2019: A Year of Opportunity
2019 New Mexico Legislative Session
January 15 - March 17
For those of you new to the legislative process in New Mexico, there are a few things you should know. Our legislature is the lawmaking branch of the NM state government. It is made up of two bodies: the House of Representatives and the Senate. You can find out who your legislators are on this website. You can also log into your voter profile on the NM Secretary of State website here.
The Legislature meets in a "long session" every odd-numbered year. A long session is 60 days. Since 2019 is an odd-numbered year, we will have a 60 day session from January 15 to March 16, 2019. On even-numbered years, we hold a short, 30 day session, which is limited to fiscal matters, items specified by the Governor and bills passed in the previous session that were vetoed by the governor. This year we are expecting thousands of bills to be introduced given we have a new governor and a slate of new representatives and senators. Every legislator needs to hear from their constituents, AKA ALL OF YOU, this session. We must hold our legislators to their word and ensure that they are committed to good policy for our state and its residents. Below are a list of legislative advocacy trainings that will give you the resources and tools to speak and advocate for the issues you care about in the realm of social and environmental justice. 2019 will be a HUGE year to step up and speak out to enact change in our state.
There are a number of very important bills that have already been pre-filed at the NM State Legislature. Some include bills like the House Joint Resolution 1 would draw money at the rate of 1 percent per year from the state’s Land Grant Permanent Fund to support early childhood education programs & House Bill 84 which would ensure automatic registration of voters when they apply for a driver’s license or license renewal at the Motor Vehicle Department. Check out the rest in this recent article from the Santa Fe New Mexican! You can see all pre-filed bills here.
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TRAININGS FOR NEW MEXICANS
January 8-17
Sierra Club - Rio Grande Chapter Legislative Advocacy/lobbying training events
Gallup: January 8, 6-8pm, Work In Beauty House, 113 East Logan
Santa Fe: January 9, 6-8pm, Jaguar Road Library, 6599 Jaguar Drive
Silver City: January 9, 6:30-8:30 pm, WNMU Student Memorial Center, 3rd floor seminar room
Las Cruces: January 9, 6-8pm, SWEC, 275 North Downtown Mall
Aztec: Thursday, January 10, 6-8 pM The Step Back Inn, 123 W Aztec Blvd
Albuquerque: January 17, 6-8pm, St. Mark’s Episcopal, 431 Richmond Pl NE
Taos – Date and location TBA
Training description: The urgency couldn’t be greater. A deeply committed alliance of environmental, heath, community, and social justice organizations has come together in the effort to pass game-changing legislation for the health of our planet, now! Your advocacy during and leading up to the 2019 NM legislative session can make the difference between a genuinely progressive and effective environmental platform or more of the same. This is our chance to enact state-level protections that counteract those being stripped by the Trump administration.
Our alliance is developing advocacy teams to empower members and give our bold agenda the best chance of success. We will help you every step of the way so you are empowered, informed, and prepared to play a key role in championing climate, water, wildlife and land protection legislation.
The events are co-hosted by the following groups: 350 New Mexico, Adelante Progressive Caucus, Amigos Bravos, Climate Defenders New Mexico, Conservation Voters New Mexico, Defenders of Wildlife, Earth Care, Environment New Mexico, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Justice Team of Unitarian Universalist Church of Santa Fe, Gila Conservation Coalition, Gila Resources Information Project, Indivisible Nob Hill, New Energy Economy, New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, New Mexico Wild, NM Solar Energy Association, Sierra Club, SunPower by Positive Energy Solar, Union of Concerned Scientists, Vote Solar, Western Environmental Law Center, WildEarth Guardians
For more information and to RSVP click HERE
MONDAY JANUARY 21
Earth Care is hosting: MLK Day Gathering - Setting Our Policy Agenda - Let's do this!
Monday, January 21, 9:00-2:30 PM
New Mexico State Legislature, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Training description: TWe'll dig in to opportunities for public policy wins in the 2019 legislative session around our issue areas of:
1) Education Transformation
2) Climate Justice
3) Social Justice
4) Equitable Community Development
We'll also join the NAACP for their annual MLK Day commemoration event from 12-1 down in the rotunda. Though this meeting is designed for our Earth Care leadership - our youth and parent leaders, staff, and board - partners and allies are welcome and encouraged to attend.
For more information and to RSVP click HERE
THURSDAY JANUARY 3
Retake Our Democracy Legislative Advocacy
Thursday, January 3, 6:00-8:00pm
Center for Progress & Justice, 1420 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, NM
Description: A crucial meeting in readying for the Roundhouse session that begins Jan 15.
Retake Our Democracy also has regular meetings on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month from 4:30-6:30pm at New Energy Economy Offices, 343 E Alameda. Subscribe to email updates for notification of the next Legislative Advocacy Meeting.
Retake's Personal Action Tool Kit is available HERE.
THURSDAY JANUARY 10
Educators’ Legislative Preview
Thursday, January 10, 4:30 PM
ATF - Albuquerque Teachers Federation, 530 Jefferson St NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108
Description: This year’s session which begins January 15th offers lots of opportunities for progress in creating safer schools for LGBTQ students and creating an educational system that better serves all students. EQNM and ATF will let us know what’s in the works and how we can support these initiatives.
For more information and to RSVP click HERE
FRIDAY JANUARY 11
Policy Analysis Meeting - Fight For Our Lives ABQ
Friday, January 11, 4:30 - 6:00 PM
First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque, 3701 Carlisle Blvd NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110
Description: At our last meeting we went through all the bills relating to gun control and behavioral health services currently being proposed by the New Mexico state legislature and strategically narrowed them down to six individual bills that we would like to prioritize this legislative session. At this meeting we will do an in-depth analysis of each bill we chose to prioritize in order to better prepare ourselves for lobbying to lawmakers. Open to all community members, food provided.
For more information and to RSVP click HERE
SATURDAY JANUARY 12
2019 NM Legislative Action Expo
Saturday, January 12, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 412, 510 San Pedro Dr SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108
Description: At our last meeting we went through all the bills relating to gun control and behavioral health services currently being proposed by the New Mexico state legislature and strategically narrowed them down to six individual bills that we would like to prioritize this legislative session. At this meeting we will do an in-depth analysis of each bill we chose to prioritize in order to better prepare ourselves for lobbying to lawmakers. Open to all community members, food provided.
For more information and to RSVP click HERE
JANUARY 14-16
Early Childhood Public Policy Institute
Description: Parents, Early Childhood Professionals & Advocates- Join us for the 9th Annual Early Childhood Public Policy Institute at the Sage Inn in Santa Fe from January 14-16, 2019. REGISTRATION IS FREE AND REQUIRED AND are due by Friday, January 11, 2019. Link below in Tickets. We are OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS to cover lodging, travel, food and substitute reimbursements. APPLICATIONS are due by Thursday, January 3, 2019. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Baji Rankin at (505) 243-5437 or baji@nmaeyc.org.
For more information and to RSVP click HERE
THURSDAY JANUARY 17
Asian American Day at The Legislature
Thursday, January 17, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
New Mexico State Legislature, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Description:Join us for Asian American Day on January 17 at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. This event is held every two years during the long session of the Legislature. Thanks to Senator Mimi Stewart for sponsoring the Memorial. We'll have speakers and performing groups to commemorate the day.
For more information and to RSVP click HERE
ACLU Legislative Advocacy Workshops on Immigration, Reproductive Rights and Criminal Justice Reform
We are holding seven trainings across the state to give you the tools to have powerful and productive conversations with legislators. ACLU of New Mexico trainers will highlight some of the most pressing issues facing our state, and equip you with the tools you need to join the fight to reform our criminal justice system, expand reproductive choice, and ensure all people have a place in our state.
For more information and to RSVP click HERE
MONDAY JANUARY 28
JUST TRANSITION CONVERGENCE & CLEAN ENERGY CONFERENCE
Santa Fe: January 28, 9:30AM-2:00PM
9:30AM-2:00PM Unitarian Universalist Church,
3:00-9:00 PM Temple Beth Shalom, 205 E Barcelona Rd, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
Conference Description: The New Mexico Clean Energy Conference is the day before Clean Energy Day at the Roundhouse, with the goal of helping participants meaningfully engage with legislation that will help us curb the climate crisis in New Mexico. The event features two speakers: Goldman Environmental Prize winner Destiny Watford, who in High School successfully lead a movement stop a trash burning incinerator in her Baltimore, MD neighborhood, as well as Laura Paskus, an award-winning environmental journalist for the NM Political Report and correspondent for New Mexico In Focus.
For more information and to RSVP click HERE
SPECIAL DAYS AT THE LEGISLATURE
View full list of special dates at the Legislature HERE. Below are days that we would like to highlight and share with all of you. During the session,
TUESDAY JANUARY 15, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM
Children and Youth Day 2019
New Mexico State Legislature, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Witness for the People hosted by Interfaith Power and Light
New Mexico State Legislature, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22, ALL DAY
Deconstructing Racism New Mexico Day
State Capitol/Rotunda, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
THURSDAY JANUARY 24, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
NM Food & Farms Day and School Nutrition Day at the Legislature
State Capitol/Rotunda, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
MONDAY JANUARY 28,
Immigrant Rights Day of Action
New Mexico State Legislature, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
TUESDAY JANUARY 29, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Clean Energy Day at the Roundhouse
New Mexico State Legislature, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 2, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Atrisco Land Rights Council, Pueblitos Flood Recovery
Rotunda/State Capitol, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 5, 10:30 AM- 12:00 PM
One Thousand Kid March
Rotunda/State Capitol, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 5, 8:00 AM- 12:00 PM
New Mexico GRADS, NM GRADS Day
State Capitol, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 7, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Central NM College Day
State Capitol, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8, 8:00am - Noon
New Mexico Library Association Legislative Day
State Capitol/Rotunda, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 13, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Lands, Water, and Wildlife Day at the Roundhouse
State Capitol/Rotunda, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Respect NM Women Advocacy Day
State Capitol/Rotunda, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
NM Alliance of Health Councils, Public Health Day at the Legislature - 100th Anniversary of NMDOH
State Capitol/Rotunda, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe Youth Holiday Passport
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November: Eat at Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen, Support Earth Care!
Support Earth Care by Dining at Sweetwater!
This November, when you dine and pay CASH at Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen, Sweetwater will donate 2% of ALL cash sales to support Earth Care!
This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy some incredibly delicious and wholesome food AND support our work!
You will be supporting Earth Care in our youth & parent leadership, organizing and sustainability education in our public schools.
Earth Care depends on our community to support our young people and our work. Dine at Sweetwater, bring a friend and tell your network.
You can donate at any time on our website HERE.
Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen Hours:
MONDAY 8AM–3PM
TUESDAY–FRIDAY 8AM–9PM
SATURDAY 9AM–9PM
SUNDAY BRUNCH 9AM–2:30PM
Share our Facebook event with your friends and family HERE!
See you at Sweetwater!
October Calls to Action!
FEATURED EVENTS
SATURDAY OCTOBER 6
11:00AM
at NM State Capitol NM, 300 Don Gaspar Ave, Santa Fe, NM
Indigenous Peoples Day March for MMIW
LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE
SATURDAY OCTOBER 6
5:00-10:00 PM
at Tiguex Park, 1898 Mountain Rd NW, ABQ, NM
Indigenous Peoples Day Gathering - ABQ
LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE
OCTOBER 6 - 8
at Downtown Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM
Santa Fe Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration
LEARN MORE HERE
MONDAY OCTOBER 8
5:30 PM
at 1st & Central Ave., ABQ, NM
Indigenous Peoples’ Day March & Rally
LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE
MONDAY OCTOBER 8
9:30AM-4:00 PM
at Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th St NW, ABQ, NM
4th Annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration - ABQ
LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE
Read more
Updates from the week, Friday Demonstration at NGA Conference
Here are a few updates for the week!
Courts, Corrections, and Justice Committee Hearing - Monday, July 16
Thank you to all who attended the CCJ Committee hearing on Monday and Rep. Antonio "Moe" Maestas! You all packed the Committee room and showed the Committees members aka our elected Representatives that we are concerned about New Mexico's role in the private for-profit prison industry and the need for more oversight on private correctional facilities in our state. In over 1.5 hours of public comments, the majority of which from those previously held in NM's private prisons, not one person spoke in favor of New Mexico's private prisons.
No representative from Core Civic-Cibola County Correction Center or of Management & Training Corporation-Otero County Prison Facility or ICE officials showed up to answer questions.
Photo Credit: Andy Fertal (People's Progressive Media)
Las Cruces Sun Article about the hearing - READ IT HERE
ABQ Journal Article about the hearing - READ IT HERE
NM Political Report Article about the hearing - READ IT HERE
Santa Fe New Mexican Article about the hearing - READ IT HERE
Watch the whole presentation on Divesting from Private Prisons from the Santa Fe Dreamers Project here.
Thanks to PPM, here is a short clip of the hearing.
A few weeks ago, we sent out an eblast with resources and opportunities to show up in solidarity. Check out the full list HERE. We will be updating it regularly.
THE MIDTOWN CAMPUS PROJECT aka SFUAD
During the initial stage of public engagement the City used an online survey to get a sense of what Santa Fe residents want to do with 64 acres of land in town. BUT the online survey results (2,234 in total) from Santa Fe residents made it clear that those who responded were primarily affluent, older, white community members.
The voices of our communities of color, families, youth, and working class communities must be engaged and represented in this HUGE investment of public lands & resources!
For example, of the 2,229 English-survey takers: 81% of respondents do not have children in their household, 65% are over the age of 44. These responses do not reflect our town at all!
View the English survey results HERE.
View the Spanish survey results HERE (there were only 6 surveys collected!)
SIGN THIS PETITION TO EXPRESS YOUR CONCERN ABOUT THE PROCESS TO DATE AND DEMAND THAT THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD VALUES THE VOICES & ENGAGEMENT OF LOCAL YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND SANTAFECINOS
Join us at City Council on
AUGUST 8
FRIDAY July 20, 2018
10 AM
at NM State Capitol Building
490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501
STEP UP or STEP DOWN!
National Governors Association (NGA) Demo
Bring your signs and banners to the NM State Capitol at 10 AM to rally and hear about pressing state issues from several local organizatons. Then we will march to the Santa Fe Convention Center at 11:15 AM, where the National Governors Association Conference is being held.
Rumor has it that Trump or Mike Pence will be making an appearance at some point during the conference. The conference is taking place THIS Thursday - Saturday. Join us and 30 other orgs who have something to say to governors who are elected by the people. View the NGA agenda here.
We demand that our Governors step up to protect our human and civil rights, our air, water, environment, and the right to a decent life.
Please share and come with signs and banners and let the governors know in this time of crisis aggravated by policies of the Trump Administration we are saying STEP UP OR STEP DOWN. POLICIES FOR THE PEOPLE NOT THE 1%. Governors must support state policies and laws that:
• Provide affordable healthcare as a right for all
• Increase state funding for public education K – higher education
• Expand environmental protection and 100% renewable energy
• Ensure women’s access to reproductive health and right to choose
• Stop inhumane ICE enforcement, protect due process for immigrants and asylum seekers, and keep families together
• Guarantee unions the right to organize and collect dues.
• Protect free speech rights to support Palestine through boycotts
• Protect voting rights and end gerrymandering
• Enforce stricter gun control laws, ban assault weapons and paraphernalia
• End mass incarceration and private prisons
• Protect indigenous lands and rights
• No interstate transfer of nuclear waste
RSVP HERE
Thursday July 19, 2018
10:30 AM
at NM State Capitol Building
490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501
A People’s Convening: Rally for Clean Air
Join the Clean Buses for Healthy Niños coalition as we rally outside the NGA meeting calling on lawmakers to fully fund and implement plans to invest Volkswagen settlement money into zero-emission, electric school buses. Parents, students, activists, and supporters from across the country will be traveling to Santa Fe to share their stories and share with governors why they must act now to ensure our children have healthy futures. Join us at the rally and bring a sign!
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Este verano, gobernadores de todo el país se reunirán en la reunión del verano de la Asociación Nacional de Gobernadores en Santa Fe, y nosotros también estaremos allí para recordarles a nuestros ejecutivos estatales que más de 25 millones de niños en todo el país merecen respirar aire limpio mientras usan autobuses a la escuela.
Únase a la coalición Clean Buses for Healthy Niños mientras nos reunimos fuera de la reunión de NGA pidiendo a los oficiales electos que financien e implementen por completo los planes para invertir el dinero del acuerdo de Volkswagen en autobuses escolares eléctricos de cero emisiones. Padres, estudiantes, activistas y simpatizantes de todo el país viajarán a Santa Fe para compartir sus historias y compartir con los gobernadores por qué deben actuar para garantizar que nuestros niños tengan un futuro saludable. ¿QUÉ PUEDEN HACER LOS PARTIDARIOS? Asistir a el rally + traer una pancarta Comparte tu historia de #CleanRide4Kids en las redes sociales o con los medios de prensa
CALLS TO ACTION & EVENTS - JULY
There are so many places to show up this month. We hope you'll join us for the many July Action Network Calls to Action this month!
July 2018 Calls to Action!
FEATURED EVENT
WEDNESDAY JULY 18
6:30-8:00 PM
at United Way of Santa Fe County
3164 Agua Fria Road, Santa Fe, NM
Resource Meeting: Poder Familiar
Learn how you can get involved!
