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A New, More Progressive Bernalillo County. As you know, I worked hard for Barbara Baca and Eric Olivas for County Commission, and John Allen for Sheriff. And they won! Manny Gonzales is gone. We desperately needed a change at this level, where so much can happen re: behavioral health, sane development, and better policing. Hopefully the Commission will fill a vacuum left by a gridlocked, captive City Council.
A Community of Ditch Walkers that has sprung up in valley neighborhoods since the beginning of COVID. The crowd seems bigger than ever, with dogs, children, assorted carriages and bicycles in tow. Our particular stretch was marred by an automobile accident at a street crossing last year, and now the spot is marked by a descanso. Today the mini shrine bore a Christmas wreath. A candle was lit beneath it. Other walkers will add. That’s the way communities are built.
The Moroccan Soccer Team: The World Cup will be remembered for many things—Messi’s Argentinian dream come true, the “Hat Trick “of France’s Mbappe in the final game, the migrant workers who lost their lives building stadiums for a country that punishes extramarital sex, persecutes gays and bribed FIFA to get the games. But for me, the Atlas Lions' never-say-die victories against the greats--Spain, Portugal and Belgium-- were thrilling.
Arizona Voters: They rejected the election deniers-- and there were a lot of them on their ballots: Mark Finchem, Kari Lake, and Blake Masters! All were supported by Trump.
Rugged individuals with character and guts like retiring Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley and Pennsylvania’s Senator-elect John Fetterman. Courage is the word to describe Debbie, who started baking enchiladas to benefit the Sawmill Advisory Committee, and continued to build a remarkable affordable housing trust, along the way standing up to bullies in the mayor’s office, the City Council and the County Commission. Thank you, Debbie. And Congrats to the hoodie-wearing Fetterman who did not fear to expose that he was recovering from a stroke and did not try to measure up to someone else’s standard. We need character and courage in our public officials - not servility and conformity.
The Women of Iran: Their courage, their determination against all odds gives me hope that the moral arc of the universe does bend toward justice—we just can’t see it yet. This year’s Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade has made clear that even in this country women do not have equal rights as men to control their bodies, but can you imagine having to fear imprisonment and death if you put on your scarf wrong? And can you imagine if women were NO LONGER ALLOWED to go to college, as the Taliban have decreed in Afghanistan?
Legislative Victories, finally Coming to Fruition:
It’s been a long time coming but, after overwhelming approval at the ballot box, it finally looks like a part of the NM Permanent Fund will go to education and early childhood programs. Payday loans will be limited to a 36% interest cap, the minimum wage will rise to $12/hr.— and yes, marijuana is now legal, with a store open right next to La Montanita Co-op at my local shopping center. Last I looked the sky had not fallen.
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