In Roswell’s newly opened FEMA office, people who lost homes and vehicles in October flooding and people who are still trying to get the mold and muck out of their living quarters hope the government will help them get back on their feet. In Ruidoso FEMA ensnared flood and fire victims with red tape. And […]
Columnists
Posted inColumnists, Commentary
Days of the Mama Lucy Gang and Cowboy Coalition
In 1984 New Mexico voters took a turn to the right, sending more moderates and conservatives of both parties to the Legislature. Back then the parties entertained a greater range of ideas. After voters had spoken, conservatives had a new opportunity take back the House. Rep. Jerry Sandel, a conservative Democrat from Farmington, became the […]
Posted inColumnists, Commentary
Super rich appointees, politicos will set policy for ordinary Americans
Billionaires’ and multi-millionaires’ increasing presence in the Senate and in the Trump Administration? Yes, it’s true. First up is Sen. Rick Scott of Florida. Scott’s net worth is near $350 million, making him the richest U. S. senator. He made his money in for-profit healthcare when he was CEO of Columbia/HCA hospitals. Part of his […]
Posted inColumnists, Commentary
The illogic of asylum seeker detention
About once a month, several volunteers from Albuquerque and Santa Fe travel to one of New Mexico’s immigrant detention prisons. They are from VIDA, Volunteers for Immigrants in Detention Albuquerque (abqvida.org). They go to provide comfort and solace for incarcerated asylum seekers who are mostly abandoned in a prison where conditions are miserable. They are […]
Posted inColumnists, Commentary, Politics & Elections
Election aftermath demands journalistic reset
Two words, “according to,” may be the most important words in any news story you read. Journalists are trained to seek out the best, most knowledgeable sources. As a business writer I had certain go-to people I could call who knew their stuff, had their fingers on good data, and could give me an accurate, […]
Posted inColumnists, Commentary, Politics & Elections
Post election we still have to live with each other
Not long ago, I drove to Colorado and Wyoming to visit family members I hadn’t seen in a few years. It was mostly a social visit, although I’ve been working on the family history and genealogy and wanted to gather more information. I figured politics might come up. We may share genes, but we don’t […]
Posted inColumnists, Commentary, Politics & Elections
Proposed constitution amendments would increase property taxes for homeowners
Submitted by Karen Wentworth, League of Women Voters Two of the four constitutional amendments voters will see on the ballot this fall are property tax exemptions for veterans. Currently all 100% disabled veterans are exempt from property taxes in New Mexico. Amendment 1 would offer partial exemptions to veterans who are partially disabled. A veteran […]
Posted inColumnists, Commentary
We celebrate 20 years of columns
“I want to stop and smell the roses,” he said. “If you want it, you can have it. Otherwise I’m going to shut it down.” That was newsman Hal Rhodes, founder of New Mexico News Services. He had started NMNS in 1997 to provide opinion columns to New Mexico newspapers. When Hal was ready to […]
Posted inColumnists, Commentary
Buy a piece of history
If you love historic hotels, and I do, it was a punch in the gut to read that the St. James Hotel in Cimarron has closed. The storied St. James not only has a big place in New Mexico history — punctuated by 26 bullet holes in the barroom ceiling — it’s a major employer […]
Posted inColumnists, Commentary
A million here, a million there
Imagine this: You are a legislator in the state House of Representatives and are told that you have $2.5 million to distribute in your House district or $4.2 million in your Senate district. Wow! You would no doubt feel like Santa Claus. This is what happened in the 2024 legislative session and it’s what happens […]