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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Outraged over the Excellence in Public Safety award the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce presented to Mayor Richard Berry on Thursday, the CEO and founder of Joy Junction has announced that his organization has cancelled its chamber membership.

“We have been a member of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce for a number of years, and had envisioned continued membership, but this is just too much to ignore,” Jeremy Reynalds said in a news release issued today. “Effective immediately, we will be canceling our membership. I hope others will also consider cancelling. This is a chamber obviously out of touch with the city and its members.”

Reynalds called the public safety honor bestowed on Berry “a bogus award,” calling Albuquerque a “crime infested city.”

“The local news go from one disturbing crime story to another. From a cab driver having his throat slit, to people being beaten up in their homes, and to those whose homes are invaded by perpetrators who crawl in through ‘doggy doors,’ people no longer feel safe in their homes. Those working Downtown are feeling especially terrified getting to work,” Reynalds said. Joy Junction operates a homeless shelter and provides other services to Albuquerque’s homeless population.

The chamber has been taking heat since news of the Berry award broke.

The chamber has said that despite the city’s rising crime rates, it was giving the award to Berry for crime-fighting initiatives he has launched as mayor.

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