Stuff you need to know, 2.23.24
Today's intelligence from state and/or national reporting: Measures to clarify and strengthen New Mexico's anti-corruption statute were among the legislation that died in the recently concluded Roundhouse session.
Read MoreStuff you need to know, 2.23.24
Upcoming Kingston/Hillsboro Events
A schedule of upcoming free Kingston / Hillsboro events has been released.
Money flows from Staten Island to Sierra County to buy property with help from tax deferments
PreReal Investments of Staten Island is buying and fixing up properties around Williamsburg, Truth or Consequences and Elephant Butte with help from a tax-deferment program little used in New Mexico.
T or C’s legislative request for $20 million in emergency waterline repairs—the engineering plan
I submitted an IPRA for the engineering document that relates to the city's legislative request last year and this year. Finally, I received a relevant document this year; only three pages long, but enlightening.
City commissioners claim they don’t have the electric-sale studies
“You can fool all of the people some of time; you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time.” Attributed to Abraham Lincoln in The New York Times, August 27, 1887.
Read ballot language carefully before you vote “for” or “against” the $4.5-million bond issue
What the city commission and chief of police say and what the ballot language says differs. And whether the people can afford to pay for emergency and long-term repairs to the water infrastructure, as well as pay for a "public safety building" has never been asked or answered.
Stuff you need to know, 2.19.24
Today's intelligence from state and/or national reporting: a roundup of the bills that passed or died during the recently concluded session of the New Mexico Legislature. Plus: a searchable list of the 360 local projects that made it through the legislature and into the 2024 state budget sent to the governor
T or C City Commission approves $4.8 M three-year bond debt for water project
The city received a $7.5-million grant/loan from USDA for a water project, but it comes with interim-financing requirements that are complicated and expensive. The USDA waits until after construction is completed before it gives the grant or loan. The grant is for $2.7 million and the loan for $4.8 million.
Stuff you need to know, 2.14.24
Today's intelligence from state and/or national reporting: New Mexico's record-setting 2025 budget has passed both legislative chambers with provisions to prevent future disruptive cuts. It is now on its way to the governor's desk to be signed or modified by line-item vetoes.
MeTeORiC Event in TorC February 23 – 25
The MeTteORiC art event returns to TorC on the last weekend in February after a pandemic hiatus. Here's the full weekend line-up.
Stuff you need to know, 2.13.24
Today's intelligence from state and/or national reporting: a critique of New Mexico's 50-Year Water Action Plan and legislative complications facing the governor's proposed Strategic Water Supply
Stuff you need to know, 2.12.24
Today's intelligence from state and/or national reporting: for those who want "in the weeds" details about bills and issues under consideration by the New Mexico Legislature. Part 8 of this series lays out the ongoing debate among legislators about the kind of alcohol taxes needed to reduce consumption in a state with worst-in-the-nation rates of alcohol-related deaths.