GOVERNOR’S POOR LEADERSHIP AND JUDGMENT REGARDING CYFD ARE TO BLAME
| Albuquerque, September 30—The Republican Party of New Mexico is appalled that the former Children, Youth and Families Department Secretary gave a legislative committee false information regarding child abuse in New Mexico. Brian Blalock gave the inaccurate statistics at a July hearing during which he cited child abuse rates in New Mexico below the national average, but the Legislative Finance Committee’s staff found that New Mexico’s rates were twice the nation’s average. The Committee’s staff also found child abuse deaths in New Mexico more than doubled in fiscal year 2020 from the previous year. RPNM is shocked that the department responsible for the well-being of our children would falsify testimony. Gov. Lujan Grisham had tapped Blalock to lead the Department. Under his watch, the embattled CYFD has been under fire, investigated, sued and blamed for child abuse and child death cases. This has been another poor choice by the Governor. “CYFD has been incompetent in dealing with cases of violent child abuse, neglect, and even death for years. There’s been corruption, illegal activity and wrongful firings of whistleblowers at CYFD,” said RPNM Secretary Mari Trujillo Spinelli. “No one has monitored what’s happening at that Department. The Governor has done nothing to crack down on that Department that’s been embroiled in controversy and hurting our children while she’s been in office. She needs to be held accountable. Lujan Grisham is the CEO of the state and in charge of CYFD, but she’s failed our children, parents and our state when it comes to overseeing CYFD. Her lack of oversight has turned a blind eye to the many complaints from parents, lawmakers and whistleblowers about CYFD’s notorious and clandestine activity.” |
| The Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) advances the ideals of individual liberties for the advancement of its citizens and the greater prosperity of our communities throughout New Mexico. Led by an Executive Board and its Chairman, former NM Congressman Steve Pearce, RPNM serves all New Mexicans via its headquarters in Albuquerque and can be contacted at (505) 298-3662. |
