Local Viewpoints

 Commentary: Today, Governor Susana Martinez announced her appointment of Butch Tongate as Secretary of the New Mexico Environment Department. Tongate has served as deputy secretary of the Environment Department since 2011. Prior to that, he served with the Environment Department for 23 years in various roles, including Solid Waste Bureau chief and Environmental Protection Division director.

  Commentary: The recent op-ed defending the County's $201,000 settlement with Detention Center Director Chris Barela was sincere and made some valid points. The County Commission genuinely feels it dodged an expensive bullet by settling with Barela. 

But questions remain.

Commentary: On Monday, September 12 at 11:00 a.m., clergy from across New Mexico will lead a “Higher Ground Moral Day of Action” outside of the state capitol in Santa Fe joining with clergy in over 25 other states across the country. This nationwide action is coordinated by the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, architect of the Moral Monday Movement in North Carolina with Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., senior minister emeritus of the historic Riverside Church, Rev. Dr.

Commentary:  With just weeks to go until Election Day, voters have been frustrated with Donald Trump’s failure to provide detailed plans on major issues such as education, the economy and foreign policy. Trump visited a for-profit charter school in Cleveland to talk education.

Commentary:  The co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) led CPC Executive Leadership in sending the following letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, urging him to include funding to support the residents of Flint, Michigan in any omnibus spending bill or continuing resolution before the end of the Fiscal Year.

Commentary: State government has a very important job to do. It ensures that all children receive an education that will prepare them to be productive adults. It works to keep our streets safe and our infrastructure in good repair. It must respond to public health threats and keep an eye to future needs. When state government does its job well, it enables and strengthens the state’s economic growth and helps its people thrive.

   Commentary: American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly released the following statement:

  Commentary:  El Paso - Texas State Sen. José Rodríguez will receive the Valerie Kantor Award for Extraordinary Achievement at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)'s annual gala in San Antonio this Friday.

  Commentary:  At some time or other, you have probably seen the famous optical illusion created by a cartoonist in 1915. Some people see a young woman turning away from the viewer, and others see the face of an elderly woman. Some can see it both ways: how the line describing a chin can also look like a nose, a collar that may also resemble a mouth. Others can only see one version, try as they might to see both faces.

  Commentary:  The county Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) Commission has now reduced the minimum lot size for subdividing in the R zone from ten acres to two acres. That reduction cleared up one of the major issues being discussed in relation to the Unified Development Code (UDC) currently under consideration by the P&Z.

  Commentary: Today is Labor Day—and there’s a good reason it’s a national holiday. By organizing together and fighting collectively, workers have been able to better their lives and the lives of their families. So rather than think about Labor Day as the last gasp of summer or bemoan the loss of union clout, let’s redouble our efforts to recreate an enduring middle class.

  Commentary:  I wandered into Tuesday's county commission work session to learn the status of the detention center citizens' advisory committee, but they were still talking about reorganizing the fire department.

Fire/Emergency Chief Eric Crespin was defending his plan to centralize operations. I suspected it wasn't a popular plan with the sixteen fire chiefs, for reasons that might range from highly sensible to somewhat selfish. 

  Commentary:  In response to former New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ryan Flynn moving to work at the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, the lobbying arm of the oil and gas industry in our state, CVNM Political & Legislative Director Ben Shelton released the following statement:

   Commentary:  LAS CRUCES, NM — As the area’s only locally owned and operated solar provider, Sunspot Solar Energy has a commitment to give back to the community. Local owners Janet and Mellow Honek work with their crew to identify local organizations that need volunteer manpower for projects, and lend a hand whenever possible. In the past six weeks, Sunspot employees have provided help for La Casa, Inc., Diersen Charities, Inc., and the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope.

  Commentary: Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM), via its coordinated political action committee CVNM Action Fund (CVNMAF), continues its efforts to build a strong political voice for our air, land and water by endorsing candidates who will work to protect New Mexico’s families and communities. CVNMAF has endorsed candidates for state House of Representatives, state Senate, ​Secretary of State, and Grant County Commission​ for the Nov. 8, 2016 general election.

  Commentary: In 2015, New Mexico outlawed civil forfeiture, the controversial law enforcement practice of seizing and selling property without charging an individual with a crime, let alone convicting them of one. Despite that groundbreaking legislation, Albuquerque law enforcement officials continue to flagrantly disregard the law, and seize and sell hundreds of cars each year.

  Commentary:  Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Steve Pearce announced a joint effort to urge the U.S. Air Force to relocate operational F-16 squadrons to Holloman Air Force Base and expand Holloman's mission to include new F-16 formal training units. The Air Force needs to move F-16s from Hill Air Force Base in Utah, which soon will house new F-35s. 

  Commentary:  Earlier today  the U.S. Department of Education released its regulations on the Every Student Succeeds Act.

The following can be attributed to National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen García. 

“Innovation. Opportunity. Collaboration. These were our hopes for the Every Student Achieves Act.. But the regulations released today by the Department of Education fall short, and we can not short change our nation’s students.

 Commentary:  Las Vegas – American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly released the following statement:

“We congratulate the staff members of Highlands University who took a stand for greater workplace rights, increased voice in decision making, and better job security.

“With today’s labor board certification completed, this unit is the second new unit established this year, joining the growing New Mexico Highlands University Faculty and Staff Association.

Commentary: New Mexico was still spending less per-student on K-12 public education in 2015 than it did before the recession when funding is adjusted for inflation. In the two years since then, funding increases—which amounted to less than 1 percent a year—have still been too low to keep pace with inflation and student population growth.

Commentary: Today, Governor Susana Martinez unveiled a powerful new TV ad to combat drunk driving. The ad – which can be viewed here – centers around a terrified girl whose intoxicated father is behind the wheel of their family vehicle, swerving in and out of lanes and putting lives in danger.

  Commentary:  To be safe, healthy, and financially secure is something we all want for ourselves, our children and our families. New Mexico can be a place where communities are safe, people are healthy and thriving, and everyone has the opportunity to build a secure future.

 Commentary:  Congressman Pearce issued the following statement regarding the work done this Congress supporting solar energy: 

 Commentary: Today, the Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) released the following statement after Governor Martinez’s Secretary of Economic Development, Jon Barela left his post for a job in the Texas private sector.