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Settlement Agreement Secures More Training for Communication with Hearing Impaired Persons

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—Today, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico (ACLU-NM) announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO)  to expand officer training on communication with hearing impaired persons. The settlement is a result of a lawsuit brought by the ACLU-NM in 2009 on behalf of a hearing impaired woman who was not provided a sign language interpreter during an encounter with BCSO deputies.

“Law enforcement work places officers in situations in which they must interact with many different kinds of people. Some of those people have special communications needs,” said ACLU-NM Executive Director Peter Simonson.

Under the terms of the settlement, the Board of County Commissioners for the County of Bernalillo agrees to take the following steps:

• The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department will distribute the United States Department of Justice Pamphlet entitled “Communicating With People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing” to all personnel assigned to the Sheriff’s Department. BCSO will also ensure that the county personnel assigned to the Emergency Communications Department are provided with information and procedures concerning the manner in which a certified Sign Language Interpreter may be contacted when necessary.
• Within one year, BCSO will provide refresher training to all supervisory and dispatch personnel concerning standard operating procedures for communicating with persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Within one year, BCSO will collaborate with a local advocacy group for the hearing impaired to obtain information and materials to incorporate into the training curriculum at the BCSO law enforcement academy.

The additional training provided to deputies and support staff will help ensure that BCSO remains in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that the rights of the hearing impaired continue to be respected.

“We are extremely pleased that we are able to collaborate with the sheriff’s office to improve officer training,” said Simonson. “BCSO has reaffirmed their commitment to serving the hearing impaired community.”

ACLU-NM Cooperating Attorney George Bach of Bach & Garcia, LLC represented the plaintiff in this case.

Fight injustice with art! ART for Your RIGHTS is an ACLU-NM benefit bash with hip-hop emcee Hakim Bellamy, live bands, free food, cash bar,  spoken word performances and a silent art auction. We’re featuring a broad cross section of artists, artisans, musicians and performers who are donating their time and talent to help protect your rights, especially your right to free expression—no limits!

Save $5 by buying advance tickets today!

If you are an artist and are interested in donating art work, jewelry, services or catering to this event; or if you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please fill out the appropriate form, save the data and email to Valerie Torrez at vtorrez@aclu-nm.org.

Donation Form (Editable PDF)           Sponsor Form (Editable PDF)

You may also print the form and mail it to:

Check out some of the great art donated so far!

soft cialis uk Music Lineup:

soft cialis uk Native Roots

Native Roots was formed in 1997 by musician John L. Williams (Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux) and lyricist/vocalist Emmett “Shkeme” Garcia (Santa Ana Pueblo) to reach out with a message of pride, unity, and respect among all nations, through the universal language of music. This dynamic and award winning combination has produced three CD’s that have propelled Native Roots into the Native American and Reggae music scene as the premier Native American Reggae band whose music is 100% Native American written, produced, and performed.

Native Roots contributes their solid reggae foundation to the influence it has had on Native American communities. Native Roots is a natural extension of growing up, living and loving reggae music. John Williams’ extensive musical background in working with different styles of music has allowed him to incorporate various elements into the music without compromising the essential reggae feel.  In addition, “Shkeme’s” singing style reflects not only a variety of reggae styles, but also relects years of experience singing both traditional pueblo and pow wow music. The blending Native influences such as traditional drums, rattles, chants, language and flute, with a variety of reggae styles including ragamuffin, one drop, rockers, and dancehall, makes Native Roots music unique. Lyrical themes include the importance of traditional languages and culture, spirituality, respect for our elders, the sacredness of our youth, and love.

soft cialis uk Zoology

In a land overrun by gangster rap and a mind state polluted with materialistic substance, Zoology was formed to advocate change. They are an underground movement spreading positive Hip Hop music to further the culture they represent. Consisting of long time members of the Albuquerque Hip Hop collective, Zoology formed together by chance and hasn’t looked back since. The band members include: Former Garbage Pail Kid and founder of Vinyl and Verses Hip Hop night-Flux 451, one half of Definition Rare and local battle hero-Wake Self, Producer/DJ and MPCist-Audiyo, Bassist and Producer-Jaime (Lil Skizzy), and Emcee/Producer/Drummer-Dahhm Life. Zoology is now working toward the completion of their first album, and performs countless shows even opening for several nationally recognized Hip Hop artists.

soft cialis uk The 2BERS

In 1999 Luke Hale and Collin Troy (2bers) scraped together what cash they could, bought a sampler and a 4-track recorder, and got to work. Since then, the 2bers have become one of the most prominent Hip-Hop groups in New Mexico. Emotive and literate; the 2bers combine crunching breakbeats, gritty eloquence, and supple compositions to effuse a sound that lands somewhere between Atmosphere and Citizen Cope. Recognized as NM State’s Best Hip-Hop 2007, as well as the Weekly Alibi’s Best Hip-Hop 2008, the 2bers continue to expand with banging live shows and a chemistry that Marie Curie herself would want to study.

soft cialis uk The Wychdokta Project

Where the funk, rock, jazz, hip hop and world beat meet;  this project incorporates foot percussion (aka tap dance) into the overall percussion section, includes bass, guitar, drums all tied up in one funky package.

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soft cialis uk Hakim Bellamy

Hakim Bellamy is a two-time National Champion in the Poetry Slam scene. He was a member of the 2005 National Poetry Slam Champs Team Albuquerque. The following year he was a member of the 2006 College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational Champs Team UNM. One Albuquerque City Championship (2005) and 3 consecutive University of New Mexico LOBOSLAM titles later, Hakim respects the blessing, but could care less about winning poetry slams, as opposed to cultivating creativity. Hence, Hakim is in the process of adding playwright and actor to his resume. A resume that already includes: freelance journalist, community organizer and social justice advocate.

Special thanks to A4YR sponsors:

Brandy Torrez – catering

India Palace – catering

Golden Crown Panaderia – catering

Monroe’s – catering

All Is One Tattoo & Design – gift certificate

Betty’s Spa – gift certificate

Los Poblanos – gift certificate

Perfect Reflections – gift certificate

Saba Wear – live t-shirt screening

Sadie’s – gift certificates

Self Serve – gift basket

Steven Westman – gift certificate

Swank – gift basket

Transcendence Massage Therapy – gift certificates

From AlbuquerqueDonations.com – gift certificates

• 66 Diner
• Artichoke Cafe
• Azuma Sushi & Teppan
• Cashmere Rouge Spa
• Chocolate Café and Bakery
• Geckos Bar & Tapas
• Marcello’s Chophouse
• O’Neill’s
• The House of Bread
• Zea Rotisserie and Grill

soft cialis uk PREVIEW

516 ARTS, in partnership with the ACLU-NM and local arts organizations, presents STREET ARTS: A Celebration of Hip Hop Culture & Free Expression, a multi-layered collaboration during October and November 2010 in Albuquerque, featuring local, national and international artists in a major exhibition at 516 ARTS, performing and literary arts events, mural projects, tours of street arts projects, panel discussions, workshops, a Spoken Word Festival and a Hip Hop Film Festival.

Many of the related programs and events focus on educating young people about their civil liberties. This project helps connect New Mexico artists, performers and audiences with a larger dialogue that is happening around the globe. Special guest performers for the Spoken Word Festival (November 4-7) include Amiri Baraka (New Jersey) and Cecil Taylor (New York), Kevin Coval (Chicago), Idris Goodwin (Iowa/New Mexico), Jonathan Khumbulani Nkala (South Africa), Amalia Ortiz (San Diego), and Saywut (New Mexico), among others.

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The lead organization for this collaboration is 516 ARTS, a vibrant, independent, nonprofit center for contemporary art in New Mexico and a hub for the arts in Downtown Albuquerque’s revitalization. Partnering organizations include the ACLU-NM, The Cell Theatre, Church of Beethoven, The City of Albuquerque Public Art Program, The Albuquerque Museum, ABQ-Ride, Downtown Action Team and Downtown Arts & Cultural District, Creative Albuquerque, The Guild Cinema, KiMo Theatre, National Hispanic Cultural Center, North 4th Art Center, Outpost Performance Space, Warehouse 508 and Working Classroom. 516 ARTS will publish a guide to the STREET ARTS celebration, and partnering organizations will participate in a shared marketing campaign. Stay tuned!

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – In a case brought by the ACLU of New Mexico (ACLU-NM), U.S. District  Judge M. Christina Armijo ruled today that Albuquerque’s regulation banning sex offenders from public libraries is unconstitutional. The court determined that the ban infringed too broadly upon the First Amendment right to receive information and creates “an unacceptable risk of the suppression of ideas.”

“No one questions the City’s purpose of ensuring public safety, but this regulation sacrificed library access for too many people who present no threat to library goers,” said ACLU-NM Executive Director Peter Simonson.  “A regulation like this must be narrowly tailored if it is going to infringe on a right as fundamental as the public’s ability to receive information.  For many people, public libraries are, as one court put it, ‘the quintessential locus of the receipt of information.’”

In the decision handed down today, the court reached this conclusion:

“This Court has struggled in this case to strike the proper legal balance between competing interests… On one side of the equation here is the City, which no reasonable person could or would contend does not have a legitimate and compelling interest in…protecting children from harm, danger and crime, especially crimes of a sexual nature. On the other side of the equation is a group of individuals that, no matter how reviled, nevertheless possesses certain constitutional rights. When those rights are burdened or, in this case, wholly extinguished by an action of government, this Court has an obligation to scrutinize the facts and the law closely, carefully, and objectively to ensure that, whatever the end result, it is just. In this case, having done just this, the Court concludes that the City’s regulation, as currently written and in its present form, cannot stand.”

The court’s order enjoins the City of Albuquerque from enforcing the regulation as currently written.

UPDATE (5/7/10): Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry has reinstated the ban for all libraries except the main branch on Thursdays and Saturdays. Read more about the new ordinance and ACLU-NM’s response.

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The mission of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico is to maintain and advance the cause of civil liberties within the state of New Mexico, with particular emphasis on the freedom of religion, speech, press, association, and assemblage, and the right to vote, due process of law and equal protection of law, and to take any legitimate action in the furtherance and defense of such purposes. These objectives shall be sought wholly without political partisanship.

Related Documents:

Albuquerque v. Doe Opinion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 23, 2009

CONTACT: Micah McCoy, (505) 266-5915 Ext. 1003 or mmccoy@aclu-nm.org

LOS LUNAS, NM – Yesterday, a New Mexico court ruled that the Valencia County Commission could not ban local resident Michael Wood from attending or making public comments at commission meetings. Wood alleged that the ban, issued by the commission on September 16, 2009, was a prior restraint and discriminated against the content of his comments, violating his First Amendment right to free speech. Arguing on behalf of Wood, the ACLU of New Mexico obtained a preliminary injunction from the 13th Judicial District, allowing him to attend and participate in the public comments section of the meetings. The court granted the extraordinary relief and ruled that under the First Amendment, the commission did not have a legal right to ban Wood.

“We are pleased that the a New Mexico court has reaffirmed that individuals have the right to criticize their elected officials on issues of public importance during the public comments section of county commission meetings,” said Peter Simonson, Executive Director of the ACLU of New Mexico. “Non-disruptive public comments cannot be suppressed simply because the commissioners do not like what is being said.”

This ruling comes on the heels of a similar controversy in Truth or Consequences, NM, where the city commission instituted a rule that required all public comments be written and submitted in advance for scrutiny. The ACLU of New Mexico sent a letter to the City Attorney’s office notifying them that the rule is unconstitutional. The rule has since been dropped.

“We are hopeful that other local governing bodies throughout New Mexico will note the outcome of these cases and refrain from initiating similar rules and actions that inhibit free speech,” said Simonson.

“Local governments created these public comments sections precisely so that citizens could speak their minds. Censoring or suppressing this speech is not only unconstitutional, but also defeats the purpose of giving the public a chance to comment during these meetings.”

ACLU-NM cooperating attorney Steven M. Chavez, ACLU-NM Co-legal director Phil Davis, and ACLU-NM Staff Attorney Brendan Egan represent Mr. Wood.

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The mission of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico is to maintain and advance the cause of civil liberties within the state of New Mexico, with particular emphasis on the freedom of religion, speech, press, association, and assemblage, and the right to vote, due process of law and equal protection of law, and to take any legitimate action in the furtherance and defense of such purposes. These objectives shall be sought wholly without political partisanship.