Thursday, July 13, 2023Dog Days Blogging; Thoughts On The Headlines, A Novel Mental Health Plan And Lovin' Las Cruces If MLG's administration can adopt a rule that requires manufacturers to ensure at least 43% of all cars and 15% to 20% of all trucks sold in New Mexico are electric models by the 2026 calendar year, why can't the administration set a goal to improve fourth grade reading scores (only 21 percent proficient) and math (only 19 percent proficient) scores? Isn't that just as important, if not more so? The US Senate on an 84-8 vote has confirmed Xochitl Torres Small as deputy secretary of the US Dept. of Agriculture. The former southern NM Democratic congresswoman is serious about public policy, not a chair warmer. She probably won't be running for the US House again but she has a political future in the state, if she wants one. You won't get busted anymore for using cannabis, but legal cannabis is somewhat of a big bust here--at least for many store owners. Promising it would launch an economic development boom, MLG and former Econ Sec. Keyes pushed mightily to get it approved by the Legislature. Over a year later the state is overrun with cannabis shops fighting to stay in business, the cartels are still underpricing the legal market and the econ development is nowhere in sight. SOTERIA HOUSE New Mexico's behavioral health system withered when the then Governor shut many facilities down making fraud charges that never held up. Today Dona Ana county psychologist Al Galvez writes of a plan he and others are formulating that they hope will spark more interest in Santa Fe: Mr. Monahan: As you know, our mental health system was badly hurt by Gov. Susana Martinez. We're still in the process of recovering from that blow. I'm part of a group that is working on creating a Soteria house in Dona Ana County. Soteria Las Cruces is a long-term (3 to 6 months) residential treatment for psychosis. It is a very effective treatment approach with full recovery rates of up to 60 percent of patients. That compares with a recovery rate of less than 20 percent with conventional treatment. Soteria Las Cruces is a "gamechanging strategy" in the strategic plan of the LC# 3 Local Behavioral Health Collaborative which is building the "ideal behavioral health system" in Dona Ana County. Psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia are devastating to patients and their families. They are impairing, scary, painful, troubling and costly to society. We want effective treatment for psychotic disorders in Dona Ana County.  Our strategy now is to get the BHSD to include it in its budgets for FY2025, 2026 and 2027. In order to do that we want to meet with Jackie Nielsen, Interim Director of BHSD. BHSD gave us $50,000 (appropriated by Rep. Ferrary from her "Junior" money) to develop a business plan. We have completed the plan and sent it to her. We now want to talk with her about implementation. I am a psychologist in Dona Ana County. Our group includes Rep. Ferrary; ex-Senate Leader Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen; Mary Martinez White, one of the developers of drug courts in New Mexico; Rose Garcia, Executive Director of the Tierra del Sol Housing Corporation; Paul Dulin, former head of the Border Health Authority; and Carol Kane, supporter of the Oxford Houses in Dona Ana County. Again, wanting you to know about what we're doing here. Thanks for the rundown, Al. Interesting program and we don't see why interim Director Nielsen would not find it the same at a meeting with the Soteria group. LOVIN' LAS CRUCES  In a small desert city, despite our growth no tall buildings block our clear sight of natural elements such as the course of the sun and moon and the naked shapes of the mountains. We humans are all intruders in a precious natural world that will long outlive us, even though we’re fast fouling its livability. Deer may visit your home, in some areas. Those vast skies are huge paintings. Our occasional rainstorms not only revive our desert but are compelling light shows. Dry arroyos flood.
Life feels more elemental than in larger cities or milder climates. I like it here. Wherever you are in the Land of Enchantment this summer, we hope you are likin' it there. And if you're not here, what are you waiting for? Reporting from ABQ, I'm Joe Monahan This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023 Wednesday, July 12, 2023Heinrich's Money Move; Reports $2.8 Million In Cash After April Fund-Raising Quarter As GOP Looks For A Warm Body To Take Him On, Also: Green Hydrogen Is The Good Hydrogen? It's anticipated that the Republicans will come with a warm body to challenge Democratic US Senator Martin Heinrich as he seeks a third six year term in '24. But the odds of a major challenge continue to recede as Heinrich reports he raised $1.5 million in the second quarter and now has cash on hand of $2.8 million. OpenSecrets reports Heinrich's campaign committee raised $8.552 million for his last election in 2018 and spent $7.959 million. New Mexico's blue state status is keeping Republicans off the field but there is grumbling in the GOP that Heinrich does not deserve "a pass" and the GOP needs to step up. Inside Elections in DC ranks the Heinrich seat "solid Democratic" and that's not helping the recruitment effort. In 2018 when he faced Republican Mick Rich and independent Gary Johnson Heinrich won with 54.1 percent, right on the mark for Dem performance in a statewide race. The backbreaker for the R's was Bernalillo County where Heinrich, 51, won by 40,000 votes in the three way race. His statewide victory margin was 57,000. That's a big BernCo math problem for even a strong R thus there is no national targeting of the contest. Heinrich is now toying with a Governor run in '26, which would be unprecedented. Any money he has leftover from the '24 race could be used to fund his gubernatorial ambitions. That was established when Republican US Rep. Steve Pearce won a federal court case that allowed him to transfer $1 million of his congressional funds to his Guv campaign. He lost to MLG in 2018. Heinrich has never been wildly popular in his congressional career, which dates back to 2009, but he has been a reliable performer for the Dems. In fact, he has never lost a political race since first getting elected to the ABQ City Council in 2003. FIRST LOSS? Heinrich's first loss does not seem likely to come in 2024 but longtime analyst Greg Payne offers a scenario where Heinrich could finally find out what losing feels like: If Heinrich runs for Governor in 2026 I could see him losing the Democratic preprimary convention—where candidates are placed on the June primary ballot—to Sec. of Interior Deb Haaland--if she were in the race. Those conventions are dominated by hardcore progressives who tend to favor Haaland. But Heinrich would still win a spot on the ballot and then could turn around and win the actual primary and nomination. Haaland has struggled in the early going while Heinrich continues to gear up. Heinrich's latest FEC report is not yet posted. Here is his first quarter report and here is his May 4 re-election announcement. And here is his statement regarding his second quarter fund-raising: New Mexicans deserve a leader in Washington who is all in on delivering a better future for our people and our state. I could not be more grateful to have the support of hardworking families across New Mexico, and I am proud to continue the fight together to champion the issues that matter most — from expanding access to quality health care and education, creating a clean energy future, growing our economy, and building a strong middle class. GREEN HYDROGEN  It seems to me that a more nuanced perspective than you obtained from the coalition of groups quoted in your 15 June blog is needed. While it is true that hydrogen produced from natural gas should not be supported because the process emits greenhouse gases, hydrogen produced from water by electrolysis (so-called green hydrogen) does not produce greenhouse gases (in particular, carbon dioxide). While it is also true that green hydrogen is not a very efficient source of energy, so that it would not be economically competitive with energy produced by solar or wind, I believe that the environmental community considers it a potential backup source for electricity when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow. Green hydrogen could be valuable for energy users that are difficult to electrify, such as long-range, heavy duty trucking and air transportation. Green hydrogen could also be a back-up source of energy when long-term, weather-related outages of sunshine and wind occur. An added consideration is that, during peak production of solar and or wind when most of our electricity is supplied by those sources, the electricity produced sometimes will exceed the demand. (This is already happening in California.) Currently, that excess energy is simply discarded. Thus, it would be essentially free to capture that excess energy by producing green hydrogen. CLEAN-UP In the first draft of the Tuesday blog City Council District 6 candidate Jeff Hoehn was identified as a Republican and Nichole Rogers was identified as an attorney. Hoehn is a Democrat. Rogers is a business consultant. Candiate Joseph Pitluck Aguirre was identified as a Republican. He was an R until February then switched to independent. And the City Council is controlled by the Dems 5-4 since the last election, not 6 to 3. Punishment for these infractions is five lashes (not ten) with a wet noodle. They shall be self-administered. Have a nice day. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023 Tuesday, July 11, 20232,4, 6, 8 Who Do Voters Appreciate? ABQ Council Candidates In Four Districts At The Starting Gate For November Election; Deadline To Qualify For Public Financing Passes; Clear Frontrunners Emerge In Most Contests The City Clerk is expected to release final numbers this week but we know enough to get to the action with the help of our in-the know-Alligators as well as a Dem political consultant. District 2--This primarily North Valley, Downtown and South Broadway district is being vacated by longtime Dem Councilor Ike Benton, but his departure isn't setting up any surprises. Joaquin Baca, a member of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, got in early and has qualified for $40,000 in public financing. He has been the front-runner since the start with PERA board member and writer Loretta Naranjo Lopez trying to slow him. But she failed in her bid for public financing, no outside groups are expected to come in for her and Dem Baca, a progressive like Benton, appears headed for a big November win in what was a two way race as of Tuesday night. Moises Gonzalez final petition count was unknown but last Friday he was far behind the number needed to qualify. District 4--City Councilor Brook Bassan gave her supporters a scare when she had to backtrack over her initial support of the proposal to set up encampments for the homeless around the city. Her fellow Republicans in the GOP leaning district went into an uproar but her subsequent mea culpa has been accepted and she drew no Republican challenger. She submitted the needed 500 petition signatures and also qualified for $42,600 in public financing for her campaign. While Bassan is favored for re-election, it's not without a possibly potent Democratic challenger. Dem consultant Sisto Abeyta explains: Joe, Abby Foster is an attorney who is a Dem progressive and is the other hopeful on the ballot. She did not seek public financing for her campaign, but she might receive outside financial support from independent progressive committees. That would put her in a position to run a respectable effort but history favors Bassan. She weathered the backlash over the encampments and is a favorite of GOP establishment voters in this NE Heights district who traditionally control the outcome.
Abel Otero, a barber and community activist in the SE Heights District that is the most progressive of all nine council districts, is off to a flying start. He easily qualified for the ballot as well as public financing of $40,000. But he has three other Dems on his tail--community activist Kristin Greene, business consultant Nichole Rogers and Jeff Hoehn, a nonprofit executive who did not seek public financing. We're awaiting word from the City Clerk on whether Green and Rogers, who both appear to have qualified for the ballot, will also qualify for public financing. If Rogers, an influencer in the Black community, does not get the public money, she might not be knocked out because, like Abby Foster in District 4, she could attract independent progressive cash. But Green will need the public financing to be a factor in November. There is also an independent in the race, dentist Joseph Pitluck Aguirre, who will be on the ballot and is not seeking public financing. Abeyta's analysis: No candidate will likely get the 50 percent of the vote to win outright in November and there will be a run-off between the top two. Based on his campaign thus far, Otero appears to be the leader in making that run-off. Rogers got in late and it hurt her and Green has been out organized. The barber has run a razor sharp effort. Nice pun there, Sisto. We would add that Otero is being handled by consultant Brandon Padilla who formerly worked for Mayor Keller. Otero is colorful candidate--literally. He sports a plethora of tattoos. He has been calling for better crime fighting in the District where the Gateway Center for the homeless and the closing of a large Wal-Mart will also be campaign issues. In the first draft Hoehn was identified as a Republican and Pitluck Aguirre as a Republican. Aguirre recently switched to independent.  As things stand the analysts and Alligators see no change in the 5 to 4 Democratic make up of ABQ City Council after the November vote. But the new council can be expected to be more feisty with second term Mayor Keller. He has already indicated he will be seeking a third term in 2025, despite anemic approval ratings. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023 Monday, July 10, 2023Haaland In Damage Control; Heinrich Basking As Pair Dominate Future Guv Talk
Heinrich has brushed off such speculation but has not shot it down. Surprisingly, no reporter has asked Haaland if she is entertaining a run, even though numerous associates of the former ABQ congresswoman have confirmed to us that she is interested. While Heinrich is waltzing to his Senate re-election with still no announced Republican opponent, Sec. of Interior Haaland has suffered political damage for some of her decisions with the important progressive wing of the state Democratic Party of which she has long been a darling. And the nation's first Native American interior chief is also taking flack from her own, witnessed by the protest at the Four Corners by Navajo's upset over Haaland's decision to expand the area of a drilling moratorium around historic Chaco Canyon park. Media posts showed protesters yelling “Go Home!” (at Haaland) as some held signs that read no trespassing on allottee land. Its been one thing after another for the Secretary: What gets conserved and how is at the root of a few thorny projects Haaland must navigate, from the Willow project to a drilling moratorium around. . .Chaco Canyon, and now protests by Native American tribes over a proposed lithium mine in Nevada. “There isn’t a one-size-fits-all for any of these things,” she said. “We have to take each one individually and find the best solution that we can.” Native American tribes are not always pleased with the outcome, she acknowledged. “Every tribe, I think, is different. Their opportunities are different. Their lifestyles are different and it’s up to us to make sure that we get them to the table to tell us what’s important to them,” she said. “... And we do our best, as I said, to balance whatever the project is — using the science, using the law.” Haaland explained herself at an in-person interview with the AP set at her ABQ home--not in DC. That matters because even though the story went national clearly New Mexico and her political future is on her mind. Sidebar: Native American tribes, especially those with gambling, have been important to Haaland's past political fundraising. HEINRICH BASKING
Handing out money for better internet, more electrification and weatherizing homes is not going to make any enemies. The visit showcased Heinrich as well as Landrieu whose boss will be on the same ticket with Heinrich next year when they seek re-election. Heinrich: One of the biggest places where we can move the needle on pollution is what we do in our homes and businesses and buildings. We’re going to be able to take this incredible model and supercharge it with the money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act Yep. Quite the easy lay up compared to Haaland's woes. But the worm will be turning round and round with these two in the years ahead. The bottom line? Haaland and Heinrich are sucking up a lot of the oxygen in the room. Even though that '26 primary is nearly three years away, unless something extraordinary happens a safe bet is that one of them will be the next Dem nominee for Governor and in turn probably the next Governor.
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E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023 |
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