Time for another highly anticipated edition of Reader Vox Populi. ABQ attorney Bob McNeill gives us a kick start:

Joe, Good work covering the legislative session. NM is a backwater state in ways that keep us from progressing. MLG represents progress, but we have a mix of religious and rural values that make NM unique and aren’t going to change anytime soon, if ever. 

Sen. John Arthur Smith (chairman of the Senate Finance Committee) happens to have seniority and lives in Deming. Deming isn’t representative of much of NM, and John Arthur represents Deming and it’s values. But he won’t be in the Senate forever. We are in for a long, slow process of getting this state moving.

Educating our kids at an early age is an essential part of the effort. Poverty remains New Mexico’s primary barrier to getting out of last place in child well-being.

Reader Richard Flores writes of the most recent case of a child dying in the custody of foster parents and how that impacts the Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD):

CYFD will, once again, come under intense scrutiny after a child died in foster care. We don't know what happened so the public, media and politicians need to withhold blame until medical findings are made public. In any case, CYFD  faces another disconcerting and monumental PR fiasco. 

I believe the current governor is fully committed to serving the "best interests" of New Mexico's children, and it is unfortunate for this to happen so early in her term. Perhaps the task force to be appointed by the governor to reform child protection can come up with a reform package that will address the needs of our children and families for the better.

DOUBTING DR. NO

Reader Jeff Nordley writes of the decision of State Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith to not give a hearing on the bill to legalize recreational marijuana:

Joe, About your coverage of the marijuana legalization bill sponsored by Rep. Javier Martinez. Theoretically, in a democracy the majority prevails. Well, according to the ABQ Journal a majority of citizens in every county in NM support legalization. But, thanks to one Senator in Deming Democracy is subverted. That's not democracy, that's ridiculous.

An anonymous reader writes of their frustration with Senator Smith and other conservative Democrats, who along with Senate Republicans often form a conservative coalition to thwart legislation:

We Democrats need a robust primary in 2020 to rid the party of DINO's (Democrats in name only).  I plan to donate heavily to anyone challenging Sen. Clemente Sanchez of Grants or Senator Smith.

TECH AND BALLOONS

Reader Barry Simon writes:

Joe, I read an article recently about how tech entrepreneurs are looking elsewhere to start their companies rather than in unaffordable San Francisco. They mention Austin and Seattle. Then comes the kicker: "...even New Mexico." I guess our state is now one large city. But at least our burgeoning reputation as a tech center is being noticed.

Reader Steve Wentworth is president of the neighborhood association near the ABQ Balloon Fiesta Park. He writes of Mayor Keller's $7.5 million proposal to extend a railroad spur into the park to expedite traffic flow:

The Rail Runner spur line extending to Balloon Fiesta Park was considered a decade ago and died from a lack of support. Neighborhood leaders have been told the proposed spur line and a $2.5 million dollar slip ramp onto I-25 would only be used for Balloon Fiesta and maybe Freedom Fourth--less than two weeks of annual use. The majority of Park users drive to the Park and would not use the Rail Runner. 

Other improvements should be made to address the needs of people who use the park year round, including sewers, drainage, restroom facilities and utilities. The money for the proposed spur line and slip ramp could pay for additional city buses and improve  mass transit system for the metro. It doesn’t make any sense to target such an extraordinary expensive item while ignoring real year-round needs.

Good arguments, Steve, but the Mayor's seem a tad stronger, given the world class status of the event, even if the spur is used mainly for those two weeks. Those are the two weeks when millions of dollars come into the community from across the globe.

GOOD BEHAVIOR

Reader David Ley writes:

Joe, Senate Bill 41, introduced by Senator Mary Kay Papen, is intended to ensure that the events of 2013, and the state’s unilateral and destructive actions regarding behavioral health cannot recur.  The bill passed the legislature twice previously but was vetoed both times by Gov. Martinez. The bill again cleared the legislature this session, with bipartisan support and is on the  Governor’s desk. We expect her to sign this bill.  

A documentary on the events of 2013 and its long lasting ripples is showing at the ABQ National Hispanic Cultural Center April 6 at 3 pm. Your readers are invited to attend. Behavioral health providers and Human Services Department Secretary David Scrace will attend.

A reader writes of Bernalillo County Clerk Linda Stover winning a national award for her election worker training programs and provides this link.

CALLING PETER WIRTH

Reader Ken Tabish writes of the legislative session:

Joe, Many kudos to you for bringing the backroom and front room maneuvers during the most recent legislative session. It is refreshing to see progress after eight years of, as you say, “nothingness.” You just gotta have a love to hate relationship with Dr. No (Senator Smith) as he was at it again with fellow Dem Senators Clemente Sanchez and May Kay Papen. 

There will be great efforts by the progressive wing to find candidates to go against them in the primary. My question from the sidelines is where was Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth? If he was wielding influence behind the scenes, it surely didn’t have an impact on these three. House Speaker Brian Egolf surely outperformed him in leading the House in pushing forth a progressive agenda.

COLOR MY WORLD

ABQ Reader Chris writes regarding our suggestion that because NM is not clearly a blue or purple state on the issues that we color it turquoise:

Re your color suggestion for NM politics:

"And there you have a New Mexican shade of Blue. Or maybe we should have our own distinct color given our state's unusual split on economic and social matters. How about a special color of turquoise?"

I cherish our state mineral, turquoise, and its color is one of my favorites, but as a descriptive color for politics it seems inappropriate. The oft-used "purple" is not appropriate because it is a combination of equal parts of red and blue, which is not an accurate description of our politics. Since NM is more blue than red, how about the color violet, which falls between purple and blue on the color spectrum?

Or is it too frilly a color to describe the rough and tumble of La Politica?

If we really want to show the true colors of La Politica, Chris, we might have to go to black and blue.

This is the home of New Mexico politics.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2019