Tech firm fed up with ABQ crime

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | June 24th, 2017

[CedarDave]

One of Albuquerque’s shining high-tech startups has put the city on notice that it may leave Downtown and potentially the state if something isn’t done about the “marked deterioration in the safety and security of the downtown Albuquerque area.”

Lavu, which launched in 2010, sent a letter to Gov. Susana Martinez and Mayor Richard Berry earlier this week decrying the crime and “consistent and ongoing verbal harassment by homeless and recently released inmates” that his employees have been having to endure.

“I cannot stress enough to the both of you how serious the lack of safety in downtown Albuquerque has become for Lavu,” company President Ohad Jehassi wrote. “So much that there are now serious discussions at the Board of Director level at Lavu as to the need of Lavu to move … so that Lavu can assure employees that they need not risk their life, health or property when coming to or leaving from work.”

Jehassi met with members of the Berry administration, including Police Chief Gorden Eden, on Wednesday to discuss his concerns. Gilbert Montaño, Mayor Berry’s chief of staff, called it a positive and productive meeting.

While he declined to go into specifics, Montaño said overtime has been approved to increase the presence of officers trained in crisis intervention, including dealing with individuals with mental illness and substance abuse problems.

Ironically, a KOB vehicle was stolen in Downtown Albuquerque on Friday while the station’s crew was working on the Lavu story.

Crime has become the main issue in the mayor’s race, with many candidates arguing that the situation has reached crisis level. The National Insurance Crime Bureau recently reported that the Albuquerque area had the highest per-capita rate of auto thefts in the country.

[CedarDave]

A Free Republic story on the stolen TV truck can be found here:

TV news vehicle stolen as crew covers local crime wave

A word to any Freepers traveling through ABQ and spending the night at a local motel - Remove ALL valuables from your vehicle, disable it if possible so it will not start, secure a trailer so it cannot be towed. The same advice goes for a U-Haul vehicle as at least one to two stolen traveler's vehicles are reported each week from motels.

[CedarDave]

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[RitchieAprile]

Back in 04 someone stole my nasty smelly hockey gear from my trailer at the extended stay near the airport.

at the time there wasn’t even an ice rink there!

[Fred Hayek]

I left ABQ in 2001, lived not far from Albuquerque Academy. Even then those staying in local hotels in that area were recommended not to leave anything in their vehicles.

[jeffc]

Call in Mike Ehrmantraut!!

Oh yeah, Walter killed him. Oh well....

[Fred Hayek]

It doesn’t even have to be near the airport. My employer had some project managers staying at an Extended Stay America in Rio Rancho. It had to be evacuated due to a meth lab found in one of the rooms.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Wow. I always thought if my ship came in I’d look into going to the Albequrcue area. Guess I should rethink that.

[T-Bird45]

I guess the producers of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul chose their story setting well. I enjoy visiting ABQ and SF and your travel tips are right on the mark. My last time in Rio Rancho was incident-free but that was several years back.

[redcatcherb412]

Considering that the business is only a few blocks from APD headquarters, not a good testament to their policing downtown. Of course downtown has been a lawless mecca for decades.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

When she lived in Vancouver, BC, our daughter told us the druggies would break into your car if any loose change was visible. She had to be ultra-careful to make sure absolutely nothing was visible. It doesn’t seem to make any difference where you live.

[SpaceBar]

Albuquerque has a disproportionate amount of property and violent crime for a city of modest size ~600k. The bulk of the local evening news is a calvalcade of mugshots of various types of subhumans either arrested, dead, or on the run. And you don’t have to be involved in a drug deal “gone bad” to get caught up in it. Car thefts and break-ins are commonplace, as is residential burglary and all manner of vandelism. Scratch the veneer of the Land of Enchantment, and you will find a borderline third world cesspool.

[hsmomx3]

And maybe stay away from Central Avenue???? That town has been going down the drain for years.

[tflabo]

I’ve also noticed during my visits to ABQ a lot of public walls and facades have leftist nirvana ‘art’ ( more like glorified graffiti) painted upon them. Down with the struggle seems to be the major theme. Leftist, communist underlying themes with the minorities in highlights. A rather Turd World feel to it.

[CopperTop]

Hmmmm. I've heard of that place.

Seems there's a pretty important left turn there. d;^)

[Tijeras_Slim]

And maybe stay away from Central Avenue????

Or as I refer to it, "The Boulevard of the Damaged".

[redcatcherb412]

Wow. I always thought if my ship came in I’d look into going to the Albequrcue area. Guess I should rethink that.

I spent 1955 to 1971 growing up in Albuquerque. Took the first job I could find in Farmington. San Juan County is one of the very few remaining conservative islands in a bright blue state with ABQ and Santa Fe being the bluest and most crime ridden. With a large percentage of drug, illegal traffic thru the Big I corrider that merges in the middle of town at the junction of I25/I40 I don't see that changing. I only travel there to the VA hospital when I absolutely have to.
Luckily NM still (for now) has some of the most generous gun laws. You can carry loaded concealed in your vehicle with no CC permit and carry concealed unloaded without a permit. Traveling in and around ABQ or Santa Fe you are wise to pack some iron.

[SpaceBar]

As an addendum to my previous not-so-flattering comments on ABQ, the crime is so bad that unless there is some big story that dominates the news, crime is the go-to topic for all the local radio talk shows lately.

[Tijeras_Slim]

The key is to live near Albuquerque, but not in it. I've been in the East Mountains for over 20 years, south of 40. The weather is nicer, the people are friendly, and in 20 minutes you're in town.

Last fall I quit my day job and took something closer, doesn't pay as well, but this is my office.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

I like that office decor.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Founder’s Ranch, home of End of Trail, the World Championship of Cowboy Action Shooting. The 26th EoT ended yesterday.

Here’s the shootoff for the Men’s Championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c8lHOTmpYQ&list=PL36vcAgyzrlSx6Hy6nYJu39yYEngzeoeW&index=2

That’s 10 rounds from a lever action rifle, 5 each from 2 single action (like a Colt Peacemaker) revolvers, and 4-6 shotgun (double barrel).

I work up at the Sporting Clays range.