Editorials
Editorial content. Content posted here may or may not reflect the opinions of the Beat. They reflect the opinions of the author.
Statement to Silver City Town Council June 14, 2022
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 17 June 2022 17 June 2022
My name is Sharon Bookwalter and I live in Silver City. On behalf of the Citizens for Safety and Community, I am grateful for the opportunity to appear before you this evening. Citizens for Safety and Community is a group of local residents who have proposed the creation of an Advisory and Review Board to Alex Brown, James Marshall, Chief Portillo, and other city officials. This Board, composed of a retired law enforcement professional, a mental health professional, and members appointed by council members, would serve, along with those changes announced today by the Silver City Police Department, to support the local police department and prevent situations like those leading to the tragic death of Nikki Bascom on April 21, 2016. We appreciate the time and attention given to us to voice our concerns.
We, as a community, are faced with the unhappy need for the issuance of gross receipts revenue bonds; bonds that are necessary to satisfy Silver City's indebtedness to resolve the lawsuit arising out of the tragic death of Nikki Bascom. We believe, based on the experience of many municipalities, including nearby Tucson, Arizona, that the creation of such a Board would make a very beneficial contribution toward the Town's on-going efforts to mitigate its liability risks, improve our police services, and avert such tragedies.
Democrats ain't what they used to be
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 13 June 2022 13 June 2022
Democrats ain't what they used to be
The Grant County Beat's compilation of citizen testimony regarding suspicion-worthy 2020 General Election behavior by Grant County Clerk Marisa Castrillo ("What is she hiding?" published 9 June) presents a thumbnail image of entrenched bigger-picture corruption. If, as these witnesses testify, there was no video surveillance of the Bayard Community Center early-voting polling location – and no working camera monitoring the Grant County Clerk's absentee ballot box during early voting – and no marking of spoiled ballots as "spoiled" during the first week of early voting at either Bayard or the Administration Center – and if for any length of time there was a ratio of Democrat-to-Republican election judges contrary to New Mexico law – the Grant County Clerk not only failed to uphold New Mexico law, but failed to impartially protect the interests of Grant County residents.
And if this clerk also failed or refused to recognize and accommodate a duly appointed poll challenger (or multiple poll challengers) per New Mexico law – and, further, attempted to intimidate said poll challenger(s) – she is guilty of a petty misdemeanor and a fourth-degree felony and should be prosecuted accordingly. If the Grant County Attorney advised the Grant County Sheriff that charging the Grant County Clerk with violations of New Mexico law constitutes "a conflict of interest," such advice only screams the question: Whose interest?
Certainly not the interest of honest Grant County citizens who, perhaps mistakenly, trust Grant County officials to abide by laws enacted to protect citizen interests.
Historic Failure: Joe Biden Delivers $5 Gas
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 11 June 2022 11 June 2022
Washington, D.C. - Americans are waking up this morning to a terrible milestone from Joe Biden's continued energy failure. For the first time ever, the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded is over $5.00 a gallon with no indication the price will slow down in the near future.
"Joe Biden will react to this latest historic failure the same way he's reacted to them over the last year: deflection, detachment and distraction," said Daniel Turner, Executive Director and Founder of Power The Future. "In his heart of hearts, Biden knows unleashing American energy will fix the pain our families are enduring, but he doesn't care because his cult green ideology is his highest priority. Sadly, this historic failure will not be the last one forced on Americans before this administration faces a reckoning in November."
Power The Future is a 501c4 non-profit dedicated to fighting for American energy workers.
Gas prices ARE the Biden Administration's fault
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 10 June 2022 10 June 2022
Despite the current administration's attempt to shift the blame to Vladimir Putin, "greedy oil companies" and "the end of covid,, the facts speak for themselves. When the Biden administration took office the national average price of gasoline was $2.38. On June 9, 2022 it is $4.95. For the mathematically challenged, that's a 109% increase. ONE HUNDRED AND NINE percent. It will be higher tomorrow. Market analysts say $7 gas is likely.
How can this be attributed to Joe Biden? On his first day in office, Joe Biden cancelled the Keystone Pipeline, put 11,000 people out of good paying jobs and raised the cost of and/or cancelled access to drilling on federal land. Almost overnight, this ineptitude turned America from being energy independent back to once again, dependent on foreign crude producers. Those foreign producers, seeing a profit opportunity, raised their prices. (Gee, who could have seen that coming?) The surplus of crude we once had kept prices down. (Its a supply and demand thing…)
Add to that, the Biden Administration decided it was a good idea to spend over 4 trillion dollars on ineffectual giveaway programs for which no one is held accountable. Since we didn't have that 4 Trillion sitting in 'our' bank account, we borrowed it…sort of. The Biden Administration directed the treasury to print more money. Oops. Now we have record Inflation. How did that happen? Well, imagine you have one hundred 1 dollar bills which represent a 100 little pieces of gold worth $1 each. Then you print one hundred more 1 dollar bills. Guess what? Now you have 200 one dollar bills that represent $100 worth of gold. Instead of each one being worth $1, now they are worth $0.50. Congratulations Joe Biden. A gallon of gas takes more dollars (which are worth less) to buy. At the moment, 109% more 1 dollar bills.
President Biden Brings Record of Failure to New Mexico
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 10 June 2022 10 June 2022
Albuquerque – As New Mexico's working families struggle under the worst gas prices ever, President Biden will travel to visit ally Governor Lujan Grisham tomorrow in the political safety of Santa Fe. Despite the fact the Biden Administration is responsible for starting devastating wildfires, the President has not announced a visit to the areas impacted, but committed only to meetings in Santa Fe.
"The fact of the matter is that President Biden's administration is responsible for these fires, the only question is whether or not he'll accept responsibility and apologize," said Larry Behrens, Communications Director for Power The Future. "New Mexico's families are struggling with record gas prices, the threat of blackouts and the impact of these terrible fires and they deserve more from Joe Biden than a quick visit with his political friend in Santa Fe."
Commentary on PED Secretary "Re-Retirement"
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 09 June 2022 09 June 2022
Authors:
• State Representative Brian Baca (R-Los Lunas)
•Tanya Mirabal-Moya is a High School Teacher for Belen High Schoo and candidate for NM State House District 7 (R-Los Lunas)
• Dr. John Foreman, Ph.D., Superintendent of Mesilla Valley Christian School and candidate for NM State House District 52 (R-Las Cruces).
As educators our focus is student success. As candidates for State Representative, we agree with our colleagues across the aisle, that the Public Education Department is one of the most important functions of our government. What we have seen recently is hyper-politicization of New Mexico schools. The Lujan Grisham administration has essentially cleared out top level staff within our state's education system in their heavy handed, and highly unsuccessful efforts, to force her agenda in our state's public schools. This Governor is in her fourth year in office and will have to appoint a fifth PED Secretary, not to mention backfill the PED staff that have left the department.
Clarification: What is she hiding?
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 09 June 2022 09 June 2022
According to this person's observations, multiple election law violations took place in Grant County during the 2020 General Election.
Here are the observations by an appointed poll worker and later appointed recount challenger:
The 2020 General Election in Grant County also violated numerous other Election Laws, including:
• I observed that there were no video surveillance cameras at the Bayard Community Center Early Voting Polling Location, as required by NM Statute Chapter 1. Elections 1-6-9. Mailed ballots; manner of voting; delivery methods. E. 3) all secured containers shall be monitored by video surveillance cameras and the video recorded by that system shall be retained by the county clerk as a record related to voting pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-12-69NMSA 1978. The Absentee Ballot Box placed at the Clerk's Office during Early Voting also did not have a working camera.2.Spoiled Ballots were not marked 'Spoiled' by the voter at the Early Voting Poll at Bayard or the Administration Center for approximately the first week of early voting. This is required by NM Statutes Chapter 1-Elections 1-12-62 D. Paper ballots; spoiled or defaced. "D. The voter shall mark the spoiled or erroneously prepared paper ballot with the word 'SPOILED' and shall place it in a separate envelope marked 'SPOILED BALLOTS,' which shall be returned to the county clerk."
Biden Again Uses Defense Production Act to Help Failed Energy Agenda
- Category: Editorials Editorials
- Published: 06 June 2022 06 June 2022
Washington, D.C. - The Biden Administration announced on Monday that the President would again utilize the Defense Production Act in an effort to rescue his failed energy agenda. This latest move is delivered as American families have faced nearly a month of record gas prices and with the prospect of blackouts looming this summer. The President's decision also coincides with his plans to announce he won't impose tariffs on foreign-made solar panels largely the product of Chinese corporations.