Pubdate: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM) Copyright: 2014 Albuquerque Journal Contact: http://www.abqjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10 Page: A6 COUNTY PICKS POLITICS OVER DOING THE PUBLIC'S BUSINESS What do the two advisory questions from the Bernalillo County Commission have in common with the three real ballot questions approved by the Albuquerque City Council? Nothing. Because the commission's two questions won't change the law regarding penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana or institute a grossreceipts tax to provide facilities and care for the mentally ill. And even if they did, there has been no legal opinion as to the constitutionality of the first and no fiscal details on how the projected millions of dollars would be spent from the second. Yet absent a successful court challenge both will be on the Nov. 4 ballot - supplanting important city issues - so the county can, in the words of Commission Chairwoman Debbie O'Malley, "let the people speak." Speak to what end, exactly? More on that in a minute. Meanwhile, the city's three questions if passed would have immediately supplied additional, accountable oversight and input into how the city hires a police chief for its embattled department - which happens to be the largest law enforcement agency in the state; helped ensure that petition initiatives don't continue to cost taxpayers $500,000 a pop for special elections; and provided funding for city redevelopment projects. Yet these important issues won't be on the general election ballot because O'Malley and fellow Democrats Art De La Cruz and Maggie Hart Stebbins decided floating their exploratory questions - and trying to drum up some additional voters interested in cutting penalties for lighting up - is more important than doing the real business of the 555,417 residents of Albuquerque, all of whom happen to reside within Bernalillo County. O'Malley justifies the move by arguing that the legally problematic pot decriminalization and indeterminate mental health funding "are the issues that matter to the community, and that's why the Bernalillo County Commission has decided to start this honest conversation with Bernalillo County voters." An overcrowded jail - with the primary driver not a little bit of weed but a "system (that) has one of the worst records of delay in the nation" according to an independent report earlier this year - and mental health treatment are important issues facing the community. But using the general election ballot to conduct an opinion poll at the expense of real business and serious debate is pure politics at best and irresponsible governance at worst. This transparent Bob Dylan memorial trial balloon is a disservice to voters because it puts the very real, very vetted, very pressing business of the majority of the commission's constituents on hold. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom