While the coronavirus curve has been flattened MLG is now constantly in danger of falling behind the economic curve. When and how to reopen the state economy was predicted to be the most difficult decision she would make during this crisis and so it is.

The current stay at home order will expire April 30 but will be renewed through May 15th. However, MLG, recognizing the growing impatience for at least a limited reopening, appears set to announce this week an easing of some restrictions, perhaps the partial reopening of some businesses.

With the curve flattened and with no widespread death toll here, there is little choice but for the state to cautiously lighten up or face having the stay at home order widely ignored. The state does not want to be in the position of having to issue fines to violators, even as some local officials now openly talk of flaunting the order like the mayor of Grants. He seems quite the eccentric but nevertheless is expressing frustrations that have been simmering below the surface.

Polls may show that most US citizens agree with the restrictions placed on their movement, but the nascent protests taking place in the state will only grow louder when combined with the escalating economic pain.

And then there's the advent of summer like conditions that will make getting people to stay at home a task akin to asking honey bees to quarantine inside their hives. For MLG (and ABQ Mayor Keller) reopening will be the most difficult of dances and they must learn the steps on the fly.

A STICKING POINT

The Governor's performance during this crisis continues to draw mostly positive reviews, with the NYT coming with this upbeat assessment. However, there is a sticking point that stands out:

The spread of the virus among Native Americans in the state remained a pressing crisis, the governor emphasized. While Native Americans account for about 11 percent of New Mexico’s population, new data on Thursday showed that they make up 44 percent of the state’s confirmed coronavirus cases.

McKinley County in Indian Country has now surpassed BernCo, the state's largest county, in the number of coronavirus cases. BernCo has nine times the population of McKinley.

The outbreak there is a reminder of why the state so often finishes last in the nation in social condition rankings such as poverty, overall health and the like. The extreme conditions that many Native Americans still live under make crawling out from 50th in the nation in the rankings especially difficult.

For any Governor to bring those numbers around demands a concerted and long-lasting education/health effort that defies the expectations and quiescent acceptance of decades past. Improving current government structures between Native Americans and the federal and state governments would also seem in order, although it would be devilishly complicated to bring needed reform.

APPROVAL RATING

MLG's approval rating is quite strong for her handling of the coronavirus crisis, according to a poll conducted for the progressive House Majority Institute by Dem oriented polling firm PPP:

Lujan Grisham has a 62% approval rating for her handling of the coronavirus, to only 26% who disapprove. . .  Lujan Grisham is getting overwhelming support from both Democrats (83/9) and independents (60/28) for her handling of the virus and receives good marks from 32% of Republicans as well. 63% of voters in the state think the state’s response to the coronavirus has been ‘about right.’ Only 27% think it’s overreacting. . .Lujan Grisham’s overall (job)approval rating (is) 59% approving and 32% disapproving. . .  

Tha survey also shows Biden leading Turmp in New Mexico 52-40

PPP says it surveyed 1,009 New Mexico "voters" April 20th and 21st. They used  landlines for half the calls and the other half were by texts to cell phones. MOE is +/-3.1%. The firm did not release the actual questions asked.

THE RIBANDO TAPES

Ribando/Patrick 2010 wedding

Let's put on our TMZ hat and bring you the police lapel camera tape of that April 14 APD domestic abuse call fielded at the home of high profile KOAT-TV news anchor Shelly Ribando and her husband, Michael Patrick, the high-profile public information officer for Dem BernCo District Attorney Raul Torrez.

Freelance videographer and citizen watchdog Charles Arasim posted the 15 minute video here.

On the tape Ribando tells the three responding officers that she was shoved to the floor of a closet by Patrick. Her 8 year old daughter tells police Patrick also shoved her.

Ribando explained that she had seen a credit card charge that Patrick had made and went to a bedroom to call the credit company to cancel the charge. While on the phone the agent heard her arguing with Patrick. Ribando then stated that Patrick had hit her and the phone went dead. Patrick said he had used the Discover card to make a deposit on an apartment. He told police he was planning to move out of the home.

On the tape a bare-footed Patrick denies the allegations and is allowed to gather some personal belongings as he was advised by police to remove himself rom the scene. Ribando told officers she did not need medical treatment.

Patrick has been placed on administrative leave by DA Torrez whose office will invesigate. Any criminal charges will be referred to an independent prosecutor.

One of the Alligators with law enforcement experience viewed the tape closely and had critical questions and comments:

-- Once at the scene the officers didn’t interview Ribando and her daughter separately. You always interview victims/witnesses separately.

--Ribando stated that Patrick shoved her into the closet, knocking her down. That’s a battery. That’s domestic violence.

--Ribando and her daughter both stated that Patrick shoved the daughter, that’s child abuse.

--The one officer starts to ask Ribando to clarify how she was pushed (when she says he pushed her and she fell, she explained that she is small) and then that officer just disconnects. The question is never answered.

--The officers never ask Ribando where on her body Patrick shoved her. They did not ask her to look to see if there were marks. Same with the daughter. Was she bruised? Were there red marks on either? They never ask to look and there was a female officer present who could do this.

--After the altercation, Ribando and her daughter lock themselves in the bedroom. The officers never asked if she locked them in for their safety. That means they felt threatened by Patrick. The officers had all the elements of domestic violence and Patrick should have been arrested. Instead they just blew it off, had him leave and told him he could come back the next day.  

--Upon leaving, officers did not provide Ribando with a domestic violence packet that would give her the resources where she can go for help. This is mandated.

--When they spoke to Patrick they did not confront him with the statement that Ribando and his daughter both said he had battered them. Their interview of Patrick was so brief that it bordered on lazy. 

When she was married in 2010 Shelly shared her wedding photos with KOAT viewers.

This is the home of New Mexico politics.

E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com)

Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. 

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2020