Shell out for your vacay
A statewide law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2020, that requires a tax on all short-term rentals. SB 106 eliminates a lodgers' tax exemption ($) on short-term rentals with fewer than three rooms. The New Mexican takes a look at what this means; Santa Fe already taxes its 850-plus short-term rental units at over 15 percent, the highest allowable by state law, and those revenues reached $1.6 million in FY 2018. As the middle class gets driven out of town to find housing, we'd argue that Santa Fe needs affordable places to live more than it needs that tax revenue, but what do we know?
More pot in the pipeline
At least one saga surrounding medical cannabis has come to an end: In November, then-District Court Judge David Thomson has ruled that the 450-plant limit for growers is indeed too restrictive ($), and said the restriction would be lifted in 120 days. That meant March 1. The Department of Health, however, asked for an extension on that date, saying regulators wouldn't be ready in time. On Feb. 22, Judge Sarah Singleton was like, "Nah" (not a direct quote) and said March 1 was still a fine day to lift the cap.
In case you weren’t horrified yet today
The trial has started for an Albuquerque man accused of prostituting his 7-year-old daughter to support his drug habit. Prosecutors say there is ample evidence that he groomed and abused his child, but 38-year-old James Stewart's lawyer insists he is innocent.
Make it new
New Mexico could be the future home of a museum about the Depression-era New Deal program, which would be apt, since our state received nearly the most federal aid of any state during that time. In 1935, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt hired more than 3,700 artists to create murals, paintings, crafts and sculptures all around the country. (Imagine, a federal government that cared about helping struggling people—artists, even!) A memorial pending in the state House would ask New Mexico's congressional delegates to consider establishing a national New Deal art museum on Museum Hill.
Nice guys may finish first
Over at online outlet Politico, a profile of US Rep. Ben Ray Luján not only speaks kindly about the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House, but it spells chile right. Praise be. (Calling chicharrones "pork rinds" can be forgiven, we guess, because it isn't technically wrong.) Luján, now assistant speaker, is called congenial, strategic and a good shepherd of freshman lawmakers—and writers Heather Caygle and Sarah Ferris also muse that Luján could be on track to greater leadership roles in government.
Dolla dolla bills
The state has settled a lawsuit ($) brought against former State Police Chief Pete Kassetas, which claimed he gave professional preference to women he was romantically interested in, and retaliated against those who reported misconduct. The state also claims that Kassetas had intimate knowledge of former Gov. Susana Martinez' activities regarding a lawsuit from a former bodyguard. It is not yet public information how much the state paid the accusers.
Pleasant surprise
A dream came true for 4-year-old Luis Aguilar of Albuquerque: The child, who has a disorder of the nervous system, got to ride in a cop car. He was thrilled by this surprise, which is nice to hear, because being adults means that a surprise spin in a cruiser doesn't sound like a nice adventure to us at all. Ah, youth.
Thanks for reading! The Word would like to take an informal poll of readers: How many of you are able to (within reason) lie down at work when you get fatigued?
