What happened to the plastic bag veto? Well, it didn't happen, says ABQ City Councilor Dan Lewis. 

ABQ Mayor Tim Keller was expected to veto the council bill that permits the use of those convenient single use plastic bags at city grocery stores, even though the council had the six votes to override his veto. 

Keller apparently thought better of it and decided to quietly let the bill become law and avoid another round of animosity.

The bill is significant because it is a defeat for the brand of progressivism that seems to be rankling the public lately.

Take the case of state Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto. Eight progressive advocacy groups piled more sex harassment charges on him this week and again demanded the resignation of the chairman of the Senate Rules Committee. But Ivey-Soto doesn't seem to be breaking a sweat and Roundhouse watchers say he will not resign. Instead, he will face whatever music there is at a 2024 Dem primary election where progressives will get another bite out of the apple. 

The problems? The progressives are asking for a lawmaker's resignation before an investigation, they are not producing the names of the accusers of the most serious allegations and the move to oust him comes on the heels of the progressive voting rights measure dying in the senate and they blame Ivey-Soto. 

The overreach may have triumphed a couple of years ago but as we noted with the plastic bags, the cultural progressives are losing ground as the agenda veers back to the meat and potatoes issues of war, inflation, gas prices and crime run amok. 

In fact, not long ago Ivey-Soto may have felt real public pressure to resign. Instead his case has become an insider Roundhouse imbroglio among an army of paid hired guns and a contentious Ivey-Soto.

Another example of the trend came this week when the aforementioned city council voted to prohibit any requirement that city employees get a Covid-19 vaccine. There is no such requirement and since the bill passed on a 5 to 4 vote Keller this time would be able to successfully veto it. But again, on personal lifestyle and cultural matters progressives don't have the votes. 

And there's dissension at City Hall because of it, reports one of our Senior Alligators. They say that the resignation of Chief Administrative Officer Sarita Nair was prompted by Keller's drift to the center and away from the left on the all consuming matter of crime--and that there are other progressives in the administration who feel the same way and may head for the exits. 

Of course, it's possible Nair had enough of the incessant pressure and lack of results on the crime beat and that forced her departure. But there's no argument that Keller and MLG have both scampered to the center as the moderate/conservative winds blow stronger. 

THE CLYDE?

Clyde Tingley

The Clyde Hotel? Hmm. It's a great idea to rename the downtown Hyatt after legendary New Mexico political figure Clyde Tingley. But why not use his last name for the hotel which is widely recognized and honored with such iconic projects as Tingley Beach, Tingley Coliseum and Tingley Field Park?

Clyde is a name that long ago disappeared as a favorite but it does have a whiff of old school luxury and would be a good fit for the new bar the hotel is developing and plans to call "1922." Instead, how about "Clyde's Place?" 

When you think of Clyde Tingley you think of Mayor Tingley, Governor Tingley or City Commissioner Tingley. Clyde? Not so much. 

Congrats to the hotel's owners on their revival of New Mexico history but how about they put the name to a vote? Clyde Tingley always did relish a good campaign. 

THE BOTTOM LINES

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