A Look Back and A Look Forward at Some Very Political Actions & Events

By paulgibson51 on March 26, 2018 • ( 1 )

We have an opportunity to reshape our city and our state and launch it in a far more renewable and sustainable future. But we need you. Today’s post offers a number of great opportunities to start creating the change we believe in.

Coming Actions

Donate to Retake Today! Our goal on the first of March was to raise $4000 this month and we are very, very close. We will be out of the red and into the black. At this point we can lighten up on the asks and focus on the long haul. We need a cadre of monthly sustaining donors to cover our costs: facility rentals for town halls and events, web costs, email hosting, printing, buttons, and soon, a regular advertising budget, not to promote our events but to promote progressive ideals. Chip in if you can and we will post soon a full budget and a plan for using our resources.

Live Stream of Journey Santa Fe with Tomás Rivera and Paul Gibson. If you missed Journey yesterday at Collected Works, it featured Paul Gibson and Tomás Rivera talking about progressive policies and revenue strategies that could be implemented by the new Mayor and City Council. Cecile Lipworth, from our Leadership Team, was on hand and streamed the presentations live to our Facebook page. Members of the audience commented afterward that it was both informative and inspiring. I’l let you be the judge. click here.

Mayor Webber hosted the discussion and chimed in that he would personally introduce one of the policies Retake had recommended:

True Connect, low-interest loan program which has been implemented by the Town of Bernallilo, Dońa Ana County and the Santa Fe Public Schools. Through this program, the city or any large employer can create a low-interest loan program for all employees. Loans are capped at 24% and serve as an alternative to predatory pay day lenders who can still charge up to 175% in NM. A great start, Mr. Mayor. We’ll be looking for more of our policies being considered and adopted.

Local Action Team. Monday (TODAY), 6pm-7:15pm. At New Energy Economy, 343 E. Alameda. This is a group that is taking off. At this meeting we will begin revising and prioritizing the policies in our People’s Platform and consider how to develop a local advocacy strategy. We have a new Mayor and City Council and we feel that by being proactive and constructive, we can meet with Councilors and provide information on policies we are promoting so that they have what they need to vote for these policies. This group is going to be a potent force in local advocacy. Join us tonight and become part of it.

Bill McCamley for State Auditor.

Roxanne and I are all in for Bill McCamley. He has been one of the most transparent and authentic legislators in the Roundhouse and now he wants to follow in Tim Keller’s footsteps and protect our state from fraud and misuse of resources. Come to the the House Party below and find out more about Rep. McCamley and why Roxanne and I so enthusiastically support him. This is a statewide race, so in addition to being asked to contribute, you will find out information on how you can canvass, phone bank and GOTV. Go Bill.

Who is Bill running against in the primary? Glad you asked: Brian Colón, the guy who ran against Tim Keller for Mayor of ABQ and ran all those horribly distasteful ads. That guy.

Can’t make it Friday! Perhaps you have $10, $25, or $50 you can offer? If so, Bill’s online contribution page is here. And check out his video at the end of the blog.

A Path to a Progressive Public Regulation Commission: Really!

Save the Date. April 9, 5:30-7pm. Site TBD. A reception and Q&A with Janene Yazzie and Steve Fischmann, two very eco-friendly candidates for PRC Commissioner who are running against two of our least favorite Commissioners: Sandy Jones and Linda Lovejoy. Aside from the Governor’s race this is the most important race going in NM. Come and find out why and how you can help. Retake feels that these races are almost as important as the race for Governor. The PRC plays such a pivotal role in determining our energy policy and it has been ‘owned’ by PNM for years. Electing Yazzie and Fischmann would flip a switch in ways that are almost unimaginable. Instead of PNM getting its way on every energy decision, suddenly they would be strongly opposed and pushed to completely reverse course. Please pencil this in. We will have a location this week.

Roundhouse Advocacy Team. Thursday, April 12 and 26, 4:30-6:30pm at New Energy Economy, 343 E. Alameda. The Roundhouse Advocacy Team (or the Rat Pack) has been meeting for a year to develop a 2018-2019 Election and Legislative Strategy. We meet the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month, same time, same location. This month, members are starting to reach out to the 35 people who signed up to be Response Network Coordinators in their community and then in our meetings, we will continue developing the roles and responsibilities involved in launching the Rapid Response Network. With hundreds of people signed up to be a part of it from all parts of the state, there is plenty to do. This week we will also spend a good deal of time discussing our plans to support primary candidates for the Roundhouse and the PRC. And if you can’t make it to these meetings, please just write to me, as there is PLENTY you can do from home and at your own pace. Write to me at Paul@RetakeOurDemocracy.org. This is where the action is, my friends. A tremendous team doing amazing work and a testimony to what a small group of committed folks can do.

If you haven’t taken the Speak Up New Mexico! Legislative Priorities survey, please do so today to tell your legislators what bills you want to see become law. Click the blue button at left to take the survey. And if you want to get involved with our 2018-2018 Roundhouse Advocacy Team, we meet on Thursday from 4:30-6:30pm at New Energy Economy, 343 E. Alameda. To RSVP, just write to me at paul@RetakeOurDemocracy.org. If you want to read about our 2018-2019 Election and Legislative Strategy, click here.