Featured Presentation:
Bill McCamley said it felt good to be home. He recently moved to Santa Fe to fulfill his duty as Cabinet secretary for the department of workforce solutions for the state of New Mexico and said he love love loves working under Michelle Lujan Grisham. She is a force of nature who is trying to change the world for the better. We ranked last in childhood hunger and she said we have to eliminate this stuff because kids shouldn’t starve.
In his first cabinet meeting with her, they were discussing the kids that were dying in the detention camps along the border and she went to Secretary Collins and said we’re going to screen every child that comes through this state to which he replied that it would be impossible due to border patrol and ice and according to Bill she said “I do not accept that answer, no more kids are dying here.” Bill said that this is the kind of leadership that we have in this state and he is so proud to work alongside others that are creating change.
He shared that because minimum wage was too low for too long it will now go up to $9, then $10.50 a year after that, $11.50 a year after that, and $12.50 a year after that. He said there is still a lot of work to do but that it is a significant improvement for mostly women of color in the state.
New Mexico has the progressive climate change agenda in the country, New Mexico will be carbon free by 2045 which beats out California’s plan. $600 million got put into education this year because it is how teachers should be treated and respected. All of this stuff got done in this session and believe Bill when he tells you that they are working on more.
The Supreme Court is currently trying to decide if sexual orientation and gender identity are protected under the national human rights laws, but in New Mexico no one has to worry about that because they are protected here. Bill’s department enforces human rights laws and the state is very clear about those protections.
Bill said they’re also working on filling out jobs that are very much needed here in New Mexico. For example, there are 3,800 nursing job openings in New Mexico. Why is this bad? Because these are good paying jobs and good nurses are an attribute to good healthcare and they want to make healthcare better and more accessible for New Mexicans.
On August 23, Las Cruces will be getting its first teaching apprentice program in the state. New Mexico wants to help fill the schools with good teachers and they want to encourage people with bachelor’s degrees to go through an alternative licensing program, that New Mexico will pay for, to get more bilingual, STEM, and Special Education teachers in New Mexico schools and there will be a one-on-one mentoring program to develop them.
Bill’s final message is to keep your heads up, keep participating, and keep spreading the positive messages he knows PVA so often does.
RECAP
Meet Your Next Senator
Debra Hathaway announced the Meet Your Next U.S. Senator event on July 7th from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Representative Doreen Gallegoes home. Those who go will have a chance to have one-on-one time with Ben Lujan and Maggie Toulouse Oliver. It’s $50 ticket and there are only a few tickets left! All proceeds to Federation of Democratic Women of Doña Ana County.
For more information contact Debra via email here: DHathaway12@hotmail.com
Greg LIVE’s for Change in Las Cruces
Greg Smith is running for Mayor! He said that it’s time for Las Cruces to have a full-time mayor. Greg has (L)eadership, (I)ntegrity, (V)ision, and (E)conomic diversity going for him. He LIVE’s for Las Cruces and takes such pride in Las Cruces and how we as a community have stepped up for asylum seekers and everything else Las Cruces has accomplished. He hopes to have your support on November 5th and can’t wait to make a change in January. He thinks rank choice is a good thing to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard and makes sure every vote counts.
Here’s an article from the Sun News: https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/2019/01/08/las-cruces-city-councilor-greg-smith-run-mayor/2518667002/
EPE Shenanigans
Rocky Bacchus talked about the EPE and JP Morgan deal. He summarized the events by asking everyone who would trade him his one-dollar bill for their twenty-dollar bill (no one offered to trade in case you were wondering). He shared that this $21 billion (in bill credits) deal is actually being split with Texas which, after crunching the numbers looks like only $1.4 million after taxes will be for New Mexico. PRC staff supported this as well at the state attorney general but, Rocky said that New Mexico is essentially trading a $1 credit for $20 higher bills.
He thanked the county commissioners, attorneys, and law makers who crunched the numbers and those who see through the scam.
Antoinette Reyes’s Campaign Kick-Off Dinner
Antoinette Reyes announced that she is running for District 4 city councilor and that everyone is invited to her official campaign kick-off dinner on August 3rd from 5:00-7:00 P.M. at Pepe’s Restaurant on 1405 W. Picacho. Antoinette is a 15th generation New Mexican, mother, and NMSU Alumna and Emerge class of 2017. She said she has always been an advocate and activist for change and as a city councilor she hopes to improve the lives of her constituents with a focus on public safety, make the city more sustainable, infrastructure, bi-lingual, economic development to help small business and Las Cruceans to thrive, environment, and community as a whole. She is encouraging everyone to donate $25 for her campaign and she hopes to see you on August 3rd!
Visit: AntoinetteReyes.com
Facebook.com/AntoinetterReyes4NM
Call: (575) 342-1727
Email: AntoinetteReyesNM@gmail.com
PO Box 3284 Mesilla Park, NM, 88047
Tracy Perry for State Senate District 38
Tracy Perry is running for State Senate District 38. As a state senator, she said she will stand up for individuals and the community as a whole. Politics is not a spectator sport and Tracy refuses to sit on the sidelines. She says it is time to make a positive change for the people of District 38 now. She wants to expand access to healthcare and disability because people are dying needlessly, and she has personally helped get people off the Developmentally Disability waiver waiting list for 13-15 years long. In 2018, she fought for people on this list and attended every interim meeting she could and got $2 million and 70 people off of that waiting list. This past session she got $7.5 million and 340 off of the waiting list. But she said that’s enough, there are still 5,033 people on that list and it grows 40 each month and she wants to make a change for these people.
Some of her other goals include accessing more and better resources for quality public education, create a better economy and more jobs, help the environment, and give voices to individuals regardless of disabilities and where they live. Tracy wants your voice heard in Santa Fe. Expanding access to healthcare and disability
For more information visit: Perry4NM38.com
Facebook.com/Perry4NM38
Jake Shimabukuro
Joy Goldbaum announced that Jake Shimabukuro, an AWESOME and World Famous ukulele player will be opening for Night Ranger at the City’s July Fourth Celebration at 6:00 P.M. It’s a free event and she promises that a brilliant surprise awaits you.
She also shared that she wants everyone to elect her as presiding municipal judge on November 5th.
Joana Bencomo for District 4
Joana Bencomo is running for City Council District 4. She said it was humbling to announcer candidacy, she moved to Las Cruces at 18, started as an intern in 2013 at Café, graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Government, and her master’s in social work. She said she has helped been a part of the big changes in Las Cruces such as helping raise minimum wage for Las Cruceans. She wants to ensure that New Mexico’s economy is by and for New Mexicans. She wants to focus on immigrant issues because they are so close to her heart. No More children or people should die.
Donate and organize house meetings in District 4
Email: Johana4LC@gmail.com
Visit: Johana4LC.com
Call: (575) 323-1625
Visit her on Facebook and Instagram: Johana4LC
Nonlethal Wildlife Services
Kevin Bixby announced a County Commission Meeting on July 9th at 9:00 A.M. and wants everyone there to help support the People’s Contract. Doña Ana County’s annual contract with Wildlife Services (which is a federal agency) is up for renewal that night on July 9th. In April, the county passed a resolution for nonlethal methods to control coyotes, skunks, and other wildlife animals only but reversed itself. The types of methods used to handle nuisance wildlife end up hurting dogs and other pets more than solving these “problems”. The People’s Contract demands that any contract awarded by the County for addressing wildlife “problems” explicitly incorporate a coexistence between humans and wildlife, proactive, non-lethal measures, that wildlife are killed as a last resort and document said events, cruel methods are prohibited, and implementation of this contract must be transparent to the community.
What you can do to help:
- Contact your county commissioners urge them to support the People’s Contract.
- Come to the county commission meeting on Tuesday, July 9th at 9:00 A.M. and voice your support for the People’s Contract.
For more information please visit: WildMesquite.org
Reelect Jeff Steinborn
Jeff Steinborn announced that she is running for reelection. He shared that it has been an interesting three years in the state senate after serving eight years in the house but he strongly feels that there is a lot more work to do. He wants to fight more for workers, the environment, work ethics, minimum wage, full transparency in government, and protect New Mexico from nuclear waste. He’s fighting like heck to make New Mexico a better place.
On July 24th he will have his kick off fundraiser for his campaign and it’s $25 a ticket, $200 for a table. He wants to prepare for a rough campaign, so if you’re interested in buying tickets, Sherry Thomas is selling them (and she gets credit for them too 😉).
Billy Garrett Update
Billy shared an update through his proxy Cheryl and said that many of us know, he has taken a position in Santa Fe as the Interim director of the New Mexico History Museum. He began at the end of April and will probably be in the position until early fall of 2020. At this point, he has no particular plans in mind for whatever comes after that (which seems to be a recurring theme in his retirement).
Cynthia and their dogs will join them by mid-July. We have arranged for someone to live at their house and will visit Las Cruces every so often.
He asked Cheryl to pass along this update because his transition into the job didn’t allow for much public notice or ger togethers.
He asked that as we celebrate another year of PVA action and accomplishments that he would be here in spirit with everyone. During his eight years on the County Commission, PVA was a constant source of support and inspiration and he thanks everyone for that.
Doña Ana County and Las Cruces are better places for all residents because of PVA’s commitment to the community, PVA’s willingness to address tough issues, and PVA’s engagement with the democratic processes.
To contact Billy G. Garrett email him at archbily@gmail.com or call him (575) 915-5755.
Tessa for Two
Tessa thanked PVA for everyone’s support thus far in her campaign for city councilor of district 2. She is looking for volunteers to help her canvas in her district to spread the word about her love for this community and how much her chosen home means to her. She shared a story about how as a kid, her family took long drives and whoever sat in the front seat with Dad had to listen to NPR and debate about what was on. Tessa said that those debates became so important to her and that she learned so much from them. The debates sparked a fire in her and as her dad began to play devil’s advocate in these debates, her fire grew more and more. Tessa promises to use that fire in her for good and for the good of Las Cruces as a representative from district 2. She promises she will be a strong and active presence in District 2 and meet you wherever you live, work, and play.
To contact Tessa email her at: TessaForTwo@gmail.com
Visit: TessaForTwo.com
Facebook/TessaForTwo
Or call: (575) 323-0330
Support Local Radio (Please)
Peter Goodman from KTAL-LP wants to have the potential candidates meet on his show
School recall -July 10th – both sides
Newspapers and talk radio help Las Cruces talk to itself it is not always serious shit but the serious shit is why we’re here. Like how Rocky shared why the EPE situation looks like a scam,
Give them money before all of the candidates ask for yours, it’s $101.50 membership for a year, they want help to create archives.
Visit: LCCommunityRadio.org.
Teresa for School Board
Teresa Tenorio is running for School Board – Marty Castro – thanks to the board for the policies that have been pushed. She is a mother of three to kids in fourth grade, second grade, and kindergarten. She’s always been an activist because “when there is a need, [she] rises up”. Her sister is a teacher and there was a “do not disparage” clause and no one messes with Teresa’s family. Advocate for her babies and everyone else’s babies.