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NM poll shows partisan divide on abortion
With the US Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade in June, abortion has increased in importance as an issue leading into the Nov. 8 general election, with possible positive implications for Democrats. How will #Roevember play out in New Mexico? A new Albuquerque Journal poll shows voters here are split regarding whether the state should have some restrictions on abortion, but are three times more likely to say abortion should always be legal rather than illegal. “Even in conservative parts of the state like the eastern region, very few likely New Mexico voters think abortion should always be illegal,” Brian Sanderoff, president of Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc., tells the Journal. The poll shows a significant partisan divide on the issue, with 55% of Democrats saying abortion should always be legal and 24% saying it should be legal with some limitations. Among Republicans, however, only 8% said abortion should always be legal; 24% said it should be banned; and 41% said it should be illegal with exceptions for cases of rape, incest and to save a mother’s life. Another stark difference lies in the positions of incumbent Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Republican challenger Mark Ronchetti. The former is a staunch defender of reproductive choice and, in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s reversal, enacted additional protections in the state. Ronchetti, as the Journal points out, initially said he would support abortions bans after 15 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest and pregnancies that endanger a woman’s life, but the governor’s campaign says he has softened his position during the race (a national Republican trend). Libertarian Karen Bedonie, a former Republican, “has expressed anti-abortion views on the campaign trail,” the Journal reports.
NM Gov grants clemency to six people
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham yesterday announced she has issued clemency to six New Mexicans convicted at least 10 years ago for a variety of mostly non-violent offenses. Cynthia Jaramillo, a survivor of serial killer David Parker Ray, who had among other charges a drug trafficking and possession conviction on her record, was among those to whom the governor issued a pardon. Jaramillo, in the years since her harrowing escape from the “Toy Box Killer,” co-founded Street Safe, an organization that helps women who live on the streets (you can read more about Jaramillo’s life on her website). The state Constitution provides the governor authority to issue clemency for all offenses committed under state law with the exception of of impeachment and treason. According to the governor’s office, she also issued executive clemency to Bridgette Yvette Tabor for fraud; Jack Ferguson for DWI, larceny, commercial burglary and resisting arrest; Travis Earl Gatling for burglary; Randall E. Johnston for fraud; and Kathleen Woerter (nee Dohrer) for failure to disclose facts to obtain public assistance. According to the Associated Press, Lujan Grisham has pardoned 56 people in total during her first term, whereas her predecessor, Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, pardoned three people during her two terms and denied 72 pardon applications, including 13 the state Parole Board—which provides non-binding recommendations to the governor—had endorsed.
City holds public meeting on St. Mike’s project tonight
The City of Santa Fe will hold a public, virtual meeting at 6 pm tonight to share updates, answer questions and receive comments on the St. Michael’s Drive Rail Trail Underpass Project (register here). The Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 2015 pedestrian master plan identifies the St. Michael’s Drive Corridor as one of several critical concern areas in the city where pedestrians are hindered from safely traversing due to obstructed and missing sidewalks; unmarked and faded crossings; and large distances between crossings, among other issues. The underpass project is intended to serve both pedestrians and bicyclists and follows prior public outreach about the area. According to a state Transportation Department study last summer, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since 2012 has ranked New Mexico in the top four states nationwide with the highest rates of pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 population, with the highest rate for four years in that time period. According to the request for proposals the City of Santa Fe issued in advance of the St. Michael’s Drive underpass project, following roadside safety audits that identified “significant operational issues” in the corridor, the underpass was identified as the best option.
COVID-19 by the numbers
New cases: 1,238 (includes the weekend and is about 6.7% fewer than last Monday’s three-day total); 610,439 total cases
Deaths: 20; Santa Fe County has had 340 total deaths; there have been 8,419 fatalities statewide. Statewide hospitalizations: 94. Patients on ventilators: four
Case rates: According to the state health department’s most recent report on geographical trends for the seven-day period of Aug. 15-21, Santa Fe County’s case rate continues to decline and was at 20.5 compared to 26.3 the prior week. The state recorded 3,839 cases statewide—based on reported cases—over the seven-day period, a nearly 15% decrease from the previous week.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent update for COVID-19 “community levels,” updated yesterday, only three New Mexico counties have “red” or high levels—down from four last week. Santa Fe County is one of 22 counties with green, or low levels (compared with 13 last week). The state map, which updates each Thursday for the prior seven-day period, uses a framework that combines case rates with hospital metrics. The community levels site has accompanying recommendations at the bottom of the page. The CDC also provides a quarantine and isolation calculator.
A federal program providing free at-home rapid tests will be suspended as of Friday, so order now if you are still eligible for free tests (the site will tell you if you are not).
Resources: Vaccine registration; Booster registration Free at-home rapid antigen tests; Self-report a positive COVID-19 test result to the health department; New Curative testing site: 9 am to 5 pm, Monday-Friday, Santa Fe Technology Department, 2516 Cerrillos Road; COVID-19 treatment info: oral treatments Paxlovid (age 12+) and Molnupiravir (age 18+); and monoclonal antibody treatments. Toolkit for immunocompromised individuals. People seeking treatment who do not have a medical provider can call NMDOH’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-855-600-3453. Vaccines for children: Parents of children ages 6 months to 5 years can now schedule appointments for vaccinations at VaccineNM.org.
You can read all of SFR’s COVID-19 coverage here.
Listen up
For some of us, fall represents the most wonderful time of year, thanks in no small part to the smell (and taste!) of roasting green chile. In the southern part of the state, the Hatch Chile Festival (Sept. 2-4) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. On the most recent episode of The Las Cruces Sun-News podcast The Reporter’s Notebook, host Damien Willis talks with trending reporter Leah Romero about the excitement leading into this year’s festival and her interview one of the festival’s co-founders, 98-year-old June Lytle. Carlsbad Current-Argus reporter Adrian Hedden also joins the show to discuss this year’s chile crop and the roasting commencing around the state. And, speaking of chile, the Snack Stack newsletter recently delved into the “contentious” history of “official” state foods, with New Mexico’s particular history as a prime example (a debate here in the 1960s over chile versus pinto beans, which resulted in both becoming the official state vegetables). New Mexico’s official question, “Red or Green?” was adopted in the 1990s, after former Gov. Gary Johnson succumbed to public pressure.
The most important (and delicious) meal of the day
Food and Wine magazine offers up its recs for the “best” breakfast in Santa Fe from “Southwestern stalwarts to third-wave coffee shops.” The former category includes Tia Sophia’s, described as “a diner-style landmark that caters to out-of-towners and locals.” At Cafe Pasqual’s, Food and Wine recommends “corned beef hash with two eggs, or griddled polenta with sautéed chorizo, corn, and red chile,” along with arriving when Pasqual’s opens at 8 am to beat the crowds. Counter Culture, where we have eaten approximately 7 million meals over the last 25 years, the magazine pays homage to the giant cinnamon rolls, among other items. The magazine also incorrectly states Counter Culture only takes cash, which stopped being true post COVID-lockdown. The “chic” Modern General also makes the list for its “third-wave coffee and fresh pressed juices alongside naturally leavened bread, grain bowls, and signature Czech kolaches.” Modern General’s modcakes also receive a deserved shout-out. Tune-Up Cafe, Clafoutis and The Pantry also receive nods.
Take it outside
New Mexico start-up businesses that feature outdoor recreation, the environment or the health/wellness sectors have until Sept. 4 to register to participate in a new Adventure Pitch contest that will feature $15,000 in cash prizes ($10,000 for first place). Organized by CNM Ingenuity in partnership with the state Outdoor Recreation Division and Outdoor New Mexico, the pitch event will take place Oct. 7 at the Outdoor Economics Conference in Taos, and is a successor event to ORD’s Outdoor Pitchfest held at last year’s conference in Farmington. Companies accepted for the new Adventure Pitch will pitch their company in front of a public audience during a single-round pitch event. According to a news release, CNM Ingenuity is inviting judges “from inside and outside of New Mexico who are actively seeking to make investments in startup companies, especially those in the outdoor recreation space,” including angel investors, venture capital funds and banking partners. “The outdoor economy contributes $1.9 billion to state GDP every year and employs over 25,000 people,” ORD Director Axie Navas said in a statement. “The startups who will pitch their ideas at Adventure Pitch represent the present and future of that powerhouse industry and we are excited to see their continued growth in New Mexico. At the October event, they will learn valuable skills, such as how to publicly present their idea and develop important investor connections.” Find the application here.
Falling apart
The National Weather Service forecasts a mostly sunny day with a high temperature near 80 degrees and a 20% chance for precipitation via isolated showers and thunderstorms after noon. Along with the weather, we’ll add this brief traffic report: Avoid Guadalupe Street between Jose Street and Paseo de Peralta, which is closed following a sinkhole that opened up yesterday.
Thanks for reading! The Word is scrounging around for new music (new to her, anyway). Any suggestions? She’s also (unrelatedly) giving out more Zozobra tickets today. Respond to this email for a chance to win two tickets to Friday’s burning (she’ll respond if you win and there will be more chances this week).
