‘I love Tim Keller’ hoodies stir confusion on streets
By Peyton Spellacy
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ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (KOAT) — Large yellow sweatshirts reading “I HEART TIM KELLER” are showing up along Central Avenue, handed out to people experiencing homelessness, but no one seems to know who is behind them.
Samuel, who is unhoused, said the sweatshirts were helpful. “Very nice, comfy, and warm, you know. That’s a good gift. Especially now that it’s cold outside,” Samuel said.
Terry Booker, also unhoused, reacted to them by saying, “You’re slogan board.”
Some people said they got the sweatshirts at shelters, while 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,” Pebblez said.
KOAT political expert Brian Sanderoff said the timing stands out.
“Think about how close this is to the election. 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 added his view of the motive, “as if it’s designed to embarrass Tim Keller, perhaps to influence the outcome of the election. That’s what makes it political,” Sanderoff said.
Some unhoused residents told KOAT they believed the sweatshirts came from Mayor Keller.
“It’s kind of like a good gesture that he sent out some hoodies, you know, for kind of, keep you warm,” Booker said.
Alejandro Salcedo, who is unhoused, said, “They were just kind of just advertising for Tim Keller, trying to get as many people as they can to understand what he’s going to do,” Salcedo said.
But the Keller campaign said it had nothing to do with the sweatshirts, writing, “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.”
White’s campaign also denied any involvement, writing, “It’s telling that citizens are so frustrated that someone took it upon themselves to protest the mayor in this manner. The only person who deserves condemnation is Mayor Keller whose policies have led to homelessness doubling in recent years. If Mayor Keller spent more time changing his failed policies and less time whining about critics, the homeless and the entire city would be better off.”
The Republican Party of New Mexico also weighed in, writing, “Using the homeless as political pawns is a new low for Tim Keller and shows just how tone-deaf he is. This stunt is not only a slap in the face to all of the homeless people in Albuquerque, but to every voter who wants to live in a city where homelessness, crime, and drugs are not out of control,” said RPNM Chairwoman Barela.
Keller’s campaign pushed back, calling that claim completely false and writing, “The Republican Party’s sudden effort to redirect blame shows what’s really happening: the stunt is backfiring, and people see it for what it is — cruel and inappropriate.”
As for whether the sweatshirts will sway the upcoming runoff, Sanderoff said voters are largely settled.
“This was done as, at a minimum, a joke, at a maximum, to influence the outcome of the election. It won’t influence the outcome of the election,” Sanderoff said.
For now, who designed and paid for the sweatshirts remains unknown.
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