On Friday, August 26, in a late afternoon and what amounts to a “sneaky announcement” to ensure little media attention, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller announced he vetoed the Albuquerque City Council legislation that placed a moratorium on “Safe Outdoor Spaces.”  

Keller argued in his veto message that the city cannot afford to limit its options for addressing homelessness and said he understood how new policies sometimes take time to refine after testing.  Keller wrote in part in his veto message:

“We need every tool at our disposal to confront the unhoused crisis and we need to be willing to act courageously. … However, reasonable time, testing and piloting has not been allowed”.

The link to the quoted news source article is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2527750/new-keller-veto-aims-to-save-safe-outdoor-spaces.html

“Safe Outdoor Spaces” are defined in the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) as an organized, managed homeless encampments with 40 designated spaces for tents that allows for upwards of 50 people, require hand washing stations, toilets and showers, requires a management plan, 6 foot fencing and social services offered. According to the IDO, there are no prohibitions for charitable organization and churches to place Safe Outdoor Space tent encampments on their properties.

According to the Family, Community Services web site a “Safe Outdoor Space” is a lot, or a portion of a lot, developed to provide designated spaces for occupancy by tents, recreational vehicles, and/or light vehicles. Designated spaces are provided to occupants at no charge. A safe outdoor space offers social services and support facilities.

https://www.cabq.gov/family/services/homeless-services/about-homeless-services#encampments

OVERIDE OF VETO

It was on Monday, August 15, the City Council passed the moratorium on a 6 to 3 vote that bars the City Planning Department from accepting or approving any pending applications for “Safe Outdoor Spaces”. Before passing the moratorium, the City Council amended the bill to ensure that the moratorium stopped the City Planning Department from approving any “pending” applications and to add language stopping the city from authorizing any “Safe Outdoor Space” on city property.  Under the legislation, a complete moratorium was to be in effect until August 1, 2023, unless the City Council enacts a separate bill removing them totally from the zoning code.

The vote was bipartisan. Voting YES for the moratorium where Republicans Brook Bassam Renee Grout, Trudy Jones, and Dan Lewis who were joined by Democrats Klarissa Peña and Louie Sanchez. Voting “NO” on the moratorium were Democrats Isaac Benton, Pat Davis and Tammy Fiebelcorn.

The vetoed legislation can be overridden by the City Council. The earliest meeting the council can act to override the veto is at its September 7 meeting.  The city council needs 6 votes to override the veto.   If the 6 councilors who originally passed the moratorium (Bassan, Renee Grout, Trudy Jones, Dan Lewis, Klarissa Peña and Louie Sanchez) remain in support, they will override Keller’s veto.

EIGHT APPEALS FILED ON THE ONE APPLICATION APPROVED

On August 8, before the council’s August 15 moratorium vote, the City Planning Department approved the Dawn Legacy Point application for a Safe Outdoor Space homeless campsite at 1250 Menaul, NE which will be used by  woman who have been “victims of sex trafficking”.   The City Planning Department unilaterally reviewed the application behind closed doors with no notice to surrounding businesses or neighborhood associations, no public hearing and no public input. The application was “fast tracked” by the Planning Department to approve the application just 8 days before the City Council was scheduled to repeal the Safe Outdoor Spaces zoning use on August 16.

Less than a half mile from the vacant land and within walking distance from the property is Menaul School, a private boarding school for 6th to 12th graders. Directly across the street from the property is the T-Mobile Call Center and a Quality Inn & Suites. Going West on Menaul and one block from the property is Carrington College and two apartment complexes. Immediately East of the Freeway is the massive TA Travel Truck Stop on University that can accommodate parking of upwards of 150 semitrucks. Within law enforcement circles, the truck stop is known for prostitution and illicit drug activity. Immediate south of the truck stop on University Blvd is the Crown Plaza Hotel.

The vacant land borders   Sunset Memorial Park to the West.  It has been reported that workers daily patrol the cemetery grounds, monitoring the activity of homeless people who have taken to lounging in the various meditative shelters provided for grieving families. The homeless are known to use the various fountains throughout the park to wash themselves or use the fountains as a toilet, despite there being an easy-to-find portable toilets located at the northeast end of the park.

https://www.abqjournal.com/2523606/cemeteries-lament-bathing-camps-on-grounds.htm

As of August 26, eight separate appeals of the Dawn Legacy Point Safe Outdoor Spaces homeless tent encampment have been filed asking the City Planning Department to reverse its decision and deny the Safe Outdoor Space application of Dawn Legacy for 1250 Menaul. Appeals have been filed by the following parties:

1. Martineztown Santa Barbara Neighborhood Association
2. Menaul Middle School
3. Life Roots
4. Reuele Sun Corporation, a participant in the Menaul Redevelopment Area
5. Crown Plaza Hotel, a participant in the Menaul Redevelopment Area
6. T-Mobil Cell Phone Call Center
7. Sunset Memorial Cemetery
8. Greater Albuquerque Hotel and Lodging Association

OTHER APPLICATIONS PENDING

According to the Planning Department’s website, there are other organizations that have safe outdoor space applications pending with the city. As of Friday. August 26,  proposals for 512 Wheeler SE and 715 Candelaria NE were marked as “under review. ”

Three more applications are classified as “awaiting review” by the Planning Department and those locations listed are:

5915 Bluewater NW

2626 Arizona, NE

2401 University SE

Four of the 5 pending locations are church properties, with 715 Candelaria site being private property according to county property records.

The link to the city web site listing the applications is here:

https://cabq.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/768cc1b5e4404fa1a28db56c2019ee71

CITY’S HOUSING FIRST POLICY

The Keller Administration has adopted a housing first policy when it comes to dealing with the homeless crisis. The city has made a huge financial commitment to help homeless or near homeless.

This past fiscal year 2021 ending June 10, 2021, the Family and Community Services Department and the Keller Administration have spent upwards of $40 Million to benefit the homeless or near homeless. The 2021 adopted city budget for Family and Community Services Department provides for emergency shelter contracts totaling $5,688,094, affordable housing and community contracts totaling $22,531,752, homeless support services contracts totaling $3,384,212, mental health contracts totaling $4,329,452, and substance abuse contracts for counseling contracts totaling $2,586,302.

The link to the 2021-2022 city approved budget is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/documents/fy22-approved-budget-numbered-w-hyperlinks-final.pdf

Mayor Keller’s 2022-2023 approved budget significantly increases the Family and Community Services budget by $24,353,064 to assist the homeless or near homeless by going from $35,145,851 to $59,498,915.

The 2022-2023 proposed budget for the Department of Community Services is $72.4 million and it will have 335 full time employees, or an increase of 22 full time employees.

A breakdown of the amounts to help the homeless and those in need of housing assistance is as follows:

$42,598,361 total for affordable housing and community contracts with a major emphasis on permanent housing for chronically homeless. It is $24,353,064 more than last year.

$6,025,544 total for emergency shelter contracts (Budget page 102.), down $396,354 from last year.

$3,773,860 total for mental health contracts (Budget page105.), down $604,244 from last year.

$4,282,794 total homeless support services, up $658,581 from last year.

$2,818,356 total substance abuse contracts for counseling (Budget page 106.), up by $288,680 from last year.

The link to the 2022-2023 budget it here:

https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/documents/fy23-proposed-final-web-version.pdf

The 2022-2023 adopted city contains $4 million in recurring funding and $2 million in one-time funding for supportive housing programs in the City’s Housing First model and $24 million in Emergency Rental Assistance from the federal government.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

With his veto and veto message, Mayor Tim Keller is essentially saying “Let the public be damned, I know what I want and what’s best for my city”. Keller no doubt thinks he is acting courageously, but what he is doing is ignoring the wishes of city residents as he tries to unilaterally enact city council policy and infringe on the preview of the city council all the while as he spends upwards of $60 million a year to deal with the homeless.   With his veto, Keller ignores that the moratorium, as well as pending repeal legislation, is a direct result of severe public backlash and outcry by city residents and neighborhood associations that refuse to support Safe Outdoor Spaces.

It was Mayor Tim Keller who in his Apri 1 proposed city buget, which was approved by the city council, that initially came up with the “Safe Outdoor Spaces” concept when he included and received city council approval of $950,000 in his 2022-2023 budget for establishment and development of the city sanction tent encampments. For Keller to say now that “reasonable time, testing and piloting has not been allowed” is ludicrous and just false seeing as his Family and Community Services Department has been working behind the scenes and behind closed for over a year to get them up and running.

Albuquerque City Counselor Brook Bassan, who initially supported Safe Outdoor Spaces but the reversed herself because of constituent backlash, said it best when she cited public outcry as a major factor in her own backtracking and said this:

“Working to allow these safe outdoor spaces to happen is saying that we do not pay attention to the majority of Albuquerque residents who are saying they don’t want these and they don’t need them because we need to come up with a different solution, whatever that may look like.”

The millions being spent each year by the city to deal with the homeless with the “housing first” policy should be more than sufficient to deal with housing the homeless, yet Keller demands and want more from the public.  Safe Outdoor spaces encampments violates the city’s “housing first” policy by not providing a form of permanent housing and with reliance on temporary housing.

Safe Outdoor Spaces are not the answer to the homeless crisis. “Safe Outdoor Spaces” will be a disaster for the city as a whole. They will destroy neighborhoods, make the city a magnet for the homeless and destroy the city’s efforts to manage the homeless through housing.

The homeless crisis will not be solved by the city, but it can and must be managed. Safe Outdoor Spaces represent a very temporary place to pitch a tent, relieve oneself, bathe and sleep at night with rules that will not likely be followed. The answer is to provide the support services, including food and permanent lodging, and mental health care needed to allow the homeless to turn their lives around, become productive self-sufficient citizens and no longer dependent on relatives or others.

With his veto of the Safe Outdoor Space moratorium, Mayor Keller has lost credibility and public trust because of his stubbornness.  What Mayor Tim Keller has done is to try and cram Safe Outdoor Spaces down the throats of the City Council who are the policy makers as well as the community as a whole to promote his own political agenda.

Mayor Tim Keller has mishandled the homeless crisis, including the closing of Coronado Park. Safe Outdoor Spaces and Coronado Park are Mayor Keller’s symbols and legacy of failure as the city deals the most the city’s most vulnerable population, the homeless.

The public needs to make their opinions known and tell the city council to override Mayor Keller’s Veto on September 7.

The email addresses and phone numbers to contact each City Councilor and the Director of Counsel services are as follows:

CITY COUNCIL PHONE: (505) 768-3100

EMAIL ADDRESSES

lesanchez@cabq.gov
louiesanchez@allstate.com
ibenton@cabq.gov
kpena@cabq.gov
bbassan@cabq.gov
danlewis@cabq.gov
LEWISABQ@GMAIL.COM
patdavis@cabq.gov
tfiebelkorn@cabq.gov
trudyjones@cabq.gov
rgrout@cabq.gov
cmelendrez@cabq.gov

On July 30, Dawn Legacy Point filed the first application ever for a ‘Safe Outdoor Space’ homeless encampment. The homeless encampment is intended to provide accommodations for upwards of 50 women who are homeless and who are “sex-trafficking victims” and other vulnerable populations.  The homeless encampment is  to be located on vacant land at 1250 Menaul Blvd, NE which consists of two large parcels of property owned by the city with an assess value of $4, 333,55.

On August 8, the City Planning Department approved the Dawn Legacy Point application for a Safe Outdoor Space homeless campsite at 1250 Menaul, NE for.   The City Planning Department unilaterally reviewed the application behind closed doors with no notice to surrounding businesses or neighborhood associations, no public hearing and no public input. The application was “fast tracked” by the Planning Department to approve the application just 8 days before the City Council was scheduled to repeal the Safe Outdoor Spaces zoning use on August 16.

Less than a half mile from the vacant land and within walking distance from the property is Menaul School, a private boarding school for 6th to 12th graders. Directly across the street from the property is the T-Mobile Call Center and a Quality Inn & Suites. Going West on Menaul and one block from the property is Carrington College and two apartment complexes. Immediately East of the Freeway is the massive TA Travel Truck Stop on University that can accommodate parking of upwards of 150 semitrucks. Within law enforcement circles, the truck stop is known for prostitution and illicit drug activity. Immediate south of the truck stop on University Blvd is the Crown Plaza Hotel.

The vacant land borders   Sunset Memorial Park to the West.  It has been reported that workers daily patrol the cemetery grounds, monitoring the activity of homeless people who have taken to lounging in the various meditative shelters provided for grieving families. The homeless are known to use the various fountains throughout the park to wash themselves or use the fountains as a toilet, despite there being an easy-to-find portable toilets located at the northeast end of the park.

https://www.abqjournal.com/2523606/cemeteries-lament-bathing-camps-on-grounds.htm

8 APPEALS FILED

The following parties have been identified as filing, or in the process of filing, appeals of the Dawn Legacy Point Safe Outdoor Spaces homeless tent encampment, asking the City Planning Department to reverse its decision and deny the Safe Outdoor Space application of Dawn Legacy for 1250 Menaul:

1. Martineztown Santa Barbara Neighborhood Association
2. Menaul Middle School
3. Life Roots
4. Reuele Sun Corporation, a participant in the Menaul Redevelopment Area
5. Crown Plaza Hotel, a participant in the Menaul Redevelopment Area
6. T-Mobil Cell Phone Call Center
7. Sunset Memorial Cemetery
8. Greater Albuquerque Hotel and Lodging Association

DAWN LEGACY SAFE OUTDOOR SPACE APPLICATION SERIOUSLY DEFECTIVE

During the June 6, 2022 City Council meeting that approved the Safe Outdoor Space amendment to the Independent Development Ordinance (IDO), and amendment was offered and approved that prohibits sex offenders from being allowed to be tenants and the use of any Safe Outdoor Space.  The amendment also requires a 24 hour, 7 day a week on site security/administration at Safe Outdoor Space encampments.

The adopted amendment to the Integrated Development ordinance provides as follows:

“4-3(C)(9)(g) Each Safe Outdoor Space shall include a management plan or security agreement to ensure the safety of individuals occupying the designated spaces. Proof of the plan or agreement shall be required with the application for a Safe Outdoor Space. The plan or agreement shall indicate on-site support on a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week basis.  The management plan shall, at a minimum, include the following: i. No person who is a registered sex offender shall be allowed to stay in a Safe Outdoor.”  

The City of Las Cruces operates a Safe Outdoor Space encampment known as Camp Hope. Camp Hope has adopted and implemented registration forms, intake forms and promulgated extensive rules and regulations for tenants, including a security plan for its use. The Las Cruces Camp Hope rules and regulations allow sex offenders to use Safe Outdoor Space encampment so long as they registered with the Sherriff and notify schools within a mile of the encampment.

It was on August 8 that Dawn Legacy application was approved for the Safe Outdoor space.  The Dawn Legacy application attaches to it as its own adopted rules and regulations those used by the City of Las Cruces Camp Hope to operate the Dawn Legacy Safe Outdoor Spaces at 1250 Menaul, NE, thereby allowing it for use by registered sex offender.   The Dawn Legacy applications is rendered defective given that it has failed to provide rules and regulations and has failed to provide a 24/7 management plan or security agreement that is specifically tailored to the 1250 Menaul, NE encampment.

LOOPHOLE APPLICATION PERIOD AND MORITORIUM ENACTED

It was on June 6, the Albuquerque City Council enacted upwards of 100 amendments updating the Integrated Development Ordinance. The legislation passed on a 5 to 4. One of the amendments was for city sanctioned homeless encampments called “Safe Outdoor “Spaces”.

“Safe outdoor spaces” will permit 2 homeless encampments in all 9 city council disitricts with 40 designated spaces for tents, they will allow upwards of 50 people, require hand washing stations, toilets and showers, require a management plan, 6-foot fencing and social services offered. Although the Integrated Development Ordinance amendment sets a limit of two in each of the city’s 9 council districts, the cap would not apply to those hosted by religious institutions.

On June 22, just a few weeks after the Safe Outdoor Space amendment was passed, two bills were introduce, one to stop the city from accepting or approving safe outdoor space applications and the other will eliminate “safe outdoor spaces” from the zoning code altogether.

During the June 22 meeting the council did not act on the 2 bills and failed to enact the legislation that was to provide for rules and regulations promulgated by the Keller Administration for “Safe Outdoor Spaces”. June 22 was the last meeting of the City Council before it went on “summer break” until August 1.

The city council’s failure on June 22 to take any action on either the bills stopping the application process or repealing the land use resolution resulted in “Safe Outdoor Spaces” becoming a permissible land use on July 28. This allowed a very short time period of 3 weeks to allow individuals and organizations to apply for Safe Outdoor Spaces.

Any Safe Outdoor Space application the city approved could move forward because the land use locks in at the time of a completed application. Complicating matters and making things even worse for the city council is that Mayor Tim Keller out maneuvered the city council and refused to issue a suspension or moratorium on the applications to give the City Council time to reconsider and repeal the Safe Outdoor Space IDO Amendment.

CITY COUNCIL ENACTS MORITORIUM

On Monday, August 15, the Albuquerque City Council passed on a 6 to 3 vote a moratorium that bars the City Planning Department from accepting or approving any pending applications for Safe Outdoor Spaces. Under the legislation, a complete moratorium is in effect until August 1, 2023, unless the City Council enacts a separate bill removing them totally from the zoning code.

Before passing the moratorium legislation, the City Council amended the bill to ensure that the moratorium stopped the City Planning Department from approving any “pending” applications and to add language stopping the city from authorizing any “Safe Outdoor Space” on city property.  The prohibition to stop the city from authorizing “Safe Outdoor Spaces” on city own property was likely in reaction in part to the City Planning Department approving a Safe Outdoor Space Homeless campsite application made by Dawn Legacy Point to be located at 1250 Menaul Blvd, NE.

The tent encampment is to be located on two parcels of city own open space lots at 1250 Menaul, NE. The city sanctioned encampment is intended to provide accommodations for “sex-trafficking victims” and other vulnerable populations.

Still pending before the city council is another resolution that will totally eliminate and prohibit “Safe Outdoor Spaces” from the Integrated Development Ordinance altogether. The City Council will likely vote on the legislation eliminating or prohibiting Safe Outdoor Spaces from the IDO within a month to 6 weeks.

Under the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO), appeals of zoning application approvals must be filed within 15 days from when an application is approved and the dealine for filing an appeal was  within 30 days of filing of the appeal, the city must hold on the appeal.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

This entire sordid mess involving the Dawn Legacy application approval amounts to nothing more than “LET THE PUBLIC BE DAMNED” by the Keller Administration.   It is a very sad commentary when at least 8 appeals have been generated for appellants to jump through loopholes to appeal a decision by the City Planning Department.  Sources have also confirmed that the Planning Department resisted taking the appeal filings and went so far as telling applicants they did not have the proper forms or did not have standing to appeal.

There is no getting around it. What the Planning Department did does not pass the smell test. The Dawn Legacy application approval was as sneaky and underhanded as it gets. The planning Department decided it had the authority to simply grant the application before the City Council votes to repeal Safe Outdoor Spaces on August 15.

With acquiescence from Mayor Tim Keller, the Planning Department approved the Safe Outdoor Space on city owned property valued at $4,333,500 to be operated by Dawn Legacy Point and subsidized by the City to house women in tents who are victims of “sex trafficking and exploitation”. It is something that progressive Democrat Keller should be absolutely ashamed of with “sex trafficking and exploitation” victims being housed in tents as a housing solution thereby being exploited again by denying them proper housing.

What is being created at 1205 Menaul, NE is a location for victims to become victims once again. The actual location is troubling and has the potential of becoming a magnet for crime, prostitution or illicit drug trade. It’s located in close proximity to a truck stop known amongst law enforcement for prostitution and illicit drug activity.

It’s directly across the street from a major call center, a motel suite and is walking distance of Menaul Boarding School and apartments. Occupants of the ‘Safe Outdoor Space’ are obviously not confined and would be free to go and come as they pleased and could easily wind up uninvited wherever they want to go. This includes the truck stop and disrupting the peaceful use and enjoyment at nearby locations or engaging in illicit activity.

Safe Outdoor Spaces are not the answer to the homeless crisis. “Safe Outdoor Spaces” will be a disaster for the city as a whole. They will destroy neighborhoods, make the city a magnet for the homeless and destroy the city’s efforts to manage the homeless through housing.

The homeless crisis will not be solved by the city, but it can and must be managed. Safe Outdoor Spaces represent a very temporary place to pitch a tent, relieve oneself, bathe and sleep at night with rules that will not likely be followed. The answer is to provide the support services, including food and permanent lodging, and mental health care needed to allow the homeless to turn their lives around, become productive self-sufficient citizens and no longer dependent on relatives or others.

Mayor Keller has lost credibility and public trust.  What Mayor Tim Keller has done is to cram Safe Outdoor Spaces down the throats of surrounding property owners. Mayor Tim Keller has mishandled the homeless crisis, including the closing of Coronado Park. Safe Outdoor Spaces and Coronado Park are Mayor Keller’s symbols and legacy of failure as the city deals the most vulnerable homeless population, female victims of “sex-trafficking”.

On August 8, KRQ News did a story about a residential property in Four Hills where neighbors are dealing with a trashed-out property and some proclaiming they have a nightmare neighbor.  Below is the unedited news story followed by the link:

“People living in a quiet Four Hills neighborhood are dealing with what some call a nightmare neighbor. The house is barely visible, and the front yard is filled with furniture, appliances, and trash.

The mess is four years in the making. Neighbors said not only is the house unsightly, but it’s also a huge safety risk.

“I see it getting much worse unless the city steps in immediately,” said one neighbor.

The house is in the Four Hills neighborhood. At the house, you can barely see it. It’s covered by couches, bookcases, construction material, and toppled basketball hoops.

“It’s been ongoing for about four years now, and the owner, she brings things home just on a daily basis,” that neighbor said, “It’s oddball things. It’s tires. It’s refrigerators. It’s pallets. It’s basketball hoops. It’s, you name it, she brings it home.”

The City of Albuquerque explained that they’ve received 25 calls about the home so far this year. When KRQE visited the house Wednesday, a city vehicle showed up. An employee got out, walked toward the home, but realized there was no clear path, and left.

The owner of the house is listed as Jessica Rhiger. According to court records, she was charged with a zoning violation for the mess in April, failed to show up to court, and a warrant was issued for her arrest. Neighbors said the house is dangerous and are calling on the city for help.

“It’s a dangerous situation. I truly feel that it is. I would like the city to step in as soon as possible, like I said before, this home catches on fire and takes out a neighborhood.”

KRQE asked the city what their next step is, but they did not give any details. The homeowner does not have a criminal record other than DWI.”

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/complaints-stack-up-about-messy-dangerous-four-hills-property/

 COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

It’s disgusting to see stories like this about residential homes that are trashed out by homeowners and who violate city codes, ordinances and nuisance laws and the city gives  the neighborhood excuses saying it cannot do much, which is a lie and it has not always been the case.

From 2002 to 2009, the Safe City Strike Force was created to combat blighted, nuisance residential and commercial properties.  Deputy City Attorney Pete Dinelli was the Director of the Strike Force and oversaw a team of 30 to 40 representatives from the City Attorney, the APD code teams, Fire Department and Fire Marshal’s Office, the Planning Department code inspectors, the Family Community Services and DA’s Office.

Together, the Strike Force took enforcement action against 75 to one 150 properties a week, mainly residential properties.  Over 8 years, the Safe City Strike Force took civil enforcement action against some 7,500 properties, both commercial and residential properties.

Mayor Tim Keller dismantled and defunded the Safe City Strike Forced 5 years ago saying it did not fit into his “ONE ALBUQUERQUE” philosophy and slogan. Keller replaced the Strike Safe City Strike Force with a very watered-down program that is a low key “conciliatory approach” dealing with substandard properties and property owners and slum lords.  Experience shows that “conciliatory approach” with slum lords and irresponsible property owners who do not want to spend the time, money nor want to make any effort to take care of their properties simply does not work.

No thanks Mayor Keller for being more concerned about public relations, imagery and slogans and not clean and safe neighborhoods.

“A Stronger New Mexico”, a political action committee linked to the Democratic Governors Association, released a TV ad which asserts Republican candidate for Governor Mark Ronchetti “opposed a woman’s right to control her own body ‘at all stages’ and praised” the U.S. Supreme Court “for giving that power over women to politicians like him.” The ad claims “governors get power over abortion rights” with Roe v. Wade overturned.

The TV ad also links Ronchetti to a 2020 endorsement for US Senate from “National Right to Life”, the nation’s largest anti-abortion group, when it says “Extremists who’d outlaw abortion even in cases of rape and incest said he’s their choice for New Mexico, which makes Ronchetti the wrong choice for governor.”

In response to the “A Stronger New Mexico” TV ad, Ronchetti  released his own rebuttal TV ad on abortion. The ad is entitled “You Deserve the Truth”. It has Ronchetti sitting on a leather couch, ostensibly in his home, wearing an open collar shirt and blue gens, as he speaks directly into the camera and “over articulating” his words, as he tends to do, and exposing his TV weatherman “bleached” white teeth. Ronchetti says this in the ad:

“You deserve to know where candidates stand and not be scared by false ads. … The governor supports abortion up to birth. … That’s extreme. … I’m personally pro-life, but I believe we can all come together on a policy that reflects our shared values. … We can end late-term abortion while protecting access to contraception and health care.”

The on-screen graphics say first that Governor Lujan Grisham  supports abortion “up to moment of birth” and that she made New Mexico the “late-term abortion capital of U.S.” The ad goes on to say Ronchetti proposes banning abortion after 15 weeks of gestation, with exceptions for rape, incest, and to preserve the life of the mother.”

MARK RONCHETTI MAKES CONFESSSION IN PRIVATE TO LEGACY CHURCH PASTOR STEVE SMOTHERMMON

On Sunday, July 10, the very conservative Republican pastor Reverend Steven Smothermon of Legacy Church during his Sunday church service, exposed Mark Ronchetti’s new moderate stand as nothing more than ruse to get elected. Ronchetti’s new stance on abortion is approving abortion for up to 15 weeks of pregnancy and in cases involving rape, incest and when a mother’s life is at risk. This is what Smothermon preached and said from his pulpit:

I know Mark Ronchetti came out, and some people are very upset, because he said I think [abortion] is reasonable up to 15 weeks. . . I know a lot of us got mad. I did too. I had a long talk with him for hours. I said, dude right out of the gate you blew it and he said here’s what I was trying to do. I know what you were trying to do but you didn’t do it and here’s what he said.

He said, ‘listen, I just want to start with getting rid of partial birth abortion in the whole state’–which we should be happy with–and he said ‘but I can’t just go in and do it 100 percent because we won’t ever get elected.’ He said I just want to start but his goal would be to end abortion in New Mexico. Just so you know.

How do I know that? Because I talked to him for hours and I said I won’t support anybody that believes in killing a baby ever. I don’t care how much you are right on other issues. That one issue is enough for me because if you don’t believe in life, something’s wrong.

The full video of the Smothemon sermon can be viewed with comments on Ronchetti starting at 27:10.

https://subsplash.com/legacynm/media/mi/+d3rwjh2

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s campaign was quick to seize upon Smothermon’s revelations and called Ronchetti a liar who is trying to trick voters to get elected. Kendall Witmer, a spokeswoman for Lujan Grisham’s campaign had this to say:

[“Ronchetti is] dangerous for women who depend on abortion health care. The rights of women to make decisions about their own bodies in New Mexico depends on reelecting Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.”

“Lujan Grisham told CNN  New Mexico doesn’t have any restrictions on abortion, which she supports. There are no restrictions, she told CNN’s Jake Tapper, because “this is a privacy right and a personal decision between a woman and her doctor, and to interfere in any of these medical decisions creates … unknown, untold reductions in civil liberties for any number of individuals, including women’s access to contraceptives.”

The link to the quoted news source material is here:

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-ad-by-pac-hits-ronchetti-on-abortion/article_33ffe662-01f2-11ed-917e-237f98db4b09.html

In 2021, in anticipation of Roe v. Wade being overturned, Governor Lujan Grisham worked and lobbied the New Mexico legislature to repeal the state’s 1969 criminal law that made abortion a crime so that the state law could not become enforceable. In June, Lujan Grisham issued an executive order aimed at protecting patients and providers from lawsuits and arrest warrants filed in other states.

A HIDEOUS ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL GUEST COLUMN

On Sunday, July 31, the Albuquerque Journal ran a guest column that was a hideous, inflammatory attack on New Mexico, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, the New Mexico Legislature and all of its citizens who support a woman’s right to choose and a woman’s reproductive rights. The guest column was written by Stephan Helgesen who says he is a retired career U.S. diplomat who now resides in Tijeras, New Mexico.  According to the Journal biographical foot note, Helgeson has lived and worked in 30 countries for 25 years and is the author of 12 books and has written more than 1,200 articles on politics, economics and social trends.

Following is the full, unedited column with link to  the Albuquerque Journal:

HEADLINE: New Mexico has become the land of disposable life

BY STEPHAN HELGESEN / TIJERAS RESIDENT
PUBLISHED: SUNDAY, JULY 31ST, 2022 AT 12:02AM 

“Get ready my fellow New Mexicans, your state is soon to become the abortion equivalent of the ubiquitous 7-Eleven convenience store thanks to a progressive governor and a doctrinaire Democratic Legislature that care more for living voters than womb-bound future ones.

Tough words admittedly, but it’s time we all took the gloves off and stopped hiding behind a sense of fair play or giving the left the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their real attitudes toward human life. Truth is, their actions show they care more about protecting their ideology than protecting innocent life.

This whole “reproductive health care argument” and a “woman’s right to choose” is just a smoke screen for a self-centered egotistical bias toward women who don’t want to suffer the inconvenience of bearing a child. While I’m willing to admit there are instances when an abortion can be morally justified – in cases of rape and incest and when there is a real and present danger to the health of the mother – those instances are few and far between the millions of abortions that occur every year in the USA.

It pains me to say it, but we have become a nation of blame-shifters. “It was his fault that I got pregnant!” “Of course I knew what a missed menstrual period means, but I knew that I could always get an abortion if I was pregnant, so no big deal.”

Now that the Supreme Court has reversed the Roe versus Wade decision of 1973, we will soon see if our states will also avoid their responsibility to protect human life, or, as with the recent easing of marijuana laws, they will see dollar signs in the continuance or expansion of their abortion industry.

New Mexico will probably become a one-stop shop for out-of-state expectant mothers. “Come to New Mexico. Bienvenidos. End your pregnancy here in just 24 hours and use the rest of your time to see our glorious Land of Enchantment. See the sights. Taste our culture that celebrates life in all its forms.”

What hypocrisy. The native peoples of New Mexico have always revered life. Elizabeth Terrill wrote a piece for the Navajo Times in which she said, “As a Native American woman, I know this (that life is sacred and begins at conception) to be true at a fundamental level. It has taken centuries for our Native peoples to be afforded the human rights that all people deserve by their very nature.

Precisely because of our history of being discarded and disdained, we have an obligation to stand for those who are today being denied the rights that we have fought so hard to obtain.”

How did our state go from one that respected and revered indigenous people’s cultural and religious beliefs about the sanctity of life to an abortion sanctuary state? The answer is simple – politics, simply politics.

A true-blue state, New Mexico has sold its morals for 30 pieces of silver and the prospect of being viewed as progressive rather than a state steeped in traditional values. Human life is expendable. Women must have the sovereign right to decide who lives and who dies, and the state has the responsibility to uphold those new moral rights. That’s basically what Senate Bill 10 passed in the 2021 legislative session says.

Given the laws being passed in neighboring states limiting abortions, we are bound to see an influx of abortion tourism. This will please the pro-abortion zealots, but it will really please organizations like Planned Parenthood that stand to do a land office business.

Abortion gold has been found in them thar hills. At a time when the left is steadfastly protecting the lives of (undocumented) immigrants pouring into our country it strikes me as paradoxical that we are willing to sever the lifelines of the innocent and vulnerable unborn. Is this the new New Mexico True? If so, count me out.”

RESPOND TO HIDEOUS COLUMN

After reading the inflammatory Helgeson guest column, this author was  compelled to respond directly to Stephan Helgesen as well contact the Albuquerque Journal editors to question why the column was published in the first place  given the inflammatory and many falsehoods contained in the guest column.

Following is the email exchange that ensued:

Date: 8/2/22  From Pete Dinelli, To  Stephan Helgesen, Subject: Helgeson Trash talking; Albuquerque Journal guest column

“ Mr. Helgeson

I read your opinion column published by the Albuquerque Journal on Sunday,  July 31 with the link here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2520412/new-mexico-has-become-the-land-of-disposable-life.html

Why the Albuquerque Journal editors would even publish it is astonishing given how offensive it was to the State, which is the reason for me sending this email  to the Journal editors.

Your column  is replete with  rhetoric and downright lies that you are trying to pawn off as legitimate  commentary.  It  really amounts  to nothing more than offensive, inflammatory rhetoric, including the following:

“Get ready my fellow New Mexicans, your state is soon to become the abortion equivalent of the ubiquitous 7-Eleven convenience store thanks to a progressive governor and a doctrinaire Democratic Legislature that care more for living voters than womb-bound future ones.”

…

“This whole “reproductive health care argument” and a “woman’s right to choose” is just a smoke screen for a self-centered egotistical bias toward women who don’t want to suffer the inconvenience of bearing a child.”

…

“While I’m willing to admit there are instances when an abortion can be morally justified – in cases of rape and incest and when there is a real and present danger to the health of the mother – those instances are few and far between the millions of abortions that occur every year in the USA.”

…

“… we have become a nation of blame-shifters. “It was his fault that I got pregnant!” “Of course I knew what a missed menstrual period means, but I knew that I could always get an abortion if I was pregnant, so no big deal.”

…

“New Mexico will probably become a one-stop shop for out-of-state expectant mothers.”

…

“Come to New Mexico. Bienvenidos.  End your pregnancy here in just 24 hours and use the rest of your time to see our glorious Land of Enchantment. See the sights. Taste our culture that celebrates life in all its forms.”

…

“A true-blue state, New Mexico has sold its morals for 30 pieces of silver and the prospect of being viewed as progressive rather than a state steeped in traditional values. Human life is expendable. Women must have the sovereign right to decide who lives and who dies, and the state has the responsibility to uphold those new moral rights.”

…

“Abortion gold has been found in them thar hills. At a time when the left is steadfastly protecting the lives of (undocumented) immigrants pouring into our country it strikes me as paradoxical that we are willing to sever the lifelines of the innocent and vulnerable unborn. Is this the new New Mexico True? If so, count me out.”

TRASH TALKING COLUMN

For a man who is supposedly a retired career U.S. diplomat and who has lived and worked in 30 countries for 25 years, author of 12 books and has written more than 1,200 articles on politics, economics and social trends, your column reflects that of an obscene right-wing fascist who has no tolerance for Democrats, no tolerance for human rights, no tolerance for civil rights and especially no tolerance for constitutional rights of woman. You even managed to bring up your dislike or undocumented immigrants in your column on abortion.

Your column amounts to nothing more than trash talking of a state that you show an absolute ignorance and disdain for including the people who have lived here all of their lives and dealing with all of its problems.   You sound like so many of those who move to the state and then proceed to try and save us from ourselves.  We do not need saving from people that are the likes of you who are intolerant.

At the end of your column you say “Is this the new New Mexico True? If so, count me out.”  I would like to take you up on that and ask that you count yourself out and  move to Texas, Mississippi  or Florida, or perhaps  even  Afghanistan or Iran where woman have no rights and treated as chattel,  and  where you and your right-wing ideology will fit in just fine. Just think, if you were to move to Afghanistan you could offer your diplomatic skills to the Taliban.”

Date: 8/3/22:   From Stephan Helgesen;  To: Pete Dinelli;  Subject: RE: Helgeson Trash talking Albuquerque; Journal guest column

Interesting response. It is precisely what I expected from someone like you.

Stephan.

Date: 8/3/22:  From: Pdinelli;  To: Stephan Helgesen;  Subject: RE: Helgeson Trash talking Albuquerque; Journal guest column

Thanks for agreeing with my assessment of you and what you stand for and not taking issue with it.

Date: 8/3/2022: Subject:  Helgeson Trash talking Albuquerque Journal guest column; From: Stephan Helgesen;  To: P Dinelli

“Are you kidding! I know you and have followed your failed political career over the years and dismiss you and your far-out opinions. I have nothing but pity for you and the far-left looney characters that you align yourself with.  But, since I am a Christian and see life as sacred I will pray for yours along with all the aborted babies that negligent mothers have destroyed since Roe versus Wade in 1973 (62 million in case you didn’t know it).”

Stephan

Date: 8/3/2022:  Subject: Clownish, right wing Pseudo Christian; From: P Dinelli; To:   Stephan Helgesen

Mr. Helgeson:

Failed political career?  Now that’s rich and clownish coming from a right-wing fool such as yourself.   You have not lived in New Mexico long enough to know me nor who I am.  Otherwise, you would know practicing law has been my career for 42 years and not politics.  This includes   being a successful prosecutor for 15 years with high conviction rates, having my own successful  law firm, being an elected city councilor, being a judge, and being Chief Deputy District Attorney,  Deputy City Attorney and Chief Public Safety Officer.

You on the other hand really have nothing to show for  as a failed diplomat, otherwise you probably would open that big mouth of yours and tell the whole  world  what you actually accomplished during your 25 years globetrotting.  Instead, you embellish your credentials.  The only “far out opinions” and looney characters are  pseudo-Christians such as yourself who I will never have pity for. You’re such a hypocrite when you say “life is sacred” and then say in your Journal column you have no problem with exceptions for rape and incest.  There are no exceptions for Christians such as Pastor Steve Smothermon.

Please look in a mirror so you can see what a real loser looks like.

Date:  8/4/2022:  Subject:   Re: Clownish, right-wing pseudo christian; From: Stephan Helgesen; To:  PDinelli

The last word is yours. Go in peace.

Stephan

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

There are many who believe what is published in the Albuquerque Journal as guest commentary should be simply ignored.  Still others believe that no one reads the Albuquerque Journal and so why even bother challenging anything the paper publishes in its editorial sections.  Such beliefs are misplaced, short sighted and are dangerous. Political propaganda, such as what Stephan Helgesen wrote, that goes unchallenged is viewed as the truth by too many who are just plain lazy to seek the truth.

Way too many believe that our first amendment right of free speech does not have any limitations and that one is allowed to just simply lie and distort facts and that it is somehow protected free speech.  Our former President Donald Trump is one such person who believes lying is “free speech” as he promotes the big lie that he won the election in 2020.   It led to a January 6, 2021 attempted coup to overthrow our democracy. Michelle Obama famously said, “when they go low, we must go high” but that only gets you so far.  Lies and extremism must be dealt with and challenged aggressively and assuredly, otherwise they will be accepted as the truth by those unwilling to even try and find out what the truth really is.

Discourse as reflected in the Journal Helgesen guest column that promotes intolerance, promotes hate and distrust of others, and that denigrates women and seeks to deny basic civil rights and human rights and a woman’s right to choose and to have control over her own health care decisions must be challenged in no uncertain terms, even if only published in the Albuquerque Journal.

There is absolutely no doubt that the July 31 inflammatory Albuquerque Journal Stephen Helgeson guest column combined with the outing of Republican Mark Ronchetti’s and his intention to ban all abortions are clear evidence of what New Mexico Republicans are really up to when it comes to abortion and woman’s reproductive rights.

A Mark Ronchetti ad blasts the Governor saying she lied about his record to defund the police saying it’s dangerous when a Governor lies.  Failing to disclose is lying.  Ronchetti can proclaim all he wants that he supports a “reasonable approach” to abortion when the truth is Ronchetti confessed behind closed doors that there is absolutely “nothing reasonable” about what he wants and what he will advocate for if he is elected.  The truth is Mark Ronchetti lied to the public about his intent to destroy a woman’s reproductive rights in order to get elected.

Woman’s rights are under siege by the right-wing New Mexico Republican Trump Party and the Trump US Supreme Court.  Make no mistake, a woman’s right to choose and their reproductive rights in New Mexico are on the 2022 ballot in the form of the Governor’s race.

Behind the bleached teeth, phony grin of TV personality Mark Ronchetti is a dark and sinister political agenda to destroy a woman’s reproductive rights to the point that his campaign lapel pin might as well be a coat hanger.

August 19, 2022, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (DWS) released an Economic Update on the state’s unemployment rates.  Highlights of the report are as follows:

New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in July, down from 4.9 percent in June and down from 7.0 percent in the previous year. The national unemployment rate in July was 3.5 percent, down from 3.6 percent in June and down from 5.7 percent in July 2021.

Total nonagricultural payroll employment grew by 31,700 jobs, or 3.9 percent, between July 2021 and July 2022. The majority of gains came from the private sector, which was up 31,500 jobs, or 4.9 percent. The public sector was up 200 jobs, or 0.1 percent. Most private sector gains were in the private service-providing industries, which were up 21,400 jobs, or 3.9 percent, while the goods-producing industries were up 10,100 jobs, representing an increase of 10.6 percent.

Within the goods-producing industries, mining and construction employment rose by 8,000 jobs, or 11.8 percent. The majority of gains were within the construction industry, which grew by 6,700 jobs, or 13.7%.  Mining employment was up 1,300 jobs, or 6.9 percent, over the year.

Manufacturing was up 2,100 jobs, or 7.6%. Within manufacturing, durable goods manufacturing employment was up 1,400 jobs, or 9.2%, over the year.  Non-durable goods manufacturing was up 700 jobs, or 5.6%.

Within the private service providing industries, trade, transportation, and utilities was up 2,400 jobs, or 1.8%. Within this industry, retail trade was up 1,800 jobs, or 2.0%; transportation, warehousing, and utilities was up 800 jobs, or 3.2%; and wholesale trade was down 200 jobs, or 1.0%.

Professional and business services was up 5,400 jobs or 4.9%.

Education and health services was up 5,100 jobs, or 3.8%. Within the industry, educational services was up 4,300 jobs, or 26.7%, and health care and social assistance was up 800 jobs, or 0.7%.

Leisure and hospitality experienced a gain of 10,200 jobs, or 10.9%, compared to the previous year, while miscellaneous other services was up 200 jobs, or 0.7%.

Employment in information and financial activities declined from July 2021; information was down 800 jobs, or 7.3 percent, while financial activities was down 1,100 jobs, or 3.3%.

Within the public sector, state government was up 1,000 jobs, or 2.0 percent. Within state government employment, state government education added 1,400 jobs, representing an increase of 7.7%.

State government excluding education was down 400 jobs, or 1.3 percent. Federal government was down 200 jobs, or 0.7%, from last year’s level.

Employment in local government was down 600 jobs, or 0.7%. Within local government, local government education was down 1,100 jobs, or 2.6%, and local government excluding education employment increased by 500, or 1.0%, from last year.

The link to the Department of Workforce Solution report is here:

https://www.jobs.state.nm.us/vosnet/gsipub/documentView.aspx?enc=JdKtFhuODzQ+aO5C6MuCGQ==#:~:text=New%20Mexico%27s%20seasonally%20adjusted%20unemployment,5.7%20percent%20in%20July%202021.DI

DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

The August 19   Department of Workforce Solutions (DWS) reported that New Mexico’s unemployment dropped to the lowest it has been since September 2008.  The DWS  reported that the unemployment rate for the state in July stood at 4.5%, a drop from 4.9% in June of this year and a year-over-year decrease from 7% from July 2021.  This is the second month in a row the unemployment rate has come in below 5% this year.

Even with the unemployment rate dropping, there is still a need for more workers across all industries.  According to DWS, online job postings have soared over the past year. State records show that more than 23,000 new jobs were advertised online in New Mexico than the same time last year.

The largest gains in employment came in the goods-producing sector.   It  saw an increase of more than 10,000 jobs year over year.   The construction industry saw an increase of 13.7%, or about 6,700 jobs, since the same time last year.  Professional and business services  saw an increase of 5,400 jobs.  The Department of Workforce Solutions  report showed Bernalillo County’s unemployment standing at 4.2% in July.  Santa Fe County had an unemployment rate of 4.1% and Doña Ana had a rate of 5%.

New Mexico’s employment levels have grown since plunging in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the states   4.9% unemployment rate for June was the nation’s highest, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s unemployment trails nearly all other states across the country.  New Mexico’s unemployment rate is tied with Alaska.   Only the District of Columbia has a higher rate of unemployment.

According to state Taxation and Revenue Department data, while  national employment has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, the state is about 10,000 jobs short of reaching its total workforce of 861,200 residents that existed in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic.

STATE STRUGLES WITH EMPLOYMENT SHORTAGES

Despite the reduction in unemployment rates, the state is struggling with a low workforce participation rate which is the measurement of working-aged adults that are participating in the labor force and who are looking for a job.  According to the Department of Workforce solutions (DWS), there is a need for more workers across all industries.  The DWS says it has been focusing on the issue by setting up programs funded largely by federal dollars and creating a template for outreach to non-working New Mexicans.

INDSUTRIES NEEDING FAR MORE WORKERS

According to the Department of Workforce Solutions report, industries where there is a major need for more workers include the construction industry, the health care industry, the manufacturing industry and government.   The Manufacturing industry saw an increase of 2,100 jobs needing to be filled within the last full year. Professional and business services  saw an increase of 5,400 jobs needing to be filled.

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Jim Garcia, the Executive Director for the Associated Contractors of New Mexico, said there is a need for increases in the construction industry.   Garcia noted that jobs in the construction industry typically start at $20 an hour.  The construction industry is looking to market higher paying jobs benefits to prospective job seekers. Garcia said this:

“We could use 5,000 more employees tomorrow. … There’s a heavy need for it now and we’re going to be an attractive future for a lot of people. …  Essentially, we became a good place to work. … It could be a lot of things, but, you know, you don’t have to have a degree to get in our industry and make a lot of money.”

THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY

Janna Christopher, director of clinical recruitment for Presbyterian Healthcare Services, handles the hiring of registered nurses, physical therapists and other licensed clinicians. According to Christopher, the hospital has seen an overall decrease in the number of applications through her office.

The decrease in applicants is not limited to Presbyterian.   Health care providers across the state are struggling with hiring and retaining clinicians.  Many health care providers are simply leaving the state’s health care industry and leaving the state to go elsewhere to be paid more. A 2021 report from the New Mexico Health Care Workforce Committee showed the state needed about 6,223 more nurses to hit benchmarks for the state based on population.

Christopher said Presbyterian has shifted its focus on new graduates, investing in its nursing residency program “so that we can really fill that void.”

THE LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

The leisure and hospitality industry had the largest growth in employment by headcount of all industries across the state.  The leisure and hospitality industry saw substantial growth over the past year with 11,000.

Jim Long, the CEO of Heritage Hotels & Resorts Inc., which owns Sawmill Market, Hotel Chaco and a list of other resorts across New Mexico, said that the growth in the Leisure and Hospitality Industry is largely due to the industry recovering slower than others. His company has seen an increase of about 750 employees in the past year, and it is still hiring.  Long said this:

“I don’t see it … [as a] hiring frenzy as much as just getting back to normalcy.”

GOVERNMENT

According to the DWS report, state government employment is down with 400 jobs vacancies while local government employment is down by 600 jobs, or 0.7 percent.  Local government education employment is down 1,100 jobs, or 2.6 percent, and local government excluding education employment increased by 500, or 1.0 percent, from last year.

REACTION TO UNEMPLYMENT RATES

Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said the state’s lower unemployment rate is a win for the state. Grisham said this:

“We continue to see substantial job growth in nearly every sector, from hospitality and retail to construction and manufacturing. … As we continue to expand the state’s workforce by investing in free college and workforce training, creating more opportunities than ever for New Mexico families, our state’s economy is going to continue to improve.”

Belen Republican State Senator Greg Baca disagreed with the Governor’s positive assessment of the state’s low unemployment rate with Baca pointing to a University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research that predicts slower economic growth for the state compared to the national average. Baca said this:

“This is politics at its worst. … The real story here is that New Mexico has the highest unemployment rate of any state in the country, and according to analysts, we are currently on track to experience slower than national economic growth.”

Links to quoted sources are here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2525949/new-mexico-unemployment-rate-drops-to-45.html

JUNE 2022 DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS REPORT

The June 2022 New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions report on unemployment and job numbers are worth noting given the extent unemployment was reduced.

In June 2022, the Department of Workforce solutions reported the number of unemployed New Mexicans was 46,432, a decline of 32.5% or 22,393 people, from 2021. Since May 2020 when it peaked at 88,330, the number of unemployed has declined by almost half.  There are currently less unemployed New Mexicans than before the pandemic.

In June, New Mexico’s labor force saw an over-the-month increase of 0.1%, or 971 people. Since June 2021 the labor force grew by 5,779, or 0.6 percent. In June, New Mexico’s labor force saw an over-the-month increase of 0.1%, or 971 people. Since June 2021 the labor force grew by 5,779, or 0.6%.

Over the year, New Mexico’s total nonagricultural employment increased by 45,100 jobs, or 5.6 percent. Most of these gains were in the private sector, which was up 41,300 jobs, or 6.5 percent. The public sector was up 3,800 jobs, or 2.2%. Eight of the nine major private industry sectors reported employment increases over the year.

Leisure and hospitality reported a gain of 13,500 jobs, or 15.1%. Employment in mining and construction was up 8,300 jobs, or 12.7%. Most gains in mining and construction came from construction, which grew by 7,000 jobs, or 14.8%.

Mining employment was up 1,300 jobs, or 7.1%. Professional and business services employment expanded by 6,200 jobs, or 5.7%.

Employment in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was up 4,400 jobs, or 3.3%.  Within the industry, retail trade was up 2,600 jobs; transportation, warehousing, and was up 1,200 jobs; and wholesale trade was up 600 jobs.

Miscellaneous other services employment grew by 1,100 jobs, or 4.0%.

Manufacturing was up 2,400 jobs, or 8.8%, with the majority of jobs in durable goods manufacturing.

Education and Health Services was up 4,900 jobs, or 3.6%. The majority of gains within the industry were in education services.

Information Technology was up 500 jobs, or 5.3%.

Financial activities was unchanged from the rate in June 2021.

In the public sector, local government was up 3,000 jobs, or 3.3 percent. Employment in state government was up 1,100 jobs, or 2.2 percent.

The federal government reported a loss of 300 jobs in New Mexico, or 1.0 percent.

Over the year, the Albuquerque metro area grew by 16,200 jobs in total nonfarm employment, representing a gain of 4.3 percent.

The following is the breakdown in the private sector industries that  added jobs:

Leisure and hospitality:  up 5,500 jobs, a 13.9% increase

Trade, transportation, and utilities:  up 3,900 jobs, a 6.3% increase

Mining and construction employment: up 3,300 jobs, a 13.0% increase

Professional and business services:  up 1,700 jobs, a 2.8% increase

Manufacturing: up 1,000 jobs, a 6.2% increase

Information and Technology:  up 500 jobs, a 9.8% increase

Miscellaneous other services: up 400 jobs, a 3.5% increase

Education and Health Services: up 300 jobs, a 0.5% increase

Financial activities was unchanged from the previous year’s employment level.

Public sector, state government: up 200 jobs, a 0.8% increase

Federal government: down 400 jobs, a 2.7% decrease

Local government:  down 200 jobs, a 0.6% decrease

Links to Department of Workforce Solutions source materials are here:

Click to access LMR_2022_June.pdf

https://www.dws.state.nm.us 

https:// www.jobs.state.nm.us/analyzer.

DRAMATIC SPIKE IN STATE REVENUES

On August 16, during a meeting of the influential New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee held in Chama, New Mexico, legislators were told the state will have a staggering projected $2.5 billion in “new” money during the 2023 budget year that starts on July 1, 2023.  The total revenue is forecast is to rise from $9.2 billion in the fiscal year that just ended to nearly $10.9 billion for 2023.   The projections were reported by the LFC executive economists.

The LFC economists reported that the $2.5 money, which represents the difference between current spending levels and projected new revenue, is in addition to a projected budget surplus of nearly $3.8 billion for the current fiscal year and with upwards of $2.6 billion to go into the state’s early childhood trust fund.

The LFC economist report indicated New Mexico’s economy will experience slower than national economic growth in the near term but will have relatively faster growth in 2023.  The LFC economist report said the state’s economic outlook is tied to inflation, monetary policy, and other broader economic mechanisms as the national outlook.”

The projected $10.9 billion in revenue for the coming fiscal year will be more than double the $5.4 billion in revenue the state took in a little over a decade ago during the 2011 fiscal year.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

It’s truly pathetic how Republicans such as Republican State Senator Greg Baca refuse to acknowledge the leadership of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham when it comes to job creation and economic development. It is Republican fools like State Senator Greg Baca who “plays politics at its worse”  with his propaganda conveniently ignoring what happened for the full 8 years under the leadership of former Governor “She Whose Name Must Not Be Spoken”. 

Under the former Republican Governor’s watch for 8 years, and with the “lock step” loyalty of the likes of Senator Greg Baca, New Mexico’s unemployment rates reached the all-time record high of 7.8% and for a full 7 years of her 8-year term unemployment rates hovered at 7.8% and 6.1%.   Vacancies in state government spiked and reached all-time highs as she gutted state government and programs to balance the budget proclaiming as Republicans do that government was too big in order avoid any and all tax increases.  The Republican Governor destroyed the state’s Public Education System to the point that in a landmark court hearing, a judge declared at risk students were being deprived of the constitutional right to an education and the same Republican Governor gutted the State’s Mental Health Care system falsely claiming criminal by 15 mental health care providers with the Attorney General investigating and eventually absolving the 15 mental health care providers of all wrongdoing.

In 3 years and 6 months under the leadership of Lujan Grisham, the unemployment rate is now 4.5% and is going down even further, the education system is finally being funded as it should, the state’s mental health care system is being restored and economic development is surging.  Despite all the negativity espoused against Governor Mitchell Lujan Grisham by the Republican party and her weatherman Republican opponent, it is clear that the state is in fact pulling out of and is on the road to a full recovery of the effects of the pandemic.  The states revenues are up dramatically with the state experiencing record levels of income and the State’s unemployment rates are in fact making a dramatic decline to pre pandemic levels.

On August 16, during a meeting of the influential New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee held in Chama, New Mexico, legislators were told the state will have a staggering projected $2.5 billion in “new” money during the 2023 budget year that starts on July 1, 2023.  The total revenue is forecast is to rise from $9.2 billion in the fiscal year that just ended to nearly $10.9 billion for 2023.   The projections were reported by the LFC executive economists.

The LFC economists reported that the $2.5 money, which represents the difference between current spending levels and projected new revenue, is in addition to a projected budget surplus of nearly $3.8 billion for the current fiscal year and with upwards of $2.6 billion to go into the state’s early childhood trust fund.

The LFC economist report indicated New Mexico’s economy will experience slower than national economic growth in the near term but will have relatively faster growth in 2023.  The LFC economist report said the state’s economic outlook is tied to inflation, monetary policy, and other broader economic mechanisms as the national outlook.”

The projected $10.9 billion in revenue for the coming fiscal year will be more than double the $5.4 billion in revenue the state took in a little over a decade ago during the 2011 fiscal year.

WHAT’S DRIVING THE SURGE

According to the economic projections reported, the revenue flow is showing no signs of slowing down.  It is inflation related consumer spending, strong wage growth and increased oil production that is spiking the state’s revenue flows to historic heights.  The Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) chief economist Ismael Torres told the committee this:

“Consumer spending has remained strong, wage growth has been robust, and high oil and gas revenues are supported by global supply-side constraints raising prices and encouraging production expansion. … It’s remarkable to see New Mexico is the only state that has recovered to pre-pandemic levels [in oil production]”

What is driving the historic surge in surplus revenue is oil production in the state’s Permian Basin. Oil and gas revenue strength is pushing severance tax and federal royalty collections higher above their 5-year averages.  Upwards of two-thirds of the projected revenue growth for the fiscal year 2023-2024 budget year will come directly from oil and natural gas receipts.

Torres told the committee that New Mexico is projected to produce 590 million barrels of oil during the current budget year.  The state is becoming more and more reliant on oil and natural gas as a revenue source.  A whopping 35% of the state’s direct revenue comes from the oil and gas industry and it is up from 31% of all revenues during the fiscal year just ended.

While oil and gas is New Mexico’s biggest source of income, other sectors also are projected to flourish in the next fiscal year. Manufacturing is expected to grow 41%, and economists are forecasting a 27% increase in leisure and hospitality services.

LFC economists noted that inflation is driving up gross receipts tax collections as a result of rising costs for food, construction materials and other goods and services, as well as personal income taxes linked to higher wages.

SPENDING INCREASES

State spending has increased by about 30% over the past 3 years, with Governor Lujan Grisham signing off this year on a $8.5 billion state budget.  Lujan Grisham has increased spending dramatically over the last 3 years for public education, teacher pay raises, early childhood development programs, economic development programs, tax incentives, rebuilding the state’s mental health care system decimated by the previous Republican Governor, crime initiatives and law enforcement pay raises and tax rebates for state residents.

Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham who is seeking a second term sought to take credit for the record-high revenue levels and said this in a statement:

“The record-high revenues we are anticipating are no accident.   They are a direct result of responsible fiscal policy on the part of this administration and the healthy economic climate we are fostering.”

The spending growth drew sharp criticism from TV weatherman Republican Governor candidate Mark Ronchette who said he would push to use surplus funds for annual rebates and tax cuts if elected.

“ONCE-IN-A-CENTURY” OPPORTUNITY

The revenue surge could prompt a feeding frenzy in a state with high Medicaid enrollment levels, ageing roads and bridges, and a public school system that for years has been among the worst in the nation.

Gallup Democrat Senator George Muñoz called the revenues a “once-in-a-century” opportunity and said this

“If we want to really change, for once and for all, and keep our commitment to reducing tax rates, lowering the [gross receipts tax and] making New Mexico competitive with other states, this is one of the greatest opportunities we could have. … You can change the complete path of this state … Your phones are going to be ringing off the hook [with demands on how to use the new revenues].”

Senator Munoz proclaimed the spike in state revenues   could allow New Mexico to avert the big budget swings consisting of   cycles of spending growth followed by cuts that have plagued the State for at least the past decade if not longer.  Muñoz suggested $1 billion of the state’s additional revenue could be used to overhaul New Mexico’s tax code, even though such changes could have lasting budgetary impacts.

WORDS OF CAUTION

Despite the optimism expressed by Senator Muñoz, other committee lawmakers and top state budget officials expressed caution, saying the recent revenue growth will likely not be sustainable in the long term.  Finance and Administration Secretary Debbie Romero had this to say:

Finance and Administration Secretary Debbie Romero warned lawmakers that they will have to consider supply chain issues, a possible economic recession and volatility in the global energy market and the impact of the ongoing Ukraine conflict on energy markets as risks to the state’s revenue forecast.  Romero said this:

“I think the number one thing to be cautious about is growing our budgets.”

Gallup State Representative Patricia Lundstrom, the LFC’s chairwoman, said year-over-year spending growth should be kept in line with the state’s annual average over the past decade.

Links to quoted news sources are here:

https://www.sfreporter.com/news/morningword/2022/08/18/state-economists-forecast-25-billion-revenue-boom/

https://www.abqjournal.com/2525070/nm-revenue-explosion-continues-as-lawmakers-weigh-next-steps.html

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-mexico/articles/2022-08-18/oil-gas-revenues-to-drive-new-mexicos-next-budget-windfall

Oil, gas revenues drive New Mexico’s projected budget windfall (lcsun-news.com)

SEVERENCE TAX REVENUES UP

On August 20, Taxation & Revenue Secretary Stephanie Schardin Clarke in a news release reported that Severance tax revenues are projected to increase from $644 million in Fiscal Year 2022 to $987 million in Fiscal Year 2023, and increase of $343 Million. Federal and state rents and royalty revenues are projected to increase from $808 million in Fiscal Year 2022 to $1.01 billion in Fiscal Year 2023.

The improved revenue projection suggests total general fund reserves will increase to about 36.7% of recurring appropriations, or $2.73 billion, at the end of Fiscal Year 2022 and 44.8%, or $3.76 billion, at the end of Fiscal Year 2023.

In addition, Cannabis Excise Tax has an estimated general fund revenue of $22.7 million for Fiscal Year 2023 and revenue is forecasted to grow by about 10.6% per year

Finance And Administration, Taxation And Revenue Secretaries Report General Fund Revenue Outlook To New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee

LFC CAPITAL OUTLAY QUARTERLY REPORT

On August 19, 2022 Legislative Finance Committee released its report on the state capital outlay. It was reported that the state has nearly $4 Billion in outstanding capital funds that will be spent.

According to the report, strong state revenues and an influx of federal funds have contributed to historically large investments in capital projects at the same time supply chain, construction cost, and labor issues are slowing progress on the projects, contributing to outstanding balances of $3.8 billion across about 4,600 active projects.

The following key points are listed in the August LFC Capital Outlay Quarterly Report:

• “At the start of FY23, outstanding capital outlay funds totaled approximately $3.8 billion, including projects authorized by the Legislature through 2022 ($2.1 billion), earmark projects ($295.6 million), supplemental severance tax bonds for public schools ($539.2 million), and special appropriations to capital projects ($905.9 million). The last figure represents uncommitted and unspent funds from $977.4 million in special appropriations during the 2021 special and 2022 regular sessions.
• The Board of Finance split the severance tax bond sale for new projects into two issuances due to market conditions. Roughly $322.5 million was sold in June, with a second sale planned for September.
• Roughly 4,600 active projects are underway.
• Funds for state-owned projects have been spent more quickly than local project funds, with 56 percent of statewide appropriations through 2021 expended compared with 39 percent for local projects.
• Severance tax bonds are the primary source of outstanding balances, accounting for 65 percent of unexpended funds ($1.5 billion). Other major sources include general fund ($360.5 million) and general obligation bonds ($239.6 million).”

$823 MILLION IN THE 2022 CAPITAL BILL WAS ROUGHLY EVENLY SPLIT BETWEEN LOCAL AND STATEWIDE PROJECTS

“In Senate Bill 212, the 2022 Legislature appropriated $396.2 million to 79 statewide projects and $394.2 million to 1,147 local projects, with the local project funds distributed at the discretion of individual senators, representatives, and the governor.

Major statewide appropriations in the bill include

• $20 million for a Department of Public Safety administration building in Albuquerque, • $20 million for new small homes at the New Mexico Veterans’ Home,
• $20 million for a film academy, • $26 million for public safety radio communications infrastructure, and
• $75 million for maintenance and repair of public schools. Appropriations to local projects in 2022 fell into several major categories
• $87.2 million for water, wastewater, solid waste, and utilities projects; • $48.5 million for law enforcement and public safety projects;
• $46 million for highways, roads, and bridges;
• $35.2 million for parks and recreation projects; and
• $33.1 million for public school projects. Both the number and average dollar value of appropriations to local projects have increased since 2018, but it remains difficult to fully fund critical infrastructure with capital outlay.

The $394.2 million appropriated to local projects in 2022 represented a 563 percent increase over the $59.5 million that went to local projects in 2018. The increase in revenue has allowed lawmakers to fund more projects at higher amounts.

For instance, 222 water, wastewater, dam and acequia projects received capital outlay in 2022 compared with 86 in 2018, and the average value of those appropriations was 204 percent higher in 2022.

Nevertheless, most of those appropriations were likely insufficient to fully fund the projects. The average capital outlay appropriation to water projects was roughly $298 thousand in 2022.

 In comparison, the average project award from the Water Trust Board was $2.1 million.”

The link to the full August 19 LFC Capital Outlay Quarterly Report which list projects is here:

Click to access Capital%20Outlay%20Quarterly%20Report%20August%202022.pdf

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The upcoming 2023 New Mexico legislative session that begins January 17 is a 60-day session. The is no doubt the debate on how to spend the historic surpluses is now underway.  Job creation, economic development,  public education,  early childhood care development programs, the courts and law enforcement funding, funding for our behavioral health care system destroyed by the previous Republican Governor, major infrastructure needs such as road and bridge repair,  complete funding of the 222 water, wastewater, dam and acequia projects identified by the 2022 legislature, major capital outlay projects,  funding for  the courts and the criminal justice system, funding for the Public Employee Retirement funds to deal with underfunded liabilities and benefits  and tax reform will all be likely topics of discussion during the 2023 legislative session.

Indeed, the 2023 legislative session could very well turn out to be a “once in a century opportunity” to really solve many of the state’s problems that have plagued it for so many decades.