The Berry Administration is setting a new record! The new record being made is for making so many bad decisions. The decision making process in this administration is compatible to a simpleton. At least a simpleton wouldn’t allow people to freeze.
The State of New Mexico was hit with a massive storm accompanied with a frigid arctic blast last week. It was estimated that 20,000 homes on the Westside of Albuquerque lost gas service. During this same time many other communities within the State suffered similar conditions.
The City of Albuquerque activated the Police Department’s Emergency Response Team to Espanola, New Mexico. The cost is huge; there are 45 officers, four sergeants, and two lieutenants heading north to Espanola. The cost per officer’s overtime rate is $37.50 per hour, each sergeant is $45.00 per hour, and each lieutenant is $52.50. Every hour the team is gone is costing the City of Albuquerque $1,972.50 per hour. Every twenty-four hour period costs the City a total of $47,340.00. Plus the cost of gas, wear and tear on the City vehicles, and room and board. Who is going to pay for this? The Governor has declared a “State of Emergency,” this should be handled by the National Guard and/or the New Mexico State Police.
Here are a few questions that need to be addressed;
Why didn’t our Public Safety Director, Darren White, who is paid thousands of dollars per week to protect the public, know about this before it became a disaster for the Westside homes?
Why didn’t our Emergency Preparedness Coordination, Sal Baragiola, who is paid a huge salary, know about this before it became a disaster for our Westside homes?
Why didn’t the City activate the Police Department’s Emergency Response Team to service the Westside homes?
What happens when Albuquerque needs those officers?
Why weren’t these officers activated for our neighbors in the Bernalillo area?
The Honorable Governor Martinez did call for a reduction in electricity and gas usage. Perhaps if our City Administration were doing their jobs by calling for a reduction in a timely manner; this who mess could have been obverted. We have a Public Safety Director, Darren White, and an Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, (former undersheriff to White) Sal Baragiola; whose only purpose is to protect the citizens, but when we actually needed them, they were cuddled around the fire and letting the rest of Albuquerque freeze. Another discerning issue is, when they did realize the problem, there was a “knee jerk” reaction. The Administration over-reacted by activating the Emergency Operation Center; costing the citizens thousands of dollars. The comparison is bringing the dog in after he is frozen to the ground.
Oddly enough, 20,000 of our citizens were cold and went without gas and City officials do nothing. Espanola has a little less than a fourth of that (4,107 household) and the City of Albuquerque sends fifty police officers, over a hundred miles away to help someone else out? The issue here is not giving help to the City of Espanola, but the failure of Albuquerque's City Administration to service the community that pays their huge salaries’.
The State and the City is expecting another storm on Tuesday into Wednesday. It makes us wonder if the Three Stooges, in the Mayor’s office, can figure out what to do and when. Maybe it’s time for City Council to step up and make corrections. The appearance of nonfeasance of duty is despicable.
Source:
HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS
Total Housing Units in Espanola, NM
At the time of the last census survey, there were 4,107 total housing units in Espanola.
Household Population in Espanola, NM
The household population number in Espanola was 9,620.
http://www.americantowns.com/nm/espanola-information
51 comments:
What about all of us who STILL don't have water??!!
I'll b the first to say it Darren has his first chance to slob the gov at everyones expense and like Katrina make himself look good, since the ahrensfeld case he has needed some positive press and he'll beat this drum loud enough, that the cost to local taxpayers to be drowned out.
No Surprise they have to make Martinez look good!
They want to investigate the gas company for the way they handled this situation. How bout investigating the corruption in apd with shultz, white the district attorney office before another innocent person is set up and faces jail time.
You mean to tell me The Mayor not only dislikes Police, Fire, and anyone who is represented by a Union, but now he dislikes his constituents.... "The Taxpayer"? Emphasis on taxpayer. The City loves throwing that buzz word around. The Actor/stage name/fake name/PIO Ramirez loves it.
This is nothing more than Governor Martinez, Berry, and White all getting together and trying to play long ball politics. They probably looked to their political advisors and had to ask what do in this situation. They know in the future their actions or the lack there of will be campaign attack ads later.
Hey, Berry.... Why don't you just ask your Public Safety Chief Darren White what to do during these inclement weather emergencies? After all doesn't Darren White have experience in this type of incident (Huricane Katrina)mitigation? After Huricane Katrina one would of thought he went down there and single handedly made the water dissappear, and rebuilt the levies himself. A little cold weather should be nothing for Mr. White to handle. We all did get tired of his face and HIS story on public access ch. bragging about what HE did in New Orleans. I digress though.
Stay COLD Taxpayer, you will thaw soon!
WTF…first we went from a 11 mile radius for take home cars and now APD is deployed to Taos??? I would love to see the brain child behind this cluster? The state has thousands of National Guard troops available for this, why was ERT activated. ERT won’t even respond to stuff in the city but the idiot in the media wearing a flight jacket will sure as hell send em several hundred miles north in the hopes of re lighting his political career. What a hack job
Thank you EYE. My wife and I went to work,the kids were home school closed didnt know why the school was closed. My kids called and said the house is cold. I went home and wondered what was wrong. I called a plumer, they told me they were swamped with phone calls and could not get to us. They told me that for some reason no one had gas pressure. Finally I found out why and that the Gas Company and the City knew about the problem early in the morning but for some reason kept it a secret. If I had know early I could of taken some action to take care of my family and prevent my frozen pipes. Who is going pay for my damage ? Thank you Gas Company and a special thanks to you City for sending that Police Officer to my house to assist my family. Oh thats right I still haven't seen him. I guess he is to busy 100 miles away.
tj keep your greasy fingers off the keyboard.just pick up the fried chicken and go to your happy place.
I thought TJ didn't show up for work because he was too hungover from his Super Bowl partying. Now he was providing "emergency media services" to Espanola (from home)? That's the cover?
And couldn't someone have put TJ's squad car to good use, couldn't they, even if he couldn't?
According to the New Mexico Gas company NO homes in the City of Albuquerque limits lost service! People up north are freezing and need gas service restored before this next storm hits. The Albuquerque Police Department is the largest most mobile unit in the state and LOGIC dictates that the largest police force is used to help get people heat! Please stop trying to pull politics into getting fellow New Mexicans HEAT in their homes... Absolutely pathetic
Why are these officers being sent to Taos and Espanola? None of them know how to turn on the gas. The governor should have activated all National Guardsmen whose MOS is plumbers. She should put out a call for plumbrs statewide to go and turn on the gas. What are these cops going to do? Collect a hell of a lot of OT is what. There are no riots etc going on, people just want their heat on. So who do we send, a bunch of cops who don't know how to turn on the heat.
Sending these officers is Governor Martinez first real misstep. She should be sending in plumbers.
I know an earlier post was a spoof on Darren in New Orleans, but I was with Darren. His story on public access was wrong. He found every Tom, dick and Harry with a camera and gave interviews while the rest of us worked.
At one point, we had to return to dry land and kick Deputies off the boats so we could actually rescue people because Darren invited too many members of the media to go along. Had it not been for Darren, we never would have been able to experience something like that, but had Darren stayed home, we would have gotten a lot more done.
"Flight jacket"
Darren quit wearing that. I flew many missions in Viet Nam and I don't go around acting like some war hero.
You never left Army Air Corps training before you got your medical discharge booboo. You never were in a war time conflict and you were never were deployed any further than down the street in Houston @ some local pub chasing pu-tang.
what a phony.
Fight jacket.
Never were Airborne.
Never were a cop for that matter.
Never were a politician.
Never were a Congressman or ever will be.
Who's the has been now? (as you have referenced others as being)
Katrina? What a publicity stunt that was. Sure had everyone fooled with that one.
Stay off the TV cameras or at least have them zoom the cameras out a bit so your pumpkin head doesn't fill our entire TV screens.
so our financially broke city will bill our broke state who in turn will bill our broke govt....for APD to go to espanola when the National Guard is already activated doing what they are paid to do and in turn has no cost because they dont get overtime, all of that so Darren can look important in a flight jacket next to Gov Martinez....at 47k a day WOW WHAT IDIOT CAME UP WITH THAT
We have a STATE secretary for DPS and it isn't Darren White. What was he doing in Espanola yesterday? Oh yeah, that's where Susana and the TV CAMERAS were! The media whore just can't help himself. The people of Albuquerque pay you to be in Albuquerque, White. You telling us there weren't any cold people here that needed help? How about getting in front of those cameras you love so much and telling us about your role in Brad Ahrensfield's case? Can you man up for that interview? You won't even have to go to Espanola for that one. You can do it in the city that pays your $135,000 salary.
vote of no confidence on everyone, berry, shultz, darren
Obvious political pandering plus it just doesn't smell right. Helping out those in our area - like Bernalillo, Placitas - no problem but sending cops north makes no sense outside of political motives. Can we expect a spike in crime? Probably not given no one knows about this.
Why were police officers sent there? Were medics needed? Did they need emergency supplies? Could people not get to the stores? Were stores out of food? Was there no running water? Was Susana there? If so, was it all a show that Berry & Darren were there to save the day?
Did they bring food, water or just 'Peach' pie.
WHAT AN OUTLANDISH JOKE THESE GUYS ARE. SERIOUSLY!
Is this political mission of mercy on video and will we see it on the news and rerun a hundred times on Channel 5 like the Katrina rescue.
Darren, hero wanna be. Berry , pretend mayor.
I just saw on The Journal's website that they have now also sent 14 members of AFD to Espanola. WTF for?
We have family there and I can tell you the gas was off in Bernalillo (don't know about Placitas) since Thursday. Why couldn't they have helped out there? It was out Thursday and through the weekend (like Darren and Peaches). Still out in places. Berry and White only got around to this on Monday? Had to make sure they got the weekend off? Why all the way up to Espanola? Did they have to go where Susana and the cameras were? So many questions. So many chances to lie.
"Had it not been for Darren, we never would have been able to experience something like that."
Who invited him? The last time I checked my facts the "real" hereos from New Mexico were the Firefighters/Paramedics/Doctors from NMTF 1, and the DMAT team that went out there and did real life saving work. I don't ever remember seeing a bunch of AFD/BCFD Firefighters/Paramedics/Doctors with their mugs all over public access t.v. or talking about it at every opportune time they could.
Darren was there for one reason and one reason only. To pad his mythical hero resume for future political opportunities, as was former Public Safety Chief of Albuquerque Nick Bakas. Only Nick Bakas didn't parade himself all over the State espousing his heroic acts to anyone and everyone that would listen like Darren has done. I swear public access television played his "Hero" video more than Leave it To Beaver reruns.
Everything is cyclicle. Berry, Darren, and the rest of the circus will be gone, and another clown will be in place with a new cast of liars, backstabbers, and con artists. Only it will drapped in Democrat stained sheets.
Heart felt THANKS goes out to the Men, and Women of The NMSP, APD, AFD, and The NM National Guard for being on the front lines not just during cold times but all the time.
If the camera adds 10 pounds it might be 4 or 5x that for White. He's moved into the superheavy division for sure. Lookin puffy babe.
Enchanting.... I was never one of the ones on Public access TV talking about it and I know for a fact that many, from the SO, that did, were ordered to go and give the interviews. But that doesn't take away from the work that the SO did in New Orleans. 98% of us were upset that there were cameras with us everywhere we went. We tried to warn those of you in PD what we were dealing with, but no one listened until it showed up on your frontdoor.
what else do you expect from having no-brains run this place. well done, we got what we elected.
i will take issue with that whore known as TJ. is this the same guy that broke the David Young case? i bet now you'd stand there and defend white should mud start flying....utterly a disgrace and i don't really care if your cancer is in remission, you're on borrowed time as it is so go ahead, pork up.
46 police officers 14 firefighters and you are talking about sending the school resource officers to Espanola today. I guess we dont need them in the schools in Albuquerque. 31hours overtime for each officer and firefighter. Good job darren. Dont get us wrong folks in Espanola, we in Albuquerque are happy you have heat. What we object to is politicians making political hay over your cold bodies,and not even taking care of the folks in Albuquerque and Bernalillo.
I didn't know Espanola was 11 miles from the Big I
Who's the lady friend in Espanola that Darren had dinner with?
I don't like Darren White and I don't agree with everything the Mayor does, but this post is absolute garbage. It is totally FALSE that homes in Albuquerque, except for Kirtland AFB for a short while, lost gas service. Bash Darren and TJ all you want because they are morons and deserve it, but don't do it by telling lies. I believe the largest city in the state has a responsibility to help out smaller cities in an emergency like this, regardless of cost. And speaking of cost, if you knew anything about a "State of Emergnecy", you would know the Governor declared one so the city wouldn't have to pay all the overtime you are whining about. It will be paid for out of FEMA disaster funds. Stealth, I normally enjoy your posts, but you have lost a lot of credibility with with this article full or outright lies.
10:05, actually you are not absolutely correct. I live in Ventana ranch and my block lost heat. when I called, the gas company said up to 20,000 houses were affected. In fact, Coronado Mobile home park, the ENTIRE mobile home park was out. Our block was out for about 3.8 hours. Graveyard Officers and supervisors were forced to stay overtime (at cost to city), I work day and we were not told any reason, all we knew was all grave officers stayed with their supervisor.
You can agree to disagree, some of the things printed here are opinion, or what they think is the truth, I doubt Stealth is trying to be deceitful. Afterall, you thought you were right and had the facts, yet you did not!
I just heard that the chief is refusing the APOA to vote at the substations, even though that is where it is held every year for 20 plus years. Is the vote of no confidence scaring darren and ray that much? Chief refused, NO CONFIDENCE on him too
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ACCOUNTABILITY? WHAT, ACCOUNTABILITY APD HAS NEVER HAD THAT NEVER WILL. WHATS GOOD FOR 1 IS NOT GOOD FOR ANOTHER UNLESS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Regardless of where the outage was or wasn't, it's still a mystery to me why we would pay a bunch of cops and firemen to be there. Did they set up a tent and serve donuts and hot coffee to the cold people?
To the Fed 9 10:05 poster.
So you have no problem with the city sending officers to Espanola since the costs will be paid for by FEMA. Guess you don't pay federal taxes then huh. Nor do you mind the city has less law enforcement on the streets of ABQ. Guess you don't know about our city crime problems. This is one taxpayer who sees this whole thing as plain wrong. As several posters have already stated, let the national guard handle it. By activating units in the immediate locale their contribution is "enhanced" given they know the area and are part of the community. APD knows nothing of the area and lacks the know how to turn wrenches anyway. So their contribution is ??? Who benefits the most - those with political ties and aspirations. Who loses - the citizens of ABQ who have fewer officers to respond to problems.
Seems I recall reading somewhere that the city needs for "more" officers. Can't be true since we have extra to send elsewhere.
Haven't seen the Clampetts out much lately. Elly Mae ( peaches) must be stirrin up a pot of possum grits and collard greens for the hillbilly.
Night ya'll. You come back real soon.
Someone please investigate apd since they are investigating the gas company
ABQ had a good Emergency Manager, but White tried to lay him off. This was done so Sal the two headed snake would be next to his main man, Darren. Sooo TJ say he was moved to the airport to better serve. Fire lost the Logistics Manager, so the chief could hire a friend on contract: which he did a week later. What a joke! A house full of one hit wannabees!
For sure. one term for these crums. Four and out.
With their actions, they are setting up the Dems to take over City Hall again.
Oh, I forgot, Campbell has already done that. Took the Republicans 20 years to get control of City hall, and took 20 minutes to give it back to the Dems.
What's up with the vote of no confidence
I have rock solid proof of an APD officer violating a criminal statute that would require his removal from office. Yet APD IA refuses to investigate. Now I hear APD is investigating the Gas Company? On what grounds? What criminal statutes is the Gas Company alleged to have violated? What authority does APD claim to have to investigate the Gas Company? Come to think of it, what authority do any of the city officials claim to have to deploy APD miles and miles out of town?
Feb 17 is the vote of no confidence. Chief wont let any officer inside of the subs to vote, where is his no confidence
?
Its funny how Ray Boy threw Darren under the bus with the media prior to the election. Now he is trying to stop a no confidence vote. What a weasel. I can't wait to retire at the end of this year. I'm going to mail packages to the national media that Ray Boy can't hide from!!
David and RJ; We all know you read this every chance you get. Like what you see?
Rj is looking bad 'cause of Darren and David Campbell can't stand Darren and will throw him under the bus as soon as he gets the opportunity.
Do the vote on the sidewalk in front of the subsection. That's public property. As a citizen how do I help the department.
That's not the first time covered up an internal affairs investigation.
i have proof of several officers violation state law and no one cared. Just FYI they take the bad guys side all the time.
Campbell is no more - so as his last great act of defiance can he throw Darren under the bus on his way out?
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