NM Senate President Pro Tem says Democrats are crafting a crime package - Albuquerque Journal, 九色网 News
Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart says she and fellow Democratic lawmakers are putting together a package of bills to combat crime for the upcoming session in January.
Stewart the package will emphasize growing the state鈥檚 behavioral health treatment options, including substance use. She said the funding for 鈥渢reatment programs all over the state鈥� will come from the creation of a state trust fund for the effort.
About a decade ago, then-Gov. Susana Martinez鈥檚 administration largely dismantled the state鈥檚 behavioral health care system by freezing the Medicaid funding of several key providers, alleging fraud. All were later cleared, but the system has never fully recovered.
Senate Minority Leader Bill Sharer told the Journal he is not sure funding treatment is the crime fix the state needs, but he is willing to look at what gets proposed.
Stewart said the Legislature will also take on new gun safety measures and some of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham鈥檚 public safety priorities.
During a special session over the summer, Democrats rebuffed several of the governor鈥檚 public safety proposals, saying they weren鈥檛 ready and could cause more harm than good. That included reforms to what happens to those deemed incompetent to stand trial. Stewart told the Journal the competency issue will be back on the table come January, though Lujan Grisham hasn鈥檛 had much input on the Senate proposals.
Governor appoints new Film Office director - By Algernon D'Ammassa,
Santa Fe-based filmmaker Steve Graham was tapped by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday to head the state鈥檚 film office, effective immediately.
Citing his industry expertise as well as his roots as a native New Mexican, the governor said in a statement, 鈥淗is proven leadership and innovative approach will continue to elevate new Mexico as a premier film destination, creating more opportunities for our talented local workforce and promoting diverse voices.鈥�
Jeff Steinborn, a state Senator and board president of Film Las Cruces, called Graham 鈥渁n excellent choice,鈥� adding, 鈥淪teve鈥檚 a production pro with (a) friendly personality. He also has familiarity with our region.鈥�
Graham succeeds Amber Dodson, who left during the summer after four years.
A news release from the governor鈥檚 office said Graham has worked in film and television for more than 25 years, including as an executive producer on the Netflix series 鈥淏lack Summer,鈥� 鈥淲alker: Independence鈥� on the CW (CBS) and 鈥淶 Nation鈥� on Syfy.
According to his bio on the website of production company Goodwest Productions, his feature film projects include 鈥淭he Haunting of Whaley House鈥� and 鈥淐aptive,鈥� among others; that he is a member of the Producers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America, Television Academy (which produces the Emmy Awards) the New Mexico Film Foundation and the Santa Fe Film Commission. He has also served as national digital marketing director for the Screen Actors Guild, where he was also involved in the union鈥檚 online casting technology as well as its New Media department.
Graham is also co-owner of prop and post production facilities in New Mexico.
It is a resume that prompted the governor鈥檚 office to state in its news release, 鈥淗is understanding of New Mexico鈥檚 film landscape, industry unions, and local production needs, paired with his national and global perspective, has prepared him to lead and grow the New Mexico film industry.鈥�
For Las Cruces and local efforts to expand film and television production in southern New Mexico, Steinborn told the Las Cruces Bulletin, 鈥淚t鈥檚 helpful that we鈥檙e starting off with an established relationship with Steve. It鈥檚 always a process to make sure the Film Office is marketing our region and not just the Santa Fe - Albuquerque corridor.鈥�
In a written statement, Graham said, 鈥淚鈥檓 honored to lead the New Mexico Film Office and work to strengthen a local industry that has always been close to my heart. Our state has an extraordinary pool of creative talent, and I am committed to ensuring that we continue to grow, innovate, and provide meaningful opportunities for New Mexicans in film.鈥�
New county manager starts Wednesday - By Rodd Cayton,
Cindy Chavez will be on the job Wednesday as Bernalillo County Manager.
It鈥檚 a homecoming of sorts for the Alamogordo-born Chavez, who has spent much of her career in California, most recently serving as an elected member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.
Chavez was to replace Julie Morgas Baca, who retired effective June 30. The Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners in August approved a contract to pay her a $230,000 annual salary.
County Board of Commissioners Chair Barbara Baca said Chavez will bring a wealth of experience in public service to the job, resulting in improved quality of life for county residents.
鈥淎fter a national search and a professional hiring process, we are excited to welcome Ms. Chavez, whose commitment to public service and experience in local government can be brought to bear here as the chief executive of Bernalillo County,鈥� Baca said.
In addition to serving as a county supervisor, Chavez has also been vice mayor of San Jose, California and chaired the board of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.
As a supervisor, Chavez鈥檚 priorities included public health, affordable housing, and criminal justice reform, according to a county news release.
Chavez will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the county and overseeing a budget topping $1 billion.
She was chosen from three finalists after a public forum in which candidates met commissioners and the public.
The process has been contentious at times, with commissioners over how to put together a search committee. The New Mexico Department of Justice later found that the commission by discussing possible search committee members through phone and email communications outside of scheduled meetings and without notifying the public.
Commissioners rectified the violation by ratifying the previous actions at an , at which Olivas accused Commissioners Steven Michael Quezada and Walt Benson of not taking the search seriously and Benson in turn saying he and Quezada were insulted for questioning the legality of the board鈥檚 actions.
Shirley Ragin, Deputy County Manager for finance, served as interim county manager through the transition between Morgas Baca and Chavez.
Weed back on BernCo agenda - Rodd Cayton,
Bernalillo County commissioners Tuesday will discuss a possible policy change that would permit some employees to use cannabis while off duty without risking their jobs.
Commission Vice Chair Eric Olivas introduced the legislation, saying he wanted fair treatment for people who prefer now-legal cannabis to alcohol.
The proposed resolution, which is up for discussion only, would continue to prohibit on-duty use.
The loosened restrictions would not apply to all employees. Because marijuana remains illegal under federal law, employees who are required to regularly carry firearms, those in health care and those whose principal jobs include regularly transporting other people would be bound by the existing rules. Federal law also places restrictions on positions paid for by federal grants.
A staff analysis included in the agenda says the policy change could impact the county鈥檚 insurability. Regina Ortega, the county鈥檚 director of risk management, wrote that the county is 鈥渋nsured with the preface that we are working and engaging in a drug-free, zero tolerance platform.鈥�
She wrote the change could affect current and future policies and lead to increases in insurance premiums.
鈥淲e also 鈥� need to be cognizant of the increase in claims the county should anticipate should we move forward with this proposal,鈥� Ortega wrote.
After Tuesday鈥檚 discussion, county staff will review the policy and bring the matter back to commissioners for final approval.
Also on the agenda is a proposed amendment to the county zoning ordinance that would permit secondary dwelling units on certain residential lots.
Such a unit, commonly known as a casita, would be a permissive use on lots that meet the minimum lot size of the underlying zone and other criteria.
County staff is asking the board to approve publication of amendments, which will be available to the public for review and comment, then brought back to commissioners in January for final consideration.
Another zoning change would allow food trucks in areas zoned for commercial/light industrial uses.
County staff say the change was inadvertently left out of a recent zoning ordinance update.
Commissioners will also conduct a 1:30 p.m. closed meeting to discuss legal matters with attorneys.
The agenda states they will discuss the 2018 settlement, which established several standards for conditions in the Metropolitan Detention Center, along with Public Service Company of New Mexico鈥檚 application for a rate increase.
PNM joins day-ahead market to better manage resources, increase coordination - By Hannah Grover,
The Public Service Company of New Mexico announced on Monday that it will be joining the California Independent System Operator Extended Day-Ahead Market.
This will help PNM better plan for managing supply and demand in advance and is something that the utility has said it needs during the energy transition.
Markets like day-ahead and real-time markets allow utilities like PNM to increase coordination and better use resources across the western United States.
PNM plans to begin participating in EDAM as early as 2027.
鈥淧articipating in EDAM is the next step in realizing the value of New Mexico鈥檚 renewable energy potential for our customers, helping us ensure continued clean and reliable service at the lowest possible cost,鈥� PNM President and CEO Don Tarry said in a press release. 鈥淲e know from our experience with the WEIM 鈥� which has provided New Mexico customers nearly $125 million in benefits since we joined in 2021 鈥揷oordination with other regional utilities can continue to deliver substantial efficiencies and cost benefits for our customers.鈥�
PNM anticipates that joining EDAM will result in $20 million of annual benefits to its customers in New Mexico.
鈥淲e are honored that Public Service Company of New Mexico has announced its intent to join EDAM,鈥� CAISO President and CEO Elliot Mainzer said in a press release. 鈥淲e look forward to building on the proven track record of the Western Energy Imbalance Market to deliver even greater economic and reliability benefits to PNM customers.鈥�
Trump taps former acting ICE director as his new 鈥榖order czar鈥� - Ariana Figueroa, States Newsroom
President-elect Donald Trump late Sunday announced he will appoint Tom Homan as 鈥渂order czar鈥� in his administration as Trump seeks to carry out his campaign commitment of mass deportations of immigrants who lack permanent legal status.
Homan is the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the previous Trump administration who backed the controversial 鈥渮ero tolerance鈥� policy that separated families at the southern border.
Homan will have authority over the southern border, northern border, the maritime border and aviation security, according to a post from Trump鈥檚 social media site, Truth Social. Trump did not in the social media post specify what exact government post Homan would occupy.
鈥淚鈥檝e known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淚 have no doubt he will do a fantastic, and long awaited for, job.鈥�
Another former Trump official who played a heavy role in immigration policy, Stephen Miller, will be appointed as White House deputy chief of staff for policy, Vice president-elect J.D. Vance , formerly known as Twitter.
As the incoming Trump administrationof people without proper legal status, Trump said Homan will be in charge of sending deported people back to their countries of origin. In order for that to happen, the country of origin must agree to accept those people the United States wants to deport.
Homan served as acting director of ICE from 2017 to 2018. In a recent , he said that deportations would be targeted.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a well-targeted, planned operation conducted by the men of ICE. The men and women of ICE do this daily. They鈥檙e good at it,鈥� Homan said. 鈥淲hen we go out there, we鈥檙e going to know who we鈥檙e looking for. We most likely know where they鈥檙e going to be, and it鈥檚 going to be done in a humane manner.鈥�
who live in mixed status families, meaning that at least one member has a different legal status. During the interview, Homan was asked if mass deportations could happen without separating families.
鈥淥f course there is,鈥� he said. 鈥淔amilies can be deported together.鈥�
at least 5,000 migrant families were separated. The Department of Homeland Security has reunited about 74% of those families, but there are still .
Trump has previously declined to say whether he would resume family separations in a second term.
鈥淲ell, when you have that policy, people don鈥檛 come. If a family hears that they鈥檙e going to be separated, they love their family. They don鈥檛 come. So I know it sounds harsh,鈥� Trump said during
Last updated 10:22 a.m., Nov. 11, 2024.
NM congressional delegation outlines concerns over Trump鈥檚 second term - Santa Fe New Mexican, 九色网 News
Members of New Mexico's all-Democratic congressional delegation say they are bracing for a rough ride during the second presidency of Donald Trump.
The that the state, which voted for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in Tuesday鈥檚 high-stakes presidential race, relies heavily on federal funding, and Trump has called for cuts to federal agencies.
Democrats have other concerns, including Trump鈥檚 plans for mass deportations, which officials say would tear families apart and deliver a blow to businesses already struggling to find employees in the state.
鈥淚 won鈥檛 sugarcoat it,鈥� U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich said in a statement.
鈥淭he return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House presents incredible challenges for New Mexico, and we must take those threats seriously,鈥� he said.
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury echoed the sentiment, saying Project 2025, a plan by the conservative Heritage Foundation to radically change the U.S. government, offers a preview of what a second term will look like, including the dismantling of federal agencies and retribution against Trump鈥檚 political opponents.
The plans include eliminating federal jobs, which Stansbury said will have far-ranging consequences for New Mexico because the federal government is one of the state鈥檚 largest employers.
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fern谩ndez said the consequences of the presidential election are 鈥減articularly disastrous鈥� for New Mexico. For example, she said, Democrats have been successfully fighting a Farm Bill in Congress that would cut $30 billion from nutrition programs.
鈥淲ith a Trump presidency, they will cut that funding,鈥� she said.
State Senate Republicans elect Sharer as minority leader 鈥� Santa Fe New Mexican, 九色网 News
New Mexico鈥檚 state Senate Republicans picked a new boss last week.
Sen. Bill Sharer of Farmington will be the chamber鈥檚 new minority leader, replacing Greg Baca of Belen who did not run for reelection.
Sharer has served in the roundhouse since 2001, and is known for his filibusters.
He says he鈥檚 honored to be chosen, and that he鈥檒l 鈥渦sher in an era of unity and conservative principles to the Senate Republican caucus.鈥�
He made clear his thoughts on how Democrats have run the Legislature lately, saying New Mexicans are over-taxed and that the state has been run into the ground, according to the New Mexican.
Senate Majority leader Peter Wirth, a Democrat from Santa Fe, says he鈥檚 looking forward to working with Sharer as they 鈥渉ave a good relationship.鈥�
Republicans also elected Pat Woods, who represents Broadview, as minority whip, and David Gallegos, of Eunice, as caucus chair.
Gallegos says the caucus will focus on attracting 鈥渢raditional hispanic voters鈥� who are 鈥渃onservative and pro-family鈥� into their party, and on border issues and immigration.
New Mexico considers ban on forever chemicals in oil and gas operations 鈥� By Austin Fisher,
New Mexico environmental regulators will consider new rules this week that would require companies to disclose what chemicals they use in oil and gas operations, and prohibit them from using so-called 鈥渇orever chemicals鈥� that can harm human health.
The state will hold a four-day hearing that runs from Tuesday through Friday to consider establishing banning PFAS in oil and gas operations, and mandating full disclosure of the chemicals companies use. The commission will be accepting public comments on the proposed rules.
PFAS 鈥� which stands for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances 鈥� are synthetic chemicals used in everything from industrial processes to household products. They are frequently described as 鈥渇orever chemicals鈥� since some don鈥檛 degrade naturally.
One cause of concern linked to PFAS in New Mexico is oil and gas production.
The state of toxic wastewater from oil and gas drilling and fracking, which the industry calls 鈥�.鈥� The U.S. Geological Survey in 2021 PFAS in water samples from the Pecos River and produced water samples from the Permian Basin.
In anticipation of the hearing, climate activist groups on Oct. 21 delivered more than 4,700 public comments which urged Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to build on her to address PFAS contamination by supporting the proposed rule.
PFAS can be harmful in many ways, said Dr. Robert Bernstein, a medical doctor and president of the New Mexico chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility.
They can raise cholesterol, disrupt thyroid function, cause liver and kidney problems, reduce the body鈥檚 ability to fight infections by interfering with the immune system, increase risk of birth defects, and cause cancer, he said.
It is unclear when the commission will decide on the rule.
Arbitration hearing continues over whether state has failed to improve CYFD - Albuquerque Journal, 九色网 News
An unusual hearing began last week in Albuquerque focusing on whether the state has failed to comply with a settlement agreement designed to improve the lives of children and youth in state custody.
that back in 2018, a federal lawsuit was filed against the Children, Youth and Family Services Department and the then-state Human Services Department on behalf of 14 foster children in New Mexico.
They were joined by Disability Rights New Mexico and the Native American Disability Law Center in alleging the state鈥檚 鈥渂roken system of child welfare鈥� was violating the rights of children in its care. The lawsuit demanded systemic changes.
By 2020, plaintiffs dismissed the lawsuit 鈥� referred to as the 鈥淜evin S.鈥� case 鈥� after reaching a final agreement with the state.
But implementation of the reforms has faltered, especially with a recent increase in the number of kids taken into custody and high staff turnover.
There has been a memorandum of understanding between the parties; mediation to try to resolve disputes; and now, arbitration that could lead to the arbitrator finding the state has breached the agreement.
Last week, attorneys for the plaintiffs argued it's time for the state to be held accountable for the lack of progress. A lawyer representing the state said there have been good faith efforts to comply with goals, which he described as aspirational.
The proceedings are set to continue this week.