Meliton Gonzales is a business owner on Central Avenue, and he says bringing in the National Guard is not something he supports, even though crime has affected his business. "The drug dealers would shoot at each other or there'd be a lot of fights," Gonzales said. "A lot of mental issues. People just shooting just to shoot."He's been in the area for decades and knows there are problems, but also believes there are other solutions like outreach to homeless people and offering resources to those in the area who need it. "You don't need the guard on our people," Gonzales said. "Maybe at the border. I can understand that, but on the streets? No."Although Gonzales thinks there is enough help now, city officials think otherwise. "Let the plans come out," Albuquerque Chief of Police Harold Medina said. "Let us finish developing the plan. Let us propose something. Let us modify it as needed."Medina has said this is a beneficial move with upside. APD Chief of Staff Michael Hernandez also says the National Guard and APD are clear on what they want to accomplish to address public safety in Albuquerque. "There's a process that we have in place where we're meeting almost on a daily basis with the Mexico guard leadership as well as with APD leadership as they go through the training, but also talking about strategies," Hernandez said. People KOAT has previously spoken with have asked why the National Guard is not armed and have argued they should be. Albuquerque Police and the city of Albuquerque say their duties will include prison transport, airport security, drone assistance, and crime scene security.But the decision to call in the Guard still concerns Gonzales, wanting officials to go down a different path to improve crime and help the less fortunate. "We need to change our direction," Gonzales said. "And, figure a way to help them out instead of throwing them away."
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Meliton Gonzales is a business owner on Central Avenue, and he says bringing in the National Guard is not something he supports, even though crime has affected his business.
"The drug dealers would shoot at each other or there'd be a lot of fights," Gonzales said. "A lot of mental issues. People just shooting just to shoot."
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He's been in the area for decades and knows there are problems, but also believes there are other solutions like outreach to homeless people and offering resources to those in the area who need it.
"You don't need the guard on our people," Gonzales said. "Maybe at the border. I can understand that, but on the streets? No."
Although Gonzales thinks there is enough help now, city officials think otherwise.
"Let the plans come out," Albuquerque Chief of Police Harold Medina said. "Let us finish developing the plan. Let us propose something. Let us modify it as needed."
Medina has said this is a beneficial move with upside. APD Chief of Staff Michael Hernandez also says the National Guard and APD are clear on what they want to accomplish to address public safety in Albuquerque.
"There's a process that we have in place where we're meeting almost on a daily basis with the Mexico guard leadership as well as with APD leadership as they go through the training, but also talking about strategies," Hernandez said.
People KOAT has previously spoken with have asked why the National Guard is not armed and have argued they should be. Albuquerque Police and the city of Albuquerque say their duties will include prison transport, airport security, drone assistance, and crime scene security.
But the decision to call in the Guard still concerns Gonzales, wanting officials to go down a different path to improve crime and help the less fortunate.
"We need to change our direction," Gonzales said. "And, figure a way to help them out instead of throwing them away."
