On December 3, the City’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency (MFA) issued a report that major progress is being made with residential housing in the Downtown area. According to the report, affordable townhomes are already being constructed in one development project and another complex of 150 units is planned and will be constructed near the Silver Street Market which is a mere few blocks south of Central in the heart of downtown Albuquerque.

On Silver Street and south of the Silver Street market, more than a dozen affordable townhomes are being constructed in the Palladium Project. Across 2nd Street, a complex of more than 150 micro housing units are part of another project. The MFA report also identified 178 housing projects like Nuevo Atrisco and Broadstone Highlands, 218 hotel units with the Springhill Suites by Presbyterian.

The MFA is hoping the boost in homes and jobs will be a welcomed addition to the neighborhood. Karen Iverson, manager of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency, had this to say:
“Coming out of the pandemic, we’re seeing a really strong market for housing. … We see that all across the city that rent, the vacancy rate is really high. … It’s amazing what a project like that can do to really change the atmosphere of the surrounding neighborhood. … Seeing new businesses opening up and new residents coming into these blighted areas.”

Iverson says despite the pandemic, many of the projects are proceeding ahead on schedule. They include more residential and shopping options at the Highlands, along with the Rail Trails project along the Railyards.

“How do we bring businesses back to reduce the vacancy. … What kind of infrastructure projects do we need to help people move and walk around the area.”

Albert Chavez, a store manager for the Silver Street Market had this to say:

“We have several apartment complexes nearby. … Various levels of income and so we see a pretty good variety of customers. … Looking forward in particular after the last couple years. … It’s always good to see new doors and new people. It would really help us out here.”

The MFA is preparing studies to report on redevelopment along Central between University and Nob Hill. They hope to complete those findings by early next year.

With the 14 current redevelopment projects, the city is investing more than $160 million. The MFA is also hoping to entice businesses to the downtown area with all the development projects started and being planned. MFA storefront grants will give up to $30,000 to businesses that open in the area.

The link to quoted source material is here:

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/albuquerque-redevelopment-projects-to-bring-housing-options-to-central-corridor/

METROPOLITAN REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

The Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency (MFA) is a City of Albuquerque government agency. The mission of the MFA is straight forward as it gets and states:
“To make Albuquerque competitive in the global market by revitalizing downtown and the Central Avenue corridor, leading collaborative public-private partnerships that result in catalytic change, investing in sustainable infrastructure, and providing opportunities for local residents and businesses to thrive.”

The MFA also has a mission statement that is ambitious and clear:

“To make Albuquerque the Southwest’s premier mid-size city attracting economic investment and building a healthy and vibrant community that reflects diversity, innovation, rich culture, and unique history. Its mission also includes ensuring economic prosperity for all residents and where visitors dream to return.”

METROPOLITAN REDEVELOPMENT BONDS

To achieve its mission, the MFA has a number of financing mechanisms in place. The biggest financing mechanism are Metropolitan Redevelopment Bonds (MR Bonds) used to support projects within Metropolitan Redevelopment Areas. Projects must meet the goals of the adopted Metropolitan Redevelopment Plan and result in the elimination or prevention of “slum and blight” as defined by New Mexico Statutory law. The City does not provide financing or credit enhancement for the bonds. An MFA applicant is responsible for identifying the bond purchaser and negotiating the rates and terms. Metropolitan Redevelopment Bonds are taxable.

Metropolitan Redevelopment Bonds also provide a seven-year property tax abatement on the incremental property taxes. Property owners continue to pay the pre-development tax amount to the County Assessor. All land uses are eligible for a Metropolitan Redevelopment Bond, as long as the project is found by the City Council to meet the criteria described in applications.

IMPACT FEE WAIVERS

Impact fee waivers are another financing mechanism made available to developers . Impact fees are a charge of assessment imposed by the City on new development in order to generate revenue for funding or recouping the costs of capital improvements rationally related to new development in accordance with applicable law. Capital improvements include: roads, drainage facilities, fire stations, police stations, parks, open space and trails. Impact fees are assessed and collected during the building permit process.

All projects located within a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Are eligible for a waiver of City of Albuquerque impact fees. This does not apply to Water or Sewer Impact Fee’s assessed by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority.

REVOLVING LOAN FUND (RLF)

The City of Albuquerque has an EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund to issue low-interest loans to qualified developers. The program goal is to encourage the redevelopment of contaminated properties in our community. As repayments are made, the funds are revolved, enabling the Brownfield Program to provide additional loans to borrowers. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and loans are made based on the availability of funding. For more information view the documents below:

https://www.cabq.gov/mra/about

20 METROPOLITAN REDEVELOPMENT AREAS IDENTIFIED

There are 20 Metropolitan Redevelopment Areas in the City of Albuquerque. Each area has an adopted redevelopment plan that guides the City’s redevelopment strategies.

The 20 MFAs are:

1. Barelas Neighborhood Commercial Area Revitalization and Metropolitan Area Plan (1993)
2. Central/Highland/Upper Nob Hill Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (2003, 2005)
3. Clayton Heights/Lomas Del Cielo Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (2010).
4. Coronado Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (2016).
5. Downtown 2025 Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (2000, last amended 2014).
6. East Downtown/Huning Highland/South Martineztown Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (2019).
7. East Gateway Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (2016).
8. Historic Central Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (2012).
9. Los Candelarias Village Center Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (2006, 2010).
10. McClellan Park Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (1984, 2002).
11. Near Heights Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Expansion Plan (2000, amended 2010).
12. Railroad Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (1998).
13. North Corridor Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (2020).
14. Sawmill/Wells Park Community Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (2005).
15. Soldiers and Sailors Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (1985).
16. South Barelas Industrial Park Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (1992).
17. South Broadway Neighborhoods Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency Area Plan (1986, 2002).
18. St. Joseph Hospital Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (1985).
19. Sycamore Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (1982).
20. West Central Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (2004).

The link to review each of the 20 MRA’s, with maps and goals is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/mra/redevelopment-areas/west-central

DOWNTOWN 2025 METROPOLITAN REDEVELOPMENT AREA PLAN

One of the most closely watched MFA’s is the “Downtown 2025 Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan” because of the decades of Mayor’s and City Hall being enamored with trying to revitalized the downtown area to its glory days of the 1950’s and 1960”s where it was the center of retail commerce and government.

The goal of the Downtown 2025 Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan is to make Downtown Albuquerque the best mid-sized downtown in the USA. The strategies in the Plan are:

• Make Downtown a “pedestrian-first,” “park-once” place with excellent pedestrian, transit and bicycle facilities;
• Make Downtown New Mexico’s premier pedestrian-oriented “urban place”;
• Preserve and enhance the character of the neighborhoods which surround Downtown.
• Have at least 20,000 people living within one mile of the Downtown Core, and 5,000 living within the Downtown Core by 2010;
• Create Downtown as an exciting “urban retail destination”;
• Maintain Downtown as New Mexico’s largest employment center and the Region’s Center of Economic Activity;
• Make Downtown Albuquerque a vibrant, urban 24 hour destination for arts, culture and entertainment;
• Make Downtown and the Historic District a “Tourist Destination”;
• Create new parks, open space and plazas that are easily accessible to downtown residents, workers, students and visitors; and
• Develop, maintain, and market Downtown as if it were a single mixed-use project.

https://www.cabq.gov/mra/redevelopment-areas/downtown-2025

ABBREVIATED HISTORY OF DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION AND CITY GROWTH

A very abbreviated history of “downtown revitalization” efforts is in order to fully understand the significance of what is happening with the Downtown 2025 metropolitan redevelopment area plan.

Central Avenue going West from Broadway Ave to the Rio Grande River is traditionally thought of as “Downtown” by many born and raised in Albuquerque or long-term residents. Downtown Albuquerque should probably also be considered to include a mile north and a mile south of Central between Broadway and the Rio Grande River so as to include Old Town, the Albuquerque Museum, the Children’s Science Museum, the New Mexico History Museum, the Zoo, the BioPak, which includes the botanical gardens and aquarium, and various government buildings including courthouses and commercial office buildings.

From approximately 1952 to about 1965, Downtown Albuquerque on Central from Broadway to 1st street was considered the “hub of activity” for retail and business where you would shop, bank and go for entertainment. In the 1960s and the mid-1970s, “urban renewal” was the big “buzzwords” at City Hall and the then existing City Commission. Urban Renewal was federal funding ..given to cities for the large-scale improvement of urban areas riddled with “blight,” a catchall term used to describe almost anything city planners may have found problematic or offensive with the city structure.

Blight was used to describe otherwise healthy urban neighborhoods inhabited by a single ethnic group; historic and dilapidated buildings whose owners were either uninterested in renovation or unable to secure funding to do so; heavy, poor, or inefficient traffic flow through central business districts; and nearly any other sociological or psychological issue that was affecting the urban area.”

http://albuquerquemodernism.unm.edu/wp/downtown-urban-redevelopment/

The term “blight” provided ready justification for city planners and developer aspirations. Today, “blight” translates into “gentrification”.

The 1960’s-1970’s urban renewal in Albuquerque resulted in city government use of “eminent domain” condemnations and the leveling of entire neighborhood blocks and areas of downtown, including old government buildings. The many retail stores on Central Street downtown or the Central Street area before urban renewal including Sears, JC Penny, Montgomery Ward’s, Fedway Department Store, Paris Shoe Store, Stromberg’s clothing, American Furniture, People’s Flowers, Russell Stover’s candies, Mc Clullens, Kurt’s Camera Coral, Krees’s , Levines, Woolworth’s, Payless Drugs, Zales Jewelry, Skaggs, Fogg’s Fine Jewelry, PNM (across from the KIMO) the Sunshine, KIMO, State and the El Ray movie theaters, just to mention a few.

The original Albuquerque Convention Center was built in the late 1960’s as was the old 5 story Frank Horan City Hall building and the 4 story downtown main police station were built and still stand on property that was condemned in the name of “urban renewal”. To the north of the original convention center was built the “Hilton Double Tree” hotel, 201 Marquette, NW, built in 1975, to serve the convention center and the “semi-circular” architecture portion of the hotel was supposedly inspired by “hot air” balloons and originally painted in various colors.

During urban renewal, many residential areas downtown were demolished and replaced by office buildings and it had an impact on retail businesses along Central Downtown. It was not until the early 1980’s that the City-County Government Center, 11 story building located at 1 Civic Plaza west of the plaza and located between the Frank Horan City Hall building and the old District Courthouse was erected.

Urban renewal in the 1960s and 1970’s gutted or demolished many historic and government buildings in downtown Albuquerque and included:

The Alvarado hotel at 1st and Central was demolished in 1970.
The Franciscan Hotel at 5th and Central was demolished in 1972.

A Parking lot replaced the Franciscan Hotel and the city’s Alvarado Transportation Center was built where the Alvarado Hotel one stood.

The demolition of the Franciscan Hotel and the Alvarado Hotel and restaurant contributed significantly to the demise of the downtown area.

In the early to mid-1980’s, the City Council attempted to revitalize Downtown as a place to go with the multimillion dollar “Festival Market Place”. The Festival Market place was intended to be a large entertainment venue where civic plaza now sits and nearby areas.

“Concerned Citizens” of Albuquerque mounted a voter initiative to put it on the ballot that killed the festival market place. After the demise of the Festival Market Place at the polls, the City Council exerted itself even further with Downtown revitalization by pushing the expansion of the Albuquerque Convention Center with the major addition of an east wing and a parking structure. The 21 story Hyatte Regency and 22 story Albuquerque Plaza complex, which opened in 1990, were built in part with city bonding to coincide with the convention center expansion.

From 1985 to 1989, the Albuquerque City Council continued with efforts to try to revitalize in part Downtown Albuquerque. In 1987, the City Council enacted the 10-year quarter cent “Quality of Life” tax which included funding for a Performing Arts Center, the Children’s Science Museum, the Botanical Gardens, the Albuquerque Aquarium and the Balloon Museum and the acquisition of critical open space in the Sandia foothills.

The Children’s Science Museum, the Botanical Gardens, the Albuquerque Aquarium and the Balloon Museum were all constructed. The performing arts center was originally proposed to be built at a cost of $60 million and was to be built on the city vacant land located directly north of Civic Plaza in an effort to revitalize downtown.

From 1990 to 1994, downtown revitalization took the form of trying to build a new baseball stadium in the area of Broadway and Lomas to again revitalize the area and bring people to downtown. Relocating the baseball stadium failed and the old baseball park for the “Dukes” baseball team was leveled and rebuilt calling it a “remodeling” and the stadium was renamed “Isotopes Park” after the city was able to lure another professional baseball team.

The BioPark, with the Rio Grande Zoo, aquarium and botanical gardens, is the number one tourist attraction in the State of New Mexico. During the 2015 municipal election, Albuquerque voters approved with an overwhelming majority the voter petition drive initiative to increase the gross receipts tax for the BioPark. The tax will raise $255 million dollars over 15 years for the BioPark.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Make no mistake, the “Downtown Central” area must and can be revitalized because of its historical significance and being a part of historic Route 66. Downtown Albuquerque is the sole of the city because of the history it represents and it must be respected and preserved.

There has been a very large number of multi-story apartments and condos developed directly south of Central between 1st Street and 6th Street within the past 10 years along with the Silver Street “grocery store” in one of the developments.

The residential developments are Downtown’s biggest hope yet for Downtown revitalization because it will sustain vibrant downtown activity, where people can live, raise a family and work and play which is the “walkable city” concept. The Albuquerque High School condos and the Lobo Rainforest Building and Innovate Albuquerque development across the street at Broadway and Central will no doubt help with Downtown revitalization.

The “One Central” development located at 1st Street and Central, which is now opened, is a public-private mixed-use development, including at least 39,000 square feet of commercial space with an entertainment tenant initially described as an upscale bowling alley with at least two other retail or restaurant tenants, 60 residential units and a 429-space parking garage.

https://www.pressreader.com/usa/albuquerque-journal/20180830/281513637023190

Downtown Central dodged a fatal bullet when the decision was made not to run the ART Bus project and by pass the area entirely.

BRANDING AN “OLD DOWNTOWN” TO “DOWNTOWN ROUTE 66”

The City should explore reinventing and changing the branding of the Downtown Albuquerque Central with an emphasis on historical Route 66. Storefronts on Central between 10th Street on the West and the railroad tracks on the East could be easily transformed with facades reflecting the Downtown of its Route 66 heyday.

An arts or entertainment district development that will expand further the new entertainment complex on 1st and Central should be explored. The efforts to revitalize the Rail Yards need to continue, but at a quicker pace and be tied into downtown redevelopment efforts with a transportation component, perhaps a very small trolley system reminiscent of what existed at one time downtown in the middle of central.

The building of an entertainment venue for 10,000 to 15,000 people such as the civic auditorium with another dome type facility needs to be explored and placed West of the convention center.
The number one tourist attraction in the State of New Mexico is the Bio-Park. The City needs to expedite expansion and repairs to the of the Bio-Park wherever it can with the upgrades and repairs to the facilities.

Old Town will always be a critical component of Downtown Revitalization and projects to enhance Old Town, including expansion of the Albuquerque Museum and Children’s museums should be developed. One project for the City to consider is acquire the “Romero Residence” on Old Town Plaza, convert it to a “Mayor’s Residence” to be used not for living but for City and ceremonial events.

Now that significant progress is being made with residential development in downtown, there is much optimism of what can be done business wise.

Links to related blog articles are here:

A Brief History of Downtown Albuquerque: 1952 to 2019

A Brief History of Downtown Albuquerque: 1952 to 2019

“Downtown Revitalization”: Deja Vu All Over Again!

On December 7, two Albuquerque city council runoff elections were held for the Albuquerque City Council. In District 7 Democrat Tammy Fiebelkorn and Republican Lori Robertson made it into the runoff. In District 9, Democrat Rob Griley and Republican Renee Grout made it into the runoff.

District 7 is the Mid-heights city council district including Coronado Shopping Center and Uptown surrounding areas and parts of the near northeast heights. District 9 is east Albuquerque from Menaul and Eubank, south to Kirtland Air Force base, and east of Tramway.

ELECTION RESULTS

According to unofficial results of the December 7 runoff elections, Democrats will maintain their majority on the Albuquerque City Council with a 5-4 majority down from a 6-3 majority, but their influence edge will be diminished because come 2022 no party will have a 6 vote majority to override a Mayor’s veto.

According to unofficial results, in District 7, Democrat Tammy Fiebelkorn secured 61.75% (5,106 votes) with Republican Lori Robertson’s securing 38.22% (3,159 votes). In District 9, Republican Renee Grout secured 51.69% (4,027 votes) and Democrat Rob Grilley secured 48.31% (3,764).

Fiebelkorn defeated Lori Robertson with a 23% wide margin to represent District 7, after Robertson came in first in the November 2 election defeating 4 Democrats. Republican Robinson raised $72,687 in private financing to Fiebelkorn’s public finance of $44,194 for the November 7 election. Robertson’s campaign contributions came mostly from the real estate and development communities and she received support from 2 measured finance committees promoting Republicans to oust Democrat incumbent Cynthia Borrego and Lan Sena.

Initially, Republican Robinson was considered to have the edge in support and money over Fiebelkorn but what changed the race’s momentum was when controversial Legacy Church Pastor Steve Smothermon endorsed Lori Robertson from his pulpit that stoked fears amongst the districts democrats that Robertson would do his bidding and that she was in fact a right wing extremist on hot button issues such as abortion, gay marriage, transgender issues, the city’s progressive agenda under Keller, all issues that Smothermon has been vocal about and that he has condemned.

The two measured finance committees that promoted Robinson were Albuquerque Ahead that raised $34,900 and Healthy Economies Lead to Progress raised $196,532 for a total of $231,432. The cash contributions were spent to promote 3 conservative Republican candidates, Dan Lewis, Renee Grout and Lori Lee Robertson. The 2 finance committees were successful in ousting Democrat City Councilors Lan Sena and Cynthia Borrego.

Fiebelkorn for her part was initially a public finance candidate having been given $42,000 in public fiancé after collecting the $5 qualifying donations for the November 2 elections. She changed to private financing for the runoff. Fiebelkorn succeeds Democrat Diane Gibson who endorsed her. Gibson decided not to seek reelection this year after serving two terms representing the city’s mid-Heights and she was known to have supported Sheriff Manny Gonzales over Tim Keller for Mayor.

Republican Renee Grout narrowly defeated Democrat Rob Grilley to ensure District 9 stayed in Republican control. Uninspiring, unknown and unaccomplished Republican Don Harris who served 16 years on the city council ands who has nothing to show for it decided not to run for a 5th term.

The final unofficial votes counted by the Bernalillo County Clerk can be found here:

https://results.bernco.gov/

DEMOCRAT MAJORITY CUT TO 5

The Democrat majority of 6-3 has now gone to a 5-4 majority because Republican Dan Lewis defeated Democratic incumbent Cynthia Borrego to flip the West Side District 5 seat. 4 years ago Borrego was elected to the District 5 seat when then City Councilor Dan Lewis ran for Mayor.

After the December 7 City Council runoff election, the 5 Democrats on the new city council as of January 1, 2022 are:

District 1 Louis Sanchez (Elected on November 2 defeating Lan Sena.)
District 2 Isaac Benton
District 3 Klarissa Peña (Ran unopposed on November 2 .)
District 6 Pat Davis
District 7 Tammy Fiebelkorn

After the November 7 runoff election, the 4 Republicans on the new city council are:

District 5 Dan Lewis (Newly elected)
District 4 Brook Bassan
District 8 Trudy Jones
District 9 Renee Grout

Links to quoted source material are here:

https://www.koat.com/article/democrats-maintain-city-council-majority/38456773

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/albuquerque-city-council-runoff-election-results/6324980/?cat=500

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/elections/albuquerque-city-council-runoff-election-results/

https://www.abqjournal.com/2452378/fiebelkorn-leading-big-in-city-council-runoff-grilley-grout-contest-close.html

COMMENTARY AND ANALSYSIS

After the November 2 city council elections that saw the defeat of incumbent Democrats City Councilors Cynthia Borrego to Republican Dan Lewis and the defeat of incumbent Lan Sena to conservative Decorate Louis Sanchez, the Republican Party announced an aggressive effort to take over the City Council and secure a Republican majority to oppose Mayor Tim Keller’s progressive agenda. On November 10, the Republican Party of New Mexico and the Republican Party of Bernalillo County issued a joint press release announcing they were joining forces and sharing resources to win the two key runoff elections on December 7 that would decide who would control the city council. Republicans aggressively canvassed both City Council Districts 7 and 9 in a get out the vote effort. Republicans donors continued to fund Albuquerque Ahead and Healthy Economies Lead to Progress the two measured finance committees that raised even more money to promote the Republican candidates Lori Robertson, District 7 and Rene Grout, District 9 for city council.

After defeating incumbent Democrat Cynthia Borrego, Republican Dan Lewis made it know that he believed both City Council Districts 7 and 9 would elect Republicans. Lewis made it know he intended to be the next City Council President and that he intended to aggressively question Democrat Tim Keller’s department directors, including APD management and Mayor Keller’s representatives in person to hold them “accountable”. Lewis has already made it known to his supporters he intends to run for Mayor again in 2025 and use his city council seat as a springboard to the Mayor’s Office like he tried to do 4 years ago. The reality is that many sitting city councilors have attempted to run for Mayor ever since the creation of the existing Mayor- City Council form of Government. Only one city councilor has gone on to become Mayor and that was Mayor Ken Schultz who later was indicted and plead guilty to federal charges stemming from the Metropolitan Court house scandal and kickbacks where he worked with then Senator Manny Aragon to steal millions.

A DEMOCRAT CITY COUNCIL IN NAME ONLY

After the November 2 election when conservative Democrat Louis Sanchez defeated progressive Democrat Lan Sena, who was appointed by Mayor Tim Keller, Republican operatives soon began to rationalized that conservative Democrat City Councilor Elect Louis Sanchez will identify more with conservative Republicans. Republican operatives rationalize that he has very little in common with progressive democrats who did not support him, that he owes Mayor Tim Keller absolutely nothing and owes the Democratic Party nothing with Sanchez believing he was elected on his own.

WAS IT WORTH IT?

Complicating matters for City Council Democrats is Councilor elect Louis Sanchez made a big stink that he should not have to wait until January 1, 2021 to join the city council. He went so far as to threaten to file a civil lawsuit, did news interviews and was interviewed on the Bob Clark morning radio program. Clark is decisively right wing Republican. Sanchez was no doubt emboldened when the Albuquerque Journal editorialized that he should file a lawsuit and get a definitive court ruling on the issue. The link to the editorial is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2452128/take-council-seat-to-court.html

Sanchez argues that he should be sworn immediately replacing City Councilor Lan Sena and that he is the district’s rightful representative because Lan Sena was appointed by Mayor Keller to fill a vacancy. Sanchez is correct only to the extent that he was elected to the term that begins on January 1, 2022 and nothing more than that. He was not elected to fill the last two months of former City Councilor Ken Sanchez term, yet he wants Sena to be removed. City Counselor elect Louis Sanchez is not satisfied with winning the election by defeating Lan Sena. What he wants to do is humiliate her and force her off the council over his imaginary right of entitlement that he should be sworn into office before his term begins.

City Hall confidential sources have confirmed that city hall security were advised to remove City Councilor elect Louis Sanchez if he appeared at city council offices or city council and made a scene demanding he be sworn in and disrupting the regular course of business at city hall. Sanchez does not realize that his antics and publicity seeking ways to be sworn in before his term begins resulted in the loss of credibility that will be difficult to recover. Councilor Elect Sanchez needs ask himself was the press he garnered worth it, especially given the fact his vote was not needed on the city council to kill the $140 million bond package he was objecting to and which failed.

FIRST TEST OF PARTISANSHIP

Now the City Council remains a 5-4 Democratic Majority, the biggest test for the Democrat City Council and for Democrat City Councilor Louis Sanchez will be if he votes for Republican Dan Lewis, or any other Republican, to become the new Council President when the council convenes for the first time in January, 2022. Progressive Democratic City Councilor’s Isaac Benton, Pat Davis and moderate Democrat Klarisa Pena have all expressed an interest in becoming City Council President. Republicans Dan Lewis, Trudy Jones and Brook Bassan are also said to want the job.

DECEMBER 9 NEWSUPDATE: Confidential sources are saying the Councilor elect Sanchez has already met with City Counselor Isaac Benton to discuss the vote for city council President. What is emerging is that Sanchez wants to be President of the Council and if the other 4 Democrats do not get behind him, he will seek support from the 4 Republican’s to be elected President with one of the Republicans elected as Vice President. Committee chair appointments would be divided between Democrats and Republicans.

Councilor Elect Sanchez no doubt thinks is he is now the swing vote that can make or break Mayor Tim Keller’s progressive agenda. Should Sanchez side with Republicans more often than not than with Democrats, look for him to be labeled a “Democrat In Name Only”, DINO, which many people think right now. Any argument he makes that the City Council is non partisan is simply not going to cut it in today’s climate of sharp partisanship and with the likes of Dan Lewis and the Republican Party pushing to take over the City Council.

The election for a new City Council President and Vice President will be held at the very first meeting of the City Council in January, 2022. The council president appoints all committee chairs. When the votes are taken on City Council President and Vice President, it will be revealed if City Councilor Louis Sanchez is a Democrat or a “Democrat In Name Only” when he casts his vote. The one vote for city council president will reveal exactly what kind of a Democrat Louis Sanchez really is. His vote will likely set the entire tone for his 4 years on the city council. Should Sanchez decide to throw his support to Republican causes, and should he have higher ambitions, including running for Mayor or County Commission, he might as well change his party affiliation to Republican now and not pretend he is a Democrat. Sheriff Manny Gonzales landslide loss to Mayor Tim Keller is proof that pretending to be a Democrat in a Democrat City gets you no where fast.

On December 6, the Albuquerque City Council voted 6-3 to amend the city’s “Public Purchases Ordinance” to require Project Labor Agreements (PLA’s) on all future city construction projects that cost at least $10 million and that employ workers from at least three crafts according to the ordinance. According to the enacted ordinance, a PLA is defined as “pre-hire collective bargaining agreement with one or more labor organizations or with their representatives that establishes the terms and conditions of employment” on a specific city construction project. General contractors who successfully win applicable city projects will now have to execute a PLA that governs all construction work.

Not at all surprising, the ordinance is being blasted as “pro union”. It was strenuously opposed by the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the real estate and development community including the National Association of Commerce and Industry (NAIOP) and other business organizations and conservative Republican “right to work” proponents. Voting YES for the measure were all Democrat City Councilors Cynthia Borrego, Pat Davis, Lan Sena, Isaac Benton, Diane Gibson and Klarisa Peña. Voting NO were Republicans Trudy Jones, Don Harris and Brook Bassan.

https://www.abqjournal.com/2452234/city-council-denies-100-million-facilities-plan-ex-bond-proposal-would-have-used-all-of-the-citys-recent-savings.html

PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS EXPLAINED

Project Labor Agreements also known as PLAs have been around for decades and are collective bargaining agreements between building trade unions and contractors. Federal legislation allows the use of project labor agreement, which are essentially a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement to establish employment terms, including wages and working conditions on construction projects. They govern terms and conditions of employment for all craft workers, union and nonunion, on a government construction project. PLA’s mandate the use of a skilled labor force and licensed workers such as plumbers, electricians and carpenters in construction contracts and mandate the payment of prevailing union wage to both union and nonunion workers.

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/benefits-project-labor-agreement-39456.html

https://aflcio.org/what-unions-do/empower-workers/project-labor-agreements

PSA’s are controversial on a number of levels and are highly vilified by anti union and “right to work” advocates. Under the National Labor Relations Act, construction contractors and employees have the right to choose to unionize or not to unionize. The vast majority of contractors and their employees voluntarily opt against unionization. A project labor agreement requires all contractors, whether they are unionized or not, to pay the going rates or hourly wages paid to skilled and licensed labor. The most common objection voiced against PSA’s is that qualified non-union contractors who wish to make lower-cost bids, and employees who wish to work non-union, are locked out of government construction projects. Another opposition argument is that use of PSA’s usually results in cost overruns and higher construction costs for taxpayers.

https://www.nrtw.org/what-is-a-project-labor-agreement-and-how-does-it-affect-workers/

REACTION TO ORDIANCE

The bill was formally introduced without discussion at the November 15 City Council meeting and was not heard by a City Council committee ahead of December 6 city council vote.

It was outgoing Democrats City Councilors Cynthia Borrego and Lan Sena who sponsored the legislation and they will be leaving office come January 1, 2022. Democrat Borrego lost her bid for another term to conservative former City Councilor Republican Dan Lewis. Progressive Democrat Lan Sena, who was appointed by Mayor Tim Keller to fill the vacancy on the counsel the result of the death of Ken Sanchez, lost her bid for a full term to conservative Democrat Louis Sanchez.

The councilors and supporters of the PSA ordinance argued that it will enhance transparency and ensure that a properly trained and compensated workforce builds city facilities. Not at all surprising local construction industry representatives called the ordinance “unfair and anti-competitive” and questioning why there has not more public discussion.

Outgoing Democrat City Councilor Cynthia Borrego had this to say in a written statement:

“[The ordinance commits the city] … to project labor from NM Building and Construction Trades Council — New Mexico labor. It will ensure experienced and professional labor-qualified and certified workers build City projects and that the City constructs the highest quality infrastructure and projects.”

Carla Kugler, president and CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors’ New Mexico chapter, complained she only learned of the proposal a few weeks ago and had this to say:

“Something so controversial and something that has this much impact on the construction community should be worth investing a little time and thought in it. … [This ordinance is] a handout for organized labor forced upon our construction community and workforce. … [There is no need for PSA’s to ensure contractors pay workers properly] . … There is oversight [already on city projects] … The Department of Workforce Solutions oversees everybody’s pay — union and non-union.”

Kuger noted that more than 90% of the local industry’s worker pool is not currently part of a union.

Republican City Councilor Trudy Jones called the proposal “short-sighted” and said she felt it is unnecessarily pit unions against none union businesses and put it this way:

“I’m not opposed to unions. … I just believe that we shouldn’t interfere this way.”

EDITOR’S COMMENTARY: Yeah, right Councilor Trudy Jones, you are the only right wing Republican in the United States not opposed to unions.

Democtat Lan Sena took strong issue with the accusation that the ordinance was rushed saying similar legislation had been debated locally before and she stated:

“This isn’t anything new, especially since the county has participated in this as well. ”

Sena said she supports PLAs because they clearly outline the terms of each project, including worker pay and benefits and management rights, but also because the city would require each agreement to include an apprenticeship component, which she said will help boost the local workforce. Sena put it this way:

“PLAs provide stability, predictability and diversification of our local jobs and training a labor force. ”

Sena added the ordinance will not prevent non-union firms from winning jobs as long as they enter into the requisite PLA.

The Bernalillo County Commission passed a similar ordinance in 2020, though it has not yet applied the new requirement to any projects.

SUPPORT EXPRESSED IN CONTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Over the past 3 years fiscal years, the city had 6 major projects that would have met the requirements for a PLA now required by the new ordinance.

Troy Beall, CEO of B&D Industries, a local electrical/mechanical contractor said he supports PLAs. According to Beall, his firm currently employs upwards of about 700 union members. Beall believes a union workforce is better trained. Beall reported that his firm was called in as a subcontractor to help finish an over-budget and delayed Albuquerque International Sunport renovation a few years ago after the first electrical subcontractor walked off the job.

“I have a 40-year history in this community, and I don’t know of a job that’s ever failed [under a collective bargaining agreement]. It’s because we agree to a contract with individuals for our employees. … The union has been very good for our corporation.”

A link to quoted source material is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2451444/councilors-want-labor-agreements-on-large-city-projects.html

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Mandating Project Labor Agreements (PLA’s) on city construction projects has always been controversial in Albuquerque. History and experience show it is a mandate that is long overdue and that has been prevented primarily because of Republican Mayor and Republican City Council opposition stoked by the Republican right wing leaning business community.

Former conservative and Republican Mayor Richard Berry was elected to serve two terms from 2009 until 2013. Berry was a construction contractor and developer in Albuquerque and was known to oppose anything and everything associated with unions and he actively supported for and lobbied for right to work legislation. During his entire 8 years as Mayor, Berry was at impasse with virtually all 7 of the city hall unions and their collective bargaining contract, especially the police union. During his first term in office (2009 to 2013) Berry unilaterally ordered the suspension of negotiated union contracts and refused to pay negotiated pay increases agreed to by his predecessor Mayor Martin Chavez. Berry even ordered pay cuts to forestall increasing taxes to deal with a deficit.

It was no secret that Mayor Richard Berry was the darling of the real estate development community and “right to work proponents” with Berry even lobbying for right to work laws in Santa Fe. Berry was also known to object to PSA’s. The National Association Of Industrial Office Parks (NAIOP) and Republican leaning organizations such of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Forum and the New Mexico Business Coalition were big time supporters of Berry contributing thousands to his successful privately finance campaign for a second term in 2013 where he spent well over $1 Million to get elected to a second term in the lowest voter turnout in the city’s history. Berry won in a landslide with a 19% voter turnout.

In the 2013 Mayor’s race, PSA’s were made an issue, especially by NAIOP. During the NAIOP luncheon debate moderated by Albuquerque Journal Senior Editor Kent Waltz and attended by well over 300 people, Republicans Richard Berry and Paul Heh and Democrat Pete Dinelli were all asked their positions on PSA’s. Berry and Heh both said they were opposed, while Pete Dinelli said he agreed they were necessary. Dinelli pointed out that for any Mayor to be successful they must work with the city unions. Dinelli was literally booed by half of the audience watching, including Berry’s Chief Administrative Officer Rob Perry. Dinelli came very close to telling NAIOP to go screw themselves and walking out of the debate but he showed great restraint and stayed anyway to make a point. Restraint is not required of a person who is fully retired, free to think, say and do what they want, so to NAIOP, it’s a delight and a real treat to watch NAIOP membership to deal with project labor agreements before they can suck on the government tit and be paid with taxpayer money for government construction contract work.

VILIFYING GOVERNMENT WITH YOUR HAND OUT

It is always amazing how real estate developers and construction firms and organizations such as NAIOP and Republicans are so resistant to any and all government rules, and regulations such as building codes, electrical codes, plumbing codes and minimum construction standards proclaiming government overreach. To them, its irrelevant that building electrical, plumbing and safety codes protect the public health, safety, and welfare and taxpayer dollars. Organizations such of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Forum and the New Mexico Business Coalition and NAIOP never cease with their vilification of unions and government regulations proclaiming it interferes with their ability to compete and make a living and drives up their costs to do business and lowers profits. What is also interesting is that NAIOP membership are always first in line with their hands out to bid on city government contracts wanting multimillion dollar construction contracts, such as the $120 million ART Bus project, yet they vilify government.

LEGITIMATE REASONS FOR CITY PSA’S

Simply put, PSA’s are necessary in City government construction contracts for any number of legitimate reasons. Those reasons include:

1. The PSA’s mandate uniform wages, benefits, overtime pay, hours, working conditions, and work rules for work on major city construction projects
2. The PSA’s mandate that contractors on city construction projects have reliable and uninterrupted supply of qualified workers at predictable costs;
3. The PSA’s ensure that a government construction project will be completed on time and on budget
4. The PSA’s will ensure no labor strife by prohibiting strikes and lockouts and including binding procedures to resolve labor disputes;
5. PSA’s in projects over $10 million as mandated by the ordinance will make it easier to manage by placing unions under one contract, the PLA, rather than dealing with several unions that may have different wage and benefit structures;
6. The PSA ordinance includes provisions to recruit and train workers by requiring contactors to participate in recruitment, apprenticeship, and training programs for women, minorities, veterans, and other under-represented groups
7. The PSA reduces misclassification of workers and the related underpayment of payroll taxes and workers compensation.
8. The PSA ordinance will translate into a larger percentage of construction wages staying in the city and state.
9. The PSA will improve worker safety by requiring contractors and workers to comply with project safety rules.
10. The PSA requirement for city government construction projects will have a positive long-term economic benefit for the local and construction industry as a whole.

Mayor Tim Keller is strongly urged to sign the resolution as soon as possible.

Two term Albuquerque City Councilor Dan Lewis ran unsuccessfully for Mayor against Tim Keller in 2017. Keller won the 2017 runoff by a decisive landslide by securing 60,219 votes or 62.20% against Dan Lewis who secured 36,594 or 37.8% of the vote. In 2017, Keller won all city Council Districts including the City Council District represented by Dan Lewis.

On November 2, 2021, Republican Dan Lewis was again elected to the city council by defeating first term Democrat and City Council President Cynthia Borrego who succeeded Lewis in 2017. City Councilor elect Dan Lewis previously served two terms on the Albuquerque City Council from 2009 to 2017.

City Councilor Elect Dan Lewis is now complaining that 4 outgoing City Councilors with less than a month remaining in office will be voting on a $140 Million Bond Package, with 2 outgoing City Councilors as co-sponsors. Lewis argues the resolution should be placed on hold arguing that the current council should not vote on it and allow the new council that is sworn in on January 1, 2022 to vote. The hypocrisy is Dan Lewis did something far worse a month before leaving office 4 years ago as he left city council.

CITY COUNCIL $110 BOND PROPOSAL

On November 15, a mere 13 days after the November 2 municipal election, a $110 million bond proposal resolution was formally introduced. The resolution is scheduled to be voted on by the full city council scheduled for December 6. The bonds, backed by the city’s gross receipts tax revenue (GRT Bonds), are being proposed by the city council and it will not require voter approval. A “super majority” of 7 of votes on the City Council is required. Such authority is given to the city council as is the authority to enact gross receipt tax increases, property taxes and lodger tax allocations.

The $110 million dollar bond resolution is scheduled for a final vote on December 6 which will be the very last meeting of the year for the city council and the day before the city council December 7 runoff. The legislation will be among the final legislative actions for 4 of 9 city councilors leaving office. Councilor elect Dan Lewis is strongly objecting to the bond resolution and said this:

“Four city councilors who would make a decision on this won’t even be here in January. … For that reason alone we need to deal with this with a new council in January.”

Lewis is predicting that the bond package will lose on December 6 before he joins the city council, likely because he has made contact with conservative Republican City Councilors Trudy Jones and Don Harris to vote no on the bond package while Progressive Democrats Pat Davis and Isaac Benton are expressing reservations about the vote themselves and a few of the projects still very much in the planning phase. Benton went so far as saying the vote “does not pass the smell test.” The 4 can block the initiative resulting in a a 5-4 vote when it needs a 7-2 vote.

To complicate matters even further, City Councilor elect Louis Sanchez who defeated incumbent Lan Sean, is demanding to be sworn in before his term begins on January 1, 2022 falsely proclaiming he is the rightful city councilor to replace Mayor appointed Lan Sena and proclaiming he will vote against the bond package.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Simply put, Dan Lewis is a hypocrite. He condemns 4 outgoing city councilors for voting on pending matters when he himself did the exact same thing as an outgoing city councilor 4 years ago after he lost the Mayor’s race.

LEWIS HISTORY OF HYPOCRACY

Lewis takes issue with outgoing city councilors voting for a $110 million bond package a few weeks before they leave office on January 1, 2022 saying it should be put on hold until the new City Council takes office on January 1, 2022. There are two more city council meeting left, December 6 and December 20. It’s painfully obvious Lewis’ real intent is simply gut all the priorities of the outgoing city councilors. The fact that Mayor Keller has given his approval and supports the GRT Bond no doubt is motivating Lewis to try to try and shame the council as well as Mayor Tim Keller.

Dan Lewis did more than few things even worse as he left the City Council in 2017 and during his previous 8 years as a city councilor. In particular, Lewis voted for legislation that now effects the community and historical neighborhoods for generations to come and supporting gentrification and the real estate and development industries who gave so heavily to his 2021 bid for city council. Simply put, Lewis is in the pockets of the real estate community and developers.

DESTROYING CITY’S HISTORICAL NEIGHBORHOODS

On March 20, 2017, then City Councilor and candidate for Mayor Dan Lewis voted to adopt the findings and recommendations of the “ABC-Z Project”. The project as an aggressive two-year initiative begun in 2015 by then Republican Mayor Richard Berry, a contractor and developer, to update the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Comprehensive Plan and to create an Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO). At the time, there were 60 sector development plans which governed new developments in specific neighborhoods. Forty (40) of the development plans had their own “distinct zoning guidelines” that were designed to protect many historical areas of the city. Examples of areas of the city governed by long standing sector development plans include Barelas, San Jose, Hunning Highland, Silver Hills, Nob Hill and Old Town. Under the “ABC-Z Project” the number of sector development zones went from 250 to fewer than 20, which by any terms is dramatic and no doubt excited the real estate development community.

The “ABC-Z Project” project was promoted as a way to simplify zoning and subdivision regulations “in order to improve economic development, protect established neighborhoods and special places, streamline the development review/approval process and promote more sustainable development.” What it actually did do was “gut” in full historical overlay zones and sector development plans enacted to protect neighborhoods and their character. Many of the affected historical neighborhoods condemned the ABC-Z comprehensive plan as being racist, something totally ignored by the entire city council, Democrats and Republicans alike on the city council, to the delight of Mayor Berry.

https://www.cabq.gov/planning/urban-design-development/abc-z-project

On November 13, 2017 then outgoing City Councilor and candidate for Mayor Dan Lewis, along with other City Councilors leaving office on December 1, 2017, voted to approve the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) which incorporated and adopted the “ABC-Z Project”. The next day, November 14, Lewis lost in a landslide to Tim Keller. Lewis no doubt knew how badly he was going to lose given the polling released at the time, yet he did not advocate that the city council place on hold the IDO for the 20218 new council to take it up as he is doing now the $140 bond package.

The Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) plan repealed a number of historical sector development plans making it far easier and cheaper for real estate developers and contractors to do re-development free of many zoning and construction and design code restrictions. The ABC-Z project rewrite spear headed by the Berry Administration was nothing more than making “gentrification” official city policy and “gutted” long standing sector development plans designed to protect neighborhoods and their character. Many of the affected historical neighborhood condemned the ABC-Z comprehensive plan as being racist, something Republicans Dan Lewis, Trudy Jones, Don Harris and Brad Winter simply did not care about and ignored

The Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) was pushed for a vote by then Republican Mayor Richard Berry because he was leaving office and made a commitment to the real estate development industry to get it passed. Berry was a contractor and known to be the darling of the construction industry and real estate development industry. Berry received thousands in political donations when he ran for Mayor for a second term in 2013. Not at all surprising is that candidate for Mayor Dan Lewis also collected thousands in private campaign donations from the real estate and the construction industry when he too ran for Mayor in 2017.

“HEALTHY ECONOMIES LEAD TO PROGRESS” DEFEATS INCUMBENT DEMOCRATS WITH REPUBLICAN DAN LEWIS IN HIP POCKET

Both Republican Elect City Councilor Elect Dan Lewis and Democrat Incumbent Cynthia Borrego who Dan Lewis defeated on November 2 qualified for public finance and were given $50,489 to run their campaigns. According to the campaign finance reports filed with the City Clerk’s office, McCleskey Media Strategies was the political consulting firm that managed the Dan Lewis campaign for City Council. Campaign finance reports file with the City Clerk reflect that Dan Lewis paid Mc Clesky Strategies $29,720. The link to review Lewis campaign finance reports is here:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/OrganizationDetail.aspx?OrganizationID=7118

The significance of McCleskey Media Strategies handling the Lewis Campaign is that political Republican Strategist Jay McCleskey is the primary principle or owner of McCleskey media strategies. Mc Clesky is known for his negative slash-and-burn tactics to disparage and viciously malign Democrats. Jay Mc Clesky has managed the successful campaigns of Republicans running for Governor, the state legislator, Mayor, and Albquerquerqu City Council. Simply put, Mc Clesky is the go to guy for anyone who is Republican running for office who wants to win at all cost and willing to pay top dollar.

Notwithstanding public financing, it was not an even playing field given the fact that Dan Lewis was heavily supported and promoted financially by a measured finance committee funded by the real estate development community who no doubt were grateful for his support on the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) four years ago.

On August 7, 2021, Healthy Economies Lead to Progress filed with the City Clerk its registration certificate. Its stated purpose is “TO SUPPORT THOSE CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNCIL WHO WILL MOVE ALBUQUERQUE AHEAD AND OPPOSE THOSE WHO WILL NOT.” The MFC was formed to promote Republican candidates Dan Lewis, Lori Robertson, Renee Grout. Healthy Economies Lead to Progress raised $196,532 for the November 2 election to promote Republicans.

It did not support any candidate for Mayor and concentrated on City Council races to defeat Democrat City Councilor Lan Sena and Cynthia Borrego and that goal was achieved.

7TH, 8TH, 9TH AND 10TH Campaign Finance reports filed by “Healthy Economies Lead to Progress” reveal the following major donors and amounts:

NEW MEXICO RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION (Carol Wight): $20,000
COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS NM: $18,639.22
JOHNSON COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, LLC: $4,000
ABRAZO HOMES, LLC: $2,500
JEAN F BERNSTEIN: $1,000
DAVE HILL INC: $1,000
BRUCE J STIDWORTHY: $1,000
WILLIAM T ROBERTSON: $1,000

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/FilingAmendmentSelect.aspx?FilingID=118024

COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS NM: $10,000
PREMIER DISTRIBUTING COMPANY: $5,000
STEVE MAESTAS: $5,000 ( two $2,500 donations)
ANGELA WILLIAMSON: $2,000
TITAN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC: $1,000
MICHAEL LEACH: $1,000

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/OrganizationDetail.aspx?OrganizationID=7140

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS FUND: $64,000
NEW MEXICO RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION: $10,000
PETROYATES, INC.: $10,000
ABC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE: $5,000.00

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/PublicSite/Reports/FetchReportToPDF.aspx

REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE: $20,000.00
NEW MEXICO NAIOP PAC: $1,500

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/FilingAmendmentSelect.aspx?FilingID=118027

LEWIS VOTES FOR DISATEROUS ART PROJECT AND “PICKLE BALL” COURTS

Lewis is now objecting to the City Council enacting $140 million in bonds for major construction projects that will have an effect on city council districts. Least any one forgets, City Councilor Dan Lewis voted repeatedly for and the disastrous ART Bus project that has destroyed the character of Route 66. Lewis voted to spend federal grant money that had yet to be appropriated by congress for the bus project. The ART Bus project has been a total disaster resulting the destruction of the character of Route 66. ART has a negative impact on Central resulting in several businesses going out of business. Many central businesses and Nob Hill businesses, no longer exist because of the ART Bus Project. Lewis voted to use $13 million dollars in revenue bonds to pay for the ART Bus project. The revenue bonds were not voted upon by the public.

Lewis also voted with the rest of the Albuquerque City Council to borrowed over $63 million dollars over a two-year period to build pickle ball courts, baseball fields and the ART bus project down central by bypassing the voters. The $65 million dollars was borrowed with the Albuquerque City Councilors voting to use revenue bonds as the financing mechanism to pay for big capital projects.

LEWIS SAYS HE SUPPORTS COPS BUT VOTED AGAINST THEIR BEST INTERESTS

On November 3, 2021, the Albuquerque City Council passed a 5 page “memorial” on a unanimous bi partisan 9-0 vote that reestablishes the Albuquerque City Council’s commitment to bringing down the city’s spiking violent crime rates.

City Councilor Elect Dan Lewis, was asked to comment about the city council memorial. Lewis said fixing our crime issues will all come down to “leadership” and he had this to say:

“We have more money than we’ve ever had before so it’s not about revenue. … It’s about good leadership and making good choices. We need to support our police officers.”

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/albuquerque-city-council-recommits-to-end-crime-drivers/6290668/?cat=500

When Lewis says “We need to support our police officers” he forgets that his actions on the city council were contrary to supporting law enforcement. Lewis when on the city council for 8 years had no problem at all and did not object to Republican Mayor Richard Berry refusing to honor an increase in police hourly pay that was negotiated in good faith by the police union and the Mayor Marty Chavez Administration.

Republican Mayor Berry unilaterally decided to cut city employee wages and salaries as a means of combating a deficit and Lewis went along with it without a single objection. Instead of dealing with the deficit with a gross receipts tax increase, Lewis went along with slashing city budgets, reducing the city workforce and damaging the delivery of essential services to avoid at all cost any and all tax increases.

Lewis also voted to “defund the police” when he voted to reduce the funding of APD sworn police officer from 1,100 to 1,000 sworn police.

Over the 8 years Lewis served on the City Council, the number of APD sworn officers dropped from 1,100 sworn police officers to 856, yet little was ever said nor heard from Lewis to hold Mayor Berry accountable for a deteriorating APD and the mismanagement of APD. Lewis never once questioned the leadership of Berry’s appointees former APD Chief Ray Schultz and Republican political operative APD Chief Gordon Eden.

For a full 8 years as a city councilor, Lewis watched the city’s violent crime rates spike under his watch, even when he was City Council President.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REFORMS

The Albuquerque City Council plays a crucial oversight role of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) including controlling its budget. Dan Lewis did nothing when he was on the city council before when it comes to Albuquerque Police Department (APD) reforms. Lewis never challenged the Berry Administration nor the APD command staff in public in any meaningful way demanding compliance with the Department of Justice (DOJ) consent decree reforms. Each time the Federal Court appointed Monitor presented his critical reports of APD to the City Council, Lewis remained silent. Lewis declined to demand accountability from Mayor Berry and hold the APD command staff responsible for dragging their feet on the reforms.

When Federal Monitor James Ginger made a presentation to a city council committee Lewis was presiding over, then City Council President Dan Lewis asked Dr. Ginger “Who is ultimately responsible for failure to implement the reforms an overseeing APD?” When Ginger said “The City Council” Lewis chortled uncomfortably with other counselors and with a stupid expression of disbelief on his face.

Lewis to this day often likes to take credit for bringing the DOJ to the city with his sponsorship of a resolution enacted by the City Council. The truth is Lewis had very little to do with or nothing at all to bring the Department of Justice to the city. The DOJ came to the city because minority community stakeholders who had been victimized by APD and lobbied aggressively and effectively to get the DOJ to come to the city. Even as a City Councilor, Lewis did not attend a single federal court hearing on the Federal Monitor’s reports to find out what APD’s position was on the monitor’s reports.

Links to source material are here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/919263/revenue-bonds-find-favor-in-abq.html

https://www.abqjournal.com/1375946/city-council-approves-new-lodgers-tax-bonds.html

“DAMN DANIEL, LEWIS BACK AT IT AGAIN WITH FAILED LEADERSHIP!”

On November 16, the blog article entitled “Damn Daniel, Lewis Back At It Again With Failed Leadership!” City Council “Memorial” To End Crime Drivers Pathetic Substitute For Results; What City Council Can Actually Do To Lead And Combat Crime” was published by www.PeteDinelli.com. The link to the blog article was sent to City Councilor elect Republican Dan Lewis the same day it was published. The policy of the blogger is to email the link to any blog article and the people mentioned in the blog article.

The link to the blog article is here:

https://www.petedinelli.com/2021/11/16/damn-daniel-lewis-back-at-it-again-with-failed-leadership-city-council-memorial-to-end-crime-drivers-pathetic-substitute-for-results-what-city-council-can-actu/

“NOBODY READS THIS CRAP ANYWAY” AND GETTING YOUR ASS KICKED

In an extraordinary exchange of emails and text messages with blogger Pete Dinelli on November 16, 2021, the conservative Republican City Councilor elect and city councilor “retread extraordinaire” Republican Dan Lewis City revealed his intent that during the 4 years he was off the council he learned absolutely nothing. He also thinks voters are dumb enough not to remember his failed record as a City Councilor for 8 years.

On November 16 the day the article was published, the following exchanged occurred between City Councilor Elect Dan Lewis and political blogger and former City Councilor and Chief Public Safety Officer Pete Dinelli:

In a message dated 11/16/2021 10:48:08 AM Mountain Standard Time, Dan Lewis wrote Pete Dinelli:

“Pete you make no sense at all. Are you still defending this failed mayor? I’m not trying to get the support of anyone especially the apoa [the police union]. I have nothing to prove. But you better believe that this mayor will be accountable now.”

In an email dated Tue, 11/ 16/ 2021 at 11:50 AM Pete Dinelli wrote Dan Lewis:

Councilor-Elect Lewis:

If you do not want my advice nor input, that’s fine with me, and good luck as you continue with your public service to the city.”

In a message dated 11/16/2021 12:05:13 PM Mountain Standard Time, Dan Lewis wrote Pete Dinelli:

“Pete I’ve read many of your articles and honestly you don’t make any sense at all. I was the biggest critic of Berry and you know it. I get it, he kicked your ass and you’re still not over it. I see a lot of poison and insanity coming from you. Always glad to talk and I’m always available. Feel free to call any time. But honestly I’m not sure if you really want to hear any of the truth. I’m blocking these emails. Nothing here that’s anywhere close to productive.”

In an email dated 11/16/2021 at 12:16 PM, Pete Dinelli wrote Dan Lewis:

Dan:

“The only poison and insanity is you. Keller kicked your ass and it’s you who are not over it and now you intend to take your revenge. I have no intention of ever calling you and have not for over 4 years because you are not interested in the truth. Block me all you want but do not “piss and moan” when I write about you.

In a message dated 11/16/2021 12:22:30 PM Mountain Standard Time, Dan Lewis writes Pete Dinelli:

“Pete write about me all you want. I don’t care. From what I hear nobody reads this crap anyway.

Sent from my iPhone

In an email dated 11/16/2021 12:36:06 PM Mountain Standard Time to Dan Lewis Pete Dinelli wrote:

“Danny:

Hate to break it to you, the “crap” as you call it is read by more people than ever voted for you. Last year for all of 2020 there were 105,000 views and 69,968 visitors to the blog. This year the numbers will likely be even bigger. Here is link about the views and visitors. The blog tabulator is done daily, weekly, monthly and yearly the administrator that I pay monthly.”

https://www.petedinelli.com/2020/12/31/in-2020-dinelli-blog-had-105695-total-reader-views-69968-total-blog-visitors-thanks-for-viewing-and-visiting-onto-a-better-2021-new-year-please-wear-the-damn-mask/

NOVEMBER 21 NEW MEXICO POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN

On November 21, New Mexico Politics With Joe Monahan posted the following:

Supporters of ABQ City Councilor-elect Dan Lewis unloaded on the [Keller] administration and the current council following [the] blog about his opposition to a $110 million bond package being pushed by the Keller administration and Republican City Councilor Brook Bassan.

With progressive Councilors Benton and Davis having independent streaks there is plenty of unpredictability to contemplate, even though Keller was re-elected in a November 2 landslide.

http://joemonahansnewmexico.blogspot.com/

CONCLUSION

Lewis has revealed with his words he will be seeking revenge on Democrat Mayor Tim Keller in the guise of holding Keller accountable as he lays the ground work to become the new City Council President and to run for Mayor a second time in 2025.

Lewis will likely “piss and moan” when he too is held accountable for his hypocrisy and “all that crap” read and shared by upwards of 70,000 visitors at www.PeteDinelli.com.

On March 11, 2021, Mayor Tim Keller announced the appointment of Lan Sena to the unexpired term of former City Councilor Ken Sanchez for Albuquerque City Council District 1 seat, Albuquerque’s Central Westside. Ken Sanchez passed away on January 1, 2021 and the council term expires December 31, 2021. The District 1 City council seat was on the November 2 ballot for the election to a 4-year term that begins on January 1, 2021.

On November 2, in the race for Albuquerque City Council District 1, Democrat City Councilor Lan Sena, 31, lost to Democrat and former APD police officer Louie Sandchez,(56).

On November 15, a $110 million bond proposal resolution was formally introduced to the City Council. The Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) General Obligation bonds resolution seeks to borrow $110 million to build a upwards of 16 major infrastructure projects around the city. The project list includes more than $45 million for improving parks, open spaces, recreational facilities, a new multi-generation center across from Cibola High School. Another $40 million will be dedicated to public safety projects, including updating the Albuquerque Police Department downtown headquarters north of city hall, the APD academy building, and other public safety facilities.

City Councilor Lan Sena is a co-sponsor of the $110 million bond bill and it requires union involvement in major city construction projects through the use of project labor agreements.

WANTING TO BE SWORN IN BEFORE TERM BEGINS

City Councilor Elect Louie Sanchez is now saying he should not have to wait until January 1, 2021 to join the city council, that he should be sworn immediately replacing Lan Sena so that he can participate in the December 6 city council meeting on the $110 bond package . Like City Councilor elect Dan Lewis, Council Elect Louie Sanchez is saying the 4 incoming councilors should be involved in such significant actions and said:

“This is a great deal of money. … It’s a big decision, and it’s a decision that shouldn’t be rushed.”

Sanchez is arguing that his November 2 election over appointed City Councilor Lan Sena means he is now the district’s rightful representative. He is correct only to the extent that he was elected to the term that begins on January 1, 2022 and nothing more than that. He was not elected to fill the last two months of former city councilor Ken Sanchez term.

Councilor Elect Louie Sanchez is asking City Clerk Ethan Watson to swear him in immediately replacing Lan Sena so that he can participate in the city council’s December 6 meeting where scheduled votes include the $140 major infrastructure spending package. City Clerk Ethan Watson contends that the recent city election legally was intended to fill a four-year council term that starts January 1, 2022 saying there is no vacancy and that Lan Sena is the City Councilor until December 31, 2020.

City Councilor elect Sanchez proclaims:

“According to the rule of law, I should be in office.”

City Councilor Lan Sena for her part said she has no plans to step aside before year’s end and said:

“When I signed up for this job, it was to fulfill the vacancy and the term of our late Councilor Ken Sanchez, and his term would have ended on the 31st of December.”

CITY CHARTER PROVSIONS

City Council Elect Louie Sanchez and City Clerk Ethan Watson are each relying on two separate sections of Article IV of the City of Albuquerque Charter governing the City Council. The two sections are Section 4 dealing with TERMS OF OFFICE and Section 9 dealing with VACANCIES IN OFFICE.

The City Charter Section City Councilor Elect Louis Sanchez relies on is:

“Section 9. VACANCIES IN OFFICE.

(b) If a vacancy occurs in the office of Councilor, the Mayor shall appoint a registered qualified elector of the district to fill the vacancy. Anyone appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve until the next regular election, at which time a person shall be elected to fill the remaining unexpired term, if any.”

The link to review the city charter provisions is here:

https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/albuquerque/latest/albuqcharter/0-0-0-207#JD_CharterArticleIV

Sanchez argues that the City Charter provision mandates that he take office now since Sena is serving in an appointed capacity. Sanchez contends that the normal timeline for him to take office on January 1, 2022 does not apply to him and that he should be sworn in now and serve the last month of Ken Sanchez’s term.

The City Charter Section City Clerk Eathan Watson relies on is Section 4 entitled TERMS OF OFFICE and it provides as follows:

“The terms of the office of a Councilor, unless sooner recalled or removed, shall begin on January 1 following the candidate’s election and be four years or until a successor is duly elected and qualified. The Councilors may succeed themselves in office. The terms of office of Councilors shall be staggered with four or five districted Councilors elected every two years.”

City Clerk Watson argues that Louie Sanchez was elected to serve a specific term that begins on January 1, 2022 and he was not elected in a special election to serve any portion of an unexpired term the result of a vacancy.

BOTH BERNALILLLO COUNTY CLERK AND SECRETARY OF STATE MUST CERTIFY

Unlike all past municipal elections, the November 2 municipal election was administered by the Bernalillo County clerk and not the City Clerk. It was in 2019 that the New Mexico Local Election Act was passed by the State Legislature. The act mandates that all regular local election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each odd-numbered year, including municipal nonpartisan races such as Albuquerque Mayor and City Council. The act mandates that all local elections be consolidated on one ballot included municipal elections for mayor, city council, elected boards of educations, elected conservancy districts and flood control districts such as AMAFCA and bond elections.

https://codes.findlaw.com/nm/chapter-1-elections/nm-st-sect-1-22-3.html

It is well settled law that an elected official cannot be sworn into office unless and until the election is certified by the appropriate county and state officials. The Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office has certified the November 2 election results and the Bernalillo County Commission has voted to accept those results. The Bernalillo County Commission has forwarded those results to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State has yet to certify the state wide election results, including the November 2 municipal election. No one in the state can be sworn into office until the Secretary of State completes the canvassing of all election held in the state

City Councilor Elect Louis Sanchez says:

“According to the rule of law, I should be in office” and proclaims he is considering filing a court action if needed to be sworn in. Sanchez said if he succeeds in taking office prior to Monday’s meeting, he would support delaying a vote on the bonds, adding that the incoming councilors should be involved in such significant actions.

In response to the threat of litigation by Sanchez, City Clerk Watson said:

“The City Clerk has made clear in correspondence with Councilor-elect Sanchez that [his] term begins on January 1, pursuant to state law. … [the County Clerk’s Election proclamation] made clear that that term was four years, not more than four years”. [I] cannot swear in any new councilors because the secretary of state has not yet issued a “certificate of election” to any Albuquerque candidates who won on November 2.

https://www.abqjournal.com/2450979/council-race-winner-pushing-to-expedite-swearing-in.html

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

When city councilor elect Louie Sanchez says “According to the rule of law, I should be in office” he is seriously mistaken when it comes to his own election and to the City Charter provisions. The “rule of law” dictates that his term begins on January 1, 2022 and not any time sooner. The “rule of law” also dictates he can only be sworn in when his election is certified by both the Bernalillo County clerk and the Secretary of State and then and only then can he assume office.

City Councilor elect Sanchez was not elected in a special election to fill a vacancy on the city council. The language of Section 9 (a0 and (b), “VACANCIES IN OFFICE, deals with “special elections” to fill a vacancy and state as follows: .

(a) A vacancy in the office of Councilor occurs upon the Councilor’s death, disability, recall, resignation, removal or termination of residency in the district represented.

(b) If a vacancy occurs in the office of Councilor, the Mayor shall appoint a registered qualified elector of the district to fill the vacancy. Anyone appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve until the next regular election, at which time a person shall be elected to fill the remaining unexpired term, if any.” which is exactly what City Councilor Lan Sena was legally appointed by Mayor Tim Keller to fill the unexpired term of Ken Sanchez. Councilor Lan Sena has every right to carryout her duties and even vote on matters. Councilor Elect Sanchez cannot replace her unless she decides to step down and only then if he is appointed to replace her by Mayor Tim Keller.

If you follow the defective legal analysis that Councilor elect Sanchez should immediately replace Lan Sena to a logical conclusion, the identical argument could be made that City Councilor elect Dan Lewis should be sworn immediately to replace Incumbent Cynthia Borrego who Lewis defeated on November 2 and that is just not going to happen.

ONE MUST LEARN TO PICK AND CHOOSE BATTLES CARFULLY

City Councilor Elect Louie Sanchez has a number of options available short of trying to force himself on the city council and trying to replace Lan Sena.

When City Councilor elect Louie Sanchez says he is considering litigation, ostensibly he is relying on very poor legal advice or someone who simply does not have an understanding of the city charter, how it operates and the civil litigation process. Simply put, with less than one month before taking office, and 3 days before the December 6 city council vote, there is not enough time to file any sort of meaningful litigation, get the case assigned to a judge and have an evidentiary hearing. It is more likely than not that most, if not all, Second Judicial District Judges would disqualify themselves from hearing the case as they did with the appeal of Sheriff Manny Gonzales on the denial of public financing by the City Clerk. In other words, litigation would be a waste of time and money and the issue will be rendered moot with the passage of time.

https://www.abqjournal.com/2450979/council-race-winner-pushing-to-expedite-swearing-in.html

The bond proposal resolution is scheduled to be voted on by the full city council on December 6. To pass, because it involves a bond debt that normally is voted on by the public, the resolution must have a super majority of 7 out of 9 votes on the City Council. Its passage is dubious at best given the fact that Republican City Councilors Trudy Jones and Don Harris will likely vote against it wanting to wait and find out if Republicans have a majority on the council after the December 6 run offs in Districts 7 and 9. Further Democrat City Councilors Isaac Benton and Pat Davis have argued the bill’s proponents are rushing a vote before a major council transition. Councilor Benton went to far as to say the initiative does not pass the smell test.

Councilor Elect Sanchez could appear before the city council on December 6 and voice his concerns. He also has the option of lobbying his future colleagues on the council to vote it down as well as ask Mayor Keller as a sign of good faith to withdraw his support of the measure and even veto it if it passes.

Even if the City Council were to pass the bond package on December 6 and Keller signs off on the resolution, there is always the option for the new city council that takes office on January 1, 2022 to vote to reconsider the bond package or for that matter just to repeal it and start all over.

The point is, City Councilor Elect Louie Sanchez needs to learn to pick and choose his battles carefully to accomplish anything, otherwise he is going to have 4 miserable years on the city council especially if when he sets the tone of assuming office by having another city counselor removed for his own benefit.

NEWS UPDATE

On December 4, it was reported that City Councilor elect Louie Sanchez has received his formal “certification of election” from the Secretary of State. For that reason he proclaims he should be sworn into office immediately saying:

“The law is the law, and appointee City Clerk Ethan Watson must abide by it to rightfully and legally swear me into office today as the elected District 1 City Councilor replacing the Keller appointee currently filling the seat.”

In response, Albuquerque City Clerk Ethan Watson said the Secretary of State certification does not change anything and he had this to say:

“The City Clerk has made clear that Councilor-elect Sanchez’ term begins on January 1, pursuant to state and local law. The County Clerk’s Election Proclamation also made clear that that term Councilor-elect Sanchez ran for was 4 years, not more than four years, or to fill an un-expired term.”

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

City Councilor elect Louis Sanchez continues to try and practice law without a license. Yes, “the law is the law” and in his quest to be sworn in before his term begins, the “law is the law” that he cannot be sworn in until January 1, 2021 when his elected term begins. City Councilor Elect Sanchez ostensibly believes he is above the law by demanding City Clerk Ethan Watson violate the law and swear him in before his term begins on January 1, 2022.

The link to quoted source material is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2451463/city-councilor-elect-gets-formal-certification.html

The December 7th runoff election in City Council District 9 is between Democrat Rob Grilley, 37, running against Republican Renee Grout, 60.

District 9 is currently represented on the City Council by Don Harris, a four-term Republican who has represented the District since 2005 and has decided not to run for a 5th term. District 7 is east Albuquerque from Menaul and Eubank, south to Kirtland Air Force base, and east of Tramway. The District includes the 4 Hills Country Club area.

On December 1, Republican Renee Grout mailed out a false “hit piece” campaign mailer against Democrat Rob Grilley.

THE LIES TOLD

The political hit piece has a color photo of Democrat Rob Grilley with his arms crossed, and he is smiling. The photo was obviously taken off of Grilley’s campaign web page. To the right of the Grilley picture, is the proclamation “Grilley supports Sanctuary City that protects violent criminals .” The words “protect violent criminals” are in yellow with a black background and the word “protects” is underlined in red for emphasis.

The political hit piece goes on to say: “Rob Grilley supports Sanctuary City policy that forces police to hide illegal immigrants from federal authorities, even if they commit crimes like rape or murder!

In bold, bright red letters appear the words: “Protecting Violent Criminals.” Below these words appears the following text:

“Jaqueline Vigil, a mother of two New Mexico Police Officers, was murdered by Luis Talamantes-Romero, an illegal immigrant with a lengthy criminal history. Vigil’s killer should have been deported before, but the city’s sanctuary city policy forced police to hide him from immigration officials.”

When you view the fine print on the flyer, barely readable because it is so tiny, the reader finds that it was produced by “McClesky and Associates” which fully explains the false and malicious nature of the flyer.

THE LIAR WHO TELLS THEM

The flyer attacking Democrat Rob Grilley is simply a pack of lies told by Republican Renee Grout. On many levels, the lies reveal a candidate grossly ignorant of the truth or could care less about the truth so long as she wins an election. With the malicious flyer, Grout has resorted to fear tactics and misinformation to distract voters because she has no plan to fight crime in Albuquerque.

ALBUQUERQUE HAS NEVER BEEN A “SANCTUARY CITY”

It’s a Grout lie when she says, “Rob Grilley supports Sanctuary City policy that forces police to hide illegal immigrants from federal authorities, even if they commit crimes like rape or murder!” Simply put, there is no such policy. Albuquerque has never been a “sanctuary city” and it’s not likely it is eve going to be one.

The truth is that in 2001, the Albuquerque City Council enacted a resolution that declared Albuquerque an “immigrant-friendly” city. The resolution was sponsored by then-Republican City Councilor Hess Yntema, whose wife is a naturalized United States citizen from Columbia.

An “immigrant-friendly” city implements “welcoming city” policies and does not provide for city enforcement of federal immigration laws, and addresses only city services, including licensing and housing. The focus is to create inclusive, immigrant-friendly, and welcoming policies. Albuquerque’s “immigrant-friendly” designation welcomes immigrants to the city and is mainly symbolic.

Immigrant-friendly policies increase public safety. State and local law enforcement agencies depend on the cooperation of immigrants, legal or not, to solve a wide array of crimes. When immigrants believe our local police are working with federal immigration officers, immigrants will not go to them in cases of emergencies nor report crimes they have been witness to or victims of crime. When immigrants are scared of going to the police and reporting crimes, criminals roam free, and the immigrant falls prey to crime.

All too often, immigrants are preyed upon by slumlords charging top dollar for substandard housing refusing to do repairs knowing the immigrant will not complain to authorities and knowing they could be evicted by the slumlord.

Albuquerque’s “immigrant-friendly” policy means that our local police do not have to do the job of federal immigration officers. APD has enough problems as it is enforcing state and local laws. The city of Albuquerque has a shortage of police as it is, and our police have more than enough to do to keep us safe. They are not federal immigration officers and must focus on fighting crime.

The Albuquerque Journal recently reported there is no evidence that undocumented immigrants drive crime. Some studies suggest undocumented immigrants are less likely than U.S. citizens and legal immigrants to commit crimes.”

https://www.abqjournal.com/2435020/how-can-a-mayor-fight-crime.html

JAQUELIN VIGIL’S KILLER WAS UNKNOWN TO APD

It’s another Renee Grout lie when the flyer says, “Vigil’s killer should have been deported before, but the city’s sanctuary city policy forced police to hide him from immigration officials.” This is simply a lie. When the murder occurred, it was first believed to have been a retaliation killing against Vigils’ two state police officer sons. APD did not “hide her killer from immigration officials” because APD had no idea who her killer was, and a search had begun while APD was investigating the murder. What the investigation found is that the killer was “casing” homes at 5:30 am in the area, he came upon Jaqueline Vigil pulling out of her driveway to go to the gym and he shot her.

The truth is Jaqueline Vigil’s killer had already been deported by the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) a few months before the killing. The first illegally entry was a misdemeanor. When he reentered the United States illegally for a second time, he committed a felony. Unbeknownst to APD, Talamantes- Romero was arrested by INS on an outstanding warrant on unrelated charges and was be held in an El Paso federal detention facility. On June 21, 2021, Talamantes- Romero was indicted by a state grand jury on murder, burglary and attempted armed robbery charges stemming from the Nov. 19, 2019. He is in custody and is awaiting trial.

https://www.abqjournal.com/2402278/alleged-shooter-in-womans-death-is-indicted-by-a-grand-jury-ex-luis-talamentesromero-is-accused-of-killing-jacqueline-vigil-in-her-west-side-driveway.html

MCCLESKEY MEDIA STRATEGIES NO STRANGER TO FALSE AND MISLEADING POLITICAL HIT FLYERS

According to the campaign finance reports filed with the City Clerk’s office, McCleskey Media Strategies is the political consulting firm managing Renee Grout’s campaign for City Council. Review of Renee Grouts campaign finance reports reveals a staggering amount of money paid to McCleskey Media Strategies producing and printing campaign materials and mailers. The amounts are staggering for the reason that Renee Grout was initially a public finace candidate was given $41,791 to run her campaign. After the November 2 election when she made it into the runoff, she became a privately financed candidate.

The amounts paid to McCleskey Media Strategies for the November 2 election are as follows:

7th campaign finance report: $2,426.18
8th campaign finance report: $10,472.17
9th campaign finance report: $8,441.41.
10th campaign finance report: $10,035

Total Paid for November 2 election: $31,374

Renee Grouts 4th Runoff Statement Campaign finance report reveals $14,992.66 paid McCleskey Media Strategies.

The grand total paid to McCleskey Media Strategies by Renee Grout for the November 2 and the December 7 runoff: $46,367.42

The link to the city clerk’s office where you can review all of the Renee Grout campaign finance reports is here:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/OrganizationDetail.aspx?OrganizationID=7115

The significance of McCleskey Media Strategies handling the Grout Campaign is that political Republican Strategist Jay McCleskey is the primary principle or owner of McCleskey media strategies. McClesky is known for his negative slash-and-burn tactics to disparage and viciously malign Democrats. Jay McClesky has managed the successful campaigns of Republicans running for Governor, the state legislator, Mayor, and Albquerquerqu City Council. Simply put, McClesky is the go to guy for anyone who is Republican running for office. Confidential sources have said that McClesky is already lining up Republican candidates for Bernalillo County Sheriff and legislative candidates in 2022.

REPUBLICANS ATTACKING REPUBLICANS

Former Republican Governor “She Who Shall Not Be Named” was vicious in going after members of her own party who disagreed with her and she did that with Mc Clesky working for her. Recently, it was reported that Southern New Mexico rancher Scott Chandler settled a defamation lawsuit he filed claiming political consultant Jay McCleskey and the former Republican Governor’s political action committee circulated untruthful mailers about him during the 2016 campaign. The settlement agreement was reached 3 days after Chandler filed a motion asking a judge to add former Governor Susana Martinez as a defendant in the case. The motion was based on McCleskey’s statements in a recent deposition that Martinez was critical in setting up the Advance New Mexico Now PAC.

Chandler’s 2019 lawsuit alleged that McCleskey and Advance New Mexico Now PAC circulated two mailers about Chandler damaging his chances of winning a 2016 Republican primary election for House District 32. Chandler lost the primary by 16 votes. The lawsuit alleged that McCleskey and the PAC mailed fliers during the 2016 primary that asked, “How did a business accused of child abuse and torture AVOID government oversight?”

The fliers referred to a 2013 New Mexico State Police investigation of Chandler’s Tierra Blanca High Country Youth Program in Hillsboro, north of Deming. No criminal charges were filed as a result of the investigation. Chandler received legal settlements approaching $1 million from the state related to the investigation. The defamation suit against McCleskey also alleges that McCleskey advised then-Governor Martinez to execute the State Police search of Chandler’s ranch in October 2013. Chandler asked a 6th Judicial District Court judge on November 1 to add Martinez to the suit, alleging McCleskey recently implicated the former governor as a key player in the PAC who “directly authorized the mailing of the fliers.” McCleskey made the comments during an August 10 deposition in a related lawsuit McCleskey filed against his insurance company. In that suit, McCleskey alleged that the company refused to pay his legal costs in the Chandler lawsuit.

In his deposition, McCleskey said Martinez was involved in setting up and operating the PAC, which is no longer active, the motion states: “Governor Martinez was involved in the running of the PAC, including decisions about proposed budgets, proposed targets, and proposed districts. … She was involved in polling meetings and was presented with polling information.”</em>