New Mexico

NM ranked one of the worst states for money and well-being

23 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New Mexico has found itself among the states ranked as some of the least favorable places to live regarding money and financial well-being — joining other low rankings for the Land of Enchantment. According to a comprehensive analysis by GOBankingRates, factors such as crime rates, property and income taxes, unemployment, and overall cost of living were considered to determine the states where your money may not stretch as far as elsewhere in the country.

The study incorporated data from various trusted sources, ranging from NeighborhoodScout for crime statistics to ATTOM Data for property tax rates. Additionally, data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other reputable sources were included in the assessment.

Hawaii took the unenviable top spot as the worst state for financial well-being. Hawaii’s overall cost of living is a staggering 79 percent higher than the national average, with healthcare and grocery prices soaring 18 percent and 25.6 percent above the norm, respectively. Despite these challenges, Hawaii does boast the lowest average state property tax rate in the country and a relatively lower violent crime rate.

Often seen as a land of rugged beauty, Alaska holds the second position on this list. It has the second-highest violent crime rate in the nation, and its overall cost of living is 24.4 percent higher than the national average, with groceries and healthcare costs soaring 27.4 percent and 49.8 percent above average, respectively. However, Alaska does not impose an income tax, offering some financial relief.

Washington, D.C., while not a state but an influential territory, finds itself in the mix due to concerning statistics across various parameters. D.C. has the highest violent and property crime rates among all 50 states. It also imposes the third-highest average state income tax rate and reports the second-highest unemployment rate at 5.74 percent. Additionally, the cost of living in the nation’s capital is 48.7 percent above the national average.

California, another state with a high cost of living, houses the largest number of unemployed individuals at 1.6 million. It ranks in the top five for unemployment rates in the nation, with an overall cost of living 34.5 percent higher than the national average. The state also grapples with a relatively high debt-to-income ratio.

Unfortunately, New Mexico stands out for having one of the country’s highest violent crime rates and property crime rates. Additionally, it reports the third-highest poverty rate among all U.S. states. While its overall cost of living isn’t significantly above the national average, healthcare costs in New Mexico are nearly on par, at 99.6 percent.

The study also highlighted other states, including Maryland, Louisiana, New York, and South Carolina, for various economic challenges, such as high property tax rates, elevated income tax rates, high crime rates, and significant poverty levels.

While these rankings provide a snapshot of the financial landscape in each state, it’s essential to consider individual circumstances and preferences when evaluating the best places to live based on financial factors.

Far-left Dems seize Labor Day to advocate for more socialism in NM

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Far-left Democrats in the New Mexico Legislature used the Labor Day holiday to demand more socialism in New Mexico, this time wanting paid medical leave.

Senate President Pro-Tem Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque), Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos), Rep. Linda Serrato (D-Santa Fe), and Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Albuquerque) wrote in a Las Cruces Sun-News op-ed that they think “it’s time for a New Mexican Paid Family and Medical Leave.”

“Our push in the last legislative session for Paid Family and Medical Leave got more support than ever before. We were disappointed it didn’t become law this year, but we have not given up the fight because we know New Mexico workers deserve this important benefit,” they insisted. 

They plugged a far-left extremist group in its upcoming event that will advocate for the passage of the extreme socialist proposal, “We encourage you to join Southwest Women’s Law Center for one of their series of Town Halls across the state to share how access to Paid Family and Medical Leave would impact your family.”

S.B. 11, sponsored by the lawmakers, died at the hands of Democrats in the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee, with Reps. Patricia Lundstrom (D-Gallup) and Marian Matthews (D-Albuquerque) rejected the proposal with multiple concerns. In the Senate, Sens. Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Albuquerque) and George Muñoz (D-Gallup) voted against the bill.

Terri Cole of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce said the legislation would impose a “large escalating tax” on workers and employers, as reported by the Albuquerque Journal. The bill’s fiscal impact report (FIR) noted a shocking $516 million deficit in the fund would accrue by the 2028 budget year. 

Other concerns from stakeholders include the vagueness of the language in the bill and expanding the scope of coverage to any “blood” relative of the person in question.

“UNM also says the definition of a family member in Section 2.G (5), indicating that a family member is “any other individual related by blood or affinity whose close association with the employee or employee’s spouse or domestic partner is the equivalent of a family relationship” broadens the federal definitions of family members under the Family Medical Leave Act and leaves some ambiguity in terms of how the department will interpret this language.  As written, it appears to open the door for paid FMLA to care for a parents-in-law, siblings-in-law, and potentially individuals such as cousins or cousins-in-law, depending on the Department’s interpretation of “blood” and “affinity” in this section,” according to the FIR.

Still, the far-left, led by Stewart, is hell-bent on ramming through “paid family leave,” likely in the next 30-day legislative session, which begins in January. 

Hispanic group’s leader savages Santa Fe mayor over monument vandalism

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This week, vandals attacked the Kit Carson monument that sits in front of the federal courthouse in Santa Fe, just years after other key monuments have been taken down or destroyed by extremist anti-Hispanic hate groups. 

The Soliders’ Monument that previously sat in the Santa Fe plaza was viciously attacked and destroyed by droves of domestic terrorists, many of whom were from out of state. The leftist Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies gave the attackers a slap on the wrist and no jail time. 

The statue of Don Diego de Vargas, which previously sat in Santa Fe’s Cathedral Park, was removed in the dead of night in 2020 with the help of Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

All of these monuments’ removal was advocated for by Santa Fe’s far-left Democrat Mayor Alan Webber.

In 2018, The Red Nation successfully convinced the leftist City of Santa Fe officials and the Fiesta Council to cancel the “Entrada” pageant, re-enacting the peaceful reconquest of Santa Fe by Don Diego de Vargas over 300 years ago.

Now, the Hispanic fraternal group La Union Protectiva’s president, Virgil Vigil, is speaking out after the latest violent attack on yet another monument.

He wrote in a Santa Fe New Mexican letter to the editor, “Just over two years ago, Mayor Alan Webber publicly promised he would remove the Don Diego de Vargas statue, the Soliders’ Monument, and the Kit Carson Monument. The mayor needs to be recognized and congratulated for accomplishing what he set out to do.”

The snarky response lays blame at Webber’s feet for the three iconic monuments’ displacement and/or destruction due to the leftist mayor being the chief supporter of their removal.

Santa Fe Kit Carson monument toppled in ‘cowardly act’

Controversial former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson dead at 75

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Bill Richardson, the former Democrat New Mexico governor, 2008 presidential candidate, and former diplomat, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his summer residence in Chatham, Massachusetts, at the age of 75.

Mickey Bergman, Vice President of the Richardson Center, announced Richardson’s passing. Bergman praised Richardson’s hand in intervening in international diplomacy far after he left office.

During his years of diplomatic engagements, he held meetings with figures such as Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein, Hugo Chavez, and even a few Kims from North Korea.

Jon Franks, who collaborated with Richardson on various efforts to secure the release of Americans detained abroad, including Trevor Reed, a former Marine held in Russia in 2019, mourned the passing of his mentor and friend. Richardson’s dedication to the cause of reuniting families separated by unjust detentions left an indelible mark, and his legacy will continue to inspire efforts in the same vein. Richardson is survived by his wife, Barbara.

Far-left Democrat U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez mourned Richardson’s passing, calling him a “titan in New Mexico and abroad.”

Richardson’s controversial tenure as governor left the state with a plethora of new state departments and gave the governorship power over education, which plummeted achievement in the state to be the worst in the nation. 

Richardson was also listed in deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s “little black book,” and had many allegations lobbed against him regarding sexual impropriety.

In a 2016 deposition, Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein sex worker claimed she was instructed “to go to (former U.S. Sen.) George Mitchell, (modeling agent) Jean-Luc Brunel, Bill Richardson, another prince that I don’t know his name. A guy that owns a hotel, a really large hotel chain, I can’t remember which hotel it was.” She claims she was told by Epstein and the billionaire’s “madam” Ghislaine Maxwell to give the former governor “erotic massages.” 

Dozens of accusers say they were underage, some as young as 14, when Epstein allegedly sexually abused them. Richardson denied the accusations.

Epstein purchased a secluded, 10,000-acre Zorro Ranch in southern Santa Fe County, which, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican, “he purchased from former Gov. Bruce King in the early 1990s. On that property is a 26,700-square-foot hilltop mansion as well as a small airplane hangar and airstrip.” 

Epstein called on Richard Branson and Bill Gates to appear alongside him during a 2014 panel about money’s origins at Arizona State University, according to an email from theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss at the time.

According to the Daily Mail, “It was Krauss who revealed this news in a 2013 email to Jim Simons, asking the famed mathematician if he might be interested in a spot on the same panel.

Krauss wrote to Simmons that Epstein was coordinating the panel on the Origins of Money, and said ‘right now he has Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Larry Summers on board.’”

SOS Toulouse Oliver ‘reviewing’ ways Trump could be booted from NM ballot

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According to a report by Democrat blogger Joe Monahan, far-left New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver’s office is “reviewing the legal theories” that could boot 45th President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 election ballot.

ABC News reported, “The argument to disqualify Trump from appearing on primary or general election ballots in 2024 boils down to Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which states that an elected official is not eligible to assume public office if that person ‘engaged in insurrection or rebellion against’ the United States, or had ‘given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof,’ unless they are granted amnesty by a two-thirds vote of Congress.” 

Despite an extreme amount of exonerating evidence showing that Trump was not guilty of any crimes on January 6, 2021, with explicit directions to rally attendees to be peaceful while calling on then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi for higher security at the U.S. Capitol, Toulouse Oliver is trying to use this trick to keep Trump off of the ballot.

“We’ve been getting inquiries into our office about this. All candidates for [the] 2024 elections are required to file with our office in February 2024. We are aware of and are reviewing the legal theories regarding the 14th Amendment that conclude Donald Trump is ineligible to run for President,” Toulouse Oliver’s office wrote to Monahan.

“If Donald Trump files in New Mexico to run for President, we will make a determination at that time based on our understanding of New Mexico law and the requirements to run for office in New Mexico. Any determination about a specific candidate’s eligibility for the ballot will be made after the candidate filing day in February 2024,” the statement continued.

“Some Dems would relish keeping Trump off of the NM ballot but other more pragmatic ones point out that Biden has already beaten Trump here once and stands a good chance to do so again. That might not be as easy with another GOP presidential nominee, although the Dem would be favored over any R in blue NM,” wrote the blogger.

The news comes days after a poll commissioned for the far-left New Mexico Political Report found the 45th President within single digits of Joe Biden, showing that Trump’s support in the state is significant. 

New leftist poll shows Trump polling within within single digits of Biden in NM

‘Human Rights Act’ cited by far-left pols. seeking to ban free speech at NMSU

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A recent appearance by Matt Walsh at New Mexico State University (NMSU) has sparked controversy, prompting two New Mexico state senators to call for a review of the university’s policies that allowed Walsh to speak on campus.

Democratic State Senators Carrie Hamblen and William Soules, along with seven other government officials, including state, county, and municipal representatives, jointly penned a letter addressed to the interim president of the NMSU Board of Regents. The letter, which was reported by Young America’s Foundation, expressed their profound disappointment regarding Walsh’s presence at a Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) event held on campus in April.

In the letter, Walsh was accused of “encouraging violence” and “spouting racist and pro-slavery rhetoric.” The officials also alleged that Walsh had “minimized accusations against known pedophiles and child abusers,” though they provided no substantiation for this accusation.

The letter’s contents included a call for a serious discussion on why the university permitted such an event that, in their view, knowingly caused fear and harm to a segment of the student population. They sought information about who within the administration supported the event and what policies or actions would be implemented in the future to prevent further emotional and psychological distress among vulnerable students.

Young America’s Foundation pointed out that, as a public university, NMSU had no legal basis to prevent Walsh from speaking on campus once he had been invited by the hosting club that followed all proper procedures.

The letter also cited House Bill 207, which mandates that the state’s Human Rights Act be applicable to all New Mexico government entities, institutions, cities, counties, and public contractors. This bill includes definitions for sex, gender, gender identity, disabilities, and sexual orientation within the Human Rights Act.

Interim President Jay Gouge invited Jewel Navarette, chairwoman of the NMSU YAF, to meet with him and Senator Hamblen. Navarette, representing conservative students, emphasized their commitment to defending their First Amendment rights and reiterated their determination to uphold the principles of free speech and expression on their campus.

“We will continue to fight for the right to free speech and expression on our campus,” she affirmed. “These public officials have no right to say what kind of ideas can or cannot be expressed at NMSU.”

The letter bore the signatures of State Representative Angelica Rubio, Las Cruces Council Mayor Pro Tem Kasandra Gandara, Las Cruces City Councilors Becky Corran, Johana Bencomo, and Becki Graham, along with Doña Ana County Commissioners Shannon Reynolds and Christopher Schaljo-Hernandez.

Gov. Lujan Grisham celebrates ‘LGBTQIA2S+’ month of ‘Pride’

Santa Fe Kit Carson monument toppled in ‘cowardly act’

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In the heart of downtown Santa Fe, the sandstone obelisk that paid tribute to Kit Carson, a renowned 19th-century frontiersman and soldier, suffered partial destruction on Thursday night, marking the second such incident since 2020.

The initial incident took place almost three years ago during Columbus Day when protesters toppled the Soldiers’ Monument located at the Santa Fe Plaza. 

Standing at a height of 20 feet, the Kit Carson monument, adorned with the words “He Led the Way,” had been shielded by a plywood enclosure since 2020, a precautionary measure adopted to prevent a fate similar to that of the Soldiers’ Monument. However, on Thursday night, it was reported that the top portion of the monument situated in front of the U.S. District Courthouse was dismantled, presumably by an individual driving an older white GMC pickup truck, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Around 9:30 p.m., a New Mexican reporter witnessed the truck parked just inches away from the wooden barrier, with fragments of the monument strewn nearby and a cable linking the vehicle to the fallen obelisk.

Democrat Mayor Alan Webber released a statement, saying, “I’m outraged and I want those who did this to be caught and held accountable. Santa Fe Police are working with other law enforcement agencies to investigate this cowardly act. There is no place for this kind of criminal conduct in our community. We should all condemn it.” He previously advocated for the monument’s removal but hit roadblocks due to it being under federal jurisdiction.

The Santa Fe police received the initial call at 8:04 p.m., according to Sgt. Ryan Alire-Maez who noted that federal authorities would take charge of the case due to the courthouse’s federal jurisdiction.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the police continued their search for the suspect or suspects, who appeared to have fled on foot.

An anonymous individual disclosed that he stumbled upon the scene as the monument was being toppled and positioned his truck in front of the suspects’ vehicle, effectively trapping it.

By approximately 9:45 p.m., a small crowd of onlookers had gathered, and the police had cordoned off the streets near the fallen monument. Several law enforcement vehicles, primarily from the Santa Fe police force and one from the federal Department of Homeland Security, were on-site to manage the situation.

The Kit Carson monument had previously suffered acts of vandalism since the 2020 toppling of the Plaza obelisk, including graffiti painted on the sandstone structure and the protective enclosure. In the months leading up to the Indigenous Peoples Day protest, the monument was spray-painted with the words “Stolen Land in red letters near its base.

This latest act of vandalism coincided with the upcoming Fiesta de Santa Fe, an annual celebration of the peaceful Spanish reconquest of the city in 1692. Earlier in the week, the Santa Fe school board narrowly voted to allow the Fiesta Court to continue visiting public schools during school hours. Supporters regarded these visits as a celebration of heritage, while some extremist voices argued that such activities glorify colonialism.

Kit Carson died in Colorado in 1868 and was laid to rest in Taos. The monument dedicated to him was unveiled on Memorial Day in 1885, with approximately 5,000 attendees, including many who had served alongside Carson at the Battle of Valverde in Central New Mexico. On the day of dedication, the obelisk was revealed with a flourish, wrapped in an American flag, while an artillery battery from Fort Marcy fired a resounding salute, as noted by the esteemed New Mexico historian Marc Simmons.

Countless other instances of anti-Hispanic hate have plagued Santa Fe in recent years as extremist hate groups and their members have actively attacked monuments dedicated to Hispanics, such as one monument dedicated to Catholic priest Fray Angélico Chávez and the Cross of the Martyrs dedicated to those who lost their lives at the hands of blood-thirsty domestic terrorist Popé, who led the violent revolt, killing 400 Spaniards.

The cowardly domestic terrorists who toppled the Solders’ Monument were all let off scot-free by the local district attorney, being given a “restorative justice” slap on the wrist with no time in prison.

Public servants have a duty to protect significant cultural artifacts from evil forces

Judge lets teen accused of killing newborn attend college in person

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In a recent virtual court appearance, Alexee Trevizo, a New Mexico teenager accused of murdering her newborn baby in January 2023, discussed trial-related matters. Trevizo allegedly strangled her baby and disposed of the body in a hospital bathroom trashcan. Surprisingly, the story has a twist: despite facing these charges, she could soon be attending New Mexico State University (NMSU) — and in person.

During the virtual hearing, Trevizo’s attorney revealed that she had been attending NMSU online, and they requested permission for her to attend the university in person. Interestingly, a domestic violence prohibition against Trevizo was considered, particularly given that the baby’s father also attends NMSU. The possibility of encountering him prompted discussions between prosecutors and the defense.

The judge strangely ruled in favor of the defense, stating that the domestic violence prohibition would not apply in this situation, and Trevizo would be allowed to attend NMSU in person. This decision has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about the implications of her attending university while facing horrific allegations of slaughtering her newborn child in the hospital restroom.

It’s important to note that New Mexico has no restrictions on abortion, and this case has reignited conversations about the state’s stance on abortion and its potential connection to cases involving newborn deaths. This lack of abortion restrictions has led to concerns about the encouragement of infanticide and the consequences that might arise from such a legal framework.

Trevizo’s trial is scheduled for October 2, 2023. As the case unfolds, it raises broader questions about the intersection of legal decisions, societal values, and the ongoing discussions surrounding abortion policies in New Mexico.

Woman who birthed, killed newborn in hospital bathroom charged with murder

Woke Bud Light partners with UNM for new Lobo beer packaging

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As college football season kicks off, woke Bud Light, which lost billions amid its partnership with radical transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney, is gearing up to celebrate with its highly anticipated limited edition college football team packaging on cans.

Among the array of team-themed designs, the University of New Mexico Lobos will be featured in the Bud Light release, among a few other schools.

Each can within this limited edition collection will have a QR code, allowing fans to scan and participate in an enticing giveaway. Winners can snag exclusive team merchandise and get a flyover in a private jet at a game of their choosing. 

The brand is also about to launch the “Bud Light Backyard Tour: College Edition.” This tour is scheduled to make town stops on the Thursday or Friday nights preceding some of the most exhilarating rivalry gamedays. As part of the event, it will also feature “top DJs.”

The brand is partnering with other universities, including the University of Texas, the University of Kentucky, the University of Maryland, and the University of Wyoming, among a few others. This is apparently a new marketing strategy to try and claw back some former customers after they were alienated from the woke Dylan Mulvaney partnership, among other flubs.

UNM itself has gone increasingly woke, with its president, Garnett Stokes, backing the extremist Black Lives Matter cause, while it is offering a “Critical Whiteness Studies” course this fall. Stokes also fumed over the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision banning racist affirmative action policies for college admissions.

New leftist poll shows Trump polling within within single digits of Biden in NM

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A new poll commissioned by the leftist NM Political Report sheds light on the competitive 2024 landscape in New Mexico, indicating that 45th President Donald Trump is just a single digit away from securing victory against Joe Biden. The poll, conducted by Public Policy Polling, engaged 767 New Mexico voters between August 23 and 24.

Despite New Mexico’s recent history of favoring Democrat candidates, this poll presents a compelling case for a potential shift in the political tide. Joe Biden holds a modest lead with 49 percent of the polled voters against both Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. In a hypothetical rematch against Trump, the 45th President garners 41 percent of the vote, with 10 percent of voters remaining undecided.

The electoral history of New Mexico, which has leaned Democratic in recent years, cannot be denied. In the 2020 presidential election, Biden was reported to have won over Trump by a margin of 10.79 percent, garnering 54.29 percent of the vote to Trump’s 43.5 percent. Notably, the last Republican to win New Mexico was George W. Bush in 2004, marking a potential turning point for the state’s political landscape.

Breaking down the respondents, 52 percent indicated their support for Biden, while 41 percent cast their vote for Trump; 7 percent either voted for another candidate or refrained from voting altogether.

However, Biden manages to maintain his lead despite holding a higher disapproval rating than approval among New Mexico voters. The poll reveals that 45 percent of respondents approve of Biden’s presidential performance, while 48 percent express disapproval.

The poll encompassed 767 New Mexico voters, utilizing both landline and text message outreach on August 23 and 24. The survey employed a split of 35 percent landline and 65 percent text message contacts. The margin of error for topline questions stands at 3.5 percent, with subpopulations likely to have a slightly larger margin of error. This poll serves as a noteworthy indication that the political landscape in New Mexico may be on the cusp of change, opening the door for increased conservative support in future elections.

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