Stuff you need to know, 5.12.23
Today's intelligence: cautiously optimistic predictions of the impact of the end of Title 42 on New Mexico's Mesilla Valley
Category Analyses
Truth or Consequences city commission approves massive draft budget—$51 million
City commissioners breezed through budget talks scheduled for two days but cut to one day. Nevertheless, its an insane amount of money to be spent for a city with a population of 6,042.
Stuff you need to know, 5.4.23
Today's intelligence: Can New Mexico's new bill granting the state permitting control over nuclear waste storage facilities survive a court challenge from the federal government? What will it take to get the feds to clean up a water pollution problem at Kirtland Air Force Base?
Municipal Court’s elimination approved by NM Supreme Court
A check and balance on the TorC city commission and city staff is erased with the elimination of the municipal court. The people's and Judge Beatrice Sanders's voice were quashed in the process.
Stuff you need to know, 5.1.23
Today's intelligence: Last spring's Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon disaster has exposed the shortcomings of FEMA's response to wildfires.
T or C city commission passes a general obligation bond ordinance far scarier than it needs to be
As the Wizard of Oz said when Toto revealed him pulling levers behind the scenes, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain." The public hearing on the general obligation bonds was just theater, the decisions made beforehand and behind closed doors.
Stuff you need to know, 4.14.23
Today's intelligence: how last year's wildfires have imperiled many of New Mexico's acequias, including 30 identified as harmed in the southwest region of the state
Stuff you need to know, 3.29.23
In a country that prides itself on scientific excellence and innovation, and spends an incredible amount of money on health care, why does the American populace on average keep dying at younger and younger ages?
T or C $20-million request for emergency water-system repairs goes nowhere
The city asked the legislature and governor for a bail out without acknowledging how its water system got in such bad shape. The dire state of the water system was not reason enough to fund the request.
Stuff you need to know, 3.23.23
Today's intelligence: an airing of all sides of the Forest Road 40E closure controversy; and a CNN video report on "drought profiteers"
Stuff you need to know, 3.19.23
Today's intelligence: overviews from both sides of the aisle of the New Mexico legislative session that wrapped yesterday
Anti-gay, anti-abortion movement hits Sierra County
The Republican Party of Sierra County is hoping that you will believe that protecting LGBTQ persons' rights and women's and girl's rights to seek or not to seek an abortion are somehow an impingement of parents' and conscientious-objectors' rights. It's confusing, which is the point.