DEC 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 12

FROM THE PUBLISHER’S

FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK It’s Been One Hell of a Ride In December of 2020, we launched an all-new BLUES. At a time when magazines were going away, we did something very few publishers were doing; we created a true magazine and then digitized it. Isn’t that just like all other on-line magazines? Well yes and know. Yes it’s kinda the same. But the look and feel of The BLUES is unique to the YUMPU format and The BLUES is the only police magazine on the YUMPU hosting site. In the past three years, we’ve published 36 issues. That’s 4,508 pages of content that’s been read 6,660,000 times. In 2020, our average page count was 75 pages. In 2021 it grew to 139 pages. In 2022, we now average over 200 pages per issue. Not only has our page size increased, so has our readership. In 2020 we started with less than 10,000 subscribers and the average readership per issue was 95,000. In 2021, the numbers grew to 33,000 subscribers and 130,000 readers per issue. Now as we close out 2022, we email copies to over 82,000 first responders, including every police chief, sheriff, and constable in the US. And the average readership per month has grown to over 350,000. All of this adds up to The BLUES is now the Largest Digital Police Magazine in North America. We could not have accomplished any of this without you, our readers, and our fantastic staff. I can’t thank either one enough for all your support. Next year brings another milestone for The BLUES. December 2023 will mark 39 years since Nat Gutierrez and I decided to create 12-page tabloid for our department. Who knew it would become the largest digital police magazine in America. I wish Nat was still with us to celebrate this momentous occasion, but I sure he’s looking down on us saying, “ahh, I was just an intern at best.” Red Wave that Wasn’t By now, it’s pretty clear that what was supposed to be a Red Wave, was more like a crimson tide at best. While Republicans did take the house and fired Nancy Pelosi, the rest of the country was still pretty much split 50/50. And why is that? Why is this country is still just as divided as it was two years ago. The Dems hate Republican values so much they would rather elect a man in Pennsylvania that can barely put two sentences together. But then again look at their leader. Biden is closer than ever to full blown dementia. And apparently crime doesn’t concern them at all. With the highest crime rate in the country, New Yorkers elected Kathy Hochul for a full-term as governor even though she said, “why is crime such a big deal to you people.” Maybe because people are dying? Duh! And here in Harris County, where the incumbent Country Judge Lina SGT. MICHAEL BARRON RET Hidalgo stated she may be indicted at some point, was re-elected to another 4 years in office. None of this makes any sense to me whatsoever. I can understand backing your party and staying true to your beliefs. But when people are literally dying in the streets, when do you say enough is enough. What about the economy? Most Democrats are lower to middle income folks with families to feed. How can they be happy with the high prices of gas or the insane price of food? Democrats do not care about crime or the economy. They do not care about the border. They do not care about Fentanyl and the fact it’s killing our people. They don’t care that our President is killing this country. As long as Biden promotes their climate agenda and hands out free money, they are willing to look the other way. 6 The BLUES The BLUES 7