New Mexico Archives - Page 38 of 194

Longtime GOP state senator shockingly resigns

5 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By Renato Costa

On Wednesday, Republican state Sen. Gay Kernan of Hobbs, who has served for 21 years, announced her retirement in a statement.

“After much prayerful consideration, and with the help of my family, I have made the difficult decision to resign from my seat as New Mexico State Senator for District 42, effective August 1, 2023. I have not taken for granted the trust and confidence the voters have placed in me,” she wrote.

“Serving the constituents of Lea, Eddy, and Chaves Counties in the New Mexico Legislature has been a privilege and a tremendous honor. While I will miss my constituents and colleagues, and while transitions can be challenging, I am confident the Lea, Eddy, and Chaves County Commissions will recommend a qualified nominee from which my replacement will be selected.”

KRQE News 13 reported, “Kernan has been serving in the legislature since 2002 when she was appointed by then-Governor Gary Johnson. With a lengthy record of service, Kernan is among the longest-serving senators in New Mexico.”

State Rep. Larry Scott (R-Hobbs) will apply to serve out the remainder of Kernan’s term, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.

“I think I have ably represented the interests of my constituents in Southeast New Mexico, particularly when it comes to energy issues,” said Scott, president of Lynx Petroleum Consultants Inc.

“When I decided to run [for another term] three years ago, it was something that I struggled with, trying to figure out whether to run or not run, and I felt like I still had some things that I wanted to accomplish,” Kernan said to the New Mexican. “I’m glad I did, but four years is a long time … and I just really need to kind of reassess and be there for my family.”

On Wednesday, 21-year Republican state Sen. Gay Kernan of Hobbs announced her retirement in a statement.

State Rep. Larry Scott (R-Hobbs) will apply to serve out the remainder of Kernan’s term, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.

“I think I have ably represented the interests of my constituents in Southeast New Mexico, particularly when it comes to energy issues,” said Scott, president of Lynx Petroleum Consultants Inc.

“When I decided to run [for another term] three years ago, it was something that I struggled with, trying to figure out whether to run or not run, and I felt like I still had some things that I wanted to accomplish,” Kernan said to the New Mexican. “I’m glad I did, but four years is a long time … and I just really need to kind of reassess and be there for my family.”

Libs flip out after someone writes ‘Jesus Saves’ in chalk on Santa Fe ‘Pride’ flag

51 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By Piñon Post

The far-left was radio silent during the Black Lives Matter/Antifa riots that resulted in the destruction of property, attacks on businesses, and the desecration of historical monuments. They were equally silent when extremist anti-Hispanic hate groups attacked and toppled the Soldiers Monument that formerly sat in downtown Santa Fe for over 150 years.

However, now they suddenly care about vandalism after an LGBT “Progress Pride” flag installed on the pavement in Santa Fe’s plaza by the City was repeatedly defaced. The flag claims to support not only the gay community but includes transgender and “people of color” in its design as supposed marginalized communities.

Someone wrote “Jesus Saves” across the flag in white chalk.

Santa Fe City Manager John Blair complained about the taxpayer-funded painted flag being defaced, telling KOB 4, “Intentionally placing ‘Jesus saves’ over a version of a pride flag is not intended to be loving or welcoming. It’s meant to be discriminatory and hateful.”

Apparently, Blair believes Jesus is “hateful.”

According to KOB 4, “This display will only be up until the end of the month, but the city is planning on installing a permanent rainbow flag over by the Rail Yard Markets.”

In Albuquerque, a taxpayer-funded $30,000 rainbow crosswalk that was installed by far-left Mayor Tim Keller has been repeatedly vandalized.

It is unclear why these cities that purport to be proud of their flag would put it in a place where it can be written on, much less walked or driven on.

New Mexico is one of the top ten states feeling the pain of inflation

4 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By John Block

Inflation is taking a toll on New Mexicans, despite the supposed low unemployment rate in the state, being touted repeatedly by Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

USA Today writes, “Despite decades-low unemployment levels, adults across the country report feeling unnerved about their finances. The culprit? Inflation…. When prices skyrocketed last year, the annual inflation rate climbed to a mountainous 9.1% in June 2022 before moderating down to 4.9% now. This is still well above the Federal Reserve’s preferred level of 2%. Gas prices, for instance, are down $1.34 a gallon from this time last year, but are still $0.51 higher than two years ago.”

The news network’s analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau Pulse Survey statistics found that New Mexicans are among the top ten states hurting from inflation, with 50 percent of residents “very stressed out by price increases” while 27 percent are “moderately” stressed out by it — that’s 77 percent!

All of New Mexico’s U.S. House delegation voted against a measure that would fight inflation by promoting American energy over that of Saudi Arabia, Russia, and other foreign nations.

The National Republican Congressional Committee’s spokeswoman Delanie Bomar wrote regarding U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez’s vote against the measure, “New Mexico families are hurting and hold extreme politician Gabe Vasquez responsible for their financial stress. Vasquez clearly doesn’t understand everyday people’s struggle.”

Younger people are having outsized effects of inflation felt under the Joe Biden administration, with the report noting, “Most people aged between 25 and 54 felt very stressed by price increases (the largest group being 53% of those aged between 40 and 54). And well over half, 80%, of both age groups were either ‘very’ or ‘moderately stressed.’”

Regarding inflation stress and educational demographics, those without a high school diploma felt the most stress, with 63 percent very stressed and 19 percent moderately stressed.

Those who have children at home were 11 percent more stressed than those without, according to USA Today’s analysis.

The outlet noted, “USA Today Blueprint analyzed data from the United States Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey to determine the number of people in each state and city who reported feeling various levels of stress due to rising prices.”

Former state Senator Carroll Leavell passes away

4 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By Piñon Post

On Monday, it was revealed that former state Sen. Carroll H. Leavell, a Republican, passed away at the age of 86.

He served in the New Mexico Legislature, representing Eddy and Lea Counties from 1997 to 2018 in the New Mexico Senate. He retired on December 4, 2018, for health reasons.

Leavell earned a B.A. in business and economics at Eastern New Mexico University in 1958. He was the president and general manager of Leavell Insurance and Real Estate, Inc. from 1964 to 2002.

In the Legislature, Leavell sat on the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

He sponsored legislation to promote the oil and gas industry, make changes to the insurance industry, promote volunteer firefighters, and lower taxes.

“Being the State senator from Jal and representing Southeastern New Mexico have been a source of pride for me. Jal is possibly the furthest city in the state from Santa Fe and I always had fun reminding folks of that,” Leavell told the Carlsbad Current-Argus upon his resignation.

“Thank you southeastern New Mexico for giving me the honor and the distinct pleasure to serve you at the State Capitol. My constituents in Lea and Eddy counties continued to have faith in me and returned me to office over the years,” he said, adding, “In return, I diligently performed my duties as state senator to the best of my abilities.”

According to Leavell’s bio, he was a trustee at the College of the Southwest since the 1990s, a trustee of the Woolworth Community Library Fund since the 1970s, a member of Jal Hospital District’s board of directors, the First Methodist Church, Jal Public Library, the Society of Certified Insurance Commissioners, the National Conference of Insurance Legislators, Independent Insurance Agents of New Mexico, among others.

The New Mexico House Republican caucus wrote in a statement via Twitter, “Our caucus is sending their heartfelt condolences on the passing of retired State Sen. Carroll Leavell. We are thankful for his many years of public service and grateful for his friendship. Thank your for the dedication to your community and our state.”

“Senator Leavell will be remembered as a statesman and leader of the utmost integrity. As a longtime member of the Senate, he put the needs of his constituents ahead of politics and he was widely respected by members on both sides of the aisle. Senator Leavell will be dearly missed and we send our deepest condolences to his family during this difficult time,” wrote the New Mexico Senate GOP caucus.

Lujan Grisham’s new abortion hotline cloaked in secrecy

12 Comments / New Mexico, News, Opinion, Politics / By Piñon Post

The far-left Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham administration recently unveiled its new abortion hotline that is purported to support women’s access to “reproductive health” despite abortion forcibly ending the reproductive process.

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) website claims it is meant to “help when looking for abortion information.” The hotline is likely to push abortion businesses like the Albuquerque-based Southwestern Women’s Options, the Las Cruces-based “The Pink House West,” and Planned Parenthood locations littered across the state.

No information about life-affirming options other than abortion is noted on the NMDOH website despite many of these pro-life pregnancy resource centers offering free help for women in crisis pregnancies.

The website reads, “Help is available for people of all genders and ages. We can help people from any state. You will not be asked any information about citizenship,” apparently showing an aim to push abortion on illegal immigrant women and attempt to service the “trans” community.

“According to state data, there were more than 11,000 reported abortions statewide last year compared with nearly 4,900 abortions reported in 2021,” wrote the Associated Press.

According to a KOB 4 report, “A spokesperson from the governor’s office says the hotline is run by nurses already working at the Department of Health. They’re from the Epidemiology Division [and] helped with the COVID-19 hotline…. The governor’s spokesperson says the hotline is also meant to connect women with housing and transportation needs as well.”

“Call the NM Reproductive Health Hotline for help when looking for abortion information. Your safety and health are important. We do not share your information with anyone. The hotline is staffed by nurses who can answer questions and connect you to health care. The hotline is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. MST and weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” reads the website.

NMDOH also notes, “You can schedule an appointment with a provider to discuss your options. Please call NM Reproductive Health Hotline (1-833-76REPRO) in order to get information about clinics in NM, as well as wait times.” This appears to indicate abortion facilities are the main push of the hotline, contradicting the governor’s spokesperson.

Despite little to no information available about the hotline, it is prominently featured on the NMDOH website. The hotline remains cloaked in secrecy, but no doubt it is meant to continue pushing abortion up-to-birth in the state where no limits whatsoever exist on abortion, including no standards of care to protect pregnant women or their babies in the womb.

Vagrancy plagues ABQ candidate’s business, City responds with violation

21 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By Piñon Post

Albuquerque City Council candidate Dr. Joseph Pitluck Aguirre, who is running in District Six, owns multiple small businesses in Albuquerque. One of his businesses, located at 1700 Central Ave SE, has been plagued by illegal vagrant tent encampments and trespassing.

“Criminal trespassing not resolved at my building at 1700 Central Ave SE. Called 311 and 242-COPS a few days ago. Just called again. You can see the no trespassing sign. Instead of collecting signatures to get on the ballot for city council, I have to deal w/ this,” he tweeted.

*Joseph Pitluck Aguirre walking by one of his businesses on Central Ave. in Albuquerque. Screenshot via Twitter.*

He gave an update, writing in all-caps, “THIS GETS WORSE. I JUST GOT A CODE VIOLATION LETTER FOR HAVING AN ILLEGAL CAMP ON MY PROPERTY!” He included a photo of the code violation letter.

The City wrote that he had until July 5, 2023, to resolve the issues, which Code Enforcement noted were to “Remove all litter and trash from the property, including all remnants of the illegal camps set up on the property” and “All Recreational Vehicles or tents parked or attached to the ground for use as an overnight accommodation shall be on a campsite,” referencing a city ordinance against having a “Campground or Recreational Vehicle Park.”

“The owner of any private property shall at all times maintain the premises free of litter. Provided, however, that this section shall not prohibit the storage of litter in authorized private receptacles for collection,” the letter added.

Aguirre gave another update on Twitter following the letter, writing, “I just drove by 1700 Central Ave SE and someone is STILL camping there. I just called 311 again to find out if ACS was dispatched to help them find shelter. I was told there is currently 3 DAY DELAY before ACS can make contact.… WILL I GET ANOTHER CODE VIOLATION?”

⚠️I just drove by 1700 Central Ave SE and someone is STILL camping there.

I just called 311 again to find out if ACS was dispatched to help them find shelter.

I was told there is currently 3 DAY DELAY before ACS can make contact 🤯

WILL I GET ANOTHER CODE VIOLATION? https://t.co/xqRVoTWU6H
— Joseph Pitluck Aguirre (@JosephPitluck) June 23, 2023

One person noted in response to one of Aguirre’s tweets, “I had someone illegally dump a huge pile of trash in the alleyway behind my elderly neighbors house and when I called the city about it to help her they gave me a code violation for weeds behind my house in said alleyway.”

“How many other people have called Albuquerque 311 for assistance, only to get a code enforcement violation days later? This causes a fundamental mistrust between citizens needing help and a hostile city government. This needs investigation,” Aguirre responded.

The vagrancy and normalization of homelessness in Albuquerque has exacerbated crime problems in the deadly metro area, not only for business owners but also for those living in encampments.

Just Monday, a woman sleeping in a tent just south of Central Avenue was shot and killed. A homicide investigation has been opened into the matter.

Gabe Vasquez gets endorsement from abortion up-to-birth group

20 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By Piñon Post

This week, the abortion up-to-birth group NARAL endorsed far-left Democrat U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-CD-02) for a second term, along with other “frontline” Democrats who face tough reelection prospects.

The group’s president Mini Timmaraju wrote in a statement, “We’re proud to endorse this slate of leaders as the first endorsements of our 2024 electoral program. Ensuring they are reelected is essential to taking back the U.S. House of Representatives and moving one step closer to passing into law legislation that will protect and expand reproductive freedom (abortion).”

The only way for a candidate to receive the radical group’s endorsement is by being 100 percent pro-abortion, meaning no limits whatsoever on abortion procedures — a stance that is far outside of the beliefs of average New Mexicans and Americans in general.

A recent Albuquerque Journal poll found that 59 percent of New Mexicans support some abortion limits, while Vasquez, who represents a district he only won by 0.7 percent, backs full-term abortion.

To double down on his extremist stance, Vasquez wrote on Twitter Sunday to commemorate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade’s reversal, “[Abortion] is health care. On the anniversary of the end of Roe v. Wade, I’m recommitting to fight for reproductive care for all women across the US.”

Reproductive care is health care. On the anniversary of the end of Roe v. Wade, I’m recommitting to fight for reproductive care for all women across the US.
— Rep. Gabe Vasquez (@RepGabeVasquez) June 24, 2023

Vasquez faces fierce Republican competition from former U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell, who has the backing of many big names, including U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

Dems suddenly care about Navajo Nation again after lauding DOI land grab

9 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By Renato Costa

Democrats who backed Joe Biden’s U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland encroaching on the Navajo Nation’s sovereignty by putting in place a 10-mile buffer to ban all natural resource extractive activity are now manufacturing outrage over the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on Navajo Nation’s access to the drying Colorado River.

The Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that the 1868 treaty in question did not include the government’s duty for it to help secure water. Justice Neil Gorsuch, who is from Colorado, sided with the minority, which included all three Democrat-appointed justices.

“The 1868 treaty reserved necessary water to accomplish the purpose of the Navajo Reservation,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in the majority opinion. “But the treaty did not require the United States to take affirmative steps to secure water for the Tribe.”

“Today’s ruling is disappointing and I am encouraged that the ruling was 5-4,” said Navajo Nation president Buu Nygren in a statement. “It is reassuring that four justices understood our case and our arguments. As our lawyers continue to analyze the opinion and determine what it means for this particular lawsuit, I remain undeterred in obtaining quantified water rights for the Navajo Nation in Arizona. The Navajo Nation established a water rights negotiation team earlier this year and we are working very hard to settle our water rights in Arizona.”

When the DOI snatched the land around Chaco Canyon from the Navajo Nation for supposed “conservation” purposes, Democrats lauded the decision to infringe upon the Navajos’ sovereignty.

Now, they are claiming to care about the tribal nation.

“This SHAMEFUL decision upends more than a hundred years of legal precedent at the expense of Tribal water rights and the Trust Responsibility,” asserted far-left Democrat Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury (NM-CD-01) in a melodramatic tweet.

Far-left U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich wrote, “A 5-4 majority on the Supreme Court just denied the Navajo Nation’s right to life sustaining water. This is an extremely disappointing decision that fails all Tribal Nations.”

However, the radical Democrats previously sent out a joint statement applauding the Chaco Canyon ban, disregarding the tribe’s sovereignty. They wrote at the time, “We applaud this historic step to protect Chaco’s irreplaceable resources for future generations.”

New Mexico braces for rolling blackouts this summer

25 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By Piñon Post

New Mexicans and most others in western states are set to be bracing for blackouts this summer, according to a new report from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.

“The demand for electricity is determined by how much one has used at any given time. The more electricity is used, particularly during summer, when most rely on air conditioning, the higher the demand. Electricity supplies power to homes and businesses,” wrote KOAT 7.

Last September, there were reports from PNM that there were concerns about rolling blackouts possibly coming to New Mexico this summer.

“We need the public to be ready to help us conserve and save the grid,” PNM communications director Ray Sandoval said at the time. “That way we don’t have to implement those strategic rotating outages,” he explained.

That news came after the San Juan Generating Station was shuttered due to the far-left Democrats’ Green New Deal (Energy Transition Act), which was responsible for its closure and the loss of many jobs.

As we previously reported last September:

During a special Public Regulation Commission meeting Thursday, Public Service Co. of New Mexico (PNM) said it is being forced to PNM executives said the utility will fill “quite a hole” next summer due to “green” replacements taking longer to materialize as the San Juan Generating Station is set to close next week.
According to PNM spokesman Ray Sandoval, PNM “generally has a 2,000-megawatt system with about 500 megawatts provided by the San Juan Generating Station.”
With the closure of the San Juan Generating Station, it has purged countless jobs, with only around 80 employees able to retire. “For the rest of the employees, though, they’re going to have to go find some other form of employment,” said plant manager Omni Warner.
The AP reports, “El Paso Electric, a utility that serves customers in southern New Mexico, also is expecting a capacity gap next summer. Like PNM, El Paso Electric will have to buy power from other producers to ensure adequate capacity when customers crank up their air conditioners during the hottest of days.”
The report continues, “PNM officials said they have revamped their plans for alerting customers when it looks like demand will outpace capacity and rolling outages might ensue. The media blitz will include automated calls, television and radio commercials along with social media posts that urge customers to cut back on their use. A special website would go live for tracking outages.”

As three-digit temperatures hit New Mexico, we will see if the rolling blackouts and brownouts hit residents, as many have been very concerned about the potential ramifications.

“It’s an impoverished state. Most people here probably won’t have the resources or income to escape and go somewhere else to get some relief. I don’t think that’s safe. It does concern me,” New Mexico resident Melinda Van Stone said to KOAT 7.

Hispanic and Latinos’ ‘drift’ away from Dems could mean Vasquez’s downfall

13 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By Renato Costa

Far-left Democrat U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico’s Second Congressional District could be in for a surprise in his 2024 attempt to seek reelection, as Hispanics and Latinos, who make up 60 percent of the District, are shifting away from the Democrat Party.

Vasquez narrowly won his race in November by a mere 0.7 percent, making him one of the most vulnerable GOP targets in 2024.

According to an Axios-Ipsos Latino Poll, “More Latinos continue to favor the Democratic Party, but their allegiance is drifting. Some Latinos signal growing differences on cultural issues and crime — and give Republicans an edge in handling the economy.”

“Latinos are still more Democratic than Republican by significant margins,” Ipsos pollster and senior vice president Chris Jackson said. “But when you’re talking about elections that are won by a percentage point, small losses can make a difference.”

“The Democratic coalition is complicated in the best of times. The more pieces are in play, the harder it’s going to be for any Democratic candidate to thread the needle.”

This could mean imminent doom for the first-term Vasquez, who faces strong opposition by Republican former Congresswoman Yvette Herrell, who has vast support and won the seat over Democrat Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small, a Latina, in 2020. Herrell has national support from U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, along with many top Republicans in New Mexico.

National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Delanie Bomar wrote, “For years, Gabe Vasquez and the Democrat Party have taken Hispanic voters for granted by ignoring the issues that are most important to them.”

She continued, “Under Biden’s failing economy, it’s clear New Mexico Hispanics are realizing Vasquez isn’t the guy for them.”