Democracy for New Mexico

Progressive Majority Endorses Griego

National Group’s Support Adds to List of Endorsements

The Progressive Majority, a national organization that supports progressive leaders at all levels, on Wednesday announced its endorsement of City Councilor Eric Griego for mayor of Albuquerque.

“Progressive Majority is proud to support Eric Griego,” said Progressive Majority Executive Director Gloria Totten. “We search the country to find true progressive leaders, and Eric is among the finest. We look forward to working with him as the next Mayor of Albuquerque.”

Griego, who has been at the forefront of the living wage campaign in Albuquerque, has strong support from the local progressive community for his work to promote renewable energy and to plan growth in ways that protect the natural environment.

“I have always worked to promote the progressive agenda – protecting the environment, paying a living wage, making public schools work for all children,” Griego said. “It’s an honor now to have the premier, national progressive organization back my candidacy for mayor of Albuquerque.”

Progressive Majority’s endorsement is the third national endorsement Griego has received. The others are Latinos for America and Small Business for America.

Additionally, Griego is supported locally by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, United Food and Commercial Workers, Communication Workers of America, Democracy for New Mexico, Sierra Club, The Weekly Alibi, Conservation Voters New Mexico, ACORN, SEEDPAC (Supporting, Energizing, Enhancing Democracy Political Action Committee) and the Green Party of Bernalillo County.

Progressive Majority is dedicated to electing progressive leaders nationwide and promoting a progressive agenda – including issues of economic justice, civil rights, health care, education the environment and reproductive freedom.

Film Viewing with Lambda Legal and EQNM

On September 28, 2005, Lambda Legal will launch its Proyecto Igualdad Campaign in New Mexico by bringing the film, Mexican Refugee (see synopsis below) to Albuquerque for a Bilingual event that will explore the intersections of Immigration and Sexual Orientation. 

Come join us for the screening and community discussion of this powerful documentary, which will take place on Wednesday, September 28 from 7:00 – 9:00 PM at St. Michael’s & All Angels Episcopal Church, 601 Montano Rd. NW, Albuquerque.

RSVP to: Rachel Lazar at rlazar@enlacenm.org or call 505-246-8972 ext. 113 or Sheba Gipson at sgipson@lambdalegal.org  or call 214-219-8585 ext. 238.

Proyecto Igualdad aims to educate and assist the Spanish speaking Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community and those with HIV by means of giving legal information and resources.

Lambda is partnering with Equality New Mexico, The Albuquerque Center for Peace & Justice, The Center for Economic Justice, Young Women United, The Queer Women's Project, International AIDS Empowerment, Albuquerque's Rape Crisis Center, & Enlace Comunitario.

Synopsis:

The film "Mexican Refugee" (35 min. video, 2005) Humanizes emigration, immigration and the political asylum experience. It is essential viewing for anyone interested in social justice and gay rights struggles in North America, particularly in Mexico. Five interwoven stories reveal the ironies between government policies, inadequate enforcement and international impunity for "unrecognized" human rights violations. Yet, with great determination and value for life itself, the individuals in this documentary inspire hope, perseverance and cultural survival across borders.

Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them

(Click image for larger version.)

I see the anti-living wage zealots and their cohorts are out there in full force these days, muddying the issue and lying about what the ballot initiative would require, if passed. I guess if I had a choice between having to defend keeping way too many of our citizens in poverty in order to attack the intiative and pretending that the issue was really about hordes of people invading the private areas of businesses and combing through their records, I'd choose the latter. That way I wouldn't be viewed as a cold-hearted, selfish Scrooge unconcerned with basic fairness and justice for all.

But let's face it. Many opponents of the living wage law just can't abide the idea of the rabble making enough to take their families to a restaurant once a month, even if the extra change on the street would actually benefit restaurants in this way. Go figure.

Some truths about the proposed raise in the minimum wage that's on the Albuquerque ballot October 4:

Big business has been lying on TV, radio, and in newspapers about what the living wage measure does. It does not--in any way--allow the public into any business work area or school or hospital.  It does not allow anyone to talk to customers or disrupt business.  It explicitly limits the right to educate employees about their rights to NON-WORK areas, and has other restrictions, too.

PASS IT ON!
Click for a pdf of the ad shown above from this week's Alibi.  And here's another with a white background. Please print it out and make copies to give to friends and family, or email it as an attachment. But that's not going to be enough to counter the total lies of the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. YOU have to forward this to everyone you know in New Mexico.  YOU have to talk to your friends about what the living wage really does (and what it's done in the 17 states and the District of Columbia--plus Santa Fe--which have a higher minimum wage than Bush's $5.15):

it increases pride in work
it motivates people to work
it increases productivity
it decreases crime
it decreases welfare
it lowers turnover
it increases morale
it brings more money into our city from big
multinational corporations
it means more economic activity
it means greater profits
and most of all . . .
it means that we're a moral society that looks out for the least among us. 

MAKE A DONATION & ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO!
And if possible, please try to convince friends, coworkers and families to chip in to make sure that we can get this message on TV, radio, and in even more publications. Here's the place to donate to this effort: https://www.abqlivingwage.org/

Voting yes for a higher minimum wage on October 4 is something each and every Albuquerquean can be proud of.  But without spreading the truth about this bill, we may be left with the shame of having turned our backs on our most vulnerable families, all because of deceitful, dishonest big-money advertising.

Hey Big Spender

Ex-Mayor Jim Baca finally relents and comments on his blog about the October 4 mayoral election. He says he was prompted by what he calls Mayor Marty Chavez's "campaign untruths" about fiscal matters, as well as Marty's extravagant spending record. Well worth a read.

Also highly recommended (if you haven't read it yet) is Jerry Ortiz y Pino's Alibi column on city finances under Chavez. Excerpt:

. . . I just saw a television ad for Mayor Chavez' re-election which made my jaw drop. In it, while standing first in a deep trough and then on a high pile of dirt (get it?) he takes credit for restoring Albuquerque's fiscal health. Now that's cajones! The guy did nothing to promote the quarter cent tax increase that bailed out the city and his administration from the depths of the trough (they were digging fast down there, too). He sat quietly on the sidelines while Griego, Councilors Debbie O'Malley, Martin Heinrich and others expended enormous political capital to get the tax passed.

As Baca says:

Marty is always ready to take credit for good things whether he had anything to do with those things. (Witness putting his name on the baseball stadium and the museum expansion.) But the least he can do is tell the truth in his slick advertising. Otherwise we might construe he is ethically challenged.

You might say.

And still on the topic of money, be sure to read for a terrific take-down of Vern Raburn, President and CEO of Eclipse Aviation, and Vern's terrible op-ed against the living wage in this morning's Albuquerque Tribune.

More on NM Treasurer Scandal

Today's post by Joe Monahan on the continuing fall-out from the fraud indictments of ex-NM Treasurer Michael Montoya and current Treasurer Robert Vigil includes a link to the entire 30-page FBI affidavit filed in the case courtesy of the Santa Fe New Mexican.

An article in today's Santa Fe New Mexican has the latest developments, including Attorney General Patricia Madrid's announcement that she will seek to have Vigil removed from office if he doesn't resign.

Our original post on this issue can be found here. Your thoughts?

Only Two Weeks Left

NOW is the time to help the Griego for Mayor Campaign:

Go watch the cool new TV ad, then please donate online to help us get it aired as many times as possible!

Yard Signs and Bumper Stickers - where are yours? Here at the office! Call 224-9042 ext 6# to gather your Eric Griego gear.

YOU are the necessary part of Eric's campaign. A couple hours over the next two weeks will MAKE THE DIFFERENCE! Call now and sign up for door-knocking and phone-banking:

Door Knocks: Two hours, walking shoes and you! The schedule is:

Monday - Thursday from 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Saturdays from 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Call Melanie at 224-9042 ext. 6# to schedule a time to volunteer.

Phone Banks: Call, call, call! The schedule for phone-banks is:

Monday - Thursday from 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM.
Saturday 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Sunday 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Call Melanie at 224-9042 ext. 6# to schedule a time to volunteer.

Events: We have events that we need your help at to cover and share information about the campaign. This week we have:

WHAT: Swing Dance
WHERE: Jefferson Middle School
WHEN: Tuesday, September 20th, 7 - 9 PM

WHAT: MAS Poetry Slam
WHERE: Winning Coffee Co, 111 Harvard SE
WHEN: Wednesday, September 21st, 7:00 - 8:30 PM

WHAT: Preview Gala for Downtown Arts Fest
WHERE: Downtown
WHEN: Thursday, September 22nd, 6:00 - 9:00 PM

WHAT: Dist 4 & Dist 8 Coalitions of Neighborhoods Mayoral Forum
WHERE: Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church
WHEN: Thursday, September 22nd, 7:00 - 9:00 PM

WHAT: GO Downtown Arts Festival
WHERE: Downtown
WHEN: Friday, September 23rd, 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM      

WHAT: UNM Tricentennial Day
WHERE: UNM Campus
WHEN: Friday, September 23rd, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

WHAT: Symphonic StarWars
WHERE: Popejoy
WHEN: Friday, September 23rd, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Weekend Events:

WHAT: Downtown Growers Market
WHERE: Robinson Park, 8th & Central
WHEN: Saturday, September 24th, 7:00AM - 11:00AM

WHAT: AIDS Walk 2004
WHEN: Saturday, September 24th, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

WHAT: Corrales Harvest Festival
WHERE: Corrales
WHEN: Saturday, September 24th, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

WHAT: GO Downtown Arts Festival
WHERE: Downtown
WHEN: Saturday, September 24th, 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM

WHAT: Fundraiser to benefit the Annual Dia De Los Muertos Marigold Parade and Festival
WHERE: Out Ch'Yonda, 929 4th Street SW
WHEN: Saturday, September 24th, 6:00 - 9:00 PM

WHAT: Salsa Dance at UNM
WHERE: UNM Sub Ballroom
WHEN: Saturday, September 24th, 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Call Melanie at 224-9042 ext. 6#

The Eric Griego Campaign looks forward to seeing you at upcoming events, and appreciates and needs your continued support!

ERIC GRIEGO FOR MAYOR
Melanie Maldonado
Field Director

email: info@ericgriego.com, phone: 505-224-9042
web: https://www.ericgriego.com 

Local Hurricane Relief Benefits to Help Farmers and Musicians

Drum In for Hurricane Recovery
Saturday, September 24, 11 AM - 1 PM
La Montanita Coop (formerly The Marketplace)
913 W Alameda, Solana Center, Santa Fe
With  Nina / Christina / Akeem/ and friends

Come have fun and help overcome the great challenges that lie ahead. 100 % of donations will go directly to The Federation of Southern Cooperatives, which assist farmers, their families and Co-ops in rebuilding their homes, farms and lives.

The Coop will match Dollar for Dollar up to $10,000. Suggested donation $8-$15------More if you can, less if you can’t.

ALL AGES WELCOME --- NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. Bring an instrument if you have one / many will be provided. We will be outdoors so come prepared to make yourself comfortable
******************

Yard Sale to Benefit Katrina Relief for New Orleans Musicians
Donations, Volunteers Welcome
September 23 – 25
Email rriverstone@yahoo.com or come by 1239 Summer, NW (1 block North of Mountain, off 12th Street), Albuquerque

All proceeds to benefit https://www.preservationhall.com/

Please donate to the New Orleans Musicians Hurricane Relief Fund. This fund is established by Preservation Hall to provide musicians with financial support during this tragic time. All of the proceeds raised through this fund will go directly to New Orleans musicians. Thank you for your continued support.

You can currently only donate by calling 1-888-229-7911 and providing your credit card info over the phone or by sending a check to:
New Orleans Musicians Hurricane Relief Fund
PO Box 9081
Miramar Beach, FL 32550
Donation by phone is preferred at this time.

Rogi Riverstone,  https://rriverstone.com

Calling all REFORM Democrats

Joe Monahan discusses the potential fallout from the arrest and indictment of State Treasurer Robert Vigil and his predecessor in that office, Michael Montoya, both Democrats, for extortion to the tune of $650,000. As Monahan says:

Why was an alleged ten year kickback scheme not uncovered sooner? Where was the Legislative oversight, the state auditor, the state police, the attorney general, the press? All of whom had inklings of a problem. What about the State Investment Council? Where were those guys? The ugly mess points to an obvious need for much more scrutiny of state investment dollars.

We have a Governor, State Auditor and Attorney General who are Dems, and a Dem-dominated Legislature in NM. None of these people knew about this alleged graft or were prepared to do anything about it? I do note that the biggest contributor to Dem Domingo Martinez's successful 2004 campaign for State Auditor was a Richard Montoya. Any relation? I don't know.

Emily Esterson at New West also weighs in on this mess and the long history of kickbacks in NM politics.

Right on the heels of this story, we hear that Democratic Mayor Chavez's pick for City Council District 3, Diana Dorn-Jones, lied about her previous bankruptcy and tax lien when responding to questions by the Albuquerque Journal. And that in line with the Journal's support for Chavez and his deep pocket developer campaign base, the Journal accepted Dorn-Jones' lame excuses at face value.

And of course we have the ABQPAC and police evidence room scandals of Dem Mayor Marty Chavez himself. Note that Dem Attorney General Patricia Madrid found nothing to prosecute in the evidence room scandal, despite the Albuquerque police chief having to resign and more.

I ask you: Isn't it high time for every prominent (and rank and file) Democrat to step up and loudly condemn the crooks in the Party, whether they hold public office or hold sway within Party ranks? And to conduct a full-scale cleansing to remove those who operate in the shadows to bring ruin and shame to everything they touch? I'm not talking lip service here, but a real pursuit of corrupt, on the take Dems at all levels of the Party.

There's been an ongoing battle within the Dem Party between "progressive" Dems and "centrist" or "DLC" Dems, but isn't the REAL battle for the Party's soul pitting those who tolerate and even encourage crooks, kickbacks and shady big donors and those who want to REFORM the Party and rebuild it as a the Party of the People?

Of course there's corruption abundantly evident in both Parties. Certainly Bush's Republican neocons have exhibited massive levels of corruption and cronyism. Somehow, that's to be expected in a Party dedicated to maximizing the wealth of the few. But too many in today's Democratic Party seem more than willing to abandon the working and middle classes in order to build up personal political warchests, PACs and kickback kingdoms. As a life-long Dem, I find this especially craven and disgusting.

Perhaps it's time for a new Reform Party along the lines of Teddy Roosevelt's old Bull Moose Party or Robert La Follett's Progressive Party -- devoted to getting the big money corruption and crony capitalism out on both sides of the aisle and reshaping the government to serve ordinary people. Or maybe it's just time for honest Dems who believe in the Party's traditional core values to step up and demand ethics reform at every level of the Democratic Party -- no ifs, ands or buts allowed. Enough is enough.

UPDATE on the continuing fallout from the state treasurer scandal at Joe Monahan.

Good News Monday

I wanted to start off the week with some good news, and these stories certainly fill the bill -- even though they report good news about a bad war. Added plus: the first item comes from the city where I was born and raised:

From the Chicago Independent Media Center:

Chicago City Council Votes 29-to-9 for Iraq Pullout
CHICAGO (September 15, 2005) -The Chicago City Council Wednesday passed a resolution demanding the removal of US troops from Iraq. Passing by a Council vote of 29 to 9, with 12 abstaining or not voting, the resolution urges 'the United States government to immediately commence an orderly and rapid withdrawal' from Iraq. In addition to the death and suffering of the war, the resolution stressed that 'Chicago residents' share of monies appropriated for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now exceeds $2.1 billion.'

Disapproval Growing: According to the latest CBS News/NY Times Poll, almost 60% of Americans disapprove of the way Bush is handling Iraq, while 63% are "uneasy" about his decisionmaking ability regarding the war. Also, 50% now believe we should not have invaded Iraq, with 75% saying Bush has no clear plan for getting out of Iraq and 90% saying cuts to domestic programs should not be used to pay for the war. Wow.

Even Bill Clinton is now down on the war:

Breaking with tradition under which US presidents mute criticisms of their successors, Clinton said the Bush administration had decided to invade Iraq "virtually alone and before UN inspections were completed, with no real urgency, no evidence that there were weapons of mass destruction."

The Iraq war diverted US attention from the war on terrorism "and undermined the support that we might have had," Bush said in an interview with an ABC's "This Week" programme.

Too bad his wife didn't vote against the war and he didn't make theses criticisms when they might have had some power to stop the war. I guess he watches the polling closely, eh?

THIS JUST IN: More good news:

L. Dennis Kozlowski, the former CEO of Tyco International Ltd., and former Tyco finance chief Mark Swartz were sentenced Monday to up to 25 years in prison for stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from the company.L. Dennis Kozlowski, the former CEO of Tyco International Ltd., and former Tyco finance chief Mark Swartz were sentenced Monday to up to 25 years in prison for stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from the company.

REMINDERS

Click on the links under Coming Events on the right-hand side of the page to find the details on today's events.

Come on down to see Eric Griego perform comedy to benefit hurricane relief at the Golden West in downtown Albuquerque tonight at 7:00 PM.

This afternoon, there's another in the series of Forums by the Ecumenical Voices for Democracy, as well as an Accountability Session for Mayoral Candidates hosted by Albuquerque Interfaith.

In fact, you should frequently check the Upcoming Events section of the website to stay current on political happenings in Albuquerque and other parts of the state. If you have an event you'd like publicized, click the Email Me link at the top of the right-hand column to send me information.