Our first fire was started some seven or so years ago when the Chavez administration began what can only be called a spending spree.
Budget growth has been substantial since Mayor Martin Chávez took office in 2001. Annual spending is ahead of inflation by $125 million.That Journal story was from over a year ago. At that time the city was projecting a budget shortfall of $22 MILLION for 2008. Today we found out that that shortfall has grown almost three times to a whopping $65 MILLION (ABQ Journal - Subscription). To put that in perspective last year's budget was some $490 MILLION, $65 MILLION is over 13% of last year's budget.
Worse, even though the mayor and the council knew about a $22 MILLION shortfall, they continued down the road of blowing our tax dollars on $9 MILLION gifts to the county and the inclusion of Trolleys in the city's Transportation Improvement Plan or TIP. Marty was even back in the hunt for a teddy bear (read it here).
Talk about ignoring reality! Of course at the time the Almighty One still had aspirations of becoming governor, then senator, then mayor... You get the idea.
Another smoldering city situation is our increasing problem with property crime. Back in September the Journal did a little statistical analysis and found that Albuquerque was one of the most dangerous places to live in the country (Subscription). But never fear Albuquerque's top cop (that's not an elected official) Ray Schultz feels safe and besides we just report crime too often.
Which brings us to our most dangerous governmental conflagration - the almost total and complete meltdown of Albuquerque's police department. APD is in crisis and if you've spent any time at all reading the comments of various police officers on this site you know this to be true.
A series of moves ranging from 5-8's to a new contract designed to pit officer against officer, the Chavez administration has managed to divide a dysfunctional department against itself. Folks, we already had a crime problem. Marty's move against the department's senior officers has the potential to make an already bad crime situation worse.
Now, don't think for a second that these officers would neglect their duties... they won't. They took an oath to protect the rest of us and they will fulfill that oath regardless of the utter stupidity of the 5th and 11th floors, not to mention the foolishness of the APOA board. However, there are consequences. First, as soon as it is possible for them to do so they will leave - either through retirement or by finding a better department that appreciates experienced law enforcement officers.
More importantly, almost the entire force is busy arguing over a contract that nothing short of poison for APD unity. It's a HUGE distraction for officers whose attentions should be more properly directed at reducing crime. Frankly, we don't blame them. It's hard to focus on your job when you're caught between management and the APOA who have agreed on a contract that will cost you money in just a few short years.
Meanwhile, younger officers are busy trying to hang on to a gain that they probably should have never gotten. In a few years they'll find themselves in the same position as the current senior officers - looking for a department that appreciates them for their experience or trying to hang-on until they reach their retirement. The only problem is they won't be just a couple of years away from retirement - which means today's rookies will never be tomorrow's seasoned APD officers.
We haven't even begun to talk about the other fires burning down at city hall like red light cameras, falsified animal adoption numbers, or inflated "green" statistics. If you're smelling smoke it's because there's a fire. All we need to do now is buy the Almighty Alcalde a fiddle and probably get him some lessons.
35 comments:
First of all, it is not " seasoned APD officers " leaving for other departments. It is the future seasoned officers. Who can blame some one for trying to improve their quality of life by going to Aurora, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, etc.... The list goes on and on. APD officers have been getting screwed for years in regards to pay. Now, a new contract that benefits most of the department. The contract was presented, voted on and passed. It is called Democracy. The divisiveness is coming from blogs like this one. No one had a gun to their heads when they voted, even though there were Sgts. telling their squads not to vote for the contract. Not all Sgts. did this, but you know who you are. The majority of people went home and thought it over, if only for one day and then cast their vote. It passed and some 34's are as bitter as all those left wing liberals were when George Bush won the presidency in 2004. One thing I do know is that not everyone is going to be happy no matter how the contract would have been structured. I agree with almost everything posted on the "EYE", but these recent posts are only fueling the divisiveness. Stop al the APOA board hate. Stop blamong Ron O. Blame the Mayor and his appointed Chief. Thats where the blame should come to rest. At their feet.
You guys are so full of it. Marty has done a great job in the city. Hes our kind of Mayor!
somebody should do something.
"The contract was presented, voted on and passed. It is called Democracy. The majority of people went home and thought it over, if only for one day and then cast their vote. "
Yes, it's democratic, yes the majority of the people voted it in, BUT who were that majority? Probies, and non union members were allowed to vote too, and THAT is what the real problem is, that is like allowing Canadians to vote for president of the US.
Either discount their votes and recount, or revote now that everyone has had a chance to look at it, and IF it's all that great, it will stand on it's own merit. It's not rocket science people, and then NO ONE can bitch because it was done correctly. Ya'll keep fucking around with this, and end up decertified, and then what? The union itself should volunteer to do this immediately to show that it has nothing to hide, and that it wants what the members want.
APD's problem in a nutshell no matter the issue. The public trust has been lost. I guess the big question is now: who's going to pick up the fallen banner and run with it. APD's problems are affecting all of us in one form or another.
My first recommendation would be to earn back the respect of the business community.
"Hes our kind of Mayor!" What pep club did you come from? The Laverne & Shirley re-run channel?
What needs to be done, at this time, is stop spending! "STOP THE PRESSES"! Drop the pet projects for now, balance the check book and get the spin doctors telling the public the truth. We're not stupid, Bruce!
Admit you're wrong and that the city is trying to fix the issues. It brings back bad memories of the lies behind the evidence room scandal. The administration may gain public trust and respect by trying to fix the problems instead of continuing to lie, lie, lie!!!
I have to wonder who are the administration(s) political advisers (if any, I could do a better job), or is it just hang on by the seat of your pants? The "my way or the highway" mentality has got to stop. Not only does the public know what's going on, but Burque is the laughing stock of the nation.
Tell the truth for once!
Another Marty butt kisser, get a life. Open your eyes, or is that you Marty?
Martin Chavez can do whatever he wants. He will get re-elected because no one is willing to step up and challenge him. I feel sorry for the cops.
I agree to a point with the first poster. The only part I disagree with is that the APOA board did not set in place guidelines so that all officers could review the contract before voting and that officers out of town, etc would have the ability to vote. I think the APOA will change their by laws to cover that now.
But you hit the nail on the head, Marty and Ray own this whole mess.
" Marty has done a great job for the city"
WHOS Tube are You sucking?
Saturday night,April 22,
DID HAPPEN!
State Police do have the CADs.
Marty once again got away with another one.
Gov. Richardson; If the State Police did pull Marty over, and they too are covering it up, why not look into it. The PUBLIC needs to know.
Marty's done a great job? Decimating the police department, then lying to the city about the true number of police officers there are. Putting up and keeping the red light cameras even though a state study found them to be more dangerous for the intersections they are supposed to make safer. This city is a cesspool. It is not the same city I grew up in. Crime is rampant even though our police officers bust their butts to make this city safer. A mayor who cares more about what he wants than what the city needs. A judicial system (Metro Court)that has the " pobre mi hijo" mentality when it comes to the criminals and lawbreakers of this city. I mention this because the mayor could pressure the courts to take crime and punishment seriously. He is a very influential Democrat. so, tell me again about the great job our mayor is doing.
DITTO above poster!
The contract passed...Not all the people who voted it were newbies.. as you call them. Im a ten year vet and I voted for the contract and will do so again if needed. It does not matter if you have one year or ten years, a cop is a cop. Some of you have forgot this, that is the problem with APD. I voted for it due to the two pay scales that we have now. I make 19.00. there are many people that have been here far less time that make 21.00. I didn't see the people at 21.00 making waves at the last contract when us 19.00 got hosed. So if you are a "newbie" this vet will allways have your back because for the simple fact that you are a COP.
Stop all your crying and whining. Just because you senior 34's were not able to get your crap together for the last fifteen years, you want to shoot down a raise that benefits the majority of the department! One poster was talking about greedy younger 34's. Just like the movie, LOOK WHO'S TALKING. To the poster talking about greedy cops, the vast majority of this department will benefit from a good raise. I have more than ten years on and even I can see that I will come out ahead!More cops on the streets. Able to take days off. Those are just a few of the benefits of this new contract.
To whomever writes this blog: It seems to me that it is YOU who is fanning the flames of controversey and division. Remember,if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Just some musings off the top of my head. You know, for what it's worth.
Most of the post on this subject apply to the "Road to Invalidation" and we need to move on.
The "Eye" has moved on to another subject, but so far about 90% of the posts are about the APD contract, which was the last forum. "Is Rome Burning" is a new legit forum that needs new opinions. If you're a 34 pissed about the contract then post on the "Road to Invalidation".
Let's move on to the other coruption that the "Eye" exposes. Otherwise they (big-bother) wins. They must love the time spent on spliting any comaraderie.
Simply...you get what you pay for...if you pay better...you will get to pick from a better pool of applicants...instead of just taking the applicants who squeak by with the bare minimum requirements.
In reference to the voters on the contract...anyone who pays the "Fair Share" amount is an elligible voter. "Fair Share" is the money that each officer pays to have the APOA Collective Bargaining Unit negotiate wage and working condition issues for them, therefore all officers from P 2/C to Lt are elligible.
I was watching the news the other day and they where running a clip called "Chat with the Chief" They were interviewing Ray Schultz about the recruitment of women. Schultz stated he would like to see 50% of his force women. I just about fell out of my chair!
Talk about a false statement! Ray Schultz hates women! He does everything in his power to stiffle their growth and makes working on APD very difficult for them. I could not believe he was making such a false and unture statement, that APD treated women fair. Ask a few of the women that have experience with Ray what their opinion is of him. They hate him! Schultz had the chance to promote two very qualified women Captains to the rank of Deputy Chief and he skipped right over both them and kept his promotions to all males. Some, less qualified.
Much later, one of the very experienced Captain's left for a better job, knowing full well Schultz would never promote a women to deputy chief. Ray strongly believes women have their place and it's not at the top level of management within the police department!
Media, look at the stat's and form your own opinion. If APD is at such a high level 14% women, why is it not reflected up through the ranks?????
Re: Fair share
Fair share does not give you a vote on any union related issue. Most unions will not even allow you to speak at union meetings if you are not a member and only paying fair share. Fair share is what you pay for the benefit of working in a union protected job.
If you not even aware of that fact, obviously you need to get more involved with your union, and don't believe what the 5th floor is telling you.
he "Eye" has moved on to another subject, but so far about 90% of the posts are about the APD contract, which was the last forum. "Is Rome Burning" is a new legit forum that needs new opinions. If you're a 34 pissed about the contract then post on the "Road to Invalidation".
Please! When did this become YOUR blog with YOUR rules? If people want to post about the contract, they can and will, who do you think you are?
Who cares???????
It's a blog! You can blog whatever you want! If you don't like it, don't read it!
Marty got his way with term limits. I just saw an interview where he stated there are only 3 jobs he would want: Governor, Senator or Mayor. Since the 1st 2 are over what do we think he'll do, duh?
Mayer & O'Malley are talking about running for Mayor, if that's the case it looks like Marty for another term. Which means Schultz, Ortega and all of Hilters other corupt, patron cronnies will be around for another 4 years/plus.
The public will need to ban together to find a worthy opponent to beat the Mouse. If term limits are unconstitutional shouldn't non-partisan elections be also??
In ref to women and chief schultz, Capt Sandoval was in no way qualified for a dcop. She didn't give her job 80% much less 100%. I do agree it is tough for women but its tough for men too.
That's B.S. The Capt was extremely qualified. The 5th floor was just intimidated by a women in a top level position.
Ray has always hated women in powerful positions and will do everything in his power to keep us down!
Did she even want to be a DC? She had her time in and had reached her level of competence about 3 ranks earlier.
DC's are over rated,,,
Especially the ones we have. The last few groups of APD Deputy Chief's have really sucked. Prior to this group, the other three were corrupt and women chasers crooks
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