THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER RATE CLIMBING
Chalk up number 77. Police in Albuquerque are investigating two more murders in the city. Both happened last night at separate places. The record number of homicides in the city is scary and an embarrassment to the Keller Administration. The previous murder record for one year in the city was 72 in 2017.
From KRQE
2. STATE POLICE CRACKDOWN IN ALBUQUERQUE ENDS IN MOST
CRIMINAL CASES BEING DISMISSED
It looks like “Operation Surge,” a joint State Police-Albuquerque Police Department initiative this past summer to nail dangerous criminals, ended up being a waste of more than $1 million for taxpayers. Statistics show that authorities made more than 200 felony arrests, but 52% of those criminal cases were dismissed. Was this just a publicity stunt? An investigative report also revealed problems with police work, lack of evidence and judicial procedures.
Check out the story from KOAT.
3. ALBUQUERQUE CITY WORKERS MAY HAVE COMMITTED FRAUD ON
TRIP TO CALIFORNIA.
An investigation into a trip to California by ABQ transit workers reveals some city employees were wasting taxpayers’ money. The workers went to California to inspect those ART buses for Albuquerque. The city is now looking into whether some workers submitted phony receipts, upgraded rental cars and spent time having fun instead of attending meetings.
4. “SIGNS” OF CONCERN AT THE POLLS AS BROOK BASSAN ELECTED
TO ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL.
Brook Bassan will be sworn in as Albuquerque's District 4 City Councilor on January 3, 2020. She defeated Ane Romero with 53.5% of the vote as Republicans retain that council seat.
The runoff election didn't go off without at least two incidents showing the need to crack down on poll activity: Bassan's campaign decided not to press charges against a man who was caught stealing one of her signs outside a polling location. One of Bassan's campaign volunteers noticed the man taking her sign and chased him down until police arrived.
Later that day, another person stole a Bassan sign and jumped into his car. Police are looking for that vehicle.
Tampering with a campaign sign is A CRIME. The RPNM is doing what it can to stop this kind of activity and will be focusing on ballot integrity at the polls in 2020. You can help! See below for details.
OTHER BRIEFS:
GOVERNOR STAFFERS CONTINUE TO GET CAMPAIGN MONEY
Two architects of Gov. Lujan Grisham's campaign continued to get campaign dollars after they were rewarded with government jobs. They apparently received tens of thousands of dollars in "win bonuses" from the Governor. Seems like the money could have been used a bit more prudently.
DWI TRIAL BEGINS FOR DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR
Testimony got underway Monday in the DWI trial for Sen. Richard Martinez. Last June Martinez was charged with aggravated DWI and reckless driving after he struck another vehicle in Espanola. He could face a maximum 6 months behind bars. Martinez has said if convicted, he will not resign.