Email response to recent City Council Meeting

Below is an email received by The Burque Blotter, written by activist Silvio Dell'Angela, in response to the recent City Council Meeting on Monday.


Councilor Garduno seemed to be the only one committed to calling for a DOJ
investigation but the "compromise" he felt he somehow had to agree to wasn't
a compromise at all but a surrender to the other four and this Mayor.  What
did they give up?  Nothing.

The Mayor vetoed the original bill claiming it wasn't properly announced to
the public and the amendment changed the purpose of the original resolution.
Well the "compromise" amendment last night did the same thing and yet nobody
cared.

Both the Mayor and the Council will be obligated to support a DOJ
investigation should one occur so this passed resolution accomplished
nothing.

Politics as usual in Albuquerque.

More on this later.

Silvio

Angry words at City Hall over DOJ | Albuquerque, N.M. | KRQE News 13

Angry words at City Hall over DOJ | Albuquerque, N.M. | KRQE News 13

City council votes unanimously for investigation

Tonight at approximately 6:45p.m., Albuquerque's City Council voted unanimously for R-11-275, a substitute bill for the original bill vetoed by Mayor Berry, which calls for an investigation into Albuquerque Police Department by the Department of Justice. The bill was sponsored by Vice-President City Councilor Rey Garduno from District 6.

"This is the best thing the city could have done," exclaimed Garduno after the bill was passed.
"Your voices have not fallen on deaf ears," he assured the families of APD shooting victims.

People from varied backgrounds spoke during the "General Public Comment" part of the meeting. The youngest speakers were two, elementary aged girls, Christina and Alegra who pleaded for the council's vote on the bill.

"Albuquerque citizens are no longer comfortable dialing 911," they exclaimed. "We are working for justice....They (shooting victims) didn't have to die," exclaimed the girls.

Some speakers urged the council to listen to the concerns of it's constituents and warned of the extreme civil unrest in foreign countries as a result of  police brutality.

"Maybe you should ask the people in the UK about how they deal with murderous police," said Joe Gallegos from the ANSWER Coalition.

Veteran civil rights activist Andreas Valdez, reminded city councilors of APD officer, Trey Econimedy's  inflammatory Facebook post.

"I don't think that APD is in the business of "human waste disposal" but we need to make sure," he said.

Small Changes Made
The bill was placed as the fourth item to be heard at the meeting. In the past such bills have been placed at the end of the meeting agenda. This was a small victory for those who are forced to stay until the wee hours of the night to witness the results of a vote. Councilor Garduno noted that the bill was placed earlier in the agenda in consideration for those who have to work the next day. All speakers were required to adhere to the two minute speaking rule.

The Burque Blotter: City Council Bill No. R-11-275

The Burque Blotter: City Council Bill No. R-11-275: CITY of ALBUQUERQUE NINETEENTH COUNCIL COUNCIL BILL NO. R-11-275 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________ SPONSORED BY: Rey Garduño 1 RE...

City Council Bill No. R-11-275

CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
NINETEENTH COUNCIL

COUNCIL BILL NO. R-11-275 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________

SPONSORED BY: Rey Garduño

1 RESOLUTION
2 SUPPORTING A UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INVESTIGATION
3 INTO WHETHER THERE HAS BEEN A PATTERN OR PRACTICE OF CIVIL
4 RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
5 WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) conducts “pattern or
6 practice” investigations of local law enforcement agencies if it determines that
7 such investigations are warranted and DOJ involvement can bring about a
8 sustained change where necessary; and
9 WHEREAS, the DOJ has begun reviewing whether a “pattern or practice”
10 investigation should be conducted with regard to the Albuquerque Police
11 Department; and
12 WHEREAS, the Mayor has informed the DOJ that “we will fully cooperate
13 and will work collaboratively in regards to any investigation they choose to
14 conduct in this matter”; and
15 WHEREAS, based on the recent spike in incidents of the use of deadly
16 force by Albuquerque Police Officers, concerns have been brought to the
17 Council about whether Albuquerque Police Officers are receiving appropriate
18 training related to the use of deadly force; and
19 WHEREAS, based upon claims by public advocacy groups of systemic
20 profiling, concerns have been raised as to whether APD Officers are receiving
21 appropriate training regarding implicit bias; and
22 WHEREAS, a local law enforcement agency cannot be effective unless it
23 reduces crime, protects individual constitutional rights and engenders public
24 confidence; and
25 WHEREAS, a loss of the public’s confidence in APD and its leadership will
26 have a devastating impact on the community; and

Page 2

1 WHEREAS, an outside investigation is necessary to restore  the public’s
2 trust at this time; and
3 WHEREAS, by conducting a comprehensive review of APD recruitment and
4 training practices and operating procedures, the DOJ can identify issues that
5 must be addressed by APD; and
6 WHEREAS, the Council expresses its support of a DOJ investigation and of
7 the Mayor’s commitment to cooperate and work collaboratively with the DOJ
8 on such an investigation.
9 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF
10 ALBUQUERQUE:
11 The Council supports a comprehensive investigation by the U.S.
12 Department of Justice into whether there has been a pattern or practice of civil   rights violations by the Albuquerque Police Department.

Jewel L. Hall,PresidentDr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Center Board
PO Box 40306
Albuquerque, NM 87196-03306

The Burque Blotter: Garduno sponsors bill for DOJ investigation

The Burque Blotter: Garduno sponsors bill for DOJ investigation: City of Albuquerque Councilor Rey Garduno is sponsoring city bill No. R-11-275. The bill is a resolution supporting an investigation by the ...

Garduno sponsors bill for DOJ investigation

City of Albuquerque Councilor Rey Garduno is sponsoring city bill No. R-11-275. The bill is a resolution supporting an investigation by the Department of Justice into the Albuquerque Police Department to establish whether there has been a pattern or practice of civil rights violations. The resolution cites Mayor Berry's agreement cooperate with any investigation and recent spikes in the use of deadly force by APD. The bill will be presented at the City Council meeting on Sept. 19, at 5:00p.m. People who wish to participate in the public forum are asked to arrive at 4:00p.m. to sign up to speak. Supporters of the families of victims who have been shot by APD officers are asked to wear blue to show their support.