Readers’ thoughts on Block Jr.
There’s no debating that former state Public Regulation Commissioner Jerome Block Jr. is a drug addict and a thief. Even he admits to this.
But readers found plenty to discuss after my column Monday calling for Block to be sentenced to prison if he is convicted on his recent arrest in a burglary case. Block, 40, is accused of entering a vacation condominium in Santa Fe while the guests slept, then stealing their valuables.
Such a brazen intrusion into a unit occupied by out-of-towners could turn violent. If Block was indeed the burglar, he felt emboldened because his mother managed the property.
Block already has a long record, dating to his publicly financed campaign in 2008. He lied about hiring a country band and paying its members $2,500 to perform at one of his rallies. I have a good guess about how Block blew the taxpayers’ money.
Voters elected Democrat Block even after that scandal. He continued to steal from taxpayers while in office until employees of the state Public Regulation Commission discovered his crimes in 2011. Within a year, Block pleaded guilty to embezzlement, credit card fraud, identity theft and violating the state election code.
Readers had varying reactions to my stand that Block has received too many breaks from the justice system. Here is a sampling:
Reader question: I love your political articles, but why kick a man while he’s down? The fact that Block fought cancer recently was omitted from the article. — Steve Barela
My comment: Block was hale enough to flee after he became the one and only suspect in the condo burglary. Sheriff ’s deputies had to track him down at a drug treatment center. Block checked into the center knowing full well that city police had obtained a warrant for his arrest.
Reader comment: Did you ever nail this guy right. As I am sure you know, he has a powerful circle (cabal really) of political friends who have enabled him up the ladder. — Tom Wright
My response: You’re right, Mr. Wright. Block carries the same name as his father, who once was a public regulation commissioner. Block Jr. lacked the skill to handle complex regulation of water and electric companies, but his was a familiar name on a ballot. He squeaked through the Democratic primary election with 23 percent of vote. Democrats then mindlessly backed him in the general election, and everyone paid a price
for it.
Reader complaint: I was sorry to see you use your platform to fly over a perfectly opportune time to address New Mexico’s (and our country’s) opioid epidemic.
As a reader, I want you to know that your op-ed on Jerome Block was a clear sign of you writing vindictively. You had a platform for a teachable moment, but chose a very immature approach instead. Shame on you! — Adrienne Bertrand
My response: I can’t teach anyone over age 12 about the connection between using cocaine and committing crimes, which is something Block has done. I’ll save my shame for Block and the judges who have permitted him to prey on innocents when he should have been in prison.
Reader comment: I just wanted to let you know how much I liked your piece about Jerome Block Jr. He is the epitome of what’s wrong with Santa Fe politics. Santa Fe is a place where it doesn’t matter what you do. It matters who you know. In my opinion he should have gone to prison long ago. — Laurie Buffer
My comment: Judges, don’t be afraid to hear the voices of the logical majority, captained by Ms. Buffer.
Reader question: Your Jerome Block Jr. column was so welcome and so well-documented. One thing you failed to mention is that Block took the law into his own hands and signed himself into a rehab facility instead of giving himself up to police. Do we all have that luxury? — Felicia Rocca
My response: Obviously not, given that New Mexico has more than 7,200 men and women in prison. Many of them used illegal drugs and stole to finance their habit. Block has been treated with deference, even though the only exceptional part of his life is that he did some of his stealing while holding an important public office.
Sending Block to prison might not separate him from drugs or dope dealers, but it would keep him away from law-abiding people with cash or property. Ringside Seat is an opinion column about people, politics and news. Contact Milan Simonich at msimonich@sfnewmexican.com or 505-986-3080.