New Mexico Mercury

Editor's note: We received these dispatches and images from a person who wishes to remain anonymous.

Monday, April 28th - Alamosa Community Center DOJ Meeting

Last night at the DOJ community meeting Berry-Perry consultant (Scott T. Greenwood) was present at the back of the room.  At a point in the meeting as people were presenting their grievances to Martinez and Saucedo, the consultant moved up to the front and began responding to the expression of grievances.  Of course, his goal is to craft Berry-Perry remedies to behaviors Berry-Perry allowed to happen.   The consultants responses were therefore hopeful and promises.  Promises that no one has confidence will happen.  Another way of saying it is that his responses were PR spin and bullshit.  The people in the audience were no fools.  They asked immediately for whom he worked, who was paying him, what does you contract say.  He tried to finesse the questions several times by saying he worked for the community, for the people, for the city, for all of you....then as people complained and were more adamant asking directly if he worked for Berry-Perry he said - under his breath - the mayor and CAO.  DOJ should have never allowed him to the front to inject himself in to the airing of grievances.  Berry-Perry, by hiring out of town consultants and retread policemen to help remedy the situation and  before the DOJ process is implemented  are blatantly trying to shortcut and undercut the development of remedial measures of APD crimes by the DOJ process.  The DOJ, by letting the consultant inject himself into the citizen expression of grievances and outrage is cooperating with these blatant efforts.  Hopefully, unwittingly.   The UNM student reporter at the scene didn't catch the significance of this shenanigan.  Will the DOJ allow this to continue?  We will see tonight at Palo Duro community center.

Tuesday, April 29 - Palo Duro Senior Center DOJ Meeting

Tonight's meeting at the Palo Duro Center was a repeat of last night's problematic meeting of DOJ personnel and citizens at the Alamosa Center.  With the exception that there were not enough DOJ staff present to maintain order in the room where people were waiting in line with their number for an appointment to share their stories.  At times the waiting room was bombarded with rantings of a woman complaining about life.  Finally a  women volunteer from the Peace and Justice Center began taking charge an directing people to the microphone so they could tell their stories.  The waits were long and the frustration levels high by the time people were invited in to a room with four tables and DOJ staff at each table to hear grievances against APD.  It was an unsatisfactory arrangement with people feeling that their stories weren't adequately recorded.  People came and went and the theatrics in the waiting room continued.  Cesar Chavez Community Center Wednesday night.