Farmington Daily Times, April 30, 2009

N.M. attorney general urges civic involvement to thwart crime
By Steve Lynn The Daily Times
Posted: 04/30/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT

Gary King
New Mexico Attorney General Gary King talks with Paul... (Xavier Mascareas/The Daily Times)

FARMINGTON — People must urge lawmakers to pass stricter laws targeting drug use and gang activity and to fund drug education and treatment programs, New Mexico Attorney General Gary King said.

King wants people to contact their state legislators and New Mexico's congressional delegation to encourage them to provide more funding.

"Nothing ever gets through the Legislature except with a lot of support from the grassroots from the communities," King said. Politics is "really a one-on-one kind of business."

King spoke and answered questions during the San Juan Safe Communities Initiative conference held Wednesday at the Farmington Civic Center. The conference featured other speakers, including San Juan County Sheriff Bob Melton and City Councilman Dan Darnell.
It continues from 8 a.m. to noon today at the civic center. The public is invited to attend.
King advocated increased dollars to educational programs that inform young people about the dangers of methamphetamine use.

New Mexico communities also need more money for further efforts to prevent drug use through advertising, King said.

"We have to give this message to our young people over and over again," he said.
He also pushed people to persuade lawmakers to fund more treatment programs, which cost less than imprisoning people, he said.

King called on legislators to pass laws that authorize tougher prison sentences for gang activity.

"The Legislature in New Mexico as a whole seems to be opposed to increasing or enhancing sentences," he said. "The only way that we get those kinds of bills passed is to get a significant amount of community pressure on each and every legislator."

Around 200 people attended Wednesday's event, said Dan Darnell, executive director of Safe Communities, a Farmington-based nonprofit dedicated to reducing crime and substance abuse. The crowd dwindled to around 50 people when King spoke late Wednesday afternoon.

King shares Safe Communities' drive to enact tougher laws to reduce gang violence and also to fight alcoholism in San Juan County, Darnell said.

"We've been in close contact with him," Darnell said. "We've developed a real good working relationship."

Safe Communities' members includes people from local schools, police departments, businesses, nonprofits and other organizations.

King praised Safe Communities and the county's efforts to reduce drug use and gang activity.
King also said drug violence from Mexico is entering New Mexico. Mexican drug cartels are sending people to the state to battle for drug trafficking turf here.

"It's a very violent field and the folks from the cartels from Mexico are particularly vicious and sociopathic," King said.

King also pointed out gains in the state's fight against methamphetamine. Less meth is entering the United States from Mexico, he said.

The drug's price also has increased while its quality has declined, he said.

Steve Lynn: slynn@daily-times.com