Albuquerque fracas over hoodies for unhoused, emblazoned with mayor's name

"Bright yellow sweatshirts emblazoned with I TIM KELLER are being handed out to city residents experiencing homelessness, but no one seems to know who is behind them. Tim Keller running for re-election as mayor says it isn't him, and his campaign called it a disgraceful stunt. Some people said they got the hooded sweatshirts at shelters; others said they were handed out on the street. Pebblez, who is unhoused, said the people distributing them did not reveal who they were: They didn't identify themselves. They had no tags. They weren't wearing anything. They just asked if we wanted sweaters."

"Political analyst Brian Sanderoff told TV station KOAT that the timing stands out, given the Dec. 9 runoff between Democratic incumbent Keller and Republican Darren White. If this had happened after the election, probably no one would think twice about this. But here we are, right before an election, Sanderoff said. Sanderoff said the giveaway seems designed to embarrass Tim Keller, perhaps to influence the outcome of the election. That's what makes it political."

"To supporters of Darren White who think they are making a clever statement about Mayor Keller: Yes, those sweatshirts provide warmth. But using people experiencing homelessness as political props is disgraceful. No one's hardship should be exploited for campaign stunts. Darren White should join us in condemning this immediately."

Bright yellow sweatshirts reading 'I TIM KELLER' were distributed to Albuquerque residents experiencing homelessness, and the distributor's identity remains unknown. Some recipients reported getting the hoodies at shelters while others received them on the street. Distributors did not identify themselves or display tags when offering the garments. Several unhoused people described the hoodies as warm and comfortable and some believed they were advertising for Keller. A political analyst noted the timing just before the Dec. 9 mayoral runoff could imply a political motive to embarrass Keller. Keller's campaign denied involvement and condemned using unhoused people as political props.

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