Democracy for New Mexico

REMINDER: Last Comedy Fundraiser for Griego Tonight

Last Chance! Tonight. Golden West Downtown. 7:00 PM. Griego serves up comedy to benefit his campaign and keep his TV ad running. Click for info.

Phonebank With Conservation Voters

From the League of Conservation Voters:
There's still time to help our state-level partner, Conservation Voters New Mexico (www.cvnm.org) elect a pro-conservation city council and mayor of Albuquerque!

Their phone bank last week was very successful -- volunteers called over 1100 Albuquerque voters, thanks to your help -- but there are still opportunities to participate in the campaign, and CVNM really needs your help for the final push. Remember, by volunteering, you can help three candidates and your favorite conservation group -- all at the same time!

Please read below to sign up for our upcoming activities -- CVNM can't do it without you!

Volunteer Phone Bank
Thursday, September 29, 5 PM - 9 PM
*(shifts are 5 PM - 7 PM, 7 PM - 9 PM)
LCV New Mexico Office -- 400 Gold Ave. SW, Suite 110
Volunteers will be calling voters in District 3 and 9 to remind supporters for Griego, Catechis and Benton to vote. Please bring a cell phone with you if possible, our phone lines are limited.
To sign up, click here

Volunteer Phone Bank
Monday, October 3, 5 PM - 9 PM
*(shifts are 5 PM - 7 PM, 7 PM - 9 PM)
LCV New Mexico Office -- 400 Gold Ave. SW, Suite 110
Volunteers will be calling voters in District 3 and 9 to remind supporters for Griego, Catechis and Benton to vote. Please bring a cell phone with you if possible, our phone lines are limited.
To sign up, click here

Election Day
Tuesday, October 4 10 AM - 7 PM
*(shifts are 10 AM - 1 PM, 1 PM - 4 PM, 4 PM - 7 PM - come for any part of any shift)
LCV New Mexico Office -- 400 Gold Ave. SW, Suite 110
Conservation Voters New Mexico needs volunteers to phone bank and act as poll watchers, and other potential election day activities. If you are available at any time, they need you! Please bring a cell phone with you if possible, our phone lines are limited.
To sign up, click here.

Thank you for supporting this effort!
Maggie Toulouse, Campaign Manager, Southwest
League of Conservation Voters

Griego Challenges ABQ Chamber of Commerce to Debate on Living Wage

Albuquerque Mayoral Candidate Eric Griego has challenged the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce to a public debate on the living wage ballot intiative voters will consider in the October 4th municipal election. Griego is the only candidate for mayor who supports the measure. Click to read his letter to the Chamber's, Terri Cole.

The Chamber and other parties opposed to raising the minimum wage in Albuquerque have created a front group called "The Coalition to Expose Ballot Deception."  I received a mailer from them this weekend that was full of lies and half-truths, and a similar full page ad appeared today on the back page of the Albuquerque Journal's Business Outlook section.

Apparently unwilling or unable to counter the merits of a raised minimum wage, the Chamber and its cohorts have decided to attack a provision that would allow information on the rules to be discussed with employees on sidewalks and other public areas of businesses. Among a string of deceptions, they wrongly claim the measure would allow "complete strangers to enter your child's school," and that a clause "allows protestors and organizers to invade private property, badger customers and bring business to a complete standstill." Talk about using inaccurate, lower than low scare tactics. I think it's shameful, not to mention desperate.

Here's Matthew Henderson's response to the Chamber's deceptions, as published in the Alibi:

Matthew Henderson, head organizer for ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, which is spearheading the drive for a living wage here, said the language used in the ordinance already exists in National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) case law. "There's nothing to stop you from saying to a cashier, ’Hey, I hope you're earning more than $5.15 an hour. Do you know what the new minimum wage is?'" On the other hand, Henderson said, "An employer has the right to kick you off their property if you're disrupting their business. This ordinance doesn't change any of that."

Bird Vote Blogging

Absentee voting in-person and early voting in-person for the October 4 election . Plan on voting election day? See ? You can online. In addition to candidates and ballot initiatives, voters will also see a number of general obligation bonds on the ballot. GO bonds are used to fund essential infrastructure such as roads, sewer systems, and libraries. Voters may before voting.

The League of Women Voters of Albuquerque - Bernalillo County has a website that includes an online version of their always excellent nonpartisan Voters Guide, with information on voting, deadlines, candidates, ballot initiatives and more.

You can visit the websites of many of the candidates and groups advocating on behalf of ballot initiatives by clicking on the links on the left-hand side of this page.

Ginger, our lutino parakeet, intends to help get out the avian vote, even those birds who aren't exactly alive (see above). She's a staunch supporter of Eric Griego and Marianne Dickinson, and is particularly concerned about making sure the living wage proposal wins. Ginger owns a small election consulting firm and she pays her human workers (see top) quite well, but she wants to make sure ALL of Albuquerque's workers start getting a better deal.

DC & Nationwide Antiwar Events Set for Today

Today's Demonstration in London

More than 100,000 people are expected to demonstrate today in Washington D.C. to bring our troops home from Iraq, with hundreds of related events scheduled in cities and towns across America in a national day of action. Protests were also scheduled for London and other places around the globe.

In Albuquerque, protestors will gather at 11:00 AM at the Truman gate to Kirtland Air Force Base and march to a location on Jackson Street SE near Highland High School for a Noon rally, speakers, music and more. Click for flyer and more information. Highland High School is located at 4700 Coal Ave SE. Here's a map of the area that shows Jackson SE.

Here's the speech Gold Star Mother for Peace Cindy Sheehan plans to give this afternoon at the D.C. rally. You can watch the entire Washington protest on TV on CSPAN or online starting this morning.

Meanwhile, Win Without War is running an antiwar ad in newspapers across the country today. The left side of the double-page ad pictures Bush and administration officials with quotes about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq under the headline "They lied." The right side lists the names of U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq with the headline "They died."

Congressional Black Caucus Democrats have met with anti-war leaders and two are expected to address today's D.C. rally, Cynthia A. McKinney of Georgia and John Conyers Jr. of Michigan. But other top Dem Party "leaders" all have "plans elsewhere."  Even with support caving for George's war, Dems with presidential ambitions, like Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, John Edwards and Russ Feingold, as well as our Party Chair, Howard Dean, House Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Harry Reid, are avoiding taking a strong stand against the Iraq War.

Can't say I'm surprised. After all, speaking out now might dismay some mythical "swing voter" somewhere on the planet and we can't have that, can we? And despite Dean's passionate antiwar stance during his presidential campaign, I guess he's now at the mercy of the limitations imposed by Dem Party bigwigs. What a shame.

10 Days to Get Out the Vote!

From the Albuquerque Living Wage Campaign:

Minimum Wage Will Benefit Workers & Businesses, Say Economists
Distinguished economists, Robert Pollin and Arin Dube, discussed their findings on the expected impact of the Albuquerque minimum wage ordinance and the impact of the San Francisco & Santa Fe ordinances at an event hosted by the UNM Economics Department on Monday, September 19.  Both agree that the Albuquerque workers will benefit enormously from the increase while the impact on businesses and consumers will be negligible.  For more details, go to www.abqlivingwage.org.

JOIN THE VOTER BLITZ
Only two weekends remain to get out the vote for the wage increase!  Sign up to join in the voter canvassing blitz this Saturday, or contact us to phone bank or canvass another day: 242-7411, matthew@abqlivingwage.org.

Fight Night: Chris Catechis Needs Your Help

It's Fight Night: Albuquerque NM
The Fight of 2005: Chris Catechis Vs. City Councilor Tina Cummins
 
Friends-- Let get ready to rumble. We need your help -- TODAY! Chris Catechis needs your help, the people of District 9 need your help.
 
"We can win this fight.........we are going to win this Fight."
 
Chris and his camp are working very hard, going door to door -- canvassing, phone banking and raising money all in a final push to victory.  Chris will be the Champion of the people and for the people of District 9. We only have 9 days left till the Big Fight and we need your HELP!!!
 
Chris is the only Democrat running and his upper cut is lethal. He has the Republicans scared and on the ropes, so much so they have opened and increased their resources, pockets and their WAR chest to his opponent......and for good reason.
 
Chris is a fighter, he is responsive, a strong leader, who has vision , and will work for the people of District 9, not against them. Chris is the true and undisputed  Champion of District 9. So please consider helping Chris send out a the Knock out punch to the Republicans. Please consider sending  Chris your financial support.
 
"And winner by TKO and new City Councilor - Chris Catechis". 
 
So please help, consider a donation for Chris Catechis. The camp is also looking for volunteer's to canvass and phone bank. Visit our website: www.chriscatechis.com

Click for the Alibi's endorsement of Chris Catechis.

Some Lighter Fare

Got the workin' too hard for the cause and watchin' too much hurricane coverage blues? Check out something a little lighter, and it benefits Santa Fe's nationally recognized Teen Center, Warehouse 21, which is in the midst of fundraising so they can build a brand new facility at the Railyard that will include a concert space:

(Click image for larger version.)

Groovy. Click for more info.

Support Last Griego Comedy Fundraiser!

“It’s better than Cats!”

“I can’t wait to see the Chavettes!”

Please join us for a Final Fundraiser with Mayoral Candidate
Eric Griego

An Evening of Comedy
The Golden West Saloon
620 Central Ave. SW
7 PM, Monday, September 26

Suggested Donation:  $20
For Tickets call the Golden West Saloon at 242-2353 or call Molly at 224-9042
Click for flyer

ACTION ALERT: Still Much to Do to Support Clean Election Code

From Common Cause NM:
Last week, we sent a CauseNet to our supporters across the country about the Open and Ethical Elections Code push in Albuquerque, and we certainly got a response.  Individuals from all parts of the country -- from Maryland to Hawaii, from Connecticut to California -- wished us luck in this campaign.¹  But it has been New Mexico residents who have been the most adamant in their desire for Clean Elections in the Duke City.  Albuquerque residents, as well as supporters from Santa Fe, Taos, Las Cruces, and other places around the state, have shown their support.  We are currently knocking on doors, educating voters about this measure, and urging their support in the October 4 election.

It's not too late to help.  Sign up at and be a part of this exciting movement.  Whether you are knocking on doors or calling potential supporters, you will get a real sense of support for Clean Elections.²  Our volunteers have been commenting on the positive reactions they are hearing, and about how rewarding it feels to interact with voters in an effort to level the political playing field.

Even if you can't be on the ground in Albuquerque, you can still help in other ways.  Tell your friends in the area about our effort.  Donate to help fund our activities here.  We have less than two weeks until victory, but we will need your help.

Join Us In Albuquerque for Clean Elections
There is definitely a movement afoot.  Our coalition partnerships continue to grow as groups such as the League of Women Voters, Albuquerque Interfaith, Southwest Organizing Project, and others push for Clean Elections.  Common Cause is doing a full-court press as well.  Staff from Washington, DC, and our Colorado office have already been to Albuquerque, and in the coming week, more staff from California, Colorado, DC, and Oregon will join us.  Common Cause President Chellie Pingree was recently in New Mexico to promote the Open and Ethical Elections Code at the home of State Senator Dede Feldman.³  And it's not too late to join the cause.

Of course, the most important thing for Albuquerque residents to do is vote "Yes" on the Open and Ethical Elections Code on October 4.  The measure has been endorsed by the Alibi,⁴ The Albuquerque Tribune,⁵ mayoral candidates, City Councilors, and we have received favorable attention in publications like Crosswinds Weekly.⁶  But as we move into the final days of this campaign, it is your support, that of all New Mexico residents, that will make the difference.

Thank you for all you do for Clean Elections in New Mexico.
Sincerely,
Matt Brix
Director, Common Cause New Mexico

Give to Common Cause

Discuss this message

1: https://www.commonblog.com/story/2005/9/21/14346/0252

2: https://www.commoncause.org/site/lookup.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=992501

3: https://www.commonblog.com/story/2005/9/13/113515/294

4: https://www.alibi.com/editorial/section_display.php?di=2005-09-15&scn=feature#12724

5: https://www1.abqtrib.com/albq/op_editorials/article/0,2565,ALBQ_19867_3854468,00.html

6: