Albuquerque's Premier Source for Entertainment!
Courtesy of Disney
By Hector Valverde
Disney’s Mulan from 1998 is arguably the best of its entire animated collection. It’s a beautiful, lovingly animated story told with a powerful message, one only made better by an impeccable soundtrack ranking amongst the studio’s greats. In 2020, it was only a matter of time before the film got adapted into live action. How has it translated? Well, I just burned $30 on premium VOD to be able to tell you you definitely shouldn’t. [Read more…]
Samara Weaving, Alex Winter, Keanu Reeves, and Brigette Lundy-Paine in Bill & Ted Face the Music (Orion)
By ABQ Live writer Hector Valverde
As one of the first big-name productions finding its way into the wave of re-opening theaters, all eyes have landed on the film to not only cap off the Bill & Ted trilogy, but also give us all a reason to venture out to our AMCs, Regals, Cinemarks, and the like.
Full disclosure, I watched the film on my TV on demand. And while I do wonder if the medium of my viewing ultimately had an effect on my vibe with the film, I found Face the Music an unfortunately not excellent, most bogus experience, dude. [Read more…]
By ABQ Live Staff writer Nichole Harwood | Photo and video by Kori Kobayashi
Yelton launched a petition on June 30, pleading that hybrid and remote learning does not provide the same productivity level that in-person classes offer. She argued many students do not have access to technology and additional resources needed for this transition. With student resources at an all-time low, Yelton’s petition asks for tuition to be lowered to help students with the transition.
“The overall message generally is that it is unethical to charge students more, let alone the same price during a global pandemic,” Yelton said. “People are so unsure of their current situations, and it’s just not right that they would have to put their education on hold because our representatives refuse to help us.”
At the time of this article, Yelton’s petition has received an overwhelming amount of support, gathering 5,453 signatures edging closer to her goal of 7,000.
Following her petition release, the university branch for Students for Socialism launched its first protest on August 13. Their Facebook Event echoed Yelton’s words, adding that, with courses being taught online instead of in-person, students will be paying more for an inferior experience.
The call for students to come together did not go unanswered. Several students arrived at the first protest brandishing signs that echoed the outrage in Yelton’s petition. At the event, students gathered at the 7,000 square-foot University House of UNM President Garnett S. Stokes. They took turns letting each other speak as they held signs asking for lowered tuition rates.
Many students exclaimed that they had to drop out of the semester due to the tuition increase siting unemployment as a high factor in their decision to halt their education. While many current and former students voiced their outrage others pleaded with attendees to focus on coming together peacefully to confront the tuition increase.
One former UNM student and member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation Sol Dean pleaded with students to relate with each other as they stand together to protest. In addition, he asked students to seek to understand people who disagree with them.
“I think that it is important that we understand that if we are not essential to our country that we need to be essential to each other,” Dean said.
In addition to highlighting the current concerns with having the 2020-2021 year’s tuition increase, the Students for Socialism argued that tuition increases have been ongoing even before COVID-19. They stated that from 2008 to 2018, the average tuition at four-year public colleges has continuously increased in all 50 states.
Yelton said the goal of those who stand with her is to get tuition lowered for students for the current academic semester. Long term, Yelton said she hopes that students can see a change in how the education system handles higher education establishing fair and affordable tuition prices for students by standing together.
We believe that education is a human right,” Yelton said.
Future protests are currently being scheduled, and Yelton said she feels she owes it to her fellow students to continue standing with them since she started the initiative.
“I want my fellow students to know that they are heard, and they are not alone in their struggle,” Yelton said. “Their voices do matter. I’m just a single person that started a petition, and it has come this far. When students care enough to voice their opinion about something, it can start change, and that’s something students should remember, that they do have a say even if it feels like they don’t.”
By Nichole Harwood
While many of us are currently diving into the massive archive of movies available on Disney+, one author has been spinning her own Disney-inspired tales for the last ten years. Playing on the backstories of some of Disney’s most infamous and iconic witches and hags, Serena Valentino’s Villains novels have probed animations’ darkest minds to great critical acclaim. Valentino’s latest entry, Evil Thing, tackles the cackling dalmatian hunter Cruella De Vil, with a mesmerizing breath of fresh air. [Read more…]
By Nichole Harwood
New Mexico’s premier drive-thru haunted house will feature the return of Dragon’s House of Horror’s iconic character Bo Bo the Butcher Clown, as well as a whole plethora of new frights that will keep your grip on the steering wheel white-knuckled and tight.
With COVID-19 keeping many glued firmly to their seats at home, Ron Gideon, owner of Dragon’s House of Horror, said he felt it was important to inject creativity into this year’s haunt in order to ensure it was an event everyone could attend safely during the pandemic.
“I believe it’s very important to get out,” Gideon said. “I’m stir-crazy sitting at home. So, if I can do something, or I can get out and do something, I’m building it. But I still want to keep my staff safe. So, we created the Mile of Terror, a drive-through haunted attraction.”
Kicking off on September 4, the event will be taking place every Friday and Saturday from dusk until midnight at the Santa Ana Star Center. Dragon’s will be providing New Mexicans a safe and thrilling experience to look forward to for the fall season on through to October 31.
Gideon said that the event would be similar to the popular hayrides of yesteryear as attendees travel through the haunted house from the safety of their own cars. Playing on the frights that go with driving while drawing inspiration from popular horror films, Gideon has designed a maze of terrifying and popular tropes to entertain attendees.
While the haunt is scheduled to end nightly at midnight, Gideon assures all attendees that he will not close the gates to those waiting in line, ensuring all who come will get a chance to drive through. In addition, Gideon emphasized that Dragon’s ‘haunters’ will not touch attendees vehicles.
“While driving, the average speed you want to be at is around 2-5 miles per hour,” Gideon said. “You want to make sure that you’re paying attention. If you get scared, you want to make sure you’re pressing the brake and not the gas for both the safety of our staff as well as yourself. We will not be touching your car. That’s a very important point we want to emphasize. Out of respect for people’s cars there will be no touching of vehicles. We will walk by it, but we’re not going to touch people’s cars.”
Gideon’s son, Harold Gideon, is excited to showcase the haunt’s mascot, Bo Bo the Butcher Clown, in a new terrifying environment. Having once been afraid of clowns himself, Harold said he knows how to play on people’s fears, creating new scares and stunts that both old patrons and newcomers can enjoy.
“We can alter our haunted house, we can change mid-scare. We want to make sure we give everyone the best experience that we can, and the best way to do that is to always be on our toes,” he said. Harold hopes to expand the clown family in the future as the haunted attraction’s experience continues to grow and excite people of all ages.
“Come and have fun, and make sure to bring an extra pair of underwear,” Harold said with a laugh and a big grin.
**To ensure the event is safe for both haunters and hauntees Dragon’s House of Horror will accept cash at the door, but not credit cards. Those interested in paying by card can pre-order their tickets online today.
Photos by Editor in Chief Kori Kobayashi and ABQ-Live Photographer Thomas Harwood
By Nichole Harwood
Cabiltes was spurred to write her song in response to the riots that took place after the wave of protests swept the nation following the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Despite being miles away from the incident in Albuquerque, Cabiltes said she still remembers singing the chorus of the song in her car over and over again, moved by everything that was happening across the nation.
“It’s crazy to see how much racial discrimination still exists, honestly, it opened my eyes as well and all I wanted to do then was learn more about what I could do, as well as stand together with our black community,” Cabiltes said.
Cabiltes’s chorus pleads to her listeners to view recent events through a different lens outlining both the protest and the following riots.
“Oh, the country’s burning can you hear us now?
We tried the peaceful protest but it wasn’t loud.
How many black lives does it take,
to prove there’s still hate?”
(“The Country’s Burning (Can You Hear Us Now)” by Zandi Ashley Cabiltes)
Cabiltes said she is the type of individual who sees a person for who they are, but that she had to admit to her own ignorance in regards to how powerful racism remains in the modern-day.
“It was eye-opening to me that racist jerks still exist,” Cabiltes said. “When I first heard of George Floyd’s murder, it was just heartbreaking. I definitely consider myself an empath and so that was very upsetting, as it was for others.”
Cabiltes said she watched as Floyd’s death sparked a desire for change and reform, not only towards police protocol but within society’s shift and outlook towards African-Americans.
“Then the protests happened,” Cabiltes said. “The peaceful ones, the riots… There was such a chaotic energy, and I felt it. All I really wanted to do was give the world a hug because so much was happening. There was so much fire in me, being inspired by protests, the togetherness of everyone standing together; my heartbreaking at the same time, seeing how as a nation, there still existed this disgusting type of hate.”
Local Albuquerque musician Zandi Ashley Cabiltes hopes to see a future where people look past skin color: Picture by Armando Orona
Cabiltes saw the riots as the inevitable outcome of peaceful protests being ignored. She emphasized that, while non-violent protests are great, she finds it infuriating seeing the black community practically screaming in a peaceful manner without an answer. This, Cabiltes said, began with Kaepernick taking a knee in 2016, followed by the L.A. Lakers wearing “I Can’t Breathe” shirts after the death of Eric Garner in 2014. Despite the mass circulation of these messages, among others, the black community still wasn’t, and perhaps still isn’t, being heard.
“It had to get crazy to make the news,” Cabiltes said. “When people are silenced for so long, people will do what they need to in order to be heard. Martin Luther King Jr. did well with his peaceful protests, however, Malcolm X was on the other side of the spectrum. In my opinion, the rioters were somewhat a catalyst to spark the change our society needs.”
Each day, Cabiltes said, she continues to learn about the racial discrimination that exists within her community. She stays in tune to the voices of Black Lives Matters in her community by following the Instagram account @BlackVoicesABQ, which posts events in regards to the Black Community in Albuquerque, as well as when upcoming protests are.
“Honestly, the type of change I’d like to see, just in general, is for people to truly look past skin color and to value others based on who they are. Some other things I’m doing personally is I joined a book club and we’re reading the book, ‘White Fragility.’ I think it’s so important to keep educating ourselves on social issues that we have the ability to change. To stand together as a community and support each other through it,” Cabiltes said.
Until the day that discrimination becomes a thing of the past, Cabiltes said she and other musicians will continue to communicate the message that America needs to change their societal views regarding racial discrimination.
As a musician, she sees this as essential as artists have forever been the ones to use their platforms to advocate for the issues society needs to address. As a young musician and citizen of Albuquerque, Cabiltes advises everyone, regardless of age, to educate themselves.
“It’s one thing to be ignorant, but that is always changeable,” Cabiltes said. “Do your research! Donate, help out, protest. Stand with your fellow human race. And, never ever be afraid to stand your ground and use your voice.”
For more on her music, you can follow Zandi Ashley Cabiltes on social media at:
@zandi.ashley on Instagram
and
Zandi Ashley on Spotify
By Nichole Harwood
Duarte has had a lengthy career in music not only as a solo artist, singer, guitarist, songwriter, and pianist, but also as the co-producer in the bands Magic Eight Ball and Mansion Harlots. After more than a decade in the biz, he’s played his music in over 20 countries across four continents.
Originating from England just outside of London, Duarte said that he initially visited the United States in 2001, dreaming as a teenager that he would one day live in California. His dream came to fruition as an adult, and after some time spent playing the streets of Los Angeles, a scholarship for his wife from the University of New Mexico brought him to Albuquerque.
From there, Duarte has only watched his music career continue to grow, his travels to and from New Mexico shaping the voice of his music in new and interesting ways.
“When you do that desert driving and spend long hours on the road doing that, you contemplate a lot of things going on in your own life,” Duarte said. “You have that capped into a background that’s unfamiliar to your roots. So, adjusting to desert life is one thing, but it’s also the scenery upon which you have your personal experiences, whether it be with my wife, whether it be with my little puppy, or whether it be playing a show. I think that, forthcoming, my writing will be affected more by the traveling element rather than staying still.”
Duarte was inspired to become a musician at the age of fifteen when he heard his favorite band for the first time, a Welsh band by the name of Manic Street Preachers.
“There was something about their music that—it combined the elements of rock that were popular in the 90s and really drenched them in this mournful sense of melody, and it completely sucked me in,” Duarte said.
As the years passed, he began to be inspired by a bitter-sweetness in rock. Duarte said his music throughout his career has been inspired by Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Axl Rose and Kurt Cobain. The combination of these influences make Duarte hopeful that he injects what he considers to be soul into his music, resulting in a sound he describes as both melodic and soulful.
“To me, personally, whether it’s to other people, my music is uplifting,” Duarte said with a smile. “Because it’s my outlet to do what I love, and that makes me feel good. And apparently it makes a few others feel not so bad, either.”
Since he started living in New Mexico, Duarte has continued what he does best: sharing his music with another audience. Duarte has played at several music venues since moving to the Land of Enchantment including the Red Velvet Underground, Zia Amazing Maze, the Cafe Bella Coffee, and the Eye Brewing Company.
Soaking up the culture of the Duke City, Duarte even purchased his iconic outfit from the “Panda Eyes” music video from local business Off Broadway. Duarte has described his experiences in Albuquerque and New Mexico in general as hugely different to Los Angeles, and otherworldly compared to the UK. While he returned to England over Christmas last year, he said he no longer feels it is home anymore.
“I feel as American as I do English,” Duarte said. “I feel as Spanish and Colombian as I do American. My wife is Spanish-Colombian, and that’s why my surname’s Duarte. My stage name is Baz Francis. I changed my name back when we were dating—we weren’t even married, I just got adopted by her family.”
Duarte said that, as part of a household with strong Spanish and the Colombian elements, he has found himself embracing Albuquerque, New Mexico, and their large Hispanic community. It’s been educational, Duarte said, for him to see the ways in which the art and the ancient, pre-white history affect the area.
“To me, it is just so far removed from England. There’s a beauty in that, because I see a sense of identity here when you go somewhere where you’re out of your comfort zone. And, yeah, certainly weather-wise, it’s been an adjustment coming here. But culturally, that combination of white, Hispanic, and Native American gives this town just a very unique personality. And I really am quite fond of the place now,” Duarte said.
As of now, Duarte has released five albums in total. Three come from his band, Magic Eight Ball. He also boasts a solo album live-recorded in Egypt titled “Trainwrecks in the Desert.” His latest album featuring the song “Panda Eyes” was released with Mansion Harlots as “All Around A Fairground.”
New Mexico is featured in Mansion Harlots’ album “All Around A Fairground”
With large panda eyes to the future, Duarte encourages musicians from New Mexico and beyond to reach out for future collaborations and encourages fans to follow him on social media to follow his next live shows.
Until then, he encourages new musicians to block out the naysayers and surround themselves with good people. Additionally, he says they should follow what they believe in rather than what is scheduled for their life by someone else.
Music, Duarte said, is one of the most beautiful things as it gives a warm embrace to it’s listener.
“You could be having a terrible day, and that song you love comes on the radio, and it feels like that singer is letting you know it’s gonna be alright,” Duarte said. “I’ve had many instances in my life where a song just appeared on a speaker and has soothed that pain. The best compliments that I’ve ever received in my life, the one thing that has really touched me, is when people say that they listen to my music at a time when things were bleak for them, and it helped them through that. I don’t know what they get from my music that does that. I don’t really need to know. But I’d say that that’s the most pure and beautiful way in which I like my music to be received.”
For more on his creative expeditions across Albuquerque and New Mexico, you can follow Baz on social media at:
@bazfrancis8 on Instagram
and
@bazfrancismusic on Facebook
By Nichole Harwood
CEO and multi-unit franchise owner Roger Linn said the focus on fun is crucial, as it shapes a child’s view on sports as they get older. With nine current locations in Albuquerque, i9 Sports works hard to reclaim sports from over-competitive parents by creating an unabashedly recreational program.
“I think the number one takeaway is to remember that we always put a heavy emphasis on fun first. Because if you’re not having fun, then you’re not going to enjoy sports for the rest of your life,” Linn said.
Making fun a priority for children lays the foundation for i9 Sports and is an underlying principle that is followed by both the children that attend and the coaches that teach. Ways in which fun is encouraged is through the business’s Buddy Program and Coaching Program. When signing up online, children can request to be put on a team with buddies and request specific coaches. These options help to lay the groundwork for a more comfortable experience for children by allowing them to play with friends.
Along with the requests for coaches and buddies, Linn said that no child is ever left out. i9 Sports does not hold any tryouts, and children are not ever in danger of ‘not making the team.’ By allowing each child a chance to play, i9 Sports encourages inclusivity in all of its activities.
“Each week, our coaches go over the sportsmanship lesson of the day with their team, and at the end, they award a teammate the sportsmanship medal for the day,” Linn said. “Kids will also take home the ‘sportsmanship of the week’ winner sign home for that week and bring it back for someone else to take home next. Kids look up to these life-lesson messages, and for us coaches, it allows us to teach the kids the important aspects of good life skills, and sportsmanship.”
Linn emphasized that i9 Sports is not political and that they do not play favorites with any of the teams.
“We want everyone to have an equal opportunity to try different positions and to have a fair rotation because we feel as soon as kids hit high school it is politicized and we just want to give the kids a really good base and a love for sports early on,” he said.
i9 Sports provides a variety of sports for boys and girls ages three and up in today’s most popular sports such as flag football and soccer. A full list of their sports programs for each location can be found online. i9 Sports provide a spring, summer, fall, and winter season for parents to sign their children up for their favorite sports program. Due to Covid-19, there has been a delay in the spring program, but Linn said they are on track to continue the summer program, even if it has been pushed back a bit. Parents can sign their children up for the programs online or over the phone.
Linn said he wants parents to know that whatever the program they sign their child up for, they can be reassured their child will always be able to play.
“Sports themselves are naturally competitive, and so we don’t need to put any extra emphasis on that,” Linn said. “We would much rather hear that a team played everyone equally versus a coach playing for the win.”
Linn said families looking to get their children involved in a variety of sports while being in an inclusive and fun environment are a perfect fit for i9 Sports.
“We’re not going to be your most competitive sports team, but I think we provide access to a very good beginner and intermediate program,” Linn said.
The name “i9 Sports” means “i to the 9th power.” This is broken down to symbolize nine critical differences in the i9 Sports approach to youth athletics, with each number representing an integral part of i9 Sports. These nine crucial differences in their approach to youth sports are imaginative, innovative, interactive, integrity-driven, impassioned, inspirational, instructional, insightful, and inclusive.
“These are our core principles and values that we embody and take to heart in all our programming,” Linn said. “In times like now, where we have the Black Lives Matter movement and other social topics surfacing such as LBGTQ, we want people to know that we are fully inclusive. We want everyone to come out and have a good time while knowing that no one is going to be excluded from our program.”
Photo credit : Sacred Sage Photography
Article by ABQ Live writers Nichole Harwood and Ludella Awad
While organizers and protesters tried to share their message peacefully, riots erupted on June 1 after the first protest. According to KRQE, while it is unclear what individuals made up the riots, they were not believed to be made up of members of the protest from hours earlier.
According to the City of Albuquerque official press release, the Albuquerque Police Department deployed its Emergency Response Teams to a large portion of Downtown to keep people from vandalizing property and causing violence.
The press release states that some people threw bottles and other items at officers while others climbed on building rooftops and threw things down to the street. After a few hours, shots were fired at police on Central, in front of the KiMo Theater, with no injuries.
In the fall out of the riots, multiple businesses were vandalized, some sustaining large amounts of damage. Despite the damage, however, two local businesses have stood firm on their resolve, asking their patrons and fellow citizens of Albuquerque not to let the riots tarnish the message the peaceful protests were trying to spread.
Photos courtesy of ABQ Journal
Red Door Brewing Company posted immediately on their Facebook page after the riots letting their followers know that despite the damage to their business, they wanted their patrons to know it was not the work of the peaceful protests.
“We stand with those who are marching for justice. If you see boards on our windows today, don’t worry. We will be open again on Wednesday for takeout and hopefully soon for dine-in. We love you, Albuquerque! Everyone stay safe, stay healthy,” the posts continued. “Don’t let the actions of a few opportunists ruin the message of peace and justice, so many brave citizens are fighting for. Thank you to these kind men for helping us clean up the mess this morning and all those who reached out to offer help. YOU are the ABQ we know and love.”
Operations Manager for Red Door Brewing, Ali Cattin said that while her business received a couple of broken windows, that night’s employees and the security camera footage showed that the protest was long over before the riots began.
“What we saw after the protest was just a group of people that came through Central just to smash things up,” Cattin said. “It didn’t look like they had anything to do with the protest. We just wanted to encourage people to realize that violence that we saw that night wasn’t part of the protest.”
Photos courtesy of ABQ Journal
Cattin said the business wanted to clarify with their posts that they supported the protest and didn’t think that the violence done had anything to do with the protest.
“We support what Mayor Keller has been doing to try and integrate social work with the policing and having a visible presence particularly in the downtown community — we’ve had a great relationship with the police down there. They’ve always been very responsive, and they like to come and check on us. We would like to see that continue and go further and have the police be more involved in the community,” she said.
Red Door Brewing is supportive of future peaceful protests, Cattin said.
“Red Door Brewing is an inclusive place for people to come and gather together, and we would like it to be part of the downtown corridor where everyone can feel like they can come and be treated equally,” she said.
Owners of Effex Nightclub Carri Phillis and Bobby Ganster also received damage to their downtown venue and bar. The popular downtown hotspot had multiple doors broken. Despite the damage, Phillis echoed Cattin stating that individuals need to make a clear distinction between the protests and riots. In regards to the protests, Phillis said she was proud of New Mexico and that the protests were peaceful and very well done. The rioters she said were a completely separate group with a different agenda.
Photos courtesy of ABQ Journal
“I think the protests are needed,” she said. “There are issues that need to be addressed. Racism is a disgusting reality, so many people have to deal with it in our country. It’s shameful that in 2020 this is something that is still so prevalent in our society.”
Phillis said she was not one to protest, but that she prays that the protests taking place presently build a country that allows all parents to raise children with the privilege of not living in fear due to the color of their child’s skin.
“I think we need to stand together as a community,” Phillis said. “If you hear someone make racist statements, jokes, or show racism in their actions, we need to be the people to stop it. We can not sit silently in our bubbles anymore. No one is born a racist; it’s a taught behavior that is fostered by our silence. It’s time to be loud; we can make the difference.”
While the protest on May 31 was followed by a riot on June 1 protestors once again took to the streets on June 2. With protests spreading across the country, Albuquerque’s chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation ( PSL) helped to organize the protest on the evening of Tuesday, June 2.
Organizer with the chapter, Satya Vatti said her party helped lead a march that demanded justice for George Floyd and all victims of police brutality, from the university area to downtown, where protestors made speeches on the steps of the APD station.
“We played a role in leading the march on Tuesday to show that the people of Albuquerque stand in absolute solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of protestors across the country and the world that are denouncing racism in the United States,” Vatti said.
During the march, Vatti said protestors chanted many chants, including “Charge all four cops,” and were clear in their resolve that there will be no peace in the streets if there is no peace.
While police brutality was a primary focus of the protest, Vatti emphasized that the protest encompassed many issues, including poverty, inequality, unemployment, centuries of neglect, and oppression under the capitalist economic and political system.
The message that PSL highlighted during the protest, which was supported by the people in attendance, Vatti said, was the need to build a militant mass movement of tens of thousands to millions of people. One that can not be bought and that will struggle against this inherently racist system, and fight for a new system.
“Our message was one of unity between those fighting for immigration rights, against police brutality, for Native liberation, against US wars, against poverty, and more,” Vatti said. “Most importantly, for the movement to grow and become stronger, working-class people need to be organized and join political organizations that will fight back and that represent their class interests.”
Photo credit : Sacred Sage Photography
New Mexico joined the rest of the United States to celebrate Juneteenth on June 19. The nationwide holiday celebrated the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued an executive order directing flags to fly at half-staff in observance of the holiday.
Organized by Charles Ashley III, Albuquerque locals joined together June 19 for a Public Art Protest where individuals using chalk created a Black Lives Matter mural at Civic Plaza in Albuquerque.
Photo credit : Sacred Sage Photography
The next day June 20, another event Albuquerque Juneteenth 2020, which was held from 5pm to 10 p.m. at Roosevelt Park. The event was hosted by the All African People’s Revolutionary Party along with Welstand Foundation, Millions for Prisoners New Mexico, Southwest Save the Kids and Building Power for Black New Mexico.
This event preceded Mayor Keller’s news release in which he called on legislature to enact commonsense policies already in place in Albuquerque, such as body-worn cameras, banning chokeholds, and tracking the use of force incidents.
On June 15 Albuquerque became one of the first cities in the nation to create a third branch of first responders – alongside police and fire departments – to deliver a civilian public health approach to public safety.
According to the Albuquerque Journal the new department would connect people in need with services to help address any underlying issues.
According to Keller’s news release the creation of the department is only the newest addition to a two year old fight for police reform.
Photo credit : Sacred Sage Photography
“More than two years ago, we decided to face these challenges head on in Albuquerque. While we still have a long road ahead of us, we have firsthand experience with the positive change that can come from commonsense police reform solutions like body-worn cameras—which have not been adopted by every law enforcement agency in the state—and the end of violent tactics like chokeholds that put too many lives at risk. I appreciate the Governor and the legislature for tackling these challenges, and adding to the momentum for change that is so needed in our communities as we confront these legacies of structural racism,” said Mayor Tim Keller.
Mayor Keller’s plans to implement a new Community Safety Department have slowly taken shape since the announcement in June. The new branch will serve as a third public safety branch to respond to people in need — rather than having armed police officers show up in situations involving individuals experiencing homelessness and or behavioral health issues.
“While many cities are only now waking up to these issues, Albuquerque is well into its police reform process and we decided to tackle these tough questions head on when we took office.” Keller said on a Facebook post addressing the plans for the new department. “For years, we’ve heard the public calling for a better solution for de-escalation and more officers for community policing, and we have been listening. It’s time we stop asking officers to do everything, and time we get people the help they need instead of sending armed officers to knock on their door.”
Albuquerque Police Department’s Director of Communications Gilbert Gallegos said the department took a different approach with how reform should look like working with the Department of Justice since APD Chief Mike Giere was appointed by Mayor Keller.
“We were able to reach an agreement. We have got a lot more of the reform process to work on. It’s not easy, it’s a very difficult process going forward.” Gallegos said. “We meet weekly with the monitors, over the phone and they come down to check out to see how the reform process is going.”
Keller acknowledged the challenges APD has experienced over the years trying to limit excessive use of force, particularly after The U.S. Department of Justice stepped in with a consent decree to ensure greater police accountability in 2014.
“While many cities are only now waking up to these issues, Albuquerque is well into its police reform process and we decided to tackle these tough questions head on when we took office. For years, we’ve heard the public calling for a better solution for de-escalation and more officers for community policing, and we have been listening. It’s time we stop asking officers to do everything, and time we get people the help they need instead of sending armed officers to knock on their door,” said Keller.
The APD is currently moving farther with the reform process and policies set. Currently APD has to review policies set in place every 6 months to a year before deciding on improvements that must be implemented.
The move is important to APD Gallegos said as it shows a response to the community.
“We think transparency is critically important to the public trust,” he said.
On July 3 the day before Independence Day protestors returned to the streets of Albuquerque calling for justice and police reform. According to KRQE the latest protest caused traffic to back up in the area of I-40 and Louisiana. Despite the blocking of traffic there were no confrontations with police and when the group dispersed at 4:30 p.m. there was no riot that took place later.
While there were no press releases from either the office of Mayor Keller or Governor Grisham in response to the protest planned future protests have been made by advocates for Black Lives Matter in Albuquerque.
One of the most recent planned protest was scheduled for July 18 titled “IT CAN’T WAIT MARCH!” organized by Community Organization Black Lives Matter ABQ New Mexico. Protestors from across New Mexico were asked to gather in Santa Fe by the local organization to ask for change from lawmakers in New Mexico’s capital.
“Black Lives Matter…Everyday,” Black Lives Matter ABQ’s Facebook event section states. “We can no longer wait for our elected officials and government to create and make the changes we so desperately need at their pace. We must demand that change be invoked and it be invoked now! This is just the beginning of the fight for Black liberation and we must demand to not only be seen and heard but that we are listened to. Black Lives Mattering is the bare minimum and we deserve so much more including but not limited to life.”
Photos by ABQ Live photographer Diego Martinez
COVID-19 Update – July 9, 2020
Posted by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday, July 9, 2020
The update was live-streamed on the governor’s official Facebook page at 4 p.m. July 9. Grisham began her address by updating New Mexicans on the COVID-19 Case Update announcing the total number of positive cases at 14,251 total with 238 new positive results as of Thursday. There are currently 154 individuals currently hospitalized with 32 on ventilators. New Mexico has had a total of 533 deaths, with six new deaths as of Thursday.
Grisham urged New Mexican’s to practice social distancing regardless of age. Of the new deaths on Thursday, two of which included individuals in their thirties.
“I’m asking everyone immediately to wear your mask, restrict where you’re going if you can work from home, work from home. Do not engage in unnecessary activities where you’re coming into contact even with family members because it’s contributing to the transmission in this state,” Grisham said.
After updating New Mexican’s on the rise of COVID-19 in New Mexico Grisham amended several public health orders to take place effectively Monday, July 13. These orders Grisham told New Mexican’s were to help flatten the rising curve of COVID-19 in New Mexico.
Effective Monday, July 13 Indoor seating at restaurants and breweries are prohibited.
-Restaurants and breweries may continue to operate patio or outdoor seating at 50% of maximum occupancy adhering to COVID-Safe Practices
-Restaurants may continue to provide carry out and delivery services
– Breweries may continue to provide curbside pickup services
*Restaurants who remain open despite the prohibition could face up to a $5,000 a day fine.
Effective Monday, July 13, State Parks are not open to out-of-state residents
-Visitors must demonstrate proof of residency (state ID, state license plate) or will not be permitted entry
-Camping at state parks remains prohibited; state parks are open for day-use only
-Visitors must adhere to physical distancing. *The virus can still spread in groups when closely congregating outdoors.
School reopenings are currently depending on how the state is containing the virus currently, no contact sports (football, soccer) will be permitted this fall.
-Modified schedules to be evaluated for potentially later in the school year.
-Other non-contact sports are under review and will likely have delayed starts to seasons.
*Fall sports will not happen if schools cannot reopen.
After the announcement, Grisham opened the floor to media members, where she answered questions regarding no contact sports as well as the future of New Mexico sports teams, including New Mexico United. While no decision regarding these teams has been officially made, Grisham said she would be updating New Mexican on the administration’s decision soon.
Near the end of the announcement, Grisham thanked New Mexican’s for their hard work while cautioning citizens who are not taking the virus seriously.
“I’m going to do my very best. I owe that to all the New Mexicans who have been wearing masks every day who have been socially distanced, who are getting deliveries who aren’t leaving their houses, who are telecommuting for work, who are homeschooling their kids, who are entertaining their kids and their families, who haven’t seen their loved ones in assisted livings or in nursing homes, I could go on. To those New Mexicans, I say thank you for saving countless lives.” Grisham said. “And to the New Mexicans who may have made a mistake or weren’t very sure, who didn’t understand the public health order and for those of you who think you just don’t have to adhere the message is: We all have to do it, and that’s what we expect going forward.”
The full press release going over the governor’s amendments and restrictions can be found here.
