SPEAK UP! !?!

If you want to gripe, grouse, whine or bellyache about a generic topic, submit your message at

The same goes if you want to dish out praise or thanks. Either way, you have to do it in 50 words or less. You can’t identify anyone you criticize. Keep it clean. No cursing, please. We don’t need your name, just initials. And it’s cheaper than therapy.

all we hear is we’re in this together and shared sacrifice — and our credit is downgraded because our pensions are in bad shape, but oh let’s give the head honcho there an almost six-figure raise. BC

32% RAISE for ERB official, pretty ridiculous — unless of course you tie the raise to the fund’s performance. Returns go down, so does the raise. Seems fair to me. FJD

I WONDER how much child abuse isn’t happening because of the extra $600 a week unemployment benefit, lessening financial stress, along with parents not having to juggle two or three jobs as well as child care. FW

I WOULD much rather see these currently offensive statues and monuments be quietly hauled away into storage rather than destroyed. The ones to traitors who committed treason by taking up arms against the United States, sure, scrap ’em. But George Washington? Thomas Jefferson? Teddy Roosevelt? The question is, were there admirable deeds which greatly outweighed the bad? Americans need to grow up. Neither people nor history are purely good or bad. CK

MADAM GOVERNOR:

How in the world is the positivity rate of COVID-19 going to go down if the largest testing centers in the metropolitan area are only going to test people with symptoms? GMJ

I AM so proud of the Albuquerque Journal for standing up for free speech and law and order in their editorials of July 28. Thank you. JLS

I HAVE just heard of the idiotic way APS is going to run the first month or so of school start . ... I just haven’t figured out how my daughter is going to educate four adolescents, maintain a house and feed a family on that schedule — means she has to work ... one hour with each child (in the morning), then start all over again for four hours in the afternoon. If APS isn’t going to have in-person class, then the money usually spent for that should be sent to the parents to compensate them for APS’ lacking . ... JMW

IF APS is not going to have class I want my tax money back. MW

THANK YOU Sheriff Gonzales for having the guts to meet with President Trump about how to make Albuquerque a safer place for its citizens. Sen. Heinrich’s comment that the sheriff should resign because he met with the president is just another tired “cancelculture” comment typical of liberal bullies these days. KI

RE: SHERIFF Manuel Gonzales (op-ed July 20). When an elected official responds to a legitimate concern of his constituency, by posting a lengthy rambling letter, in which he lectures like we are stupid, it’s time for a new sheriff. You are fooling no one. DEV

THANK YOU Sheriff Gonzales for supporting law and order in ABQ with support of incoming federal agents to help curb the continuing violent crimes in ABQ. What is abundantly clear is current elected “leaders” in our city and state do not share your concerns of the average citizens regardless of party affiliations. Sen. Martin Heinrich’s call for you to resign is ridiculous — he is the one who should resign. JL

... WE TOP the list for crime but still our leadership doesn’t think we need help? What world do they live in? Come out into the light and at least work with everyone offering help rather than criticizing. It’s time to think outside of that narrow box that obviously is not working. MLLA

SO, OUR president wants to reduce crime in ABQ. That means he will establish job-training programs, right? GED programs, right? Recreation and learning activities for kids, right? Get grocery stores to open in poor neighborhoods to eliminate food deserts, right? In short, he’ll recognize this isn’t just about crime, right? What’s that? No to all that? This is just for show, huh? Can’t we do better than that? CH

SO (U.S. Sen.) Martin Heinrich is concerned about Fed officers in Albuquerque. He doesn’t have to worry, he doesn’t live here and his family doesn’t live here. Great representation. EN

THE LEADERSHIP of this city needs to quit complaining about additional federal law enforcement and focus more on fulfilling campaign promises to reduce crime. Maybe then we could avoid the national embarrassment of needing federal help. AK

NOTE TO Mayor Keller, RE your response to Operation Legend: We are not a Democratic city. We are a great Southwest city run by a Democratic administration, which is why we have a continuing homeless/ panhandling and violence problem with no end in sight given the current do-nothing philosophy. JFS

KUDOS TO Hobbs seniors. Prom prohibited by MLG so seniors have prom in the great freedom-loving state of Texas. Way to go Hobbs. Glad we have these great citizens in at least one part of N.M. MO

IF YOU’RE wondering why there has been a spike in COVID-19 in Bernalillo County lately, just look at the traffic. It’s back to normal or even worse. Everybody and their brother is out and about spreading virus everywhere they go. Stay home folks and don’t spread on me. CMSQ

I WOULD like to know why in this time of COVID-19 and uncertainty when our schools will open, our PED secretary is not in our state? He should be in our state and be hands-on, not working remotely. Governor? DKL

RE: “EMBRACE BLM ideals, not the national organizers” column by Diane Dimond in the Journal July 18. I don’t always agree with the columns by Ms. Dimond, but she “hit a home run” with this one. Everyone should read it. DAW

THE GOVERNOR criticized the president for not “following science” in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. But she has no scientific data to show restaurants are a cause for an increase of cases nor that protests are not a cause of increased cases. She is making kneejerk decisions based on her biases. If she is going to ruin people’s lives, her decisions should be based on facts. MX

VICE PRESIDENT

Pence’s report on the coronavirus (June 26) brought back memories of when “Baghdad Bob” declared during a televised press conference the American forces were being defeated as U.S. tanks could be seen rolling by in the background. Similarly the vice president’s declaration everything is under control with regard to our COVID-19 situation certainly runs counter to that same day’s new all-time high number of reported cases. DM

OUR ILLUSTRIOUS

House of Representatives delegation took extremely serious consideration and ultimately voted for statehood for Washington, D.C. How would (they have) voted if D.C. were 70% Republican instead of Democrat? This is nothing but a power grab to gain two additional radical liberal senators. JH

MY NEPHEW graduated from Volcano Vista this year. Unfortunately, he was not acknowledged in the virtual commencement ceremony. After all he has had to experience this year, his senior year, imagine the devastation he experienced when finally waiting for his name to be read during the ceremony, for him to be acknowledged, and there was no acknowledgment. ... SR

BEEN A Lobo fan since the ’60s. Attended many games where fans talked, ate, drank and played with their phones during the national anthem. Only since (Colin) Kaepernick took a knee have more fans stopped and listened. So don’t use this as an excuse not to attend Lobo games. Maybe UNM will go back to playing the anthem while the teams are still in the locker room. Old school. SH

WHY DON’T ants get the coronavirus? Because they have anty bodies. MS

IT IS funny how our governor can give a tax reduction to some but cannot give us our tax refund back. It has been three months for many. DYP

GOV. MICHELLE Lujan Grisham: You say that you want to stop COVID-19. Your way is not working. The best way to stop COVID-19 is prayer. You should open all churches and tell them to add another service during day at 60%. BB