Democracy for New Mexico

Guest Blog: ABQ City Council to Reconsider Public Subsidies for Large Developers at December 3 Meeting

This is a guest blog by Gabriel Nims, the Executive Director of 1000 Friends of New Mexico. He does a great job of explaining public financing tools for development called TIFs and TIDDs -- and how they are being used in ways that can be damaging to our communities, water supplies and economic future. He asks us to join 1000 Friends of New Mexico, the SouthWest Organizing Project, AFSCME , New Mexico Voices for Children and others in pushing for a reconsideration of the TIDD concept, as well as a proposed ban on their use in what are called 'green fields'.

The issue is on the agenda at the Albuquerque City Council meeting on December 3, 2007 in the form of amendments sponsored by Councilor Michael Cadigan. Please contact your City Councilor, State Legislator and Governor Richardson to weigh in on this issue.

The debate over growth and development in the Albuquerque region has taken a turn to the absurd over the past year with the emergence of a new set of crazy acronyms: TIF and TIDD.

Many will remember the political uproar over the Planned Growth Strategy, better known as PGS. The ire of development interests in the city was raised to the point where they felt compelled to create a political action group called CGA, or Citizens for a Greater Albuquerque, with the sole purpose of denying “no-growth” and “anti-Paseo” candidates seats on the City Council during the 2003 municipal elections. And lest we forget the infamous and now seldom-mentioned ABQPAC scandal.

But Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, and its little spawn, the Tax Increment Development District, TIDD, opens a new chapter in the book of urban growth-related acronyms. What these new acronyms mean and do is a very complicated story, which is why you may just be hearing about this for the first time. But allow me to explain as best I can. For deeper understanding of how TIF works check out publications from Good Jobs First Good Jobs First and the studies by FRESC in Denver.

What Is TIF?
TIF is an economic development tool available to developers in 48 states. TIF was originally conceived as a way to induce reinvestment in older, blighted areas deemed too risky or costly for private investors to improve.

It works like this:

1. an area (the District) is defined for (re)development;
2. a baseline of property and, as in New Mexico, gross receipts tax is established within the district;
3. a deal is cut between the developer and the taxing agencies that allows the developer to receive up to 75% of the increase (the Increment) in tax revenue resulting from the improvements and new economic activity within the District;
4. the developer is granted the Increment for up to 25 years to offset the costs of infrastructure (sewers, sidewalks, roads, etc) within the District.

Phew!-- Any questions?

New Mexico TIF law puts a new twist on this mechanism. Where other states try to limit the tool’s use to redevelopment by applying strict criteria for demonstrating blight, New Mexico, with some nudging from developer lobbyists, requires a developer to simply demonstrate increased economic development, regardless of where a district is created, blight or otherwise.

Therein lies the rub.

TIDDs in Greenfields
In New Mexico, greenfields are only green for a few weeks after intermittent monsoons, but it’s a commonly used term referring to the undeveloped expanses that surround our cities and towns. In Albuquerque, our greenfields of notoriety are Mesa Del Sol -- about 13,000 acres between the Sunport and Isleta Pueblo -- and Westland -- the whopping 55,000 acre former Atrisco Land Grant on the West Side. The developers, Forest City Covington and SunCal, respectively, are salivating over the chance to turn these greenfields into billions of greenbacks -- and they expect to use TIDDs to get as many greenbacks as they can.

The problem? Refer to step 2 above. In a greenfield, the baseline tax revenue is next to nil because nothing is out there. That means the Increment (step 3) is virtually the entire increase in revenue that will come from the District. For Mesa Del Sol, that translates to $500 million greenbacks from the state’s cut of taxes that will be generated in just the first phase of the development. Mesa Del Sol will also get percentages of the City and County’s gross receipts and property tax revenue. All of this cash to a developer for the next 25 years!

For perspective -- this represents the largest TIF arrangement ever allowed, in terms of land area and money, anywhere in the country. Wow. A new chapter in the urban development book, indeed! And a very dangerous one, too!

Dangerous Problems
Why?  First and foremost -- it’s the precedent this sets for how TIF is applied in New Mexico. You think Mesa Del Sol’s deal is big? One only needs to look across the river to SunCal’s 55,000 acres to anticipate TIDDs of even greater magnitude. And, not surprisingly, TIDDs are now popping up in other parts of the state.

So there will be a rush on creating TIDDs! From a state finance perspective, this is a very dangerous precedent. The state general fund, recently bolstered by oil and gas revenue, may soon find itself in a precarious position after millions in revenue from businesses and properties in these districts is captured by TIDDs, first in Mesa Del Sol, and likely by new developments all over. Even with the extra support from oil and gas revenue, the state can’t find enough revenue to meet its current obligations. Transportation funding dried up this year, health care costs continue to rise and we can’t find the money to build schools fast enough or pay enough to retain/recruit high-quality educational professionals. 

Fast forward five years to this likely scenario: The state is strapped for cash -- the economy has slowed and oil and gas revenue declines. Oops! Millions of dollars of revenue needed by the state to cover the public’s shared needs is tied up for the next 20 years in TIDD deals for developers laughing all the way to the bank. Faced with such a predicament, the state must choose to cut back on services, raise taxes or both.

It gets worse. TIDDs in greenfields can really hurt existing neighborhoods, small businesses and any hope of managing growth in sustainable ways. Because TIDDs can be created just on the basis of economic development, there is no limit on their magnitude. Mesa Del Sol will be an economic giant, subsidized with public dollars, competing directly with Albuquerque. As will SunCal’s Westland, only a few notches bigger.

Imagine these areas as huge vacuums sucking jobs, economic activity, homebuyers and vitality out of the existing community. Recall one of the basic principles of the Planned Growth Strategy: to reinvest and revitalize the existing community as a priority over building brand new at the fringe. The PGS pointed to a $1.7 billion backlog in basic infrastructure needs within the city as justification for this approach.

Tell me how diverting the city’s tax revenue to private mega-developers on the fringe will help us address this backlog, when what we currently receive is already not enough? When the city can’t reach a 1000 officer police force because money is tight, how will we find the public safety professionals for these new fringe developments that, combined, are projected to grow the city from 550,000 population to 700,000 or more over the ensuing decades? Never mind all the other services the public expects to maintain a reasonable quality of life.

Oh yeah -- and where is the water?

The Response
By and large, developer requests for TIDDs have sailed through elected bodies at the state and in Albuquerque and the same will likely occur at Bernalillo County. Mesa Del Sol was the first out of the gate securing approval from the City and State for the creation of five TIDDs earlier this year.

With SunCal in the batter's box, West Side City Councilor, Michael Cadigan, was the first to decry “buyer’s remorse” on the Mesa Del Sol deal and he quickly introduced a bill prohibiting the creation of TIDDs in greenfields last Spring. A series of deferrals and compromise drafts have led to final action on his measure at the upcoming  City Council hearing on Monday, December 3rd, 2007.

Many groups including 1000 Friends of New Mexico, SouthWest Organizing Project, New Mexico Voices for Children, and AFSCME strongly favor prohibiting TIDDs in greenfields. 

The development community stands by their arguments that TIDDs are a necessary ‘incentive’ to creating jobs and high-quality “new urbanist” communities. The developers have carefully constructed smoke and mirrors to demonstrate how wonderful and safe TIDDs for their developments will be. They’ve spared no expense hiring the best consultants, lobbyists and PR machines in the business, while placing sizable political contributions in the coffers of key office holders as extra insurance.

The reality is simply that state lawmakers have opened a Pandora’s Box, with little idea of the long-term consequences of allowing TIDDs in greenfields.

What You Can Do
If you are outraged, confused and concerned all at the same time, then you know more than the majority of our lawmakers about the pitfalls of these seemingly harmless acronyms: TIF and TIDD.

Actually, I urge you to express your feelings to your elected officials, starting first with your City Councilor , followed by your Legislators and even the FAIR BlogGovernor.

If you have any questions contact me at 1000 Friends of New Mexico.

Again, please take action by contacting your officials. Urge them to consider the consequences and keep the community’s, not the developers’, best interests in mind.

Gabriel Nims, Executive Director
gabe@1000friends-nm.org
505.848.8232

Editor's Note: This is a guest blog by Gabriel Nims, Executive Director of 1000 Friends of New Mexico. To learn more about this issue, watch KNME TV's show, New Mexico In Focus, this Friday night, November 30, at 7:00 PM, which will include a segment with Gerry Bradley from New Mexico Voices for Children discussing the issue of TIDDs and Councilor Cadiagan's proposed amendment.

Also see these informative posts on SWOPblogger that discuss the local TIDD situation:

• Forest City Covington and SunCal Early Favorites for Corporate Welfare IRBIE Awards
• TIDD's, TIF's, Taxes...We're all in bed with developers now

Guest blogging provides readers with an opportunity to express their views on relevant issues and may or may not reflect our views. If you'd like to submit a piece for consideration as a guest blog, contact me by clicking on the Email Me link on the upper left-hand corner of the page.

Bogus Richardson for Senate Petition Being Sent to Dems

So have you gotten a letter and petition in the mail recently asking you to gather signatures for a Senate run by Gov. Bill Richardson? I did, and so have others I know. Seems that members of the Dem Party's State Central Committee and those that hold other Party offices have received copies via snail mail. I've heard that they're also being left in prominent locations in restaurants and other locales.

If you give them more than a passing look it's obvious they're bogus -- no return address, no official stationery, etc. Looks like an anonymous someone is trying to hold down declared candidate fundraising by trying to convince potential donors that Richardson is still considering running for Senate if his presidential bid fails. Or something. Whoever and whatever is behind the attempt, it's definitely weird. Unfortunately, in an election cycle like this one, we can probably expect to witness an abundance of shady tactics being used to try and gain an edge.

Email from Richardson Campaign
Here's the official word from the Richardson for president campaign declaring the petition effort a sham:

Over the past few days many of you have received anonymous letters and petitions asking you to gather names to support a supposed run for the Senate by Governor Richardson. I just wanted to let you know that these petitions are not coming from Richardson for President and do not have the support of Governor Richardson, ourselves or anyone working for Governor Richardson.

The Governor, as he has repeatedly said, plans on being the next President of the United States and has no interest in running for the Senate.

Additionally, let me assure you that Richardson for President would never send out material that is not on an official letterhead and personally signed. These anonymous letters, with no return address and no signature, were not generated by Richardson HQ and we do not want anyone to sign them or return them to our offices. If you know anyone who has started to collect names, or see someone trying to gather signatures, please tell him or her that Governor Richardson is not going to run for the Senate and instead encourage him or her to support the Presidential campaign.

In just a few weeks, the first voters in Iowa and New Hampshire will head to the polls, we're focused on winning the Democratic nomination for President and hope you will stand with us and make sure the best candidate gets elected.

Those who sent out these letters were clearly trying to influence our closest supporters and provide them with misleading information. We are looking into this matter, and please disregard any more so called "Richardson for Senate" petitions you receive in the mail.

Thank you very much,

Dave Contarino
Campaign Manager
Richardson for President

Amanda Cooper
Deputy Campaign Manager
Richardson for President

Common Cause New Mexico seeks Campaign Manager

From Common Cause New Mexico:
The nonprofit good-government organization Common Cause New Mexico (CCNM) seeks a Campaign Manager to advocate for the Clean Elections initiative appearing on the Santa Fe ballot on March 4. The employment period for this position will extend from the beginning of January through the election. CCNM would like to hear from applicants with a passion for this crucial electoral reform combined with direct experience managing municipal election campaigns. Ideally, the Campaign Manager would be a resident of Santa Fe. Contact CCNM’s executive director Steven Robert Allen at 610-4790 or sallen[at]commoncause.org for details.

NM State Rep. Wirth Requests Galisteo Basin Drilling Moratorium

An article in the Santa Fe New Mexican reports on a letter sent by State Rep. Peter Wirth to Oil Conservation Division Director Mark Fesmire and Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Secretary Joanna Prokop asking them to consider a six-month oil and gas drilling permit moratorium for the Galisteo Basin. A draft of a new Santa Fe County ordinace governing such drilling is scheduled to be released today, but many residents and policymakers want more time to consider how drilling in the area should be regulated.

A moratorium, Wirth wrote, "would give the state time to determine whether oil and gas drilling in this area can be prevented all together ... or if any special stipulations are needed on approved permit applications." Wirth also said in his letter that the moratorium would give Santa Fe County more time to draft and implement its new ordinance.

"My feeling is that we should not rush the process," Wirth said Monday. "The Galisteo Basin has seen such limited oil and gas drilling. I'm concerned things are moving at a real high rate of speed, and I think we should slow down."

The acquisition of 65,000 acres of mineral rights centered in the Galisteo Basin area by Tecton Energy of Houston has caused an uproar among Santa Fe County residents and others who are fearful that extensive drilling will create pollution and other damage. The mineral rights for much of the land in the Basin aren't controlled by those who own the land itself.

Prukop said Monday that New Mexico has never issued a moratorium on oil and gas drilling permits before, though it did issue a temporary moratorium on open-pit mines in Otero Mesa in 2004. She said the division's attorneys are looking at state laws to try to define jurisdictional issues and options. She said she plans to meet with county commissioners after the next public meeting on the subject in December "to figure out a reasonable pathway forward."

... Tecton Energy representatives — who have estimated the basin area holds as much as 100 million barrels of "light, sweet crude" — began pumping oil out of an existing well last spring. But the company will need new permits to carry out its plans to re-enter two plugged wells and drill six more exploratory wells. The county's existing mining ordinance relates primarily to hard-rock mining.

County officials are also concerned about the drilling:

County Commissioner Mike Anaya also wants a moratorium at the county level to stall any drilling applications until the new ordinance is finalized. Anaya is the sponsor of a resolution that will be considered by the commission today, which calls for a three-month moratorium on drilling permits.

... Anaya and Commissioner Jack Sullivan told a crowd of about 500 people at a public meeting in Eldorado on Nov. 15 that the county's draft ordinance would be available for public review today and that written comments on the ordinance would be accepted through Dec. 21.

There was a huge turnout for an 11/15/07 public meeting organized by the Santa Fe County Commission to discuss Tecton's proposed plans, and passions ran high among attendees. Since then, public officials have been deluged with messages from those critical about the proposed drilling:

Wirth said he was prompted to ask for a moratorium in part because of the overwhelming public input he's received on the topic. "The number of e-mails, letters and phone calls I've received, it's really more than almost any issue I've faced since being in the Legislature," Wirth said. "I've not had a single person, constituent or otherwise, contact me in support of this proposition."

Background Information:

From the website of Drilling Santa Fe, a citizen's group working to stop or limit the drilling:

• Online Petition (iPetition.com)- Oil and gas exploration and development permitting moratorium (iPetition.com has a donation button and is only an option and those donations do not go to Drilling Santa Fe). For printing hard copies (pdf)
• The County Attorney is in the process of writing a new oil and gas ordinance to supplement the existing mining ordinance. The ordinance should strengthen, not weaken. On 11/15/2007, there was a public forum about the oil & gas issue. Click here for a newspaper article of the forum and click here about the ordinance process. The draft ordinance is on the BCC amended agenda (click here) under "Matters from the County Attorney."
• Click here for Santa Fe County Mining Ordinance overview flyer (PDF) and click here for the Santa Fe County Land Development Code, which contains the mining ordinance (Chapter 5).
• For upcoming events, click here.
• For an excellent educational website, go to the Oil & Gas Accountability Project (OGAP)
• With permission, here are links provided by Tony Bonanno Photography (click here) of the Tecton public presentation (click here) and of the Santa Fe County public forum (click here). Tony says that anyone is welcome to download anything at no charge.

You can read our previous posts on this issue by clicking on these links:

• Join Noted NM Activist and Rancher Tweeti Blancett for a Discussion on Oil and Gas Drilling in Santa Fe County, July 10, 2007
• Grassroots Group 'Drilling Santa Fe' Sets Up Online Petition Drive, July 23, 2007
• Now Available: Video of Tweeti Blancett Event for Drilling Santa Fe, August 6, 2007
• Important Drilling Santa Fe Meeting Coming 8.23.07, August 15, 2007

Leland Lehrman to Formally Announce U.S. Senate Run

From Leland Lehrman for U.S. Senate:

• What: Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate Leland Lehrman to Formally Announce Candidacy
• Where: New Mexico State Capitol Rotunda - Corner of Paseo de Peralta and Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe
  When: 12 Noon, Friday, Nov. 30th - Press Discussion at 11:30 AM
• After Party: 7:30 PM at the Green Palace, 209 E. Palace Ave, Santa Fe, Shiva Brothers to Play

David Alire Garcia interviews Leland Lehrman on KNME TV's New Mexico In Focus

New Mexico, the United States and the world need new leadership and representation to change the current disastrous direction of public policy and world events. New Mexico's leaders, including Senate candidate Tom Udall have recently been asked to step forward and provide this leadership and representation, but they have failed. Whether it be impeachment, exposing the propagandistic "War on Terror" or aggressively changing the mission of Los Alamos National Labs to end the homegrown terror of nuclear warfare, our local and national leaders have failed, and it is time they be challenged.

I am a family man and farmer, a citizen, an ecological and peace activist, and now an editor and publisher. I was a voting member of the State Legislature's Election Reform Task Force that helped implement statewide paper ballot election protections. I led the effort to impeach the President and Vice-President in the New Mexico Senate. Still, some wonder at my motivation, and question my credentials to hold office. In these dangerous times, courage is the most important of the qualities necessary in a Senator: the courage to filibuster war, corporate globalization and assaults on our civil liberties.

The filibuster is an awesome privilege and power in the US Senate. It can bring the nation to a halt, an especially useful tool as we come to the brink of military defeat, economic and ecological collapse. Congressman Tom Udall has demonstrated time and again that he lacks the courage necessary to use the filibuster and related Senatorial powers in time of national crisis. I can't wait for the chance to stand before America and refuse to enable endless death and destruction. I am convinced that the people will rise in overwhelming support, helping to change the minds of our colleagues and fellow citizens.

Tom has also demonstrated his unwillingness to represent the Democratic Party of New Mexico, who overwhelmingly voted to impeach President Bush in March of 2006. How does Udall respond to the voice of the people? He votes to table the impeachment resolution that the courageous Representative Dennis Kucinich and 85 other Democrats brought to the floor of Congress just weeks ago.

Two things are necessary in a leader: the willingness to represent the people and to be courageous in time of crisis. I wish I could believe Tom Udall was such a leader, but his actions prove otherwise. If you can't trust your Representatives to represent you on the issues, you have to run against them. That's what Democracy requires of its citizens, and if our cherished form of government is to be successful, good people, not just professional politicians, must run for office, and win.

Note: Supporters and Members of the Press are reminded that they are invited to our tearoom, the Green Palace at 209 E. Palace in Santa Fe, from 7:30 PM on Friday for music by the Shiva Brothers. *** $5 cover charge waived for Media.
--
Leland Lehrman
www.thesun-news.com
www.mothermedia.org
h: 505.982.3609
o: 505.473.4458

(Updated) 11/28: Santa Fe City Council to Consider Living Wage Changes

UPDATE 11.29.07: Amendments to expand the Living Wage law to virtually all workers and mandate annual increases based on the consumer price index were passed unanimously by the Santa Fe City Council on November 28, 2007. Read about it here.
**********
From the Santa Fe Living Wage Network:
Come out to the Santa Fe City Council Meeting on Wednesday, November 28th, at 7:00 PM, at 200 Lincoln Avenue. Visit SantaFeLivingWage.org for more information. The City Council will decide the fate of living wage. We are first on the agenda and need a strong turnout so that the Council understands what the community wants. Please come out!

Santa Fe is proud of its living wage, the highest in the country. But we still need your help. Forty percent of Santa Fe workers aren't covered, and the current law makes enforcement difficult. Some councilors are thinking of exempting young people and disabled people from the living wage. We are supporting amendments that will expand the law to cover all employers, not just those with 25 employees or more. The amendments will also establish an automatic cost of living increase every year, starting January 1, 2009. Please join us that night to make sure the City Council does the right thing.

Here are other ways you can help:
   
1. Sign The Petition by clicking here! We have at least 3,540 individuals, businesses, and religious, civic, labor, and community organizations have signed on as supporters of the proposed amendments to the Santa Fe Living Wage Ordinance. Click here to keep track of our progress and see who has signed. Please sign up if you have not signed already!

2. Contact your Councilor to tell them you support the Living Wage covering all Santa Fe workers including young people and the disabled. For contact information for the councilors in your district – and a link for their email address, click here. After you talk to your councilors, email us at info@santafelivingwage.org and tell us what they said.

NM-Sen: Chavez Accuses Udall of "Endangering Our National Security"

It's really hard to take in. Continuing his recent mean-spirited barrage against his high-polling Dem primary opponent for U.S. Senate, Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez is now accusing Rep. Tom Udall (NM-03) of "endangering our national security." He's also likening Udall to Republican Senate candidates Rep. Heather Wilson (NM-01) and Steve Pearce (NM-02). In a campaign email (PDF) today, Chavez said:

Enough is enough.  If Tom Udall, Heather Wilson, and Steve Pearce -- our elected Representatives in Congress -- won't fight to save our labs, we will.

... Unfortunately, my 3 opponents in the Senate race -- Representatives Tom Udall, Heather Wilson, and Steve Pearce -- all had a chance to stop these cuts.  Instead, earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would strip about $400 million in funding from Los Alamos and Sandia labs.

Tom Udall voted for these funding cuts, saying it would send the labs "a message." Well, throwing people out of work and endangering our national security is not the "message" New Mexicans want to hear from people in Washington like Tom Udall.

... Our Representatives Tom Udall, Heather Wilson, and Steve Pearce should be fighting for New Mexico, not siding with Washington lobbyists and insiders. [emphasis mine]

It's one thing to criticize your primary opponent's positions, but I think this kind of over-the-top rhetoric coming directly from Chavez can only serve to turn more Dem voters against him. Chavez already has a reputation for publicly and privately trashing fellow Dems on the Albuquerque City Council, supporting Repubs and their causes and vowing to vote for Repub Sen. Pete Domenici if he ran for reelection.

Do Chavez and his campaign team really believe that using inflammatory language like this to attack one of the most highly respected and popular Dems in the state will help him in his quest for Dem primary voters? Astonishing. Not only is it wrong, it's bad politics.

Status Quo vs. 21st Century Mission
First off, where does Chavez get off claiming that Udall is "siding with Washington lobbyists and insiders" by trying to get our national labs to leave the Cold War behind and embrace a green future? The last time I looked, monied lobbyists and insiders were all for the status quo in terms of building new nuke weapons systems and clinging to old greenhouse gas-producing technologies. It's the people -- and the best scientific minds in the nation -- who are clamoring for an Apollo-like project to address emergencies related to climate change and our dependence on foreign energy sources.

We don't need a new generation of nuke weapons -- we need our best and brightest to solve what is probably our most urgent problems this century -- the severe damage being caused by dirty-burning fossil fuels and the huge price in money and lives we are paying for oil in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East.

Is Plutonium Pit Manufacturing Green?
I'd  love to know how Mayor Marty squares his self-proclaimed "green" orientation and his recent pandering about nuclear weapons research and production. Do people concerned with the environment and sustainable energy generally support creating large plutonium pit manufacturing projects in their states? Do they clamor for funds to support a new "replacement" line of nuke weapons that's essentially banned by the treaties we've signed? Do they push for retaining lab funding for nuke weapons instead of using common and economic sense to try and steer the labs towards a new, critical mission of developing green technologies and researching renewable energy alternatives?

Clearly, Chavez is "green" only when it suits his political aspirations and anti-green when it doesn't.

Facing Facts
Nobody wants workers at the New Mexico labs to lose their jobs, least of all Tom Udall, who has strongly represented their interests in a balanced way for years. But it's clear that members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, as well as a majority of Americans, see turning the page on an outmoded Cold War mentality as the only way to go. It's time to face facts. Today's national security, energy and environmental concerns can only be addressed by the U.S. turning green in a genuine sense -- and by generously supporting our best scientific minds to dedicate themselves to green renewable energy and tech research.

As Rep. Udall has said, he cast his vote for the budget cuts because the labs should be conducting energy research and science programs to address national security issues. It may well be the only way for them to survive in today's world. The national consensus is shifting dramatically and quickly against renewed nuke weapon production and towards a new scientific paradigm. Hanging onto the past at New Mexico's labs, as Chavez is touting and as Domenici strived for, is not wise or even tenable any longer. But you wouldn't know it by the tone and rhetoric being employed by Chavez to try and peg Udall as some kind of traitor for facing reality.

That's a very sad commentary on how Chavez hopes to win the nomination, isn't it? Fortunately, I don't think most New Mexico Dems will be buying it anytime soon.

See recent posts on related topics at local blogs , Only in New Mexico and Heath Haussamen. The latest post on m-pyre also deals with this topic and includes a couple of useful pie charts about budgets at the labs.

To read our previous coverage on the 2008 U.S. Senate race in New Mexico, visit our archive.

Fire Fighters Give Guv Candidate Diane Denish Earliest Endorsement in Union's History

All aspects of elections, including endorsements, are now occurring earlier and earlier in election cycles. Take this, for example: Almost three years from before the general election, gubernatorial candidate and Lt. Governor received the endorsement of the New Mexico Professional Fire Fighters Association. The association has 1,200 members across the state, including Hobbs, Carlsbad, Las Cruces, Artesia, Deming, Silver City, Gallup, Farmington, Raton, Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Espanola, Las Vegas, Santa Fe County, Sandoval County, Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, Socorro and Los Lunas.

In voting for the endorsement last weekend, the firefighters cited Denish's efforts to improve their working conditions and addressing their health and safety issues through the years. Denish was instrumental in helping to pass a line-of-duty death benefit and a Fire Fighters Day of Remembrance to be held each Sept. 11.

"In addition to supporting the firefighters' health and safety issues, we are happy with the lieutenant governor's work with children and education as well as health care," said Emily Kane, President of the association. "We know she understands what working families need to have a good quality of life. She is accessible, unpretentious, smart and a great representative for our state. This is definitely the earliest we have ever endorsed anyone, but it was an easy decision."

Denish said she was honored by the endorsement.

"Our firefighters have proven their courage and selflessness time and again," she said. "I'm grateful to the honorable men and women who race into burning buildings, breathe life into a stranger's lungs and preserve our homes, our memories and our families. I'll continue to work toward ensuring they get the proper training and equipment and have appropriate health safeguards."

8th Annual Santa Fe Film Festival: Nov. 28-Dec. 2, 2007

From the Santa Fe Film Festival:
The Santa Fe Film Festival announces its Eighth Season to take place Wednesday, November 28 – Sunday, December 2, 2007. The five-day extravaganza showcases more than 80 programs encompassing roughly 200 films, shorts and features of all genres, themes and topics. The festival is divided into seven series: Independent Spirits, Making it Reel, Eye on the World, Art Matters, Southwest Showcase and Gala films from the major distributors as well as retrospective titles drawn from the careers of our annual Luminaria Tributees. Last year, over 7,000 attendees from around the world purchased nearly 21,000 tickets.

Programming Partners
National Geographic has emerged as a major programming partner with the Santa Fe Film Festival and brings the All Roads Film Project, presenting more than 20 films made by indigenous artists from around the globe, more than fifteen of whom will be in attendance at this year’s festival. All Roads will also host a photography exhibit featuring works by four artists, who will also be in attendance, at the CCA. National Geographic and the SFFF will stage a concert with the world-famous Toureg group Tiniwaren at the Lensic Performing Arts Center on Friday, November 30th, 2007, at 7 PM.

Also new this year, the Santa Fe Film Festival launches a series in partnership with the New York Jewish Film Festival, part of the Jewish Museum of New York. A quartet of features and documentaries, which were unveiled earlier this year at the NYJFF’s presentation at Lincoln Center in New York, will be shown at the Santa Fe Film Festival, on Tuesday the 27th and Wednesday the 28th at the Film Center and then again later in the week. This event is sponsored by Lee and Susan Berk.

Festival Founder and Executive Director Jon Bowman says, “We are excited about our expanding and new partnerships with National Geographic All Roads, and the New York Jewish Film Festival and others.  These collaborations add new voices and dimensions to our programming.  We are also proud of the expansion of the NM Film Expo, which will feature over 90 films, mostly shorts. Our mission to showcase films and present filmmakers to our audiences expands each year with success.”

Honorees
Luminaria Tributees include documentary filmmakers Marina Goldovskaya and Alanis Obomsawin as well as husband and wife filmmakers John Bailey and Carol Littleton. John Bailey will be honored for his accomplished work as Director of Photography on such films as THE BIG CHILL, GROUNDHOG DAY and ORDINARY PEOPLE. Carol Littleton will be recognized as a leading editor in the film industry with nearly 30 films on her resume including ET, SILVERADO, THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE and THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY, which she collaborated on with her husband, John Bailey. A Maverick Award will be given to actor/writer/director Alan Cumming of THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY who will be here with his new film SUFFERING MAN'S CHARITY.

Major Distributor Galas
In addition to the films selected from submissions, the Santa Fe Film Festival showcases a collection of Galas from major distributors. In recent years, the festival has provided audiences with a sneak preview of such award-winning titles as BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, MISS POTTER, VOLVER and PANS LABRYNTH. Galas this year will be at the Lensic, De Vargas, and The Screen.

Venues
We are pleased to return to the Lensic this year with programming Wedneday - Sunday, including films, music, and the Milagro Awards Ceremony. We are also pleased to be returning to the CCA. Other venues which we use each year include: The Film Center, The Jean Cocteau Film Museum, De Vargas, and The Screen and Tipton at the College of Santa Fe. New this year will be the Armory for the Arts and the Kathryn Okeeffe Theater at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.

Educational Programs
The educational component of the Festival expands each year, with more panels and labs. Industry professionals will be coming from across the country to participate in these, including representatives from Pixar, Lucasfilms, Panavision, Kodak, UNM, and Albuquerque Studios among others. Most panels will be at the Unitarian Church. The lab led by world famous poster artist John Alvin, who designed this year’s poster (his first festival poster ever), will be hosted by the Chuck Jones Gallery.

Milagro Awards Ceremony
Veteran actress and Santa Fe local, Ali MacGraw and New Mexican native actor, dancer, and choreographer Raoul Trujillo will host the Santa Fe Film Festival’s Milagro Awards ceremony on Saturday, December 1st at 4 PM at the Lensic Performing Arts Center. Esteemed jurors and celebrity presenters will unveil winning films for the festival’s competitive awards. Downtown restaurants will provide venues for nightly parties sponsored by the Santa Fe Film Festival and will feature music and entertainment from an impressive group of filmmakers, artists and musicians.

Happy Hour
Expanding the social opportunities of the Festival, CBS and Heineken will co-sponsor a Happy Hour Wednesday-Friday from 5-7 PM, at Hotel Santa Fe. CBS will be covering the festival and this year will be the official sponsor of the hospitality suite also at Hotel Santa Fe for filmmakers, sponsors, VIPs and film festival attendees.

Tickets are on sale now in our new box office at 519 Cerrillos Road, same phone number (505 989 1495), and are $10 for individual admission, $75 for a ten-pack. Festival passes are on sale now for $300 Films Only and $450 All Festival.  All Festival includes Access to daily Heineken / CBS Happy Hour at Hotel Santa Fe, All Nightly Parties and the Reception for the Milagro Awards Ceremony. For All Information:  www.santafefilmfestival.com.

Editor's Notes: Two films that deal with aspects of the Iraq occupation will be shown during the festival:

REDACTED
www.redactedmovie.com/
Brian DePalma’s much-discussed montage of stories about U.S. soldiers fighting in the Iraq conflict, focusing on the modern forms of media covering the war. Silver Lion Winner, Venice Film Festival. Running Time: 90 min. Gala Presentation: FRI 11/30 SCREEN 7:45 PM.

GRACE IS GONE
www.graceisgone-themovie.com/
Upon hearing his wife has been killed in the Iraq war, a father takes his two daughters on a road trip. With John Cusack. Audience Award Winner, Best Drama, Sundance FF. Running Time: 92 min. Closing Night Gala: SUN 12/2 LENSIC 7:15 PM.

There's also a film dealing with the aftermath of Iran's revolution:

PERSEPOLIS
www.sonyclassics.com/persepolis
Animated film based on Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel describing the arc of her life in Iran following the Revolution. Prize of the Jury Winner at Cannes, with vocals by Catherine Deneuve. Running Time: 95 min. Gala Presentation: SUN 12/2 DeVARGAS I 7:45 PM.

There are many other related events going on in Santa Fe during the Festival, including this one:

IN THE BLOOD
www.mirabal.com/
Robert Mirabal’s first major music video presentation since his 2002 MUSIC FROM A PAINTED CAVE special on PBS. The featured songs all come from his latest CD. Robert Mirabal and his band will play live. Plays with the short THE END. Tickets for this special event are: $20. Art Matters, SUN 12/2 ARMORY FOR THE ARTS 7:00 PM.

Be sure to check the Festival website for complete listings: www.santafefilmfestival.com

NM Youth Organized is Hiring Two Coordinators

From New Mexico Youth Organized:
New Mexico Youth Organized (formerly known as the League of Young Voters NM), a community-based organization that works to identify and foster young leaders to realize and wield their power, is seeking to hire two coordinators. Applicants are being sought for an Outreach Coordinator position and a Youth Program Coordinator position for the 1Sky Campaign, a program that will develop and implement a campaign plan for state and local climate change initiatives. The deadline for applications is 5 PM, Saturday December 1, 2007. Click to see the job descriptions and other info about how to apply for these positions (PDFs):

• Outreach Coordinator
• 1Sky Youth Program Coordinator

Have questions? Call Keegan King, New Mexico Youth Organized, 505/385.8760.