
Pardon me
Looks like the gov is going to approach requests for pardon in a different way from her predecessor. Former Gov. Susana Martinez was notoriously stingy when it came to pardoning folks of crimes, as SFR reported in 2018 and again after she left office. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's new pardon guidelines would take into consideration whether the applicant has "demonstrated personal growth, demonstrated remorse and participated in restorative justice initiatives," encouraging a "holistic review."
Money mystery solved
Santa Fe's mayor and finance chief explain the source of a proposed $6 million that officials want to add to the city budget for the upcoming fiscal year: a strong economy. The deciders are confident that gross receipts taxes, property taxes, fees and fines in the city will make that much more money. In other words, our taxes won't go up—we'll just naturally spend more money 'cause everything is so dang great.
Keep your hands to yourself
Don't deface rock art, and don't be an anti-Semitic plaque-vandalizer ($). Pretty basic rules that a few New Mexicans seem to have recently had trouble following. A rock art site in Gila National Forest in Southern New Mexico has been garishly augmented by unidentified visitors (presumably named Joe and Betty), and a plaque in the Santa Fe Railyard was spray-painted by an unknown vandal in a local manifestation of a rising occurrence of anti-Semitic actions in the state and across the country.
More where that came from
After a relatively quiet winter when it came to restaurants opening and closing, there's plenty of news brewing now. Jennifer and Jimmy Day plan to turn the old State Capital Kitchen space, near the V of Cerrillos and Sandoval, into a casual Asian restaurant called Lucky Goat ($). We also announced yesterday that Maize is closing, but the pair plan to re-open it in a new location next year. They will also open two eateries inside Garrett's Desert Inn in the spaces vacated by Santa Fe Bite, and have plans to revive the beloved old adobe home of Bobcat Bite out on Old Las Vegas Highway.
Wet livin’
Summer's coming, and with it comes watering gardens and sitting under sprinklers. But what are the rules? SFR has it all laid out for you, as well as some ideas to save water in your home. In other words, don't let your sprinkler run all day and let it spray in your neighbor's window for hours and then not answer your door when she knocks. Not that that has happened to the Word or anything.
Not again
In what appears to be a slowly growing trend, burglars hit two cannabis dispensaries ($) after midnight on Wednesday (Kure on Guadalupe Street and NewMexicann on San Mateo). Police haven't released much info, but Kure did say that the thieves didn't get anything good, as valuables are locked in a safe overnight.
Banana bandits
After prom last weekend, a few teenagers in Hobbs purchased bananas specifically to throw at vehicles. (The Word does not condone this behavior, but of all the things to purchase for the explicit purpose of throwing at other things, this is pretty tame.) The boys chose the wrong car to accost, apparently, and the driver swerved around, chased them, and then opened fire, shooting one of the banana-throwers. Kevin Hernandez, the 17-year-old with the gun, has been charged and will be tried as an adult, the Hobbs News-Sun reports. The wounded teen, 15 years old, is recovering.
Are you just figuring this out now?
In the least-shocking news of the day, a report has shown that governments need to consult Indigenous tribes more often ($) before implementing projects that would affect those tribes. The report heavily referenced the Dakota Access Pipeline built by Energy Transfer Partners, regarding which the Sioux Tribe says it was not properly consulted by the Army Corps of Engineers. SFR touched on this topic a few months ago, when the Legislature passed bills to promote renewable energy that would greatly affect Indian Country, but didn't consult any Indigenous folks about the plans.
Thanks for reading! The Word is pondering Toad the Wet Sprocket.