Cartoonist Stephan Pastis; Downtown ABQ; Growing Immigration Crisis; APD & ACLU of NM; Governors Race
This week on NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, producer Megan Kamerick talks with cartoonist Stephan Pastis, creator of the nationally syndicated “Pearls Before Swine,” about his latest book and how he moved from a career in law to being a full-time cartoonist. Pastis recently featured the first work published in years by Bill Watterson, the legendary creator of “Calvin and Hobbes,” in a special series of “Pearls” strips.
As work begins this week on the $1.4 million reconstruction of the 4th Street Mall in downtown Albuquerque, host Gene Grant talks with City Councilor Isaac Benton and urban designer Jeff Speck about how to make Downtown more vital and pedestrian-friendly. Speck is conducting a walkability analysis of Downtown under a $50,000 city contract and will present his conclusions at a public event on July 31st at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
The Line opinion panel looks at the growing immigration crisis, as children and families flee Central America, and the plans that are underway to house up to 700 of the immigrants at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia. Gov. Susana Martinez has said she wants to make sure people, especially children, receive proper care, but she also wants the federal government and not the state to incur the associated costs.
The Line also looks at the latest issues with the Albuquerque Police Department and the criticism over APD’s decision to send undercover officers to a recent protest, one of whom was involved in a shooting. The APD’s use of force is at the center of ongoing negotiations with the Department of Justice, which released a scathing report on the department in April. The ACLU of New Mexico condemned APD for spying on protesters, and the organization filed an Inspection of Public Records Act request for all surveillance data collected during the protest.
Lastly, The Line discuss the governor’s race. Numerous campaign ads have come in rapid succession from Gov. Susana Martinez against the challenger, Attorney General Gary King, targeting him over lawsuits filed against the Attorney General’s office over equal pay. However, a small business owner in Las Vegas says he did not make statements about King that were attributed to him by the Martinez campaign. Meanwhile, the Democratic candidate lost his new campaign manager recently over controversial Tweets.
GUESTS:
Isaac Benton, Albuquerque City Councilor
Stephan Pastis, Cartoonist and Creator of “Pearls Before Swine”
Jeff Speck, Urban Designer and Author, “Walkable Downtown”
LINE PANELISTS:
Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group
Dan Foley, Former House Minority Whip
Sophie Martin, Attorney
Laura Sanchez-Rivét, Sanchez Legal Solutions
CORRESPONDENT:
Megan Kamerick, NMiF Producer
HOST/COMMENTATOR:
Gene Grant
The Producer of NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS is Megan Kamerick. Associate Producer is Kathy Wimmer. Funding for this program was provided in part by the McCune Foundation.
Episode 752 for air June 27, 2014