Please read immediately because Redistricting hearings begin today.PRC details for Wednesday’s hearing.. And we hope you’ll join us at our Legislative Strategy Huddle Weds. evening by Zoom. Lots to do!
In this post you will find info on:
- Retake Legislative Strategy Huddle Weds at 6pm
- How to provide public comment at Wednesday’s PRC hearing on PNM-Avangrid merger — voting is imminent;
- Retake’s Legislative Strategy Huddle Wednesday evening;
- How to participate in today’s (Dec. 7) Redistricting hearings.
1. Retake Legislative Strategy Huddle, Tonight at 6pm
Kick-off Legislative Zoom Huddle, Weds, December 8, 6-7pm. Find out the bills we think we will be supporting and those we may oppose. Also find out about how you can plug into the Retake legislative advocacy strategy, including organizing Constituent-Legislator Conversations throughout December. This is a crucial huddle as we prepare for the 2022 Session. Click here to register.
2.PRC Merger Hearing, TODAY…Weds., Dec. 8, 9:30 am
The Zoom meeting is accessible via a livestream on YouTube. Go to https://www.nm-prc.org/nmprc-open-meeting-agenda/ several minutes before the start of the meeting for a link to the livestream.
To sign up for public comment please contact Sarah Valencia by email at sarahe.valencia@state.nm.us or by phone at (505) 490-7910 no later than 5 p.m. TODAY. Provide your name, email address, company (if any), phone number if you will be calling in, and the subject of your comment.
To access our Avangrid Communication strategy with customized speaking or writing points and contact info, click here.
Our Legislative Strategy Huddle, Dec. 8, 6 pm
Please join us for our Legislative Strategy Huddle, Weds., Dec.8, 6 to 7 pm, to discuss our strategy for the 2022 Session, the current Special Session and how you can be effectively involved. You must register to attend: Registration Link.
Redistricting Hearings Today, Dec. 7, 9:30 am
This is a crucial hearing as it is quite likely a vote will be taken and your public comment during the hearing and your email and calls before the hearing will be fresh in your Commissioner’s brain as s/he mulls his/her vote. Let’s do this!
We received this note from Senate Leader Peter Wirth last night by email: Senate Rules Committee will meet Tuesday morning at 9:30 to discuss the changes to the Senate Rules which were introduced Monday. Senator Ivey Soto will announce redistricting schedules for SRC at the Senate Floor Session, which begins Tues. at 11:30 am. You can watch the Senate Floor Session at www.nmlegis.gov. (Go to Webcast in the top menu bar.)
So, both Senate Rules and the House State Gov’t, Elections and Indian Affairs will discuss redistricting today. Below is the schedule, location, and info on how to give public comment at the hearings.
Tues., Dec. 7, 9:30 a.m., Rm. 322, Senate Rules Committee: SR 1 Senate Rules Change. We are not sure if public comment will be taken at this hearing, but you can join the hearing at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88408775084. Or via telephone 346-248-7799. Meeting ID: 884 0877 5084. Or meeting may be viewed via Webcast at www.nmlegis.gov. (Click on the Webcast tab and select Senate Rules.)
Tues., Dec. 7, 1:30 p.m., Rm. 317, House State Govt., Elections & Indian Affairs. This is what’s on the agenda: HB 3 HOUSE REDISTRICTING- CONCEPT I1; HB 4 HOUSE REDISTRICTING- CONCEPT E1; HB 5 HOUSE REDISTRICTING- CONCEPT J; HB 8 REDISTRICTING HOUSE- CONCEPT. If you click on the bill numbers above you will find a listing of the precincts included in each district.
To participate in the hearing, please click on this link to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87206098297. Or One tap mobile +16699009128, 87206098297# or +12532158782,,87206098297#. Or Telephone:
US: +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 646 558 8656
or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799. Webinar ID: 872 0609 8297. Meeting may be viewed via Webcast at www.nmlegis.gov. (Click on the Webcast tab and select House State Govt., Elections & Indian Affairs.)
What to Say/Write
Contact info for members of the Senate Rules Committee and House State Govt., Elections & Indian Affairs Committee are in the next section below. Whether or not you plan to offer public comments at the hearings, please call and email committee members this morning, especially if your own Senator or House member is on the committee.
If you plan to speak at one of the hearings, please note how other states have legislated undemocratic practices to further partisan interests. Point out that NM has created a democratic and inclusive set of maps that respond to the principles developed by the CRC (below). Now our legislature has the opportunity to show the nation how the democratic process should work, with legislators working to advance the people’s interests rather than seeking to protect incumbents or partisan interests.
Fair Districts NM has developed principles they feel should govern the process. You will want to mention these in your message to your legislators:
- Select the Citizen Redistricting Committee (CRC) maps which best balance:
- Compliance with the Voting Rights Act
- Freedom from partisan gerrymandering
- Protection of Communities of Interest
- Adherence to governmental boundaries including Tribal boundaries.
- No favoring incumbents.
- If the Legislature amends the maps sent to them by the CRC, they should provide a detailed explanation of why they amended the maps.
- During the Special Session on Redistricting, all legislative meetings should follow the letter and spirit of the Open Meetings Act. The public’s business should be conducted in full public view. The actions of public bodies should be taken openly and all deliberations made open to the public.
- Daniel A. Ivey-Soto (D), Chair, 505-397-8830, daniel.ivey-soto@nmlegis.gov
- Katy M. Duhigg (D), Vice Chair, 505-397-8823, katy.duhigg@nmlegis.gov
- Stuart Ingle (R), Ranking Member, 505-986-4702, stuart.ingle@nmlegis.gov
- Gregory A. Baca (R), 505-986-4877, greg.baca@nmlegis.gov
- Linda M. Lopez (D), 505-397-8833, linda.lopez@nmlegis.gov
- Mark Moores (R), 505-986-4856, mark.moores@nmlegis.gov
- Bill B. O’Neill (D), 505-397-8838, oneillsd13@billoneillfornm.com
- Jerry Ortiz Y Pino (D), 505-397-8839, jortizyp@msn.com
- Cliff R. Pirtle (R), 505-986-4369, cliff.pirtle@nmlegis.gov
- Mimi Stewart (D), 505-397-8853, mimi.stewart@nmlegis.gov
- Peter Wirth (D), 505-397-8855, peter.wirth@nmlegis.gov
House State Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee (HSEIC)
- Georgene Louis (D), Chair, 505-986-4346, georgene.louis@nmlegis.gov
- D. Wonda Johnson (D), Vice Chair, 505-986-4433, dwonda.johnson@nmlegis.gov
- Gail Chasey (D), 505-986-4411, gail@gailchasey.com
- Daymon Ely (D), 505-986-4243, daymon.ely@nmlegis.gov
- Doreen Y. Gallegos (D), 505-986-4774, doreen.gallegos@nmlegis.gov
- Greg Nibert (R), 505-986-4211, greg.nibert@nmlegis.gov
- Kristina Ortez (D), 505-986-4254, kristina.ortez@nmlegis.gov
- Bill R. Rehm (R), 505-986-4214, bill.rehm@nmlegis.gov
- Martin R. Zamora (R), 505-986-4211, martin.zamora@nmlegis.gov
In Solidarity and Hope,
Paul and Roxanne
Categories: Climate Justice, Uncategorized
Thank you for keeping the public abreast of the redistricting session. We are grateful for Retake’s contribution to this effort.
Kathleen Burke
Fair Districts for New Mexico
Yes, thank you. I wrote to Joe Maestas and posted the primer on my Facebook page. I can’t join the huddle tomorrow but plan on joining moving forward.