Lot’s going on the first couple weeks of January so good to review and save this blog to keep track. Also a review of last week’s blogs with a retrospective on 2017 and a look to 2018. Happy New Year!
We begin with more on the Poor People’s Campaign and then include both a summary of some coming events and actions and conclude with a look back at last week’s blogs, a few of which are very worth a re-read or a read if you missed them. Also, a note that our end-of-the-year Retake Our Democracy radio show was last Saturday, a full hour show featuring the Leadership Team of Retake Our Democracy, looking back and looking forward. The podcast is not available just yet, but we will provide a link early next week when it is prepared by KSFR. Happy New Year. We have much to do together this year. Let’s start now by sharing this blog with 1-2 others. We need to build our base to get to 2019 even stronger.
Events, Opportunities & Actions
Reverend Barber leads Poor People’s Campaign Kick-Off in ABQ, Aug 15.
The Poor People’s Campaign (starting this blog with some words of inspiration). A note from Todd Wynberg, one of the NM coordinators for the campaign: “We enter into this new year as newly-cobbled friends and allies joined in a common cause. It is called the Poor People’s Campaign, but we know it is far more than that. We do not know exactly what will happen, but we do know for certain we are embarking on a journey that will be life-transforming, earth-honoring, people-dignifying, spirit-following, empire-resisting, despair-erasing, justice-seeking and society-changing. Maybe you feel it too–this is going to be big, my friends. At the brink of beginnings, during a brief season of quiet, it feels right to me to offer a few brief words. Below are three short pieces I have found of deep value that seem very appropriate for our future work together: a poem, a prayer, and a creative translation of the beatitudes. A most blessed new year to you all.” –Todd. I included the first of the three Todd offered up. Along with a link here to sign up for the Campaign and get information as we advance toward the launch of nationwide civil disobedience on May 13. Click here to like our FB page and keep current on what comes next.
Chainbreaker, The Edge of Equity Series. Candidate forums, planning meetings, training’s in RCV, and a can’t miss series from Chainbreaker Collective, a series of panels on Equity in Santa Fe. While the Edge of Equity is not the first chronologically, if you have not seen Tomás Rivera speak on equity issues, you will want to mark down these dates and not miss any of the panels. Chainbreaker Collective is key partner in the struggle for racial and economic justice in Santa Fe and no one articulates the lack of equity in Santa Fe and a vision for economic justice in Santa Fe better than Tomás and his colleagues at Chainbreaker. Don’t miss these panels. For more information, go to http://www.chainbreaker.org
Ranked Choice Voting Leadership Training. The City of Santa Fe is launching Ranked-Choice Voting in the upcoming Municipal Elections. There is a short window of time in which to educate voters on the new system, and the City is asking for our help! The City is hosting 3 one-hour sessions next week for individuals who are interested in helping them spread the word. These sessions are specifically aimed at giving organizational partners all the info they need to hit the ground running in community outreach. Retake advocated for RCV, now it is time for our folks to step up and help it be implemented clearly.-
Tuesday, January 2, at 10:30 AM at the Main Library Community Room
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Wednesday, January 3, at 1:00 PM at the Main Library Community Room
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Thursday, January 4, at 11:00 AM at the Southside Library Community Room
Thursday, Jan. 4. 4:30pm-6:30pm Roundhouse Advocacy Team Mtg. New Energy Economy, 343 E. Alameda. We began with three folks, 9 months ago and have grown to about 10, meeting twice a month and working in between with 15-20 progressive non-profit organizations to develop a platform and an advocacy framework. We launch both at the Progressive Summit, Jan 20 (Details below). We are now turning our attention to developing a statewide Response Network and identifying specific 2018 Roundhouse election races where with your help, we can make the Roundhouse more responsive and more progressive. Join us. RSVP by emailing me at paul@retakeourdemocracy.org. This is a tremendous group of folks. Get to know the five Mayoral candidates in person:
Alan Webber, Ron Trujillo, Joe Maestas, Kate Noble, Peter Ives
Thursday, Jan 4, 7 – 9pm. The Forum at Santa Fe University of Art & Design (next to Fogelson Library)
Municipal Elections for Santa Fe Mayor and City Council Seats will take place March 6, 2018
Monday, Jan. 8, 6pm-7:15pm. Local Action Team. While continuing its work on SF parks and schools, the Local Action Team is shifting focus to take policies from the Retake People’s Platform, a compilation of progressive policies developed in collaboration with local non-profit partners, and form questions to be used at Mayoral forums being held throughout January and February. The team wants to organize new members and old members to make sure we have representation at all forums and press our concerns and priorities. The team will also discuss ways that we might be able to meet with candidates in a smaller, more private venue where Q&A can be more fruitful, with follow-up questions, etc. Join us by RSVPing with Jennifer Johnson at gridded@mac.com.
A Series of FairVoteNM Training on RCV
Thursday Jan. 11 @ 12-1, 2-4, & 5-7 (at Chainbreaker- 1515 5th Ave)
Friday Jan. 12 @ 10-12, 1-3, & 3-5 (at La Farge Library- 1730 LLano St)
Saturday Jan. 13 @ 10-12, 1-3, & 4-6 (at EarthCare- Corner of Jaguar and Country Club)
Space limited to 20 participants per session. First come first serve. To RSVP please send an email to Maria Perez at mperez@fairvote.org and indicate which session you want to participate in at mperez@fairvote.org or call 505 550 0647.
Sat. Jan. 20, 8:30-4pm. ABQ Convention Center. Progressive Summit. If you are progressive and live in NM, this is where you need to be on Jan. 20. An series of inspiring panels and speakers, plus about 1000 other progressives will be there to share their ideas and hopes. Roxanne and I attended last year and were truly inspired. Not to be missed. For details click here.
Looking Back and Looking Forward: Blogs from Last Week
PNM Counterpunched by New Energy Economy, But Trump May Have Other Ideas. Thursday, Dec 28. PNM is reeling from a string of defeats in the PRC, had its Santa Fe solarization deal stalled, has its rate deal still in the Supreme Court and has lost most of its leverage in seeking payment for ‘stranded assets,’ from closing half San Juan Generating Station. But Trump holds some aces up his sleeve. The blog outlines how the tide is turning in NM and, in large part due to New Energy Economy, the PRC is starting to see behind PNM’s curtain. The blog also outlines the scary regulations Trump is seeking to create to prop up coal. Click here.
Wake Up Democratic Party You are Missing ANOTHER Huge Opportunity. Friday, Dec. 29. You will want to revisit this post. Trump keeps giving the Democrats opportunities to assert itself, present a stark contrast, or to inspire action and to motivate the masses. “A Better Deal” (remember that?) didn’t do it and the silence as the Dems shuffle off for recess, is certainly no better. What can be done? This is worth a re-read. In a future blog I will extend the thinking about how vapid the Democratic Party has become, without vision or courage. With current presidential hopefuls between 67-74 years old, will the Party ever hand over the reins? Click here.
Farewell 2017. And a Surprisingly Long List of Good Things that Happened. Sat. Dec 30. When you look back over the past year and consider that we entered the year in fear & trembling, is it possible to exit 2017 with a sense of emerging power and even optimism that the pendulum may now swing left? Could the arc of the universe now swing toward justice? Odd thought after the tax bill. But this post included a huge list of good things that happened in 2017. And some odd things, as well. A fun read. Click here.
Looking Forward: Grassroots Organizing Matures as We Switch from Defense to Offense. Sun. Dec 31. Rev. Barber has some advice for 2018: “We all need to stop behaving so well.” We provide updates on what misbehaving could look like in NM. Defense becomes offense! Our Time is Now! Click here.
Onward into 2018. Glad to have all of you in there pitching. Much to do this year.
In solidarity,
Paul & Roxanne
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