Today’s post includes a report and video from Moral Monday, an upcoming workshop on Solidarity Training (2/26), a report on the shameless death of the pay day lending bill, a note that Mayor Gonzales will be this Saturday’s Retake radio show guest on KSFR, and a request that you contribute to KSFR this week.

Moral Monday Report. An estimated 500 people braved a biting wind to hear a series of speakers, music from Consuelo Luz, Jono Manson, and John Kurzweg, and participate in a symbolic ‘die-in.’  See video by Andy Fertal below. The weather turned colder and more blustery than predicted, and when the sun began to hide behind the Roundhouse after the die-in, most of the crowd fled inside. Kudos to those who stuck it out through the speakers and participated in the ‘die-in.’ (Thank you, Debra Denker, for the photo here and on the homepage. More to come.) The good news is: look for a Retake Our Democracy benefit concert at the Skylight with Jono Manson, John Kurzweg, Consuelo Luz and more in March or April.

Retake supporters also attended committee hearings on tax-reform, predatory lending, and the Health Security Act. Many were present when the Senate passed a bill that, if signed by the Governor, will add New Mexico to the list of states eliminating the Electoral College and having presidential elections determined by the popular vote. The House Tax and Revenue Committee passed HB 202, a bill closing tax loopholes, that will raise over $200M in revenues. Click here for a report. In the afternoon, NM Progressive Coalition People’s Rally staged 90 minutes of tremendous speakers in the Rotunda to bring a close to a great day for progressives at the Roundhouse.

Earth Care Training for Retake Our Democracy:  Creating Solidarity. Sunday, Feb 26, 2pm-4:30pm. Center for Progress & Justice. 1420 Cerrillos Rd. Santa Fe. Limited to 50 participants! This is going to be a tremendous training and is especially important to those of you who will be working with Retake to engage other organizations and populations. If plan to participate in neighborhood-based community conversation canvassing, you should also attend. And if you have indicated an interest in playing a leadership role in the organization, you should definitely attend. This training is part of a series of workshops designed to increase our organizational capacity to develop this movement. Solidarity and ally-ship require ACTION. Together we will share our stories, ideas, and learn tangible tools to integrate solidarity more deeply in our lives. Super concrete skill-building workshop! You will walk away with practices and actions you can take and share with others.Space is limited to 50 and you will not be admitted unless you RSVP.  Click here to RSVP. If you do not use Facebook, reply to this post to RSVP. If you do not reply to this post or RSVP on Facebook, you will not be able to attend. We’ll have to turn you away!

Retake Our Democracy on KSFR with Mayor Gonzales, Saturday 11am.  Mayor Gonzales will be on KSFR with Paul on Saturday, concluding the four-part series on immigrant rights, deportation, and sanctuary.  We will talk about the results of the City Council vote to expand Santa Fe’s Sanctuary protections. The vote is this Weds, 5 pm, at City Hall, 200 Lincoln Ave. We will also discuss what powers the City has to resist ICE deportation raids and what the City can’t do. The next series of shows will focus on money in politics, with one show being devoted to how our legislature can be so impervious to justice that it can’t pass a bill to limit predatory lending. See below. KSFR is becoming an important partner, enabling us to broadcast weekly, adding another forum for getting the word out on important issues. So I am asking Retake supporters to consider making a donation this week by clicking here. That is your action for the day. And when you make the donation, include a comment at the bottom of the page saying you are a Retake Our Democracy supporter and you appreciate the show. Their committee meets next week to decide whether to make the show a permanent feature. When that happens the podcasts will be available on their website and we will post links. 

Pay Day Lending Limit is Dead. An upcoming KSFR show will focus on Predatory Lending. We will examine how, despite pay-day lending being obscenely unjust, it can’t get the votes to even get to the floor. As reported in today’s New Mexican, click here, a former state senator who is helping lead the fight against high-interest payday and other small loans said Monday that a bill to cap rates at 36 percent is dead. “The governor would veto it anyway,” former Sen. Steve Fischmann, co-chair of the New Mexico Fair Lending Coalition said, referring to House Bill 26, sponsored by Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero, D-Albuquerque. Given the bill’s ultimate demise, House members are looking to HB 347, sponsored by Rep. Patty Lundstrom, D-Gallup, a bill that would in set maximum interest rates of 175 percent. “I think we are getting close to a deal,” Fischmann said. It is beyond me how ‘limiting’ loan rates to 175% represents meaningful reform. Frankly, I think every Representative who voted against HB 26 should have their mortgage and car loans converted to a 175% interest rate.

The video below doesn’t nearly capture the size of the crowd as it stretched way around the curve of the Roundhouse. An Albuquerque journalist estimated the crowd at over 500.

Categories: Actions, Economic justice, Roundhouse Lobbying, Training, wealth inequality

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