of people are getting the message and some people aren’t and when they don’t get the message, it’s horrific,” Berry said.

Yeah, and when you don’t answer a question and then put a spin on your answer it’s even more horrific.

Berry’s and APD’s credibility always takes a hit when they “spin, spin, spin”.

STATISTICS AND STAFFING

The statistics from the Bernalillo County Metro Court are alarming and reveal just how bad things are with the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) being unable to patrol our streets, get drunks off the road, make DWI arrests and prosecute cases.

In 2009, there were 746 people arraigned for felony DWI and that number dropped to a mere 104 in 2015. In 2008, there were 6,538 people arraigned for misdemeanor DWI and in 2015 that number dropped by close to 60% to 2,942.

There is a direct correlation with the dramatic decline in the number of DWI arrests and arraignments and traffic arrangement cases and the severe decline in APD personnel.

The December 11, 2015 Albuquerque Police Department Comprehensive Staffing Assessment and Resource Study prepared by Alexander Weiss for the Department of Justice concluded that APD needs at least 1,000 sworn officers.

The Weiss report concluded that 1,000 sworn police officers were sufficient for Albuquerque provided that APD officers did not respond to certain low priority calls such as minor traffic accidents or false alarm calls.

In 2009, APD had 1,100 police officers with approximately 700 assigned to field services, patrolling our streets over three shifts.

Seven years ago, response times were at 8.5 minutes, below the national average.

It takes an average of 15 minutes to dispatch a police officer to 911 emergency calls, which endangers public safety.

In 2009, APD had a traffic unit that had upwards of 20 patrol officers and today it is at less than 10.

In 2009, APD command staff recommended that Albuquerque needed at least 1,200 sworn officers for community based policing and felony prosecutions.

The number of APD sworn officers has fallen from 1,100 officers to 850 over the past seven years.

In 2015, APD has 841 sworn police officers with only 440 assigned to the field services patrolling responding to 69,000 priority one 911 emergency calls a year.

On average, APD has between 8 to 10 police officers per 8 hour shift, per area command, patrolling the streets of Albuquerque.

CONCLUSION

Based on review of the Metropolitan Court statistics, DWI arrest and traffic code enforcement are a very low priority of APD, not out of desire, but out of necessity.

With APD field officers responding to over 69,000 priority one calls a year, not to mention thousands of lower priority calls, it is surprising the statistics are not worse at Metropolitan Court.

APD can no longer be proactive with DWI enforcement making our streets dangerous to drive.

I will not be a candidate for Mayor of Albuquerque in 2017.

My decision not to run for Mayor has been a very difficult and an emotional decision for me and my family because of our love of Albuquerque, where we were all born and raised.

I still have the “fire in the belly” to run for Mayor because of what continues to happen at city hall, but my head tells me a run is not in the best interest of my family, my quality of life, nor are the rigors of what I believe will be another very brutal campaign. Been there, done that.

I would run for Mayor if I was able to raise the necessary contributions to run a successful campaign, and I have said that in the past.

After talking to supporters and people willing to contribute and raise money, I concluded I cannot raise necessary money to run a viable campaign.

Four years ago, I ran on Democratic core values including opposing the late term abortion initiative on the ballot, supporting gay marriage, city hall enforcement of the minimum wage, advocating for the working class, police reform, civilian oversight of APD and economic development.

Many events of the past four years have proven more than once that what I said during my 2013 campaign for Mayor was true.

What was discouraging and very disappointing four years ago was that only 19% of eligible voters actually voted in the lowest voter turnout municipal election since 1977.

Albuquerque is facing some very serious problems that require real solutions, not slogans, fake smiles nor slick announcements and commercials which offer little substance.

However, being able to say “I told you so” is not much of winning campaign and neither does it justify another run for Mayor on my part.

Making this announcement now discredits the false accusation that what I have to say and what I have been saying is because I was running for office.

All the reasons I ran for Mayor in 2013 still exist today, but things have only gotten worse. Those reasons include the Department of Justice investigation of APD finding a “culture of aggression”, resistance to the DOJ consent decree reforms, the complete destruction and mismanagement of the Albuquerque Police Department, close to $50 million in settlements paid out in police misconduct cases, some of the highest violent and property crime rates in the country, a declining and failing city economy, high unemployment rates and failed and incompetent leadership at city hall.

Included in today’s reasons to run for Mayor is stopping the disastrous ART Bus project destroying Route 66, advocating for the mandatory sick leave initiative and discussion if Albuquerque should become a “sanctuary city”.

Four years ago, I was the only candidate out of four candidates that qualified for public financing collecting 5,000, $5.00 qualifying donations, when only 3,600 were required. My campaign gathered 10,000 signatures to get me on the ballot. My campaign was given $360,000 in public financing.

The $360,000 in public financing was insufficient to compete with the incumbent who raised over $910,000, whose campaign was managed by the Governor’s political operative and who was supported by the Governor’s political machine in a low voter turnout race.

Based on my political instincts and past experience, public financing alone will not be enough to run an effective campaign.

I believe the 2017 Mayor’s race will be a $1 million race for the initial election with another $500,000 for a run off for the successful candidate.

A few candidates have already raised between $100,000 to $200,000.

Nine candidates will try to qualify for public financing but many will not succeed securing the qualifying $5 dollar donations but many will secure the 3,600 signatures to get on the ballot.

I suspect “measured finance” committees will be raising and contributing money to the Mayor’s race.

I believe there will be very wealthy donors and interest groups, including from outside the State of New Mexico, contributing huge amounts of money to candidates for their campaigns and their political consultants, which is what happened last year in a few races.

There are 12 candidates registered with the city clerk’s office running for Mayor and likely there will be more.

So far, I am not impressed with the announced candidates and what they are saying, especially on their proposed solutions on reducing our high crime rates and APD reform.

The campaign is still very early and I am hopeful a candidate will emerge that I can support who shares my views, my Democratic core values and who I can vote for and even help.

A few of the announced candidates for Mayor are saying some of the same things I said four years ago and what I have been saying on my political blog which gives me some satisfaction.

On February 16, 2017, candidates for Mayor to get on the ballot will be allowed to start gathering signatures from registered voters.

I wish all the candidates for Mayor well and hope they all get on the ballot in the hopes that it will increase voter turnout.

I encourage all voters to decide on a candidate, support them and vote for them.

One final thing I do want to say to voters is “follow the money” and know the consultants hired before you vote so you can know what you are really getting in a candidate and who the candidate is really beholding to.

In the mean time, I will continue with my political blog at www.PeteDinelli.com and comment on the candidates for Mayor, City Council and the serious issues facing our city and our state.

Please stay tuned to my FACEBOOK postings as well.

Hopefully a candidate with real solutions will emerge that I can support.

Thanks to my family, my wife Betty of 33 years, my two sons Mark and George, all of my entire family and all those who have supported me in the past.

In the meantime, Betty and I intend to enjoy our retirement and continue with our travel plans.

Who knows, like a bad penny, I just may show up again in 2018 election cycle for a Federal, State or County office because I still have a desire to serve my community.

Best wishes to all and please stay tuned to my blog.

Mayor Berry’s hypocrisy from 2010 declaring Albuquerque is no longer a sanctuary city was on full display when he met with members of the Albuquerque’s Islamic community after President Trump’s ban on Muslim countries. (See January 31, 2017 Albuquerque Journal, “Mayor, Islamic leaders meet; New round of concerns for safety of Muslims”.)

According to Berry, representatives of APD were present and the primary topic of conversation was safety.

Berry was quoted as saying “We need a city where all of our families and communities feel safe.

It’s time like this where we have to stand shoulder to shoulder regardless of background.”

I wonder if Berry ordered APD representatives to take names of those who attended the meeting to determine if they are in the United States legally.

The hypocrisy is that On May 14, 2010 Mayor Richard Berry declared that Albuquerque was no longer a sanctuary city. (See http://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-no-longer-a-sanctuary-city/5033128)

Berry ordered the implementation of a policy that screened every person who is arrested to see if the person is in the country legally.

At the prisoner transport center in downtown Albuquerque, Immigration and Customs Enforcement fingerprinted and scanned suspects. “If you’re arrested in Albuquerque — regardless of who you are and where you’re born — if you’re a citizen or not, you will be face to face with ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] at this facility,” said Berry. If convicted, they will serve their sentence and could be deported.

So no matter the charge, like DWI, you face US Customs if you’re arrested, regardless of guilt or innocence.

“I’m not looking at this as an immigration issue, but more as a public safety issue,” said Berry.

Berry’s declaration that Albuquerque is no longer a sanctuary city meant he did not want to stand shoulder to shoulder with Albuquerque’s immigrant community who no longer felt safe because of his declaration and their fear of being reported to immigration authorities by APD.