Jim Ludwick, Staff Writer for the Albuquerque Journal, needs a new job. His attempt at investigative journalism is lacking and a disgrace to the profession.

In his article, in the "Albuquerque Journal", dated 1/13/07, and titled "Targeted Cockfight Foes ID'd", he states, in his first four (4) words, "A newsletter for cockfighters", referring to the GameFowl News.

Evidently Ludwick failed to look into our archives. If he had he'd easily find GFN supports truth and freedom, to include those of "cockfighters". As our members know GFN fights on all fronts, not just for "cockfighters". We've helped dog breeders, cat breeders, snake breeders, hunters, fishermen, ranchers, farmers, pet shop owners, and to numerous to mention others who've been attacked by the likes of HSUS.

"Freedom" comes' in many forms. As in "freedom" of the press. Ludwick has this "freedom". The "freedom" to make a fool of himself in front of God and country, in the "press".

GFN now puts the Albuquerque Journal and Jim Ludwick on notice. Publish a retraction of the statement "A newsletter for cockfighters", referring to GFN, or legal action WILL be forthwith.

At a press conference on Sunday (covered by KOAT-TV news) Albuquerque Mayor Chavez "officially" announced what had been expected for some time. During the 60-day New Mexico legislative session that starts on Tuesday (Jan 16), Mayor Chavez will seek legislation for mandatory statewide spay/neuter of all pets.

The legislation will be modeled after the disastrous HEART ordinance adopted in Albuquerque. Unfortunately, this continues Mayor Chavez's politics of supporting extreme aspects of the Animal Rights ideology.

Under the HEART ordinance, animal ownership is considered to be a privilege granted through, and controlled by the government. Under HEART, owners have lost their property rights. So, any legislation modeled after HEART raises serious property rights issues that should be of concern to all New Mexico residents.

Furthermore, HEART is a disastrous law because it trivializes animal cruelty, establishes poorly conceived government care requirements, discriminates against those with low income, is acknowledged to be unenforceable, establishes a government monopoly on companion animals, and fails to provide effective measures to reduce the number of animals killed in Albuquerque's shelters. Simply put, HEART is a public policy disaster.

Those at Sunday's press conference included Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, Denise Wilcox (the Albuquerque Animal Control Director), and Lisa Jennings (the APV-APNM Executive Director). APV-APNM is the largest Animal Rights organization in the state and has worked closely with Albuquerque. During the mayoral elections, APV-APNM endorsed Mayor Chavez. At Sunday's press conference it was also announced that former Minority Whip, Republican Joe Thompson will be the lobbyist for the proposed legislation.

Now is the time to start contacting state legislators to express concern about Mayor Chavez's proposed legislation. I will support any meetings to clarify issues and discuss alternative measures. As reported in recent news coverage, Albuquerque's handling of its own animal shelters under the Mayor Chavez administration has been a failure. Furthermore, mandatory spay/neuter laws have been demonstrated to be ineffective. To achieve a no-kill status for animal shelters, requires innovation and community effort. The State Legislature could lend support to such initiatives, but not with the Mayor Chavez plan.

• Ronald A. Gustafson
• Founder, New Mexico Animal Control Forum
• "Rational Thinking on Animal Control Issues for the State of New Mexico"
• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VCNM_Animal_Control_Forum/

I read in today's Albuquerque Journal that you were seeking names of people pushing to ban cockfighting in NM. One of the most vocal, and powerful, voices in the chorus against it is Mayor Martin J. Chavez. Mayor Chavez has LOTS of skeletons in his closet. Some of them are documented in US District Court. Take for example, Mayor Chavez's appointment of Joseph M. Polisar (a former Long Island, NY, taxi-driver who signed up with Albuquerque Police in 1979). Joseph M. Polisar (06-26-1953) is now the police chief for Garden Grove P.D. (California). While he was here in New Mexico, he took part in the FRAMING OF A BLACK MAN FOR MURDER. US District Court for the District of NM Case No. 84-1216, Robinson v. Maruffi, Polisar, et al, Memorandum Opinion and Order 13 Jan 1986- This case was presided not by a bleeding-heart liberal, but by Republican Judge E.L. Meechem.

Judge Meechem and the jury found against Albuquerque P.D. and ruled they had manufactured evidence, destroyed evidence, suborned perjury, and committed perjury in order to frame Van Bering Robinson for the murder of APD officer Phil Chacon.

Later on, Polisar was implicated in conducting dirty tricks, spying, and harassment campaign against the ACLU, the NAACP, NM Lawyers' Guild, and Community Activists while he headed the APD Intelligence Unit. A full 59.4% of the intelligence unit's files were on NON-CRIMINALS whom APD considered its enemies!

US District Court for the District of NM, Case no. CIV 88-1141SG, Joseph N. Riggs, III v. City of Albuquerque. Martin J. Chavez chose Joseph M. Polisar as police chief in July 1994. In August of 1994, 21 Albuquerque Police Officers, including a Lieutenant, many sergeants and rank-and-file officers, filed a complaint against Joseph M. Polisar, APD, and Mayor Chavez for discrimination in US District Court for the District of NM, Case No. CIV 94-0837, LT Gilbert Najar et al v. City of Albuquerque.

About a year later, Mayor Martin! J. Chavez recommended Chief Joseph M. Polisar FOR A HUMAN RIGHTS WAR, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT! Aside from these documented US District Court Cases, there is the matter of a rogue APD detective by the name of Bruce McAllister. McAllister was found with LARGE QUANTITIES OF CASH AND COCAINE IN HIS POLICE LOCKER AND POLICE CAR.

The City of Albuquerque (while Chavez was Mayor) signed A SECRET DEAL WITH HIM WORTH $450,000.00, let McAllister resign, and refused to disclose its reasons for doing so. This is documented in Bernalillo County (2nd Judicial District Court Case No. CV 96-08442, Al R. Leith and Citizens for a Grand Jury v. 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office, et al. A judge friendly to the Mayor and the DA refused to let citizens know details of the secret deal. In 2005, there was a BIG SCANDAL involving the theft of HUGE amounts of cash, drugs, firearms, gold coins, jewelry, and even evidence AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS. No one was ever disciplined EXCEPT THE GOOD COPS who stepped forward to let the public know what was going on !

(CPT Marie Sissi Miranda, SGT Cynthia Orr, CPT Ron Paiz). This is just a short history of Mayor Chavez's administrations and the extant corruption under him in Albuquerque. On the personal front, his wife Margaret Aragon Chavez divorced him fairly recently. Rumors are wild that he has fathered a child with a city employee. His own daughter has been busted for being a minor in possession of liquor, and shoplifting about $500 worth of merchandise very recently. Mayor Chavez also was stopped for speeding on one occasion, and rear-ended another vehicle on a separate occasion. He only received a warning on both occasions. Chavez was also officially reprimanded by a City of Albuquerque Ethics Board for GRAFT but no action was taken against him other than their findings. Hope this helps. These are some corrupt people who don't give a damn about other people, but who sure put up a front about caring for animals!

You forgot TWO major players here who are totally obsessed with animal rights, and not worried at all about people's income, rights, etc. Marcy Britton, of Justice for Animals, www.nancybritton.org, and Sally Mayer, Councilwoman, City of Albuquerque, author of the stifling "Animal Rights Ordinance", SMayer@cabq.gov . These two are also VERY KEY people, along with Martin J. Chavez, who may be dating Marcy Britton, in their hysteria over animals, and lack of concern over police abuses here! (most recent case, Jerome J. Hall, honorably-discharged US Army medical specialist, tortured, burned and mutilated by the Albuquerque P.D. Won a $307,037. award in US District Court- Was found mysteriously murdered less than 1 week later, fairly close to an Albuquerque P.D. station!

Editors Note: GFN's Members are educated. We know how to network. The "network" is mad as Hell and frankly, we're not going to take it anymore. Stand back ART's, you've got a revolution coming on.

If you cannot respect the profession of "journalism" GFN suggests you find another job. Maybe writing for the National Enquire, because your making the Albuquerque Journal look like a one sided rag.

GFN's investigations continue, in a "professional" manner.

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