Democracy for New Mexico

Op-Ed: Protection of Sacred Sites

Editor's Note: The following is an op-ed we sent to the Albuquerque Journal and Albuquerque Tribune on behalf of DFA-Democracy for New Mexico. Although neither newspaper decided to print it, we wanted to get our points published. The Cultural Properties Review Committee met last Friday.

Rank and File Democrats Stand for Respect for All Cultures and the Protection of Sacred Sites

Democracy for New Mexico promotes a democratic, fair, and equitable society for all New Mexicans. We have seen city, and state officials proclaim, on occasion after occasion, the “tri-cultural” legacy as positive proof of a vibrant New Mexico.  So it is with great concern that we find the Paseo Del Norte issue once again being discussed absent basic respect for Native American cultural values. 

This Friday the Cultural Properties Review Committee of the State of New Mexico will meet to decide whether or not to grant the City of Albuquerque a permit to remove Petroglyphs that are within the Paseo Del Norte road corridor. At the last meeting of this State Committee, Governor Richardson’s Cabinet Secretary for Cultural Affairs, Stuart Ashman, advocated in favor of the construction of Paseo Del Norte extension.

Yet just six months ago, Governor Richardson signed an Executive Order urging full tribal consultation on issues concerning sacred sites. No such tribal consultation has taken place.

If as Democrats, we do not stand for respect for all cultures and the protection of sacred sites, who will? Perhaps Governor Richardson should stop following Mayor Martin Chavez’s dictates. They both ought to be less concerned with re-election and more concerned with supporting basic Democratic values.

The Bernalillo County Democratic Party and the New Mexico State Democratic Party – representing the rank-and-file and heart and soul of our Party – have standing resolutions in opposition to the Paseo Extension. It’s high time we respect those resolutions from the base of the Party.

DFA- Democracy for New Mexico, Albuquerque

Tipping Point?

Mayor Mayor Rocky Anderson speaks to crowd at Salt Lake City peace rally.

Wow. More than 2,000 people, many of whom were vets or folks with family members in the service, showed up in Salt Lake City yesterday to protest the Iraq War and other Bush policies as he spoke to the VFW convention there. Read all about it (especially the parts about the courageous stand made by Salt Lake City's Mayor, Rocky Anderson). I mean. This was Utah...

Quote:

Salt Lake resident Hugh Musser, 74, said he was a Korean War veteran who came to the protest because of "the lies about this war and the reasons we went into it."

"I'm so opposed to our administration. I'm not politically motivated, I'm an independent. I think we have really lost our democracy," Musser said.

And then there's this:

Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, who accompanied the president, said the president saw the protesters along the motorcade route.

"[Bush] got a chuckle. He said 'Look, look at all the middle fingers.' Frankly, we ought to show respect to the office and the person regardless of what party they come from."

Hey Orrin, we respect the office, but we know the person holding it is a liar and an abuser of our democratic heritage. Ah, but George himself can only "chuckle." Has there ever been a president as shallow and juvenile as this one?

Here's a report from the scene that includes a link to video of Mayor Rocky giving his speech to the protest crowd in Pioneer Square. Highly recommended.

REMINDER: Crucial Valle Vidal Public Hearings

From the Coalition for the Valle Vidal:
Keep Up the Momentum – Turn Out for the Valle Vidal!

The Carson National Forest is Holding Public Hearings on the Valle Vidal’s Future:

Raton - Tuesday, August 23rd,at 2 PM and 7 PM
Raton Convention Center, 9021  S.3rd St., Raton, NM

Taos – Thursday, August 25th,at 2 PM and 7 PM
Taos Convention Center, 120 Civic Plaza Drive, Taos, NM

Santa Fe - Tuesday, August 30th at 2 PM and 7 PM
Santa Fe Community College, 6401 Richards Ave., Santa Fe, NM 

Sign-in will begin one hour prior to each meeting

These hearings are the first opportunity for the PUBLIC TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY during this official “scoping” on the future of the Valle Vidal.  A showing of strong support for protecting the Valle Vidal is critical.

The Forest Service will provide the latest information on the Forest Plan amendment process for the Valle Vidal.  The Forest Service will also solicit verbal or written comments on the amendment process from area residents.   

Please join the Coalition for the Valle Vidal at these hearings and submit oral or written comments on:
    1.  How you value the Valle Vidal, 
    2.  Why the Valle Vidal is important to you, 
    3.  How would you like to see the Valle managed.         

IT IS VITAL that we tell the Forest Service that we want to see the entire Valle Vidal closed to leasing and development of oil and gas resources NOW, in this Forest Plan Amendment stage, and NOT in another, future Forest Service planning process.  The Valle Vidal is too precious to remained threatened by Big Oil’s wells, roads, pipelines, compressor stations, toxic chemicals and traffic!!

See  https://www.vallevidal.org/urgent.html for more information on effective talking points.

Written comments concerning the proposed amendment should be submitted at the hearing or sent to:
Carson National Forest
Attn: Valle Vidal Forest Plan Amendment
208 Cruz Alta Road
Taos, NM 87571

Or by email: comments-southwestern-carson@fs.fed.us "Valle Vidal Amendment" must be in the subject line of the email.

Comments are due by September 14, 2005.

For more information on preparing comments visit https://www.vallevidal.org/urgent.html

Camp Casey Endures and Grows

According to Democracy Now:

Despite the temporary departure of Cindy Sheehan to care for her ailing mother, the antiwar vigil outside President Bush’s estate in Crawford is continuing to grow. Hundreds gathered on Saturday night to hear musician Steve Earle perform at Camp Casey. Legendary folk singer Joan Baez also held a concert Sunday evening. Military families, veterans and other supporters are coming from around the country - as far away as Alaska, California and Massachusetts - to support Cindy’s efforts . . . Cindy Sheehan’s supporters are vowing to stay throughout the month until Bush’s vacation ends and then on to Washington for a major antiwar rally on September 24th.

Anyone who was at the magnificent two-hour-plus acoustic marathon performance of Steve Earle last week at Albuquerque's Lobo Theater knows how passionate Steve is about the lies and distortions of the Bush administration and the horrible consequences of another "Rich Man's War." Earle peppered his performance with pointed political rants about the hallmarks of genuine democracy, the Iraq War, labor struggles and more.

You can watch a video clip of Earle sparking the crowd and singing "Revolution Starts Now" at Camp Casey at Truthout. Speaking about how it's important that the anti-Iraq war effort continue transforming into a mainstream movement, he says:

The Viet Nam War didn't end because I opposed it. It ended because my father came to oppose it.

The Lone Star Iconoclast continues it excellent coverage of Camp Casey and includes many photos.

And KUNM interviews participants in last week's vigil in support of Cindy Sheehan on the Santa Fe Plaza. Click for audio clip.

Donate to the cause:

Gold Star Families for Peace

Crawford Peace House

Veterans for Peace

Miltary Families Speak Out

Iraq Veterans Against the War

Viet Nam Veterans Against the War

Code Pink Women for Peace

The Revolution Starts Now - By Steve Earle

I was walkin’ down the street
In the town where I was born
I was movin’ to a beat
That I’d never felt before
So I opened up my eyes
And I took a look around
I saw it written ‘cross the sky
The revolution starts now
Yeah, the revolution starts now

The revolution starts now
When you rise above your fear
And tear the walls around you down
The revolution starts here
Where you work and where you play
Where you lay your money down
What you do and what you say
The revolution starts now
Yeah the revolution starts now

Yeah the revolution starts now
In your own backyard
In your own hometown
So what you doin’ standin’ around?
Just follow your heart
The revolution starts now

Last night I had a dream
That the world had turned around
And all our hopes had come to be
And the people gathered ‘round
They all brought what they could bring
And nobody went without
And I learned a song to sing
The revolution starts now

Sarangel Music (ASCAP)

Update on NM Legislative Election Reform Task Force

From Paul Stokes:
This update discusses the proceedings of the last Election Reform Task Force.

The agenda for the Task Force meeting on 15 Aug was as follows:

1. Rules for Third-Party Registration Agents -- Registration Forms -- Federal Forms -- Implementation -- Associated Costs
2. Procedures for Voters to Challenge Rejected provisional Ballots -- Secretary of State Appeal Procedures Under HAVA -- Costs
3. Timing of Open Registration and Early Voting
4. Address Provisions for Registration and Petition Purposes

Most of the discussion involved the first agenda item. Issues discussed were:

• Whether or not county clerks should be able to process registration of third-party registration agents, in addition to the Secretary of State
• Problems that may occur because of the 48 hour requirement for delivering certificates of registration,
• There is a significant problem with the inconsistency of state registration forms that conform with the new New Mexico election law and the federal forms, which the state is required to accept,
• There is confusion about the responsibilities of third-party registration agents and the organizations for whom they work,
• There is confusion about whether persons who help others register but are not employed by any organization are considered third-party registration agents,
• There was concern about the social security numbers of registrants being on copies of forms retained by third-party registration agents or their employers,
• And other problems, mostly involving process, in implementing the new law.

The Task Force agreed that the spirit of the new law could probably be met, but that these various practical problems needed to be addressed.

With regard to agenda item 2, concern was expressed by Ernie Marquez representing the office of the Secretary of State regarding the time taken for challenges, and the timeliness of the canvass, currently required to be completed in three days.

Mary Herrera, County Clerk of Bernalillo County, addressed agenda item 3. Concerns expressed involved the possible incompatibility of timing requirements in various parts of the election law.

No significant issues were raised regarding item 4.

A tentative agenda was distributed for the remainder of the Task Force meetings. Through the good efforts of Charlotte Roybal, time will be given to the grass roots election reform coalition in the October meeting to discuss our recommendations regarding voting machines to be purchased to meet the requirements of HAVA and the new New Mexico election law.

The next Election Reform Task Force meeting will be held on 8,9 September in Gallup and Laguna. The tentative agenda is

• voter education and outreach to disenfranchised voters
• up-front costs of recounts
• procedures for random checks of voting machines
• constitutional problems with precinct level reporting
• implementation of voter ID requirements; voter ID cards
• canvass observers--limits--how to enforce
• costs of implementation

Our grass roots community may have special interests in the third bullet, procedures for random checks of voting machines. We may also have concerns regarding the fourth bullet, constitutional problems with precinct level reporting, inasmuch as such reporting is crucial to checking the accuracy of the official vote totals for candidates.

Paul Stokes

Note:  The Stokes will be hosting a dinner Wednesday evening for those who have been involved in election reform activism here in NM. They'll discuss the latest developments regarding election reform, and Holly and Lowell will be in town taking depositions for the voters' lawsuit. Email them at stokescorrales@comcast.net for more information.

This information was originally posted to the update@UVoteNM.org mailing list. The goal of this list is to inform interested parties of what is going on with election reform in New Mexico. To subscribe, send an email from the address that you wish to subscribe to, to update-subscribe@UVoteNM.org. More info on Verfied Voting New Mexico https://vvnm.org

Sunday Bird Blogging

Bush and Armstrong may have been enjoying themselves with Mountain Biking for Millionaires over the weekend, but Bosco the peach-faced lovebird believes Bush Is Over:

Yes, Bosco is a strong supporter of Gold Star Mother for Peace Cindy Sheehan and all the other committed souls who are still camping out in Crawford while Cindy herself spends time in the hospital with her mother.

Bosco, ruminating on one of his oat groats, told me to urge everyone to hang in there -- a tipping point may well be coming in our long and winding road to peace and getting the people to see that the BushCo Emperor has no clothes.

(Click on photos for larger images.)

DPNM Seeking Volunteers for Booth at NM State Fair

From the DPNM:
The Democratic Party of New Mexico will be hosting a booth at the NM State Fair in Albuquerque.  We are recruiting volunteers for a Committee to help with the planning and managing of the booth, plus volunteers to staff the booth.

Last year over 645,000 people visited the State Fair.  We will have more contact with voters during this two week period than at any other time.  Volunteers manning the booth will be provided a free parking and admission pass for their shift.

The State Fair runs from September 9th– 25th, for a total of 16 days.  We are recruiting for three hours shifts.  Please pick a day(s) and time(s) that will work for your schedule. 

• 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
• 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
• 6:00 PM to Close (8 – 9 PM)

We will be having a training here at DPNM Headquarters, 1301 San Pedro NE, on September 6th at 6:00 PM.  If you want to volunteer, please let me know and try to attend this meeting/training.  We are requesting that the County Clerk’s office attend our training to certify our volunteers as 3rd Party Agents to enable them to register voters.

If you are interested in helping out please contact Marci at 505-830-3650 or marci@nmdemocrats.org.

DPNM Hiring Field Organizers

From: Vanessa Alarid, Executive Director, Democratic Party of New Mexico:
The DNC’s Assessment Team recently visited our Land of Enchantment.  They were in NM to represent Governor Dean and make recommendations to the DNC about New Mexico-specific party building. With the DNC’s assistance, the Democratic Party of New Mexico will be hiring several field organizers.   

We hope that competition will be fierce for these positions, and if you wish to suggest someone for an organizer position, please feel free to forward resumes to my attention. We have specific needs for applicants with advanced proficiency in computers and technology, and communications, and/or who are fluent in Spanish, and of course, they must be New Mexicans.   

THE DPNM SEEKS POLITICAL ORGANIZERS
Apply before August 31!

Democratic Party of New Mexico is looking for organizers to work across the state.  Candidates must be interested in building the overall infrastructure of the Democratic Party of New Mexico to ensure that newly implemented programs continue for years to come.  Candidates need to be affable and hard-working, with a genuine interest in people and a demonstrable dedication to Democratic politics and to winning elections.  Travel around the state – the fifth largest in the country -- will be the norm.  Strong organizational and communications abilities are a must, with a basic level of proficiency in computers and an eagerness to learn.  Organizers must be both patient and gregarious, with a let’s-roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-things-done attitude. 

The available field organizer positions are supervised by the DPNM Executive Director and the Chief Operations Officer, and will be responsible for building the strength and success of the DPNM at the state and county level.  They will work with the DPNM staff to facilitate communications and advance the DPNM within the existing Party organizational structure. 

Specifically, organizers’ responsibilities include, but are not limited to: organizing workshops and trainings on precinct organizing; recruiting volunteers; encouraging fundraising activities and soliciting contributions and involvement in DPNM fundraising efforts;  making public statements on behalf of the Democratic Party and arranging other opportunities to deliver our message; planning and staffing phone banks, precinct walks, and data entry projects, primarily for the purposes of identifying voters and improving the DPNM voter file; drafting plans for get‑out‑the‑vote efforts; and assisting in the implementation of events required by the DPNM rules and bylaws.  Send resumes to Vanessa@nmdemocrats.org or mattf@nmdemocrats.org

Qualifications:

• Native New Mexican
• Bilingual/ strong proficiency in Spanish
• Strong writing and speaking skills. 
• Facility with computers and basic computer programs such as Microsoft Outlook, Word, Internet Explorer, and Excel.
• A willingness to travel extensively and work long hours.
• Ability to work well with groups and individuals with a wide variety of personalities, needs, and abilities. Experience recruiting, training and managing volunteers are important.
• Previous political organizing and Democratic campaign experience.
• An understanding of, and commitment to, the DPNM’s mission and goals.
• Experience with fund raising and working with the media are pluses.

Salary and Benefits:
Starting annual salary is $28,000, depending on experience. Health insurance. An opportunity to work with and on behalf of Democrats at the local, state, and national level.

Vanessa Alarid
Executive Director
Democratic Party of New Mexico
505-550-1387 cell
505-830-3650 work
505-830-3645 fax

Learn About Misguided U.S. Plans to Develop a New Nuclear Weapon!

From the Union of Concerned Scientists:

During the last week of August, Dr. Robert Nelson, a physicist from the Union of Concerned Scientists, will give a series of presentations in New Mexico about the government’s proposal to build a new nuclear weapon—the "Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator" (RNEP). Numerous scientific critiques, including one by the National Academy of Science, have found that in many cases such a weapon would be ineffective. In addition, the nuclear blast and radioactive fall-out could kill millions of innocent people in surrounding areas.

New Mexicans can play an important role in influencing the fate of this weapon because Senator Pete Domenici chairs the committee that funds RNEP development.

Please join us in Taos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque or Socorro. Check the schedule posted on the UCS website for additional venues or changes. If you have questions, please contact us at globalsecurity@ucsusa.org or telephone 202-331-5422.

Taos
Monday, August 29
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Enos Garcia Elementary School
305 Don Fernando Street

Santa Fe
Tuesday, August 30
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Santa Fe Unitarian Universalist Church
107 West Barcelona Street

Albuquerque
Wednesday, August 31
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Friends Meeting House
1600 Fifth Street NW

Socorro
Thursday, September 1
7:30 to 9:00 pm
New Mexico Tech
Workman Building 101

SEEDPAC Endorses Dickinson for ABQ City Council

Campaign Updates & New Endorsers

The campaign is really picking up momentum now and has received some new endorsements. In the past few weeks numerous unions, community organizations, legislators and constituents have given us their support and we are truly honored that so many of you have decided to support our campaign.

Some of the organizations that have endorsed as of August 18, 2005:

Central New Mexico Labor Council

AFSCME Council 18

AFSCME International

United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1564

SEEDPAC

The strong stance Marianne has taken on Labor and Environmental issues has enabled her to win the support of these great organizations.  But we still need you to help us get the good news out to the voters of the district. If you are available to doorknock or phone for Marianne please contact us at 385-8760 or by visiting our newly revised website - www.MarianneDickinson.com and going to the Contact page.

Thank you for your continued support!

Contact: Keegan King @ 385-8760, 842-5539 or keegan@mariannedickinson.com
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Editor's Note: You can donate to or volunteer for Dickinson's campaign regardless of whether you live in her district or not. Of course, if you do live in ABQ City Council District 7, I know you want a change!

Click to find your . Remember, to vote in the October 4th municipal election, you must be registered to vote by September 6th at 5:00 PM.

Click for municipal election info from the . For information on how to register, call the Albuquerque City Clerk's office at 505-768-4090, the Democratic Party of New Mexico at 830-3650 or the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County at 256-1855. Click for the in Bernalillo County.