New Mexico In Focus
2022 Budget Proposals & Hospitals Warn of Longer Waits
Season 15 Episode 28 | 57m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
State leaders share their 2022 budget plans ahead of the 30-day legislative session.
This week on New Mexico in Focus, state leaders share their 2022 budget plans ahead of the start of the 30-day legislative session next week. Correspondent Gwyneth Doland checks in with Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart for what she’s expecting when the session starts Tuesday. Environment Reporter Laura Paskus shares a unique approach to climate change.
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New Mexico In Focus is a local public television program presented by NMPBS
New Mexico In Focus
2022 Budget Proposals & Hospitals Warn of Longer Waits
Season 15 Episode 28 | 57m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
This week on New Mexico in Focus, state leaders share their 2022 budget plans ahead of the start of the 30-day legislative session next week. Correspondent Gwyneth Doland checks in with Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart for what she’s expecting when the session starts Tuesday. Environment Reporter Laura Paskus shares a unique approach to climate change.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, GEARING UP FOR A RETURN TO THE SESSION BY DIVING DEEP INTO BUDGET PROPOSALS THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY BOOST STATE SPENDING.
Rasmussen: FAITH IS A KIND OF WAY OF SAYING YES TO LIFE, IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING.
Gene: A LOOK INSIDE A UNIQUE MINDSET MESHING FAITH AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE POSITIVES THAT WE CAN ALL TAKE AWAY.
NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.
THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.
I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.
A WARNING FROM HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AROUND THE STATE AS THE HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE OMICRON VARIANT SPREADS.
THE LINE OPINION PANEL EXPLORES HOW WE SHOULD RESPOND.
PLUS A NEW BUDGET PLAN IS ON THE TABLE.
THE GOVERNOR HAS SOME IDEAS BUT SO TO HER COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE.
THE LINE OPINION PANEL WILL BREAK DOWN WHAT YOU NEED KNOW AND WE ARE TALKING WITH SENATE LEADERSHIP ABOUT WHAT LAWMAKERS WANT TO SEE COME OUT OF THE 2022 SESSION.
HERE IS CORRESPONDENT GWYNETH DOLAND AND SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM MIMI STEWART.
Gwyneth: SENATOR STEWART, PROPOSALS FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR BOTH WANT TO INCREASE SPENDING ON EDUCATION BY ABOUT 400 MILLION-DOLLARS.
YOU KNOW, IN A STATE WHERE OUR REVENUE GOES UP AND DOWN SO MUCH, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT AND SAFE TO MAKE THIS BIG BUMP NOW?
Stewart: WELL, GWYNETH, FIRST ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON TODAY.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A HUGE STAFFING PROBLEM NOW IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE ARE DOWN OVER 1000 TEACHERS THIS YEAR.
SO, THINK ABOUT THAT.
WE ARE LOOKING AT LONG-TERM SUBSTITUTES BEING IN CLASSROOMS.
SO, WE HAVE GOT TO INCREASE PAY FOR TEACHERS.
EVERY STATE AROUND US IS DOING THE SAME THING.
SO, EVERY TIME WE THINK WE ARE BEING COMPETITIVE, THEY BEAT US ON THAT.
SO, IT IS A BOLD PROJECT FROM THE GOVERNOR TO INCREASE THESE THREE TIERS.
WE HAVE TIER 1 FOR BEGINNING TEACHERS AND TIER 2 FOR KIND OF WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND SIX YEARS OR SO AND YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR MASTERS YET, AND THEN YOUR THIRD TIER FOR MASTERS OR NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION.
CURRENTLY, THOSE MINIMUMS ARE AT 40,000, 50,000 AND 60,000 AND THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL IS TO MOVE THEM UP $10,000.
SO, WE HAVE GOT TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN TEACHERS.
YOU KNOW, GWYNETH, WE ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH STATE EMPLOYEES.
WE JUST DON'T PAY ENOUGH.
WE HAVE LOOKED FOR A BROADBAND ENGINEER TO KICK US OFF FOR OUR NEW BROADBAND FUNDING THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND FROM THE STATE AND WE CAN'T HIRE ANYBODY BECAUSE WE DON'T PAY ENOUGH.
OUR PAY BAND IS 75,000 FOR A BROADBAND ENGINEER.
THAT IS PATHETIC.
SO, WE ARE ON A MISSION TO INCREASE OUR SALARIES STATE-WIDE AND TO PUT MONEY INTO EDUCATION SO WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT QUALIFIED TEACHER IN EVERY CLASSROOM AND THAT TAKES FUNDING AND, YES, WE HAVE THIS CYCLE OF THE OIL AND GAS FUNDING BUT WE STILL HAVE TO DO IT.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE VERY GOOD RESERVES SO THAT IF WE GO THROUGH A DOWNTURN, WHICH WE WILL, THAT IS THE NATURE OF THAT FUNDING, WE'LL HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK, BUT RIGHT NOW WHILE WE HAVE THIS MONEY, WE HAVE GOT TO INVEST IN OUR EDUCATORS.
Gwyneth: HOW IS THE MONEY SPLIT UP?
WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES?
I MEAN THERE IS MONEY IN THERE FOR EARLY EDUCATION, AM I RIGHT?
Stewart: YES.
SO, THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL AND ALSO OUR PROPOSAL IS TO DO A 7% ACROSS THE BOARD PAY INCREASE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES AND EDUCATORS.
EVERYONE IN THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY.
AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT IS THE THREE-TIER LICENSURE.
SO 7% FOR ALL STATE WORKERS AND EDUCATORS IS ABOUT $300 MILLION AND ON TOP OF THAT IS THEN THE TIER MOVEMENTS SO THE 400 MILLION IS JUST FOR PARTLY THOSE SALARIES, BUT WE HAVE ALSO INCREASED FUNDING FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT IS CALLED THE TRIBAL REMEDY WHERE OUR TRIBES WANT MORE FUNDING FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT.
WE ARE INCREASING THE AMOUNT WE HAVE FOR TEACHER LOAN REPAYMENT AND SCHOLARSHIPS AND OUR GROW-YOUR-OWN PROGRAM WHICH TRIES TO FOCUS ON INDIGENOUS TEACHERS AND MORE HISPANIC TEACHERS.
WE HAVE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF HAVING OUR TEACHERS REFLECT OUR STUDENTS.
STUDENTS DO BETTER WHEN THEY ARE TAUGHT BY SOMEONE WHO THEY RECOGNIZE.
AND SO WE ARE REALLY ON A PUSH TO TRY TO DO THAT.
IT IS A HUGE BUMP.
IT IS OVER A 12% INCREASE IN THE EDUCATION BUDGET.
WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT KIND OF INCREASE IN ANY OF MY 28 YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE.
Gwyneth: SO THIS SESSION IS MOSTLY ABOUT THE BUDGET BUT THERE ARE A FEW OTHER TOPICS.
WE HAVE JUST A FEW MINUTES LEFT.
WHAT ARE THE OTHER PRIORITIES THAT ARE OUTSIDE THAT?
Stewart: THE GOVERNOR ALSO IS PROPOSING HER CLEAN FIELD STANDARD BILL AGAIN.
I AM CARRYING THAT FOR HER.
THAT PROPOSES TO LOWER THE CARBON INTENSITY OF OUR TRANSPORTATION FUEL, LOWERING THAT OVER 2018 STANDARDS BY 20% BY 2030 AND 30% BY 2040.
THE GOVERNOR IS ALSO PUTTING ON OR GIVING A MESSAGE TO AN ELECTION BILL THAT WILL JUST ENSURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS WORK WELL.
WE CAME UP WITH SOME GREAT STUFF DURING COVID BY HAVING PEOPLE -- GIVING PEOPLE THE ABILITY TO MAIL IN BALLOTS.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT PROCESS IS GOOD, GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO JUST BE ON A PERMANENT ABSENTEE BALLOT LIST SO YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO REQUEST IT.
IT ALWAYS COMES TO YOUR HOME.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION WORKS WELL.
THERE IS SOME OTHER THINGS THAT SHE IS PROPOSING AROUND CRIME AND OUR NEW STATE REP, PAMELYA HERNDON, HAS A GREAT BILL ON BEHALF OF BENNY HARGROVE WHO WAS THE 13-YEAR-OLD WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT THAT WAS KILLED SO THAT IS A SAFE STORAGE BILL.
HOPEFULLY WE WON'T DO TOO MANY THINGS BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO LIST.
WE HAVE SOME MUCH MONEY.
WE ARE PUTTING MONEY IN ROADS AND INTO BROADBAND.
INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT.
WE HAVE HUGE MONEY GOING INTO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES TO PROMOTE MORE OUTDOOR RECREATION, TO PROMOTE MORE ABILITY OF CITIES AND COUNTIES AROUND THE STATE TO PROMOTE OUTDOOR RECREATION.
Gwyneth: THANK YOU FOR THIS QUICK PREVIEW AND WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON A BUNCH OF THESE TOPICS DURING THIS SESSION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Stewart: THANK YOU GWYNETH.
Gene: WELCOME TO EVERYONE ON OUR PANEL THIS WEEK.
STARTING WITH MICHAEL BIRD, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION.
OR FRIEND TOM GARRITY OF THE GARRITY PUBLIC RELATIONS GROUP.
AND MARTHA BURK, POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND AUTHOR OF THE BOOK YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE, THE SAVVY WOMAN'S GUIDE TO POLITICS, POWER AND THE CHANGE WE NEED.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
NOW, BUDGET TALK HAS MOVED INTO THE SPOTLIGHT AHEAD OF THE START OF THE SESSION AND IT SEEMS BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE HAS SIMILAR PRIORITIES.
PUBLIC HEALTH, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY ARE ALL IN FOR A BOOST, IF EITHER OF THESE PLANS PASS.
AND WRAPPED UP IN ALMOST ALL ITEMS ARE PAY RAISES FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.
WHETHER IT BE TEACHERS, POLICE, POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS.
LET'S START THERE.
GIVEN THE STRESSES OF THE PANDEMIC, MICHAEL, IS IT ABOUT TIME TO GIVE THESE FOLKS SOME EXTRA COMPENSATION?
Michael: HOW FAR BACK DO YOU WANT TO GO?
IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THIS LACK OF INVESTMENT.
Gene: GOOD POINT.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE UP TO GET TO PAR.
THAT IS RIGHT.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF THERE, MICHAEL.
Michael: WHEN I LOOK AT IT FROM ANY LENS HERE IN NEW MEXICO, BE IT EDUCATION, BE IT PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH, WHICH I AM FAMILIAR WITH, NOT ONLY LOCALLY BUT NATIONALLY, THERE HAS NOT BEEN THE KIND OF INVESTMENT.
WE DO NOT HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY THAT IS VIABLE BECAUSE THERE HAS NOT BEEN THAT INVESTMENT.
WE, IN FACT, DO NOT HAVE A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THIS NATION AND COVID-19 HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT.
WE ALSO LACK EQUITY IN TERMS OF FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, BE THEY NATIVE, BE THEY HISPANIC, MEXICAN-AMERICAN OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE KNOW WHO HAS BEEN BEARING THE BURDEN OF THIS VIRUS AND IT IS OUR COMMUNITIES WHICH HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AT RISK.
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A NORMAL.
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABNORMAL FOR US AND THIS HAS JUST HIGHLIGHTED THAT AND NOW OTHER PEOPLE, OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCE SOME OF THE PAIN THAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH HISTORICALLY FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
SO, IF YOU DO NOT INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND DO NOT INVEST IN YOUR PEOPLE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T.
IT'S HIGH TIME WE INVEST.
Gene: MARTHA, SPEAKING OF INVESTMENT, LOOK AT EDUCATION AND THESE PROPOSALS.
THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE CALLED FOR NEARLY FOUR BILLION DOLLAR BOOST TO PUBLIC ED AND NEARLY ONE BILLION TOWARDS HIGHER ED.
BIG CHUNK OF THE MONEY FOR PUBLIC ED, WOULD GO TO TEACHER PAY INCREASES AS WE HAVE ALL HEARD ABOUT IN THE NEWS HERE, THE IDEA BEING THIS WOULD ATTRACT AND RETAIN EDUCATORS.
IS THAT A VIABLE PLAN GOING IN?
Martha: I THINK THAT IT IS SORT OF VIABLE, GENE.
WHAT THEY ARE PUTTING FORWARD IS THEY WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH TEXAS, WHICH THEY WILL BE, BECAUSE THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IS NOT MEETING THIS YEAR.
SO THEIR SALARIES RIGHT NOW ARE IN THE 44, 45,000 RANGE AND THE PROPOSAL IS FOR 50.
THE QUESTION IS, IS THAT ENOUGH MONEY FOR YOU TO CROSS THE BORDER, UPROOT YOUR LIFE AND COME UP TO NEW MEXICO.
FOR ME, I WOULD, BECAUSE TEXAS IS MY NATIVE STATE BUT THERE IS A LOT NOT TO LIKE.
HOWEVER, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT TEACHER PAY RAISE AND MY LENS IS A GENDER LENS.
MOST OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATOR IN THE STATE AND NATIONALLY ARE WOMEN.
WOMEN DO NOT MAKE THE MONEY MEN MAKE IN MOST FIELDS.
THEY PROBABLY DO IN EDUCATION BUT IT IS STILL VERY LOW.
SO IF WE CAN RAISE WOMEN UP, WE CAN RAISE FAMILIES UP.
AND I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT AS FAR AS THE EDUCATION SALARIES AND MINIMUM WAGE.
WE HAVE THE PROPOSAL TO RAISE THE STATE WORKERS MINIMUM TO $15 AN HOUR.
THAT IS THE STATE IS NO EXCEPTION, THE MAJORITY OF MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS ARE FEMALE, ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE MORE THING IN THE BUDGET WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THAT IS THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
WHY?
BECAUSE HOW MANY WOMEN HAVE HAD TO STAY HOME DURING COVID, QUIT A JOB BECAUSE THERE IS NO CHILD CARE.
THERE IS NO EARLY CHILDHOOD ED.
Edmund: AND IF WE HAVE THAT WOMEN COULD GO BACK TO WORK AND NATURALLY IT HELPS THE KIDS.
IT GIVES THEM A HEAD START.
THERE IS A REASON THAT PROGRAM IS NAMED HEAD START.
IT IS A WIN/WIN FOR EVERYBODY.
THE COMPETING PROPOSALS, I DON'T THINK THEY ARE THAT IN THE PARK.
Gene: THEY REALLY AREN'T, AND THE TEACHER PAY THING, TOM, THE LFC WANTS 51,000 TO START, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, 50,000.
IT IS NOT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE BUT INTERESTING POINTS THERE FROM MARTHA, WE HAVE GOT OVER 1000 TEACHER VACANCIES STATE-WIDE.
IT HAS TO BE PARTLY MONEY, DOESN'T IT?
Tom: ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE SEEN THE BIG QUIT OR RESIGNATION TAKE HOLD IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
REALLY INCREASING SALARIES, AND I WOULD SAY THAT 7% IS NICE, BUT IT IS NOT QUITE ENOUGH, MAYBE 10% FOR TEACHERS, 7% FOR ALL OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL.
I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC SECTOR NEEDS TO ACTUALLY GET UP TO SPEED WITH TRYING TO MAKE JOBS MORE COMPETITIVE FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE.
YES, THEY HAVE THE GREAT RETIREMENT PROGRAMS AND SUCH BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, REALLY HITTING THE TEACHER PAY RAISES AT THIS POINT AND PAY RAISES FOR ALL EDUCATORS IS A GOOD FIRST STEP.
THE OTHER THING THAT I LIKE THAT I AM SEEING IS WHAT I AM SEEING IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARENA AND JUST BY QUICK DISCLOSURE, MY FIRM DOES WORK IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARENA, AND SO WITH THAT SAID, MY THOUGHTS ARE MY OWN, BUT WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAY IS A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH THE LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDING AND SO I THINK THAT IF WE ARE ABLE TO SEE THE FUNDS CAN BE USED TO ATTRACT OUT-OF-STATE COMPANIES BUT ALSO MORE IMPORTANTLY TO REALLY SUPPORT THOSE COMPANIES WHO ARE ALREADY HERE, TO HELP THEM GROW, MAYBE HELP THEM JUST GET ONE MORE JOB TO PUT THEM IN A POSITION TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO HIRE ONE MORE PERSON AT A COMPETITIVE WAGE, I THINK THAT COULD DO A LOT TO REALLY INCREASE NEW MEXICO'S COMPETITIVENESS.
Gene: MICHAEL, ANOTHER ISSUE, OF COURSE, CRIME IS BIG ON THE DOCKET FOR EVERYBODY STARTING HERE ON THE 18TH.
HOWEVER, SAME ISSUE.
IS IT A MONEY PROBLEM?
THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO SPEND TO ATTRACT MORE FOLKS TO PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU KNOW, INVESTMENTS FOR COPS ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
IS IT JUST A MONEY ISSUE OR IS SOMETHING ELSE AFOOT HERE?
Michael: I WANT TO PICK UP ON MARTHA'S GENDER POINT, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
AND ONE IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ARE WOMEN, BE IT NURSES OR IN MANY OF THE OTHER FIELDS AND MORE AND MORE WOMEN DOCTORS, SO THAT IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE THERE IS A REAL NEED TO EMPHASIZE AND FOCUS ON WOMEN AND SUPPORTING THEM IN WHATEVER WAYS WE CAN.
IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, IT IS PRETTY CLEAR, I THINK, THAT WE DO NEED MORE -- TO BE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND POLICE AND THAT ARENA, BUT, AGAIN, I THINK THAT THE THING IS WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THE CAUSES FOR THE CRIME AND THOSE REALLY ARE MORE UPSTREAM THAN DOWNSTREAM IN TERMS OF WHAT IS REALLY DRIVING THE CRIME RATE AND AT LEAST IN MY UNDERSTANDING A BIG PART OF IT IS DRUGS AND POVERTY AND FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE EDUCATION AND A MEANS TO MAKE A LIVING.
AND IT REALLY GOES BACK TO THE FAMILY OF ORIGIN IN MY EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU EITHER HAVE FUNCTION -- YOU HAVE FUNCTIONAL -- YOU HAVE FUNCTIONAL FAMILIES THAT PRODUCE THEN FUNCTIONAL CHILDREN WHO CAN READ, WRITE AND SEEKING EMPLOYED AND WANT TO BE PRODUCTIVE VERSUS THOSE FAMILIES THAT HAVE IMPACTED IN A NEGATIVE AND ADVERSE WAY THAT LEADS THEM ON A COURSE THAT IS, IN FACT, I THINK, MORE TEND TO ABUSE DRUGS, ALCOHOL, AND THEN ENGAGE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
I THINK THAT IS A PIECE OF IT, BUT YOU HAVE TO EMPHASIZE MORE IN THE WAY OF PREVENTION AND MORE IN LOOKING AT WHAT DO WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
Gene: MARTHA, ANY TIME YOU SEE BIG SPENDING NUMBERS LIKE YOU SEE HERE, YOU EXPECT SOME BACKLASH FROM CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP.
THAT IS THE CASE WITH THESE TWO DEMOCRATIC BUDGET PROPOSALS.
HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JAMES TOWNSEND, YOU PROBABLY READ IN THE JOURNAL, SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SURPLUS USED FOR MORE TAX BREAKS FOR SENIORS AND VETERANS INSTEAD OF SPENDING.
IS THERE A LEGITIMATE CONCERN HERE OF THE PROPOSAL OF A BILLION DOLLAR GENERAL FUNDING INCREASE IS TOO MUCH, TOO FAST?
Martha: NO.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME THE MONEY IS THERE, GENE, AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN CONSERVATIVES SAY TAX BREAKS TO ME, A RED FLAG GOES UP.
I THINK (INAUDIBLE) VETERANS IS THE CONCERN.
I THINK IT IS THE CORPORATIONS AND THE VERY WEALTHY ALREADY.
THAT'S HISTORICALLY BEEN THE POSITION.
IT IS PROBABLY AT THE CORE OF THE, LET'S FRONT IT WITH THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS, BUT REALLY WE NEED TAX BREAKS FOR THE CORPORATIONS.
I DO WANT TO SAY REAL QUICKLY ON THE POLICE OR THE POLICE OFFICER RAISES, I DID LOOK UP WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF COMPETING WITH OUR BORDER STATES AND WE ARE PRETTY FAR BEHIND.
WE ARE 34TH IN THE NATIONALLY.
COLORADO TO OUR NORTH IS EIGHTH IN SALARIES.
THEY HAVE NOT QUITE DOUBLE A QUARTER MORE THAN WE DO BUT TEXAS IS AHEAD OF US, ARIZONA.
ONLY ONE NOT IS OKLAHOMA AND THAT IS THAT LITTLE BITTY BORDER AT THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE.
SO WE ARE BEHIND OUR NEIGHBORS AND I THINK WE COULD LOSE SOME GOOD OFFICERS IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
Gene: I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT.
THAT IS HAPPENING.
Tom: ON SOME PUBLIC SAFETY DISCUSSION, YES, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO SUPPLY MORE SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AS FAR AS FROM THE FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT MICHAEL WAS SHARING ABOUT THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
MAKING SURE WE ADDRESS THAT.
THE THIRD ELEMENT THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE FUNDED THAT THE LAST TWO GOVERNORS HAVE NOT FUNDED APPROPRIATELY IS THE COURTS AND JUSTICE SYSTEM.
YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE SYSTEM AND WITHOUT FUNDING THE COURTS AND JUSTICE, ALL YOU'RE DOING IS PROVIDING PAY RAISES, WHICH IS A GOOD AND NEEDED THING, BUT IT IS NOT COMPLETING THE CYCLE IN FIXING THE ISSUES.
Gene: LAWMAKERS WILL HEAR THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES FOR THE BUDGET AND THE REST OF 2022 DURING HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS KICKING OFF A SESSION ON TUESDAY.
YOU CAN CATCH A LIVE STREAM OF HER SPEECH ON THE NMPBS WEBSITE OR ON AIR NEXT WEDNESDAY AT 4:00 P.M.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, I CAUGHT UP WITH FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE ALONZO BALDONADO WHO RECENTLY STEPPED DOWN AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE IN OFFICE.
WE TALKED ABOUT HIS PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORK AHEAD FOR HIS FORMER COLLEAGUES INCLUDING ON THE ONGOING CRIME EPIDEMIC.
IN YOUR VIEW, NOW THAT YOU ARE OUT OF IT, WHERE HAVE WE GONE WRONG ON CRIME HERE FROM A LEGISLATIVE POINT OF VIEW?
OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN'T GET IN PEOPLES' HOMES AND CREATE STABLE FAMILIES BUT AS A LEGISLATOR HAVE WE MISSED SOMETHING HERE WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING CRIME?
Baldonado: I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB FOCUSING ON THAT BUNCH OF CRIMINALS THAT ARE OUT THERE CAUSING THE MOST HAVOC, RIGHT?
YOU HAVE A CORE GROUP OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT.
THE POLICING AGENCIES THEY KNOW WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE, THEY RUN ACROSS THEM ON THE STREETS AND KNOW THE REPUTATIONS AND HEAR THINGS.
ONE THING HAS FRUSTRATED ME IS BAIL REFORM.
WE DID ALL THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND IN MY ESTIMATION THE SUPREME COURT SOLD A BAG OF GOODS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND -- THEY DID AN END AROUND AND DID SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH IT.
WHAT WE ENDED UP DOING IS LETTING FOLKS OUT OF A HOLDING SITUATION, WHETHER THEY ARE AWAITING TRIAL OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, OBVIOUSLY THE PERSON WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORD THAT GETS BUSTED FOR SHOPLIFTING A BAG OF WHEAT FLOUR, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, WE GET THAT, BUT THE GUY WITH THE LONG WRAP SHEET AND IS BEING ACCUSED OF A RAPE OR MURDER, THAT INDIVIDUAL PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BE OUT ON THE STREET, GUYS.
AND WE GO TO THE SITUATION.
WE HAVE SEEN IT IN THE NEWS.
WE HAD A SITUATION WHERE A VALENCIA COUNTY, ONE MAN THAT GREW UP IN VALENCIA COUNTY WAS MURDERED BY SOMEONE WHO WAS OUT ON PRETRIAL RELEASE ON AN ANKLE MONITOR.
AND THIS WAS BIG NEWS AND DA TORREZ AND EVERYBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT IT.
WELL, HOW FOOLISH ARE WE TO THINK THAT AN INDIVIDUAL ON AN ANKLE BRACELET, WE ARE NOT MONITORING THEM.
THERE IS NOT A SWAT TEAM SITTING IN A ROOM WAITING FOR THE ALARM TO GO OFF.
OH, THIS GUY BROKE HIS PERIMETER, WE ARE GOING TO GET HIM.
THAT IS NOT HOW THAT WORKS.
BASICALLY, WHAT WAS HAPPENING IS IF SOMEBODY WENT OUT OF THEIR DESIGNATED AREAS, THE PAROLE OFFICERS, WHOMEVER IS MONITORING, IN THE MORNING GETS A REPORT THAT SAYS JOE SCHMO WAS BEING NAUGHTY LAST NIGHT.
THE CRIME HAS ALREADY BEEN COMMITTED IF HE WAS OUT TO DO A CRIME.
IT IS TOO LATE.
THE ANKLE BRACELET MONITOR WORKS FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED THEIR TIME AND HAS GONE INTO A PAROLE SITUATION WHERE THEY GET TO GO TO WORK, VISIT MOM, WHEREVER, AND THEY ARE TRYING TO REACCLIMATE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.
THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO LOSE.
BUT THE PRETRIAL, THEY ARE BEING ACCUSED OF SOMETHING.
THINGS OF THAT NATURE ARE WHAT WE NEED TO TAKE SERIOUS.
I KNOW THAT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WILL PROBABLY TRY TO PROPOSE A LOT OF GUN CONTROL TYPE SOLUTIONS TO CRIME IN ALBUQUERQUE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN A CRIMINAL GETS THEIR HANDS ON A FIREARM OR WEAPON THAT IS DEADLY IN NATURE, 99% OF THE TIME THAT IS COMING THROUGH SOME ILLEGAL MEANS NOT COMING THROUGH SOMEONE WHO WENT DOWN TO SPORTSMAN'S AND PURCHASED A FIREARM TO GO SPORTING WITH THEIR KIDS OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
WE NEED TO STOP ATTACKING THE PART OF THE POPULATION THAT IS DOING IT RIGHT AND START FOCUSING ON THOSE PEOPLE WE KNOW ARE COMMITTING SERIOUS CRIMES AND CREATING HAVOC FOR OUR POPULATIONS.
Gene: IS IT A MONEY ISSUE IN YOUR VIEW, REPRESENTATIVE?
I MEAN, THE GOVERNOR SAYS SHE IS COMMITTING A LOT OF RESOURCES FINANCIALLY TO THIS EFFORT.
IS THAT PART OF THE ISSUE HERE?
Baldonado: PART OF THE ISSUE IS WE CAN THROW AS MUCH MONEY -- SAY WE WANT TO HIRE 500 MORE APD OFFICERS.
WE NEED TO QUIT DEMORALIZING THEM AND DEMONIZING THEM AND TELLING THEM THEY ARE DOING WRONG.
I KNOW A LOT OF FRIENDS OF MINE THAT HAVE BEEN APD THAT ARE AT THE SHORT END OF THEIR CAREER AND HAVE STEPPED OUT EARLIER THAN THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD.
THEY BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT, AND THEY ARE, I AM DONE.
I AM NOT GOING TO SUBJECT MYSELF TO THE LIABILITY.
WE HAD HOUSE BILL 4 LAST YEAR, QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, I AM SORRY.
SO, YOU HAVE A POLICE OFFICER DOING THEIR JOB, TRYING TO DO IT RIGHT, TRYING TO PROTECT CITIZENS OR PROPERTY OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, AND SOMETHING GOES AWRY AND THEY HAVE TO USE FORCE, USE DEADLY FORCE, LET'S STOP DEMONIZING THESE PEOPLE AND LET THEM COME TO WORK AND KNOW WE ARE BEHIND THEM.
OBVIOUSLY, THE ONE OFF SITUATION, THERE IS BAD REAL ESTATE BROKERS, THERE IS BAD IN EVERY INDUSTRY.
AND SO THERE IS SOME COPS RUNNING AROUND THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE ABILITY TO DO WHAT THEY CAN, BUT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS, NOT THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, NOT THE ONE APPLE SPOILING THE WHOLE BUNCH.
Gene: WHEN I MENTIONED MONEY IS FLOATING AROUND, THE GOVERNOR IS TALKING ABOUT NOT SPECIFICALLY, THIS WILL COME OUT AS TIME GOES ON, BUT MONEY FOR FAMILIES, MONEY FOR LACK OF BETTER TERM HELP CREATE MORE COHESIVE SOLID FAMILY STRUCTURES WHICH NO ONE WOULD DISAGREE WITH IS THE START OF EVERYTHING.
IT STARTS THERE AND THAT IS DECIDEDLY LEFTY IDEA.
DO YOU THINK THERE IS A POSSIBILITY REPUBLICANS ON YOUR SIDE OF THE AISLE WITH REPUBLICANS MIGHT COME A STEP TOWARDS THAT IN THINKING ABOUT MONIES GOING TOWARDS THINGS THAT STABILIZE FAMILIES AND SUCH.
Baldonado: I THINK IF YOU PRESENT THAT IN A WAY SO THE REPUBLICANS OR CONSERVATIVE, FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE INDIVIDUAL, WHERE YOU HAVE A GOOD PLAN HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY AND HOW IT EXACTLY IS DELIVERED, YOU TAKE OUT A LOT OF QUESTION MARKS OUT.
A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE PERMANENT LAND GRANT FUND WHICH THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, YOU KNOW, THEY TRIED TO PASS THAT FOR ALL THE YEARS I WAS IN THE HOUSE AND ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IT WAS STOPPED.
IT FINALLY PASSED THIS YEAR.
JOHN ARTHUR SMITH IN THE SENATE HELPED TO BE THAT BACKSTOP SO YOU HAVE THAT EXTRA MONEY.
THE BIGGEST CONCERN FOR REPUBLICANS IN THAT WASN'T THAT WE WERE TRYING TO HELP CHILDREN, IT WAS MORE LIKE YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAND THIS MONEY OVER TO, YOU KNOW, X, Y, Z NONPROFITS, WHOEVER IS OUT THERE, AND IT IS LIKE WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL IS LIKE 8.3 BILLION, I THINK, IS A BILLION MORE THAN WE SPENT LAST YEAR AND TWO BILLION MORE THAN WHAT WE SPENT UNDER GOVERNOR MARTINEZ' ADMINISTRATION.
ARE WE REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH IT AND TIME TELLS ON THAT, BUT PEOPLE WITHIN THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY SOMETIMES WILL TELL YOU, IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT MONEY, IT IS ABOUT HOW WE DELIVER IT AND WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THAT MONEY.
Gene: YOU CAN HEAR MORE OF MY INTERVIEW WITH FORMER REPRESENTATIVE BALDONADO ON OUR WEBSITE, NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG.
ALSO, WE SHOULD MENTION THE VALENCIA COUNTY COMMISSION NAMED BRIAN BACA AS MR. BALDONADO'S ROUNDHOUSE REPLACEMENT EARLIER THIS WEEK, A LOS LUNAS SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, MR. BACA WILL SERVE OUT THE REMAINDER OF MR. BALDONADO'S TERM AND CAN RUN FOR THE SEAT IN THIS YEAR'S NOVEMBER ELECTION.
COVID REMAINS A MAJOR CONCERN AROUND THE STATE AND COUNTRY.
WE TOLD YOU LAST WEEK THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS THE NEW VARIANT IS THREE TIMES MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN DELTA.
IT HAS A LOWER HOSPITALIZATION RATE BUT WITH SO MANY MORE PEOPLE EXPECTED TO CATCH IT IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, HOSPITALS ARE FEELING THE IMPACT.
NEW MEXICO'S TWO LARGEST HEALTH SYSTEMS HELD A JOINT BRIEFING EARLIER THIS WEEK TO LAY OUT EXACTLY HOW THEY EXPECT THE OMICRON SURGE TO IMPACT THEIR STAFF IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
THOSE HEALTHCARE LEADERS ARE WARNING, THIS SURGE WILL IMPACT EMERGENCY ROOM WAIT TIMES AND THEY ARE ASKING PEOPLE WITH MINOR TO MODERATE ISSUES TO CALL A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR FIRST BEFORE HEADING TO THE ER.
NOW, HOW DISHEARTENS IS IT TO HEAR THESE WARNINGS YET AGAIN?
Michael: WELL, I THINK ANYBODY WHO IS AWARE OF THE IMPACT OF VIRUSES KNOWS THIS IS A LONG-TERM -- THIS IS NOT -- THERE IS NO QUICK FIX AND ANY OPPORTUNITY WE MIGHT HAVE HAD TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF COVID-19, THAT TIME PASSED A NUMBER OF YEARS BACK WHEN WE MIGHT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY HAD WE REALLY EMPHASIZED VACCINATIONS EARLY ON AND MADE A REAL EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT DID TAKE PLACE.
BUT GIVEN WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW, I THINK THAT THIS IS A LONG-TERM -- VIRUSES ARE OUT THERE.
WE HAVE ALTERED THE ENVIRONMENT IN SO MANY WAYS THAT IS IMPACTING THE INCREASE OF VIRUSES AND POTENTIAL TRANSMISSION FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE.
THAT IS WHAT HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT, AND, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IN NEW MEXICO WE HAD THE HIGHEST NOVEMBER NUMBER OF DEATHS WERE 4,246 CASES AND THAT WAS IN NOVEMBER 2020.
THAT WAS HIGH OF 3,675.
SO, WE HAVE HAD THAT MANY DEATHS AND I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE EMPHASIZED IS THAT THERE ARE TWO POPULATIONS THAT ARE REALLY IMPACTED THAT IS REFLECTED IN THIS DEATH RATE.
THAT IS SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH CO-OCCURRING CONDITIONS.
AND, YOU KNOW, OR UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.
I WOULD SAY THAT WE NEED TO REFRAME AND WATCH OUR LANGUAGE SOMETIMES BECAUSE TO ME WHAT UNDERLYING CONDITIONS MEANS TO ME IS PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR AND PEOPLE WHO ARE ETHNIC -- COME FROM ETHNIC COMMUNITIES.
THAT IS THE UNDERLYING CONDITION AND POVERTY IS AN UNDERLYING CONDITION.
IT IS MORE THAN JUST THE CONDITION ITSELF BEING DIABETIC, OVERWEIGHT.
WHAT REALLY UNDERLIES THOSE -- WHAT ARE THE SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT OFTENTIMES LEAD PEOPLE TO THOSE CONDITIONS?
AND WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT.
THE ENVIRONMENT; WHAT IS GOING ON, WHAT SORT OF INFRASTRUCTURE DO WE HAVE TO PROMOTE HEALTH VERSUS ILLNESS.
Gene: IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT DAILY CASE COUNT UPDATES YOU HAVE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT SPIKE IN THE RECENT WEEKS FOLLOWING THE HOLIDAYS.
SOME OF THE 24-HOUR PERIOD REPORTING 3,000 NEW CASES.
SUPER HIGH NUMBERS, MICHAEL MENTIONED IT AS WELL.
HERE IS MY QUESTION, IS IT TIME TO REFRAME WHAT THEY ACTUALLY MEAN IN TERMS OF IMPACT BECAUSE THAT IS SORT OF A QUESTION RIGHT NOW.
Tom: ON THE HOLIDAYS, IN GENERAL, IT IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT.
YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT SAFELY AND IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, AND, YES, THE NUMBERS ARE REALLY QUITE PHENOMENAL, BUT 92% OF THE FATALITIES THAT MICHAEL HAD REFERENCED ARE UNVACCINATED.
THEY ALSO MAKE UP 60% OF THE OVERALL MEDICAL CASES.
AND 83% OF HOSPITALIZATIONS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE LARGER QUESTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO START TO SURFACE AS ALL THE HOSPITALS START TO GRAPPLE -- THEY ARE IN THE MIDST OF IT RIGHT NOW -- IS SHOULD THERE -- SHOULD CARE BE ALTERED BASED ON VACCINATION STATUS?
YOU KNOW.
AS AN APPROACH TO PROVIDING CARE TO PATIENTS, SHOULD WE START SEEING TRIAGE START TO COME UP?
WHERE, YOU KNOW CARE SHOULD BE TRIAGED TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE THE GREATEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.
I HOPE THE ANSWER TO ALL THOSE QUESTIONS IS NO, LET'S JUST KEEP TREATING WHICH I KNOW ALL THE DOCTORS AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL WANT TO DO, BUT IF THE EMERGENCY ROOMS KEEP GETTING POUNDED LIKE THEY ARE GETTING POUNDED RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE VERY DIFFICULT QUESTIONS WHICH COULD BE ASKED HERE VERY SOON.
Gene: THE PRESBYTERIAN CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, DR. JASON MITCHELL, TOLD ME THAT VERY POINT, GUYS IT IS VACCINATIONS AT THIS POINT.
IT IS NOT ABOUT MUCH ELSE AFTER THAT.
MARTHA, HERE IS A QUESTION FOR YOU.
I KNOW YOU WERE IN SANTA FE BUT THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE GOT BACKLASH AFTER IT ANNOUNCED HERE IT WAS CONSIDERING A VACCINE MANDATE FOR ALL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.
MAYOR KELLER SINCE CLARIFIED A LITTLE BIT SAYING THOSE WORKERS EITHER NEED TO BE VACCINATED OR TEST FOR THE VIRUS EACH WEEK.
SO CRITICS OF A REQUIREMENT SAY IT COULD FORCE WORKERS TO LEAVE ALREADY UNDERSTAFFED CITY SERVICES.
IS THAT A LEGIT CONCERN?
Martha: THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IF THEY GET COVID.
I AGREE WITH MICHAEL ABOUT THERE IS A VARIETY OF UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.
RIGHT NOW UNDERLYING CONDITIONS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS PANDEMIC IS NON-VACCINATION.
AND WE NEED TO JUST SAY THAT AND SAY IT OUT LOUD AND BARRY RAMOS DID SAY TO THE MEDIA LAST WEEK, DR. RAMOS VERY WELL RESPECTED, HE JUST PUT IT RIGHT WHERE IT BELONGS, ON THE BACKS OF UNVACCINATED.
THEY ARE COUNTING ON THE REST OF US WHO ARE VACCINATED TO KEEP THEM SAFE.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TRIAGE, MAYBE THAT OUGHT TO GO INTO THE MIX.
I AM A PRETTY MUCH A HARD LINER ON THIS.
I HAVE A FRIEND WHOSE HUSBAND NOT ONLY IS AN ANTI-VACCER, HE SAYS COVID DOES NOT EXIST.
AND A PROFESSIONAL THAT OUGHT TO KNOW BETTER.
BUT, HERE IS A PROPOSITION, SEE WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS.
MAYBE ONE WAY TO CUT DOWN ON THE NUMBER AND TOM IS RIGHT, 90% OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS, CLOSE TO 90, ARE NOW THE UNVACCINATED.
MAYBE THE INSURANCE COMPANY SHOULD START SAYING, IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED, WE ARE NOT COVERING YOU IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
THAT WOULD CHANGE BEHAVIOR RIGHT QUICK.
Gene: INTERESTING POINTS THERE.
MICHAEL, THIS VARIANT IS SO FAST SPREADING, PEOPLE ARE GETTING TESTED MORE OFTEN.
IT IS HARD FOR INDIVIDUALS TO FIND TESTS.
HAVE YOU HAD TO NAVIGATE THIS OR ANYBODY YOU KNOW?
CVS AND WALGREEN'S HAVE APPOINTMENTS BOOKED MORE THAN A WEEK OUT AND IF YOU GO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WEBSITE FOR NEW MEXICO, BOY, IT IS AWFULLY TOUGH TO FIND IT.
ARE YOU HEARING THE SAME THING?
Michael: I AM HEARING FROM SOME OF MY FRIENDS NATIONALLY LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN DC A FRIEND WHO CONTRACTED COVID-19 AND HE CAN'T GET TO A TEST.
I MEAN, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE.
AND I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT ARE FACING THE SAME CHALLENGE.
THE TESTS ARE NOT AS READILY AVAILABLE AS THEY SHOULD BE, AS THEY NEED TO BE.
BUT I WANT TO PICK UP ON ONE QUICK POINT, BACKING UP A LITTLE BIT, AND THAT IS, WHEN OUR SYSTEMS -- WHEN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS AND PROVIDERS AND HOSPITALS ARE PUSHED TO THE BRINK AND THOSE SYSTEMS POTENTIALLY COULD COLLAPSE, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY THINK ABOUT GOING BACK TO MARTHA'S POINT ABOUT AND TOM'S POINT ABOUT TRIAGING, BECAUSE IF THIS CONTINUES TO IMPACT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THERE MAY BE A NEED TO FOLLOW-UP ON THE POINTS THAT THEY MADE, THAT WE CANNOT RISK THE WHOLE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM COLLAPSING BECAUSE, IN FACT, THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE UNWILLING TO GET VACCINATED, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT JUST PUTTING THEMSELVES AT RISK, THEY ARE PUTTING EVERYONE AT RISK.
AND THEY ARE THREATENING THE COLLAPSE OF OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM POTENTIALLY.
Gene: TOM, SANTA FE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO GO BACK TEMPORARILY TO ALL VIRTUAL LEARNING IN HOPES OF GETTING A GRASP ON ALL THIS.
SHOULD OTHER SYSTEMS BE FOLLOWING SUIT AT THIS POINT?
Tom: BASED ON WHAT THE VACCINATION STATUS IS BUT ALSO WHAT INFECTION RATES ARE, I THINK, SCHOOLS NEED TO ADDRESS IT ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
I THINK THE NEW MEXICO PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS RECOGNIZING THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE AT PLAY ON THE TIME YOU NEED TO QUARANTINE SO THE PED HAS MOVED IT FROM 10 DAYS TO FIVE DAYS FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
I THINK THAT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
Gene: GOOD POINT.
THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF NUANCE I AM GLAD WE GOT IT IN THERE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT ISSUE.
I KNOW WE ALL WISH WE COULD AVOID IT BUT THE REALITY IS IT IS HERE TO STAY AND WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO EASE THE BURDEN ON OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AMONG OTHERS.
Rasmussen: FAITH TRADITIONS HAVE ARISEN ACTUALLY IN THE FACE OF THIS DISASTER AND HAVE CONTINUED TO ADDRESS DISASTER, JUST AS A FAMILY HAS TO COME TOGETHER, THEY DON'T ALWAYS DO, BUT JUST AS THEY HAVE TO COME TOGETHER IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY IN THE FAMILY, SO FAITH TRADITIONS HAVE DONE THAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
Gene: 16 STATE LAWMAKERS ARE CALLING FOR A STUDY TO ANALYZE PROS AND CONS OF A PUBLICLY OWNED ELECT POWER UTILITY.
THESE LEGISLATORS DON'T JUST WANT INFORMATION ON A STATE RUN UTILITY BUT ALSO SMALLER ONES RUN BY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
LET'S BRING IN PANELISTS ON THIS ONE.
FIRST OFF, IS THIS SOMETHING WE SHOULD EVEN CONSIDER AS A STATE, EVEN IF YOU THINK THIS IS A BAD IDEA, IS THERE ANY HARM IN CONDUCTING A STUDY LIKE THIS?
Martha: NO, THERE IS NO HARM AT ALL.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE STUDY COULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL, GENE.
I WAS STRUCK -- I KNOW NONE OF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER VIETNAM BUT I AM.
THE ARGUMENT IS OVER WHETHER THE PRC IS THE RIGHT ENTITY TO CONDUCT SUCH A STUDY.
I FIND ARGUING OVER THE SHAPE OF THE TABLE, IT IS A VIETNAM -- Gene: I APPRECIATE THE ANALOGY.
I HOPE PEOPLE DID PICK UP ON THAT.
THAT IS PRETTY BRILLIANT.
Martha: I DO THINK, YEAH, WE NEED A STUDY.
I WAS LOOKING AT STATISTICS.
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION TELLS ME THAT HOMES THAT ARE ON PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND, BY THE WAY, TWO OF OUR INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITIES MEAN FOR PROFIT -- HAVE THAT WORD PUBLIC IN THEIR NAME WHICH IS A BIT DISINGENUOUS.
BUT TRULY PUBLICLY-OWNED UTILITIES AND RATE PAYORS ARE PAYING ON AVERAGE 12% LESS FOR THEIR POWER THAN FOR INVESTOR OWNED.
THAT IS A PRETTY BIG CHUNK.
THE TRULY PUBLICLY OWNED ARE OUT -- HAVE POWER OUTAGES HALF AS OFTEN AS THE INVESTOR OWNED.
SO, THAT IS SOMETHING WE REALLY SHOULD CONSIDER.
THERE ARE OVER 2,000 ENTITIES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HAVE PUBLIC UTILITIES.
THERE IS ONLY ONE STATE WHERE THE WHOLE STATE IS PUBLIC AND THAT IS NEBRASKA AND THEY HAVE A CONSIDERABLY LOWER POPULATION THAN NEW MEXICO BUT IT IS STILL SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.
NOW, WHETHER THE PRC IS THE CORRECT ENTITY, I DON'T KNOW, BUT JUST MY LITTLE TINY BIT OF RESEARCH THAT I HAVE DONE TELLS ME THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME MONEY PUT FORWARD FOR A STUDY REGARDLESS OF WHO DOES IT.
Gene: GOOD POINT.
MICHAEL, FOLKS HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR ON THAT IN THE PRC.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME, THE MONEY, THE STAFF OR ANYTHING TO DO THIS.
Martha: NOT US.
Gene: INTERESTING, THOUGH, I AM CURIOUS HOW DOES NEW MEXICO'S UNIQUE GEOGRAPHY PLAYS INTO THIS.
WOULD SMALLER COMMUNITIES BE BETTER OFF IN CONTROL GIVEN HOW DIFFERENT THE NEEDS OF EACH OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE PHYSICALLY?
Michael: IT WAS REFERENCED THAT THE PICURIS PUEBLO, WHICH IS ONE OF THE PUEBLOS IN A RURAL NORTHERN NEW MEXICO AREA OF THE STATE, WENT SOLAR AND I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT REALLY -- I APPLAUD THEM, CONGRATULATE THEM FOR DOING THAT BECAUSE OFTENTIMES SMALLER COMMUNITIES ARE IGNORED AND IT IS A REAL CHALLENGE.
AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY SELLING POWER BACK TO THE POWER GROUP IN TAOS AND SO I JUST THINK ANYTHING THAT ENHANCES A COMMUNITY, BE IT A TRIBAL COMMUNITY OR ANY COMMUNITY, THE MORE CONTROL THEY HAVE OF THEIR RESOURCES AND THEIR ABILITY TO SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN THEIR OWN PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY IS A PLUS.
IT IS NOT A DISADVANTAGE.
IT REALLY IS AN ADVANTAGE JUST IN THE SAME WAY PEOPLE CAN SOURCE THEIR OWN FOOD AND THERE IS A LONG CULTURAL HISTORY HERE IN NEW MEXICO, PUEBLO PEOPLE AND HISPANIC PEOPLE GROW THEIR OWN FOOD, THEIR OWN CROPS, AND THEY ARE HEALTHIER, THEY ARE BETTER FOR YOU, LESS EXPENSIVE AND THERE IS REALLY -- IT RESTORES THAT CONNECTION TO THE LAND AND THE COMMUNITY AND THERE IS CULTURAL VALUE IN THAT.
SO, ANYTHING THAT ENHANCES, I THINK, THE COMMUNITY'S CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN FUTURE AND WHATEVER THEY NEED TO SUSTAIN THAT COMMUNITY, I THINK IT IS JUST THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY TO GO.
Gene: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, A LOT OF FORCES ARE COMING TO BEAR HERE.
INTERESTING, AS I READ ABOUT IT, THE ADVANCEMENT OF RENEWABLES, THIS QUESTION ABOUT CORPORATE CONTROL, ELECTRICITY RATE HIKES ARE A BIG DEAL FOR PEOPLE, AS MARTHA POINTED OUT, THAT A LOT OF PLACES ARE ACTUALLY FOLLOWING SUIT.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS A NUMBER OF STATES I AM SEEING HERE, MASS, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, THEY ARE EITHER STUDYING OR INTENDING TO STUDY THIS VERY THING.
THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE AIR HERE.
PEOPLE WANT A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTROL.
Tom: PEOPLE WANT MORE ACCOUNTABILITY IS WHAT THE MESSAGE IS, THAT I AM HEARING.
AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS REALLY KIND OF THE REASON WHY I AM NOT NECESSARILY IN FAVOR OF HAVING A PUBLICLY OR A GOVERNMENT RUN ELECTRIC UTILITY.
EXHIBIT A IN MY CASE, SO TO SPEAK, WOULD BE THE ALBUQUERQUE-BERNALILLO COUNTY WATER UTILITY AUTHORITY.
IT IS A GOVERNMENT RUN AUTHORITY THAT IS A UTILITY RATHER THAT HAS ABSOLUTELY NO DIRECT ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PUBLIC THAT IT SERVES.
THE UTILITY AUTHORITY, FOR EXAMPLE, IS MADE UP -- ITS GOVERNING BOARD IS MADE UP OF CITY COUNCILORS, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND SOMEBODY APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR.
THOSE PEOPLE KEEP ROTATING OFF.
IF I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY CITY COUNCILOR, STATE REPRESENTATIVE OR MAYOR, I CAN GO AHEAD AND PASS THEIR VOTE AGAINST THAT PARTICULAR PERSON OR FOR SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT IF I HAVE ISSUES WITH HOW THE WATER UTILITY AUTHORITY IS GOING, THERE IS NO DIRECT MEANS FOR ME TO REALLY LEVERAGE MY VOICE, MY VOTE.
AND THAT, I THINK, IS A HUGE LESSON FOR THE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE GOING TO GO INTO THIS AND SUPPORT POTENTIALLY A PRC REVIEW OF ELECTRIC UTILITIES.
SO, THAT IS THE BIGGEST RED FLAG I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS JUST THAT LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
Gene: INTERESTING POINT THERE.
Martha: TOM, YOU'RE RIGHT.
THERE HAS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY.
PRC DOES ALREADY REGULATE CO-OPS WHICH ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN FLATLY PUBLICLY OWNED.
Gene: ELECTRIC CO-OPS.
Martha: THANK YOU, GENE.
THERE IS NO REASON TO HAVE PRC OR ANOTHER ENTITY TO REGULATE THE PUBLICLY-OWNED UTILITIES IF WE HAVE THEM.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ELECTED OFFICIALS OR PEOPLE THAT ROTATE OFF AND ON.
IT CAN AN ENTITY JUST LIKE THE PRC IS NOW.
Gene: DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO YOU THAT STARTING IN VERY SHORT ORDER PRC IS GOING TO BE AN APPOINTED BODY NOT AN ELECTED BODY?
DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Martha: YES, I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHETHER IT IS APPOINTED OR ELECTED.
I THINK APPOINTED CAN BE VERY POLITICAL, WITHOUT QUESTION.
WE NEED TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE ENTITIES THAT WE KNOW ABOUT NATIONALLY, WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED, ARE FUNCTIONING AND WHAT KIND OF OVERSIGHT THEY HAVE.
Tom: THERE IS THE WHOLE LEW WALLACE PERSPECTIVE THAT BASICALLY -- I AM NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT QUOTE BUT BASICALLY WHAT WORKS IN OTHER STATES IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO WORK HERE.
AND I THINK THAT THE WATER UTILITY AUTHORITY IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
I HOPE THAT THIS DISCUSSION FIXES THAT ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURE AND PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR OTHER UTILITIES WHETHER THEY BE ELECTRIC, GAS OR WATER.
Gene: INTERESTING POINT THERE.
Martha: WE NEED TO LOOK AT COMPARABILITY.
CALIFORNIA HAS A QUITE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC UTILITIES.
CALIFORNIA COULD SWALLOW NEW MEXICO 30 TIMES.
SO, WE HAVE TO FIND SOME COMPARABLES AND SEE WHAT IS THERE AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE STUDY THAT PRC SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO ANYWAY.
Gene: THANKS TO OUR LINE PANELISTS AS ALWAYS.
THIS WEEK, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.
BE SURE TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ANY TOPICS THE LINE COVERED ON OUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM PAGES.
HERE IS LAURA PASKUS WITH A LOOK AT A NUANCE PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH TO ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE.
Laura: I AM LAURA PASKUS AND LIKE MANY OF YOU I THINK ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON OUR STATE AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I TOO FEEL GRIEF WHEN I SEE OUR RIVERS DRY OR OUR FORESTS BURN.
ON THIS MONTH'S EPISODE OF OUR LAND, I SPOKE WITH LARRY RASMUSSEN, PROFESSOR EMERITUS AT UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND FAITH AND FAITH AND MOURNING.
WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE SCIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND CULTURAL ISSUES AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE.
I WANTED TO TALK WITH YOU TODAY ABOUT WHERE FAITH FITS INTO CLIMATE ACTIVISM.
Rasmussen: SOMEONE HAS SAID THAT FAITH IS A CITADEL PERCHED AT THE EDGE OF DESPAIR.
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS THE CASE WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN REALLY ROUGH PLACES, WHETHER IT IS JUST FOR THEMSELVES PERSONALLY OR IN THEIR FAMILY OR IN THEIR COMMUNITY OR WHETHER IT IS A WHOLE NATION, EVEN A PLANET.
FIRST OF ALL, I THINK FAITH IS A KIND OF WAY OF SAYING YES TO LIFE IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING.
I MEAN, WE TALK ABOUT IT THAT WAY.
FAITH IS KIND OF A CREST IN THINGS WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN THAT THEY ARE YET POSSIBLE.
Laura: IN YOUR 2013 BOOK WHICH I REALIZE WE ARE IN 2022 NOW, BUT YOU WROTE IN THIS BOOK THAT AS THE WORLD HAS CHANGED WE MUST LEARN TO SING A NEW SONG IN A STRANGE LAND.
Rasmussen: YEAH.
Laura: WHAT IS THIS STRANGE LAND AND HOW DO WE SING A NEW SONG?
Rasmussen: YEAH, WITH DIFFICULTY.
THE STRANGE LAND IS THAT WE HAVE CHANGED THE PLANET.
AND WHAT IS NOT IN THAT BOOK, EXCEPT TO BE MENTIONED AT THE VERY OUTSET, IS THAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY MOVED INTO A DIFFERENT GEOLOGICAL EPOCH.
I THINK IT IS MASSIVE THAT WE HAVE GONE FROM THE HOLOCENE, WHICH RELIED ON A BALANCED CLIMATE, INTO THE ANTHROPOCENE EPOCH, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MANAGE AND ADAPT CIVILIZATION, IF IT SURVIVES UNDER CONDITIONS OF CLIMATE VOLATILITY RATHER THAN STABILITY AND CLIMATE UNFRIENDLINESS RATHER THAN FRIENDLINESS.
SO, LEARNING TO SING A STRANGE -- A NEW SONG IN A STRANGE LAND, THEN, REQUIRES CERTAINLY CREATIVITY, ADAPTABILITY, RESILIENCE AND PROBABLY SHEER GRIT AND IT IS GOING TO BE IN THE FACE OF SUFFERING ON A SCALE WE HAVE NOT SEEN AS A RESULT OF NATURAL DISASTERS.
Laura: YOU SHARED WITH ME A LETTER THAT YOU WROTE TO YOUR GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT THIS COMING TREND TRANSITION AND YOU WROTE, IF THE TUMULTUOUS WORLD HASN'T STOPPED BEING BEAUTIFUL NEITHER HAS LOVE STOPPED BEING LOVE.
IN THIS WORLD OF HUGE UNCERTAINTY AND TRANSITION, WHAT DOES LOVE, WHAT DOES BEAUTY MATTER?
Rasmussen: A LOT.
I DON'T THINK WE FIND OUR WAY EXCEPT THROUGH THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE NURTURED BY LOVE AMID THIS CHANGING AND CHANGED PLANET, FIND OUR WAY WITHOUT A SENSE OF WONDER, WITHOUT A SENSE OF BEING ON A JOURNEY WHICH IS MUCH GREATER THAN OUR LITTLE SLICE OF TIME.
Laura: AS AN ENVIRONMENT REPORTER I HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE CONTACT ME TALKING ABOUT OR WRITING ABOUT THEIR ANXIETY AND THEIR DEPRESSION AND THEIR GRIEF AS THEY SEE, YOU KNOW, OUR RIVER DRY, OUR SNOW PACKLESS MOUNTAINS, OUR MOUNTAINS AFTER A FIRE.
ARE THERE LESSONS IN THE FAITH COMMUNITY TO HELP US DEAL WITH THESE LOSSES?
Rasmussen: THERE ARE.
WHETHER AND HOW MUCH WE DRAW UPON THEM WILL VARY A LOT FROM CONGREGATION TO CONGREGATION.
IN PART BECAUSE WE HAVE, ESPECIALLY WHITE FOLK, HAVE SO BENEFITED FROM THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND WHAT IT BROUGHT THAT WE HARDLY EVEN NOTICED THAT BURNING FOSSIL FUELS WAS DESTROYING THE KIND OF PLANET THAT WAS YIELDING THESE BENEFITS.
SO IT IS HARDER FOR WHITE FOLK TO KNOW THE TRADITIONS OF LAMENT, TO THE TRADITIONS OF LIVING WITH AND THROUGH A APOCALYPSE, TO KNOW THE TRADITIONS OF HAVING TO SING A NEW SONG IN A STRANGE LAND.
SO, I AM TRYING TO SAY, NOT EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE WILL BE TAPPING INTO THESE, BUT NOW ECO LAMENT IS A REALITY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR PEOPLE, AND THERE ARE TRADITIONS OF ECO LAMENT.
FAITH TRADITIONS HAVE ARISEN ACTUALLY IN THE FACE OF DISASTER AND HAVE CONTINUED TO ADDRESS DISASTER.
JUST AS A FAMILY HAS TO COME TOGETHER, THEY DON'T ALWAYS DO, BUT JUST AS THEY HAVE TO COME TOGETHER IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY IN THE FAMILY, SO FAITH TRADITIONS HAVE DONE THAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY AND DESPAIR AND REASONS FOR LAMENT AND ANXIETY ABOUT THE FUTURE.
SO I THINK YOU TAKE OLD EXPERIENCES, TEXTS, COMMUNITIES THAT IT IS COUNTERINTUITIVE THAT IN A NO ANALOGUE WORLD YOU WOULD BE LOOKING FOR ANCIENT WISDOM BUT ANYTHING -- ANY HUMAN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A MILLENNIA, LIKE FAITH COMMUNITIES HAVE, HAS ACCUMULATED A LOT OF WISDOM AND NEEDS TO BE REVISED, NEEDS TO BE ADAPTED, SOMETHING NEW NEEDS TO BE CREATED, IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, BUT THE RESOURCES ARE THERE, THE EXPERIENCES ARE THERE.
Laura: YOU ALSO WRITE IN YOUR 2013 BOOK, OR YOU ASK, WHERE DO WE TURN WHEN WE DISCOVER THAT THE RELIGION WE HAVE LIVED BY SINCE THE INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGICAL ERA EMERGED, ETERNAL AND EXPONENTIAL ECONOMIC GROWTH IS AN ILLUSION, DOGMA MASQUERADING AS COMMON SENSE AND KEPT ALIVE BY WILLPOWER AND LITTLE ELSE.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
BUT I WILLS WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ROLE THAT WHITE SUPREMACY HAS PLAYED IN FAITH AND IN CAUSING CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND WHERE THOSE INTERSECT AND HOW WE PULL THEM APART FOR A DIFFERENT WORLD.
Rasmussen: YEAH.
WELL, LET ME START WITH THE LATTER POINT.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS A RESULT OF THE INSTITUTIONS THAT AROSE OUT OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND THAT WENT GLOBAL BY WAY OF CONQUEST AND COLONIZATION.
GIVEN THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, THE FORM THAT THAT TOOK, WAS ONE WHICH NOW HAS BROUGHT US TO PLANET SYSTEM CHANGE, CHANGING THE SYSTEMS, PLANETARY SYSTEMS THEMSELVES, AND IT IS WE WHO ARE WHITE WHO ARE MOST DEEPLY EMERSED IN WHAT WE BENEFITED FROM THAT.
ONE THING THAT IS HAPPENING IN THEOLOGY IS A KIND OF DECOLONIZATION OF THEOLOGY THAT HAS BEEN WHITE AND IN A UNIVERSAL VOICE.
SO YOU GET BLACK THEOLOGY.
YOU GET FEMINIST THEOLOGY.
YOU GET LATINA THEOLOGY, WOMANIST THEOLOGY OUT OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.
YOU GET QUEER THEOLOGY AND THAT KIND OF DECOLONIZATION HAS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE POWER OF WHITE INSTITUTIONS IN FORGING THE MODERN WORLD.
SO UNDOING WHITE PRIVILEGE, UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY IS ESSENTIAL TO MAKING THE TRANSITION TO SUSTAINABLE LIFE ON OTHER TERMS THAN THAT.
AND THAT IS MASSIVE.
Laura: WELL, THANK YOU, LARRY, FOR JOINING ME TODAY.
Rasmussen: YES, THANK YOU.
Gene: I WANT TO THANK RECENTLY RETIRED REPRESENTATIVE ALONZO BALDONADO FOR THE TIME SPENT THIS WEEK WITH ME IN OUR WEEKLY FACEBOOK LIVE SERIES EVERY WEDNESDAY AT NOON, PLEASE DO JOIN US.
IT WAS INTERESTING AND I SAY WORTH ITS WATCH FOR CLOSE WATCHERS OF THE LOCAL POLITICAL SCENE BECAUSE I THINK HE OFFERED SOME KEY THEMES AND ISSUES IN THAT INTERESTING WAY THE RECENTLY RETIRED OFTEN DO.
IT IS INTERESTING.
ANOTHER SEGMENT OF THAT CONVERSATION WAS THE GROWTH OF THE LOS LUNAS AREA.
AS REPRESENTATIVE BALDONADO AND I DISCUSSED, THE AREA FINDS ITSELF IN AN ADVANTAGEOUS GEOGRAPHIC POSITION SUDDENLY, WITH A COMMUTE TO ALBUQUERQUE ARGUABLY FASTER THAN COMING DOWN THE HILL FROM RIO RANCHO.
WITH A FEW MORE ENTRIES OF MANUFACTURING AND RETAIL IN THE LOS LUNAS AREA, FOLKS WON'T EVEN NEED TO COME TO ALBUQUERQUE TO WORK.
NOW, THIS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD THING FOR ALBUQUERQUE, FOR THE SAME REASONS THE GROWTH IN RIO RANCHO HAS BEEN, BECAUSE WE CAN NOW START TO CONSIDER THE GREATER METROPOLITAN AREA AS A MUCH WIDER FOOTPRINT.
THIS HAS CONSEQUENCES MOSTLY GOOD WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND APPROACH AND WHAT WE COLLECTIVELY OFFER TO THE WORLD.
THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED, WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK, IN FOCUS.
Mimi Stewart Extended Interview
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S15 Ep28 | 2m 11s | Legislative session preview with Senate President Pro Tem, Mimi Stewart. (2m 11s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S15 Ep28 | 3m 11s | Gene Grant asks retired NM Representative Alonzo Baldonado about lawmaker decorum. (3m 11s)
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