
Schoolhouse Rock in action
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has until April 5 to sign into law bills passed by the Legislature, so the game's not quite over for lobbyists and activists on various issues. The gov is considering a capital outlay bill that would send nearly $1 billion more into New Mexico communities (but not to rural libraries), and is weighing a measure that would ban coyote-killing contests. Much social media attention from activists and animal lovers has been given to "piles" of dead coyotes found in Los Lunas last week; some called it a reason to sign the bill, others called it a stunt to get the governor to sign. Last week she signed SB 489, which transitions New Mexico to more renewable energy over a couple decades, and yesterday she signed into law a bill allowing same-day voter registration. This week, SFR also took a look at a bill that would offer microgrants to start ecotourism-related businesses, with a focus on getting kids outside.
Holy roads, Batman
With haste and efficiency, Mayor Alan Webber has said he's allocated tens of thousands of dollars toward city workers' overtime to fix potholes around the Santa Fe. At last night's City Council meeting, he said the crews have 76 potholes on their list, but that the number grows and shrinks as they receive new reports and patch up more damage. Thank goodness he's tackling the big issues.
Deadly game of telephone
A 38-year-old attorney is on trial this week for shooting an Albuquerque police officer in 2015. The defense argues that Davon Lymon misheard the officer through his motorcycle helmet and thought Officer Daniel Webster was threatening his life while shouting commands; so Lymon, they say, shot Webster in self-defense. On lapel cam video, the officer said he was calling for backup to put Lymon "on the ground," but Lymon says he heard "in the ground." Lymon fired his gun six times, hitting Webster four times, and then Lymon fled the scene.
Track the gas
The New Mexico Environment Department has released a new tool to help average Joes track methane emissions in the state. A well-by-well profile will be particularly useful for folks in oil and gas-producing areas, to see what the extraction near their homes does to air quality. Just a first glance at that map is pretty interesting, and it's definitely a tool worth exploring.
Spill the grease, take that pearl
Neighbors of the New Mexico Beef Jerky Company in Albuquerque say that the business has a habit of pouring grease out on the sidewalk outside its storefront, and it's causing sanitation and smell problems on the street. The owner says they don't do that and that they also power-wash the sidewalk-grease puddles weekly. So … Which is it, guy?
Saynoara, Sitel
In other, less-greasy Albuquerque news, the call center Sitel has announced it's leaving the city this year, and that about 700 full-time employees will have to find new jobs. Economic Development Director Synthia Jaramillo says, however, that about 1,000 new call center jobs will be coming to ABQ shortly, so maybe no worries.
Are those space pants you’re wearing?
A week or two ago the National Weather Service was tweeting in all-caps, now they're getting coquettish. It's wild over there. Apparently temps today "will flirt with a few records." But don't worry, the highs are playing it safe—we'll drop back down to the low 50s this weekend.
Thanks for reading! The Word got an essential oil diffuser. Jury's still out on it.