We weren't really surprised by the outcome of this week's Eye Poll. Frankly, it wasn't ever close. Even with two opportunities to keep the program, Eye On Albuquerque readers overwhelmingly preferred getting rid of Marty's scam-era's. Of the 377 participants, 73% preferred system removal, 14% wanted to keep the cameras, but lower the fines, 12% wanted to keep the program as it is, and 1% didn't care. (See the final results here.)
Remember, this is an un-scientific poll and Eye readers may be predisposed to disliking the scam-eras but... It still amazes us that Mayor Marty is willing to spend soooo much political capital on a program that can only be characterized as unpopular. It's obvious that the city's making huge amounts of money (some reports place the numbers at over $9 MILLION). But in light of Marty's willingness to change the smoking ban to allow golfers to ruin their lungs, this fight to the death attitude makes little sense. What's keeping the mayor so solidly behind this program? It can't be public safety, and it's surely not public opinion. It has to be something else.
26 comments:
Yep - Golfers must run the city.....or could it be their money??? Ever think about how much water is dumped out there???
Answer: Money. The root of all evil.
Could it be contributions from RedFlex or a dba of that company.
Can guarantee it has nothing to do with P.S. It's an un accounted for cash cow. The bigger question is; where has the money been going. And, lets not have some smoke and mirror audit by the City Finance Dept. come up with some bogas, hokus-pokus presentation to all the citizens. An outside independant audit needs to be conducted to find the fly in the ointment. IT'S THERE.
"Good for you albuquerque; the best (worst) has yet to come"
Talk about hiding the salami.
Being a 1/4 second late through an intersection will not cause an accident, but it will ring you up a ticket. Wait until Grandma SloPoke and CellPhone Betty eventually get those tickets... The same people that say "I never run red lights" are the same that don't realize that they actually do. 90% of the people that I've seen run a red light never realized their infraction. The opposition will only increase over time.
I love when the Mayor and his ill informed and inept cronies accuse any one who has a problem with the red light cameras of being scoflaws .....? I have a challenge for EYE ON ALBUQUERQUE why don't you look into every CITY DEPT. and see how many CITY EMPLOYEES while on DUTY in CITY vehicles have been cited either for running red lights and or speeding and find out how many of those tickets are actually being paid and or even being given to the SCOFLAWS. My guess is they are being SWEPT under the rug and or not being heard at all by the SHAM of a HEARING PROCESS. This should be easy to do if the program is open to public record and inspection. APD officers are ones who review these photos and sign off on them! I bet they simply throw the ones away that show a cop car running one. O.K. O.K. before you go to the running code card that one is even easier to disprove with payroll, cad reports, and dispatches will blow holes through that BULL CRAP of a story. YOU see MAYOR you and YOUR LIERS can't lie to everyone all the time because some people actually know how you and the rest of your minions operate. GOOD LUCK in 08' Mayor .....! WINTER/and or CADDIGAN IN 08' LETS GO ...........!!!!!
the corruption isn't in the collection of the money. they don't need kickbacks from redflex.
They make their money off of the corrupt spending of the money. The corruption in public works projects is where the money is; they hire kickback contractors.
EXCELLENT POINT!
**APD officers are ones who review these photos and sign off on them! I bet they simply throw the ones away that show a cop car running one. O.K. O.K. before you go to the running code card that one is even easier to disprove with payroll, cad reports, and dispatches will blow holes through that BULL CRAP of a story.""
DO YOUR RESEARCH before you open your mouth and say stupid sh#$ like that. COPS DO NOT get a free ride on the RedFlex train. Why the hell do you think that BCSO deputy had a damn plate cover on his unit? I can't tell you what a pain in the ass it is to justify why I ran a red light or sped through a camera enforced intersection, even if I was running code. They are not swept under the rug! My life, and the life of all the other 34's out there would be MUCH easier if they were. I hate it when people PRETEND to know what's going on out there, when in reality they have no clue whatsoever. Do your research and come up with some hard facts before you make idiotic statements.
Hey cowboy settle down o.k. .....! O.K. you make a point The Mayor "BUSTED" a 34 with a Plate. So my question is this. Is BCSO still "LOOKING INTO THE MATTER"? Was THIS 34 one of the 500 or so ticketed for having said plate? What was his DISCIPLINE? Oooh I guess YOU don't know either! I call that "SWEPT UNDER THE RUG" ... for one ! For two... My comment was about RED LIGHT CAMERAS and SPEEDING there was no mention of PLATES after all the CHIEF did say himself they are NOT ILLEGAL and a judge has made a ruling in that appeal to district court. So let me leave you with this. Try reading and understanding what we are talking about. You and your badge do no intimidate me nor should they intimidate anyone after all, you do work for the TAXPAYER! AAHHH that burns you up doesnt it? Laters HERO ............!!!!!!
You are the guy that's always at 6th/Central aren't you? Did you find Mrs. K yet?
JHC BCSO Deputies don't even work for the Mayor retard!
AND you must be one of overpaid government officials! See how you change the subject when confronted with TRUTH. That is THE problem with the RED LIGHT CAMERA program when someone makes a VALID POINT or uncovers LIES then the name calling and smears. And you my friend are the ONE who BEGS the taxpayer every 4 years or so for a quater cent raise in taxes for WHATEVER .... Cars,Equipment,Stations etc. etc. etc. . So try doing something constructive today like saying to yourself "SELF" today I am gonna be a honest,trustworthy person and not pass judgement on "OTHERS" a be the best OFFICER I can. That's all JOHN Q public wants. Laters HERO ............!!!!!!!!!
"Deputies don't work for the MAYOR retard". Yeah I know who you work FOR. That would BE Daren (I've NEVER SEEN A CAMERA I DIDN'T LOVE) White. I was refering to a News Conference the Mayor was haveing when The BCSO officer was spotted with a plate on his UNIT. Once again read, understand and PLEASE TRY TO KEEP UP .....! It's not too much to ask is it? And to you too... have a GREAT DAY HERO .....!
Actually I'm a private sector retiree and I am having a great day--thank you.
What valid point(s) do you make??? What truth are you talking about because there's nothing but generalizations, accusations, and hyperbole in your posts. Sure you back track and add fill as needed to "clarify" statements but try making a point from the start instead of sounding like some political hack wannabe.
hahahhahahha and your just a angry BLUE HAIR who probably got cut off at DENNYS .....! Don't worry though I think FURRS all you can stuff still honors your OLD AS DUST coupon. Have a great day Retired HERO .......!!!!!!
Don't make this about the line officer. Just spend one day in their shoes and you would understand what I mean. They don't get breaks! What they do get is stuck in the middle. They have to put up with the Mayor and continue to do an excellent job. If you want place blame look at most of the captains and the whole 5th floor. In any situation the Officers of APD and the BCSO Deputy are what allow each and every one of us citizens to have a quality of life. Its certainly not the Mayor.
It's my understanding that yes the officers will have to pay for any ticket they get while going thru a red light, unless they are actually one of the two units going to a particular call. Any other unit going to back them up is screwed, even though they may be closer than either of the two units called or specifically sent to the call.
As far as the SO officer and his license plate cover, it wasn't on there to beat any kind of camera, especially when his unit number is on the back of his car in much bigger letters than his plate, what would be the point?
It's ALL about the money. Follow the money and you will find out just exactly what this administration is all about.
What I love is how the 5th and 11th floors try to make everyone believe that that cameras are in the name of "public safety". In the case of officers responding to calls, the cameras INTERFERE with public safety. Contrary to the previous poster, it doesn't matter if I'm one of the tweo units initially dispatched to a priority one call...if I'm running code and run the red light or speed through the intersection, I still have to spend hours justifying WHY. So now, just to prevent all the BS that goes with it, I'll stop and wait at the red, unless the call dictates otherwise. This is the problem officers face everyday with these stupid cameras. DWI units can't run a red trying to catch up to a possible drunk. Beat cops can't run a red trying to catch a "suspicious" vehicle. Yep, these cameras have "public safety" written all over them. And all at a time when the public and the media are criticizing APD about response times and manpower. It's no wonder why we're losing so many officers to other departments.
So, swept under the rug? Absolutely not. If you're not a cop, you have no clue what REALLY goes on every day. You have no idea the challenges we face, not just from the job, but from the BULLSHIT that comes down from the top. So until you've walked in OUR shoes for a day or two, don't assume you know ANYTHING about being a cop in this town.
***To the above poster***
If you are soooo unhappy about being a cop here in Albuquerque, why not leave? You say others are leaving, why do you stay?
Honestly I don't see anyone leaving, just the ones who retire.
So if the City did away with the redlight cameras, would that keep you happy here?
I doubt it!
I am also cop and I get tired of all the whinning "shit" that goes on.
***to the above poster***
Is that your solution to a problem? To just leave?
"Take it or leave it, buddy- our way or the highway?"
Nice thinking.
You must be pretty high up in the force.
Yeah, tell your wife who just started her career that she is gonna have to quit too to get out of this town and it's politics. Tell that to your kids that have just started high school and would have to leave all their friends.
I was the poster two up that said that the original two dispatched were ok, but the ones that came after would have to justify going thru the light. Mea culpa, I didn't know the policy changed AGAIN ALREADY...., last I'd heard it was the first two. Hubby is a 34 and I didn't check with him. I guarantee though, that if he got hurt because other 34's were out writing license plate covers, or having to wait to go thru a light, I will sue so long and fucking hard that it will make Marty and Ray's heads spin like in the exorcist. The bullshit they are making these guys do is sickening, what they put them thru with their politics is worse. How in the hell do you do your job when the administration is more crooked than the criminals in the jail? The pay sucks, morale sucks, and being stuck in this job just trying to finish out your damned retirement sucks the worst. Our piece of shit mayor and asswipe chief of police should be ashamed, and what they may not realize is that sooner or later, what comes around goes around. Karma is a mean bitch, and I for one won't feel sorry for either one of them when they are indicted for the sleazy shit they've done and are getting it from behind in jail. Not sorry at all. It's a small payback for all the misery they've put the city thru.
BRAVO! I doubt anyone on this blog could have said it any better...and kudos to you for the depth of understanding you have about all the crap we deal with...I know some 34's wives who could care less! Your husband is a lucky man!
"If you are soooo unhappy about being a cop here in Albuquerque, why not leave? You say others are leaving, why do you stay?"
Because I love this city, I love this job, and I know in my heart of hearts that once Frick (Schultz) and Frack (Marty) are gone, this city AND this department will be so much better off. You MUST be a Sgt. working on Lt. or a Lt. working your way up Schultz's ass to make Captain...so you get to sit on your ass and watch us sweat and work our asses off and deal with the petty bullshit that rains down from on high. I hope you enjoy sitting on your perch up there....while the REAL cops do the HARD work down here.
Three comments up. The rank and file is who I feel sorry for as they want to do good. The Union doesn't have the balls to follow through with the no confidence vote. Only the visitors and the public are voting a 'Dissatisfactory on this blog.
The politics of the City and the fifth floor is nothing short of a sesspool.
Let's not be fooled. The public is extremely fed up with these guys that run this "Camp Cornhole"
"You MUST be a Sgt. working on Lt. or a Lt. working your way up Schultz's ass to make Captain...so you get to sit on your ass and watch us sweat and work our asses off and deal with the petty bullshit that rains down from on high. I hope you enjoy sitting on your perch up there....while the REAL cops do the HARD work down here."
I work the field as a patrolman you idiot, most officers I know are just sick and tired of the whinners who are always complaining, but stay with APD because they can’t do anything else. Most of us joined APD because we like the job, we are not here to get rich. It's a "calling" for some of us. If you left APD I don't think Albuquerque would be missing anything, because your character is not conducive to public service.
If you are sooo miserable just do something about it and LEAVE, just stop whinning!
You make it sound like you speak for all of us, but you don’t. You are just a small number of disgruntle employees who embarrasses us all with your bickering and self serving greed. Your blindly personal attacks on other 34s (I have a few friends who happened to have rank) are indicative of your unprofessional attitude. You don’t deserve to wear the badge. You have stooped low the same way as this website who has taken a position to cowardly attack anyone they see fit and you follow like sheep.
JUST QUIT. I did 8 years and 4 months in a dept. that makes APD look like DISNEY LAND. DETROIT P.D. ! Exactly ...! It was top heavy with brass, back stabbers, liers,bullshit artist, mayor appointed fuck sticks. So I took my retirement and left now i'm in my last year of law school here and will never return to wearing a badge again. It's that simple. Nobody TOLD YOU that once you took the job that it was your ONLY option in life. I understand exactly what a officer does and goes through. I'm sure every officer had a job before he got accepted into the academy and when he didn't like the job he quit and moved onward and upward. If you don't want to quit then attend your Union meeting and demand a "VOTE of NO CONFIDENCE" sends a clear message to the voters that YOUR dept. ON A WHOLE is UNHAPPY. Just a thought .... Stay safe and GOD SPEED !
Mad props to the two 34's that saw a guy approach me in my car while in line at the Wendy's at central and lomas downtown at 1 am, he was aggressive, didn't want to take no for an answer, and then went to the drive up window harassing the workers too.
Thanks again you guys, it's good to know that you're out there taking care of us!
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