The post also includes news on a new Trujillo endorsement, New Orleans strategies applicable to Santa Fe’s short-term rental problems and a report on an extraordinary evening with Janene Yazzie and her husband Kern Colleymore.

Odds & Ends

• Monday night Janene Yazzie and her husband Kern Colleymore came to Santa Fe to meet with about 60 supporters. We first heard from Kern as he described how he met Janene in college and their journey together as activists. I had spoken with Kern before, but never heard him speak publicly. Wow. He laid out a detailed description of the couple’s remarkable commitment to indigenous rights and land and water protection. Then we heard from Janene who gave a riveting talk about why she is running for the PRC, her values, her priorities, and her passion.

At the end of their talk, I spoke to coax attendees to make generous donations, but I could barely get my words out I was so moved. The experience recalled something Roxanne said once about Bernie:  “You are so used to hearing lies, when someone speaks the truth it makes you cry.” I can’t possibly encourage you more to contact their campaign. There will be canvassing each of the next two weekends in ABQ, phone banking is another option, or you can simply contribute. Click here to get to the campaign website and make a contribution or write to Jeremy Sment if you want to canvass: jeremy.sment@gmail.com.

• From the NM Alliance for Life’s Pro Life Voter Guide two new endorsements, two Democrat Incumbents have garnered endorsements from NM Alliance for Life. In contrast, Herrera and Romero are endorsed by Planned Parenthood.
• Trujillo is also endorsed by the New Mexico Association of Commerce & Industry, an association largely comprised of major corporations doing business and lobbying in NM. This is a group who:
  • Opposed the Pipeline Safety Act Violations bill (HB94) which would have strengthened penalties for pipeline leaks;
  • Supported the Employee Preference Act (HB169) a strong anti labor bill;
  • Supported repeal of public service minimum wage (HB192);
  • Opposed the cigarette tax increase (HB232);
  • Opposed Land Grant for Early Childhood (HJR1)
• If you are keeping score, the only organizations supporting Rep. Trujillo are a Pro-Life organization and a big business association.
• Andrea Romero is endorsed by:  Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM) Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Votes – New Mexico, Organizers in the Land of Enchantment (OLÉ), Designated a “Gun Sense Candidate” by Moms Demand Action-NM, AFSCME Council  18; Plumbers & Pipefitters 412, Sheet Metal Workers Local 49 of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail & Transportation (SMART), Santa Fe County Firefighters Local 4366 and four pueblos and tribes: Jicarilla Apache Nation, Ohkay Owingeh, Isleta, Picuris.
• You can tell a good deal about a race and the candidates by examining who supports each candidate and who opposes them.
• Tuesday, May 29, 5-7pm. Meet & Greet with Andrea Romero and Mayor Webber at Better Day Dine-In at 907 W Alameda St, Santa Fe. Sponsored by the Firefighters Union, one of several unions endorsing Romero. This is not a fundraiser, though donations will be welcomed. It is a chance to make up your own mind on Dist. 46. Click here to RSVP and for details. HOSTED BY: Governor of Pojoaque Joseph Talache, Santa Fe City Councilor Renee Villarreal, AFSCME, Santa Fe County Firefighters Local 4366, Former Mayor David Coss, Former Judge Lynn Pickard, Former Judge Mike Vigil, Miguel Angel Acosta, Lacey Adams, Ann Alexander, Sam Baca, Joan Baker, Roxanne Barber, Jocelyn Barrett, Lin Bartucca, Bill Betz, Susan Betz, Jennifer Billig, Deborah Boldt, Conci Bokum, Daniel Borrero, DDS., Bill Buchsbaum, Jane Buchsbaum, Marti Burt, Madeline Carey, Christina Chavarria, Marc Choyt, Miles Conway, Phil Cook, Michael Coop, Aviva Crichton, Paul Dirdak, DeeDee Downs, Cam Duncan, Marci Eannarino, Lynne Einleger, Dan Esquibel, Debby Everett, Steve Flance, Kristen Flance, Cheryl Ford, Denise Fort, Mary Freitas, Paul Gibson, Christine Gishey, Carmen Gonzales, Jade Gordon, Jeff Haas, Teri Hackler, Jarel La Pan Hill, Paul Hultin, Wendy Johnson, MD, Emily Kaltenbach, Piper Kapin, Frank Katz, Richard Khanlian, Leslie LaKind, Orlando Leibovitz, Martin Lipton, Carla Lopez, Juliana Lucero, Alston Lundgren, Bob Mang, Pamela Mang, Barbara McIntyre, Robert Morlino, Mariel Nanasi, Jeannie Oakes, Craig O’Hare, Carol Oppenheimer, Bianca Ortiz, Wendy Pomeroy, Carmela Quintana, Lissa Reidel, Carol Rose, Helen Sanchez, LeRoy Sanchez, Ralph Scargall, Renee Scargall, Glenn Schiffbauer, Kim Schiffbauer, Rick Scott, Betty Carol Sellen, Alysha Shaw, Morty Simon, Bianca Sopoci-Belknap, Carol Sorensen-Baumgartel, Ivy Stern, Elaine Sullivan, Adi Swisa, Maya Swisa, Justin Talbot-Zorn, Meredy Talbot-Zorn, Bird Thompson, Cathy Townes, Samia van Hattum, Sheila Vaughn, Sandra Wechsler, Daniel Werwath, Melissa Williams, Bette Yozell, and Danila Crespin Zidovsky.

Over 70% of Democrats Want to Advance a Progressive Platform. From a Truthout report:  “A CBS News/YouGov poll (pdf) asked Democrats, Independents, and those who lean toward voting for Democrats to choose between two options for what Democratic candidates’ “first priority” should be. A full 72 percent said they want to see party candidates prioritize a progressive political agenda. The remaining 28 percent opted for merely opposing President Donald Trump’s agenda.”  The article describes how in state and local elections progressives are sweeping to victory despite Democratic Party preference for centrist or moderate candidates.  “Just last week alone, as In These Times reported, “at least eight candidates running on explicitly progressive platforms won out, including open socialists and political newcomers who took out longtime incumbents.” Earlier this year, Marie Newman nearly ousted Rep. Bill Lipinski (Ill.), a Blue Dog Democrat who has come under fire for his record on reproductive and LGBTQ rights, healthcare, and immigration.” For the entire article, click here.

DNC Deputy Chair Keith Ellison Wants Party to Stay Out of Primaries: Perhaps some among Democratic leadership are paying attention to the polls above and the results of so many races. In an interview with Amy Goodman, Keith Ellison opined:  “I think that the Democratic Party should stay out of all primaries, should let the voters decide, shouldn’t put our thumbs on the scale for anybody. And that’s my opinion. But you should know there’s a difference between the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.”  So, while there is still strong sentiment for limiting Democratic Party involvement in primaries and letting voters decide, as the article describes there is growing sentiment that perhaps this approach will not serve the Party well. Click here to read a most interesting interview. Are you paying attention, Rep. Lujan (chair of the DCCC)?

New Orleans Strategies for Reducing Short-Term Rental Market.

There are many unintended consequences from short-term rentals:

• Investor acquisition of housing stock may turn a profit for the investor, but it removes housing from existing housing stock, driving the price of housing up and reducing affordable housing options for low-income, long-term residents;
• Permanent residents who can no longer afford rising housing prices must move elsewhere displaced to make room for tourists with no roots in or commitment to the community; and
• Instead of neighborhoods being comprised of neighbors who know each other, a series of constantly changing ‘residents’ undermine a sense of community.

Only two years ago, New Orleans City Council voted to offer licenses to allow short-term rentals, but an incoming City Council, that ran for office on a platform calling for severely restricting short-term rentals, is crafting policies that might be relevant to Santa Fe. New Orleans came up with the concept of capping the number of days that a landlord could rent on a short-term basis.  “A temporary permit, which costs $150, allows a person to rent out an entire home for up to 90 days per year. The 90-day cap was supposed to incentivize local property owners to rent out their spare rooms while disincentivizing real-estate investors from buying up housing stock and turning the units into full-time short-term rentals.”  Encouraging long-term rental of extra units or in Santa Fe of detached casitas is a good thing, increasing housing stock. The caps do nothing to inhibit that practice, while deterring short-term vacation rentals.

The jury is out as to the effectiveness of the cap, but as with any regulation, capitalists will find a way to circumvent the intent of the legislation, requiring New Orleans to be vigilant. Landlords have found ways to rent properties for 90 days on AirBnB and another 90 days on VRBO, escaping city scrutiny. Nonetheless, the concept of capping short-term rentals seems one tool that Santa Fe might want to consider.  Click here to read the full Next City report.

I know that City Councilor Renee Villarreal is very concerned about this problem. I sent her a link to the article last night. Retake feels that if we can provide examples of how other communities wrestle with and solve problems challenging Santa Fe, we can advance our search for policies that can help Santa Fe and other NM cities achieve greater equity.

In solidarity,

Paul & Roxanne

Categories: Economic Justice, Community & Economic Development

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