New Mexico in Focus (A Production of NMPBS)

This week Lou DiVizio introduces two segments from Our Land's Laura Paskus.

First, Laura sits down with a historian and a Santa Fe County Commissioner who oppose federal plans to build a new transmission line across the Caja del Rio to Los Alamos National Laboratory. Laura asks what harm this transmission line will cause to the area.

Then, Laura talks with Mark Mitchell, former governor of the Pueblo of Tesuque, about government-to-government consultation and how federal officials have handled input from the pueblo.

Host: Lou DiVizio

Segments:

How Federal Power Line Project Can Harm Wildlife in the Caja del Rio

Correspondent: Laura Paskus

Guests:

Hilario Romero, Former State Historian

Anna Hansen, Santa Fe County Commissioner, District 2

Former Pueblo Governor Speaks Against LANL Power Line

Correspondent: Laura Paskus

Guest: Mark Mitchell, Former Governor, Pueblo of Tesuque

For More Information:

Tribes ‘ignored’ as Forest Service approves controversial Caja del Rio transmission project – Source New Mexico 

Lou DiVizio opens the podcast with headlines from around the state.

Then, Our Land Senior Producer Laura Paskus interviews author Dan Flores. Flores is the author of more than a dozen books including Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History and most recently, Wild New World: The Epic Story of Animals and People in America. Flores was in Albuquerque recently for the Leopold Writing Program's annual lecture, where Laura had a chance to chat with him.

For More Information:

https://projectcoyote.org/about/ambassadors/dan-flores/

This week, Lou DiVizio explores the history of Labor Day and the state of labor in New Mexico in 2024. Lou sits down with University of New Mexico professor Dr. Jason Scott Smith as he explains the roots of the holiday and considers how Americans should measure economic success in our country.

Then, Albuquerque-based labor lawyer Stephen Curtice talks to Lou about his work and provides a snapshot of the state of labor today in New Mexico.

The Roots and History of Labor Day

Correspondent: Lou DiVizio

Guest: Dr. Jason Scott Smith, Ph.D., Professor, University of New Mexico History Department

The State of Labor in NM

Correspondent: Lou DiVizio

Guest: Stephen Curtice, Labor Attorney, Youtz & Valdez Firm

In an extra podcast episode from New Mexico in Focus, we're looking ahead to this Friday’s 100th Zozobra in Santa Fe. Every year tens of thousands of New Mexicans gather in Fort Marcy Park to burn away their gloom – in the form of a 50-foot monster names Old Man Gloom. The event is put on each year by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe led by event chair Ray Sandoval. Lou DiVizio speaks with Ray Tuesday for a look ahead at what people can expect for this special centennial celebration.

For More Information:

100th Burning of Zozobra

Lou DiVizio kicks off the podcast with headlines from around the state, including news New Mexico is failing to leverage Medicaid dollars for home visiting programs.

Then, Whitney Holland, president of New Mexico's chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, is one of 45 delegates who attended this month's Democratic National Convention in Chicago. KUNM's Nash Jones catches up with Holland for a look at what happened inside the convention hall and some perspective on how the party platform could impact New Mexicans.

After that, we explore minimum wage rates around our state. Senior Producer Lou DiVizio speaks with New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions Secretary Sarita Nair on state protections for minimum wage employees and tipped workers. Then, Lou asks New Mexico Restaurant Association CEO Carol Wight whether businesses consider a city's minimum wage rate for tipped workers before opening a new location. Later, Marcela Díaz of Somos Un Pueblo Unido tells Lou about the many barriers standing in the way of minimum wage workers who are trying to climb the economic ladder.

Segments:

New Mexico's Role at the Democratic National Convention

Correspondent: Nash Jones

Guest: Whitney Holland, NM Delegate, President, American Federation of Teachers - NM

Secretary Sarita Nair on State Protections for Minimum Wage Workers

Correspondent: Lou DiVizio

Guest: Sarita Nair, Secretary, NM Department of Workforce Solutions

NM Restaurant Association CEO on Paying Tipped Workers

Correspondent: Lou DiVizio

Guest: Carol Wight, CEO, New Mexico Restaurant Association

Economic Barriers Minimum Wage Workers Face in NM

Correspondent:  Lou DiVizio

Guest: Marcela Díaz, Founding Executive Director, Somos Un Pueblo Unido

For More Information:

This week on the podcast, Lou DiVizio updates you on some statewide headlines including news Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will be speaking at the DNC in Chicago Tuesday night.

Then, two advocates examine a recording that captures APD officers using racial slurs and violent language, taken moments after police shot and killed a 30-year-old man.

Daniel Williams of the ACLU of New Mexico tells Executive Producer Jeff Proctor why that recorded conversation is indicative of the “culture of aggression” at the Albuquerque Police Department.

Tiffany Jiron of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women talks to Jeff about the troubled history with APD and the city’s Indigenous community.

Host: Lou DiVizio

Segments:

Racist Remarks by Officers and APD’s ‘Culture of Aggression’

Correspondent: Jeff Proctor

Guest: Daniel Williams, Policing Policy Advocate, ACLU of New Mexico

APD's Troubling History with Indigenous Community

Correspondent: Jeff Proctor

Guest: Tiffany Jiron, Executive Director, Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women

For More Information:

New Mexico Downwinders Push for National Recognition - NMiF

Camera captures APD officers using racial slurs, espousing violence at scene of fatal police shooting – Albuquerque Journal

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Lou DiVizio returns to the podcast with headlines from around the state, including news that 1-in-3 New Mexico counties is considered a "maternity care desert."

Then, Lou speaks with three experts about the City of Albuquerque’s approach when dealing with a growing number of homeless people. Attorney Peter Cubra, Rachel Biggs from Health Care for the Homeless and District 6 City Councilor Nichole Rogers share their perspectives on how city officials deal with encampments, the data being used and ignored that could help paint a more detailed picture of homelessness in the city, and how the various entities working to solve this problem can create a more collaborative relationship.

After that, Executive Producer Jeff Proctor zooms in on the Albuquerque Human Rights Board’s recent draft report alleging the city routinely “violates the autonomy, dignity and rights” of people experiencing homelessness.

First, Jeff speaks with the chair of the board that created the report, Anami Dass. Jeff asks about the methodology behind the report, the allegations the board has made and recommendations to remedy the situation.

Then, Jeff speaks with Albuquerque City Attorney Lauren Keefe for the city’s response to the report and for an update on the city’s policies and practices for clearing encampments. Jeff also asks about recent reporting that Mayor Tim Keller is interested in working with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on an ordinance similar to California Governor Gavin Newsome’s executive order calling for state government and local municipalities to remove encampments.

Host: Lou DiVizio

Segments:

Understanding Encampment Responses Since SCOTUS Decision

Correspondent: Lou DiVizio

Guests:

Peter Cubra, attorney, Coalition for a Safer Albuquerque 

Nichole Rogers, Albuquerque city councilor, District 6 

Rachel Biggs, chief strategy officer, Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless

ABQ Human Rights Board Alleges Violations of Homeless Rights

Correspondent: Jeff Proctor

Guest: Anami Dass, chair, Albuquerque Human Rights Board

ABQ City Attorney Explains City’s Homelessness Policies

Correspondent: Jeff Proctor

Guest: Lauren Keefe, city attorney, City of Albuquerque

Working Towards Solutions for Albuquerque’s Unhoused

Correspondent: Lou DiVizio

Guests:

Peter Cubra, attorney, Coalition for a Safer Albuquerque 

Nichole Rogers, Albuquerque city councilor, District 6 

Rachel Biggs, chief strategy officer, Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless 

Report & Recommendations on the Rights of People Experiencing Homelessness – Albuquerque Human Rights Board

Homelessness increased again across NM since last year, according to latest ‘point-in-time’ count – Source New Mexico

2024 Point-In-Time Count – New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness 

For seven years on NMPBS, “Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present, and Future” has covered so many aspects of climate change: from the oil and gas industry’s greenhouse gas emissions to how human-caused warming affects our rivers, forests, and public health.  In an all-new special, “Loving Our Changing Homelands,” Our Land Senior Producer Laura Paskus  explores the role that love must play in adapting to a changing climate. 

This special was supported in part by PBS's Climate Station Engagement Initiative. 

Across the Navajo Nation, contaminated uranium mines have been polluting the air and water and making people sick for generations. As part of a plan to finally clean up more than a million cubic yards of contaminated uranium and radium waste at just one of those sites, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed relocating the waste to private land within the town of Thoreau. Relocating it to the Red Rocks Disposal Facility would move the uranium off the lands of the Navajo Nation, but as the students point out, the town of Thoreau is predominantly Navajo.

This spring, a representative from the EPA met with the students, who listened to a presentation and interviewed him for their podcast. Our Land Senior Producer Laura Paskus visited Thoreau High School in May and then invited the teens into the studio in Albuquerque to talk about what they’re learning, and who they’re hoping will listen.

Thoreau Teens Oppose Radioactive Dump

Correspondent: Laura Paskus

Guests:

Reagan Russette, Thoreau High School

MiaBella Burrola, Thoreau High School

Ezekiel Gonzales, Thoreau High School

For More Information:

Navajo teenagers fight to prevent radioactive waste in their community – Albuquerque Journal 

Lou DiVizio opens the podcast this week with headlines from around the state including how a Supreme Court decision on homeless encampments might impact New Mexico.

Then, we look ahead to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's special session in July.

You’ll hear from the Governor’s public safety advisor as we ask about the specific problems the administration is hoping to solve with her proposals.

And, a special panel will analyze the potential effectiveness of those bills and the likelihood that they’ll make it through the Roundhouse next month. The proposals have changed quite a bit, even since the Governor announced the special session this spring, so be prepared for even more changes in the coming weeks. 

To stay up to date with the plan for the session, you can keep up with the work of the Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee. Representatives from the Governor’s office presented to committee members during and after our recordings this week. They’re scheduled to meet again July 15, ahead of the first day of the special session on July 18.

State Senior Public Safety Advisor on July's Special Session

Correspondent: Jeff Proctor

Guest: Benjamin Baker, Senior Public Safety Advisor to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

NM’s Shift in Public Safety Policy Ahead of Special Session

Correspondent: Lou DiVizio

Guests:

Dede Feldman, Democratic Former NM State Senator

Trip Jennings, Executive Director, New Mexico In Depth

Daniel Williams, Policing Policy Advocate, ACLU-NM

The Politics of Gov. Lujan Grisham's Special Session

Correspondent: Lou DiVizio

Guests:

Dede Feldman, Democratic Former NM State Senator

Trip Jennings, Executive Director, New Mexico In Depth

Daniel Williams, Policing Policy Advocate, ACLU-NM 

For More Information:

U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Will Allow More Aggressive Homeless Encampment Removals - Pro Publica

Mayor Tim Keller Responds to Grants Pass Ruling - City of Albuquerque

Why is New Mexico's governor calling a special session now? – KOAT

Both Republicans and Democrats skeptical of guv’s proposals for special session – New Mexico Political Report