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Subject: Joint BernCo and CABQ News Release: Commissioner O'Malley, Councilor Pena Take Quick Action on Child Safety Campaign

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

For Immediate Release Aug. 26, 2016

www.bernco.gov

Contact: Andy Lenderman alenderman@bernco.gov O. (505) 314-0403 C. (505) 414-0485

Commissioner Debbie O’Malley, Councilor Klarissa Peña Take Quick Action on Child Safety Campaign

Lawmakers face drug abuse, mental illness and violence crisis head-on

Bernalillo County –  Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley and Albuquerque City Councilor Klarissa Peña have joined forces to quickly address child safety in the wake of Victoria Martens’ tragic death.

The veteran lawmakers have called a special meeting of the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Commission for Tuesday to discuss specific solutions that can better protect kids and families in our community. Better drug treatment, mental health services and child abuse prevention are at the top of the discussion list.

The money for treatment, prevention and mental health services is there. The structure for delivering those services is already in place. O’Malley and Peña pledged to provide strong leadership to see those services reach the community more quickly and efficiently at a Friday news conference.

“We’re outraged, saddened and struggling to understand how such a beautiful girl could leave us this way,” Commissioner Debbie O’Malley says. “Our community has seen terrible crimes before. But this time it’s going to be different. We’re going to do something about it, and we will act quickly. This isn’t the Albuquerque I grew up in, and I am committed to improving child safety in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.”

“I’m a mother and a grandmother first, and my heart aches for Victoria Martens,” Councilor Peña says. “The reality is our community faces a drug abuse and mental health crisis, and the people demand action. I will do everything I can to gather resources from the city, the county, law enforcement, our schools and our nonprofits to help improve child safety in our community.”

Commissioner O’Malley and Councilor Peña have already met with Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales III to discuss programs that work and what resources would help improve child safety.

Also Friday, Bernalillo County Manager Julie Morgas Baca directed staff to research specific programs and prepare for Tuesday’s special meeting.

Additionally, Commissioner O’Malley and Councilor Peña have asked city and county staff to research the following proposals:

·         Additional city and county funds for more school resource officers and social workers

·         Better coordination between law enforcement and schools to keep a sharp lookout for families in crisis and children at risk

·         That the city and county work more closely with Albuquerque Public Schools to ensure that all parts of child welfare are monitored and properly funded

·         Create a working group made up of law enforcement, local government, children and family advocacy nonprofits and schools to identify what works, and what funding is needed.

 

Tuesday’s meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the Vincent E. Griego Chambers, Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Building, One Civic Plaza NW.

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About Bernalillo County

Bernalillo County is 1,160 square miles and is New Mexico’s most populous county with more than 674,000 residents. Bernalillo County government provides a wide range of public services to residents who live in Albuquerque, Los Ranchos and Tijeras and the 111,000 residents who live outside the village and city limits in the unincorporated areas of the county.  Bernalillo County employs approximately 2,500 people and has an annual operating budget and capital investments of more than $500 million. Elected officials include five county commissioners, assessor, clerk, probate judge, sheriff and treasurer.