NM Political Report on TV

Over the weekend, New Mexico Political Report’s senior reporter Joey Peters hit the small screen to discuss several local and regional issues. Peters appeared as a panelist on New Mexico in Focus, a local public affairs program that airs weekly on New Mexico PBS. He joined host Gene Grant, Albuquerque attorney Laura Sanchez-Rivet, Albuquerque Free Press associate editor […]

NM Political Report on TV

Over the weekend, New Mexico Political Report’s senior reporter Joey Peters hit the small screen to discuss several local and regional issues.

Snip20150623_1Peters appeared as a panelist on New Mexico in Focus, a local public affairs program that airs weekly on New Mexico PBS. He joined host Gene Grant, Albuquerque attorney Laura Sanchez-Rivet, Albuquerque Free Press associate editor Dennis Domrzalski and Vox Optima founder Merritt Allen to talk about several burning issues in New Mexico.

The program kicked off with a discussion of the controversial Santolina planned community. The Bernalillo County Commission voted to authorize the Santolina master plan last week.

View the Santolina segment below:

Next, the panelists broke down the many issues surrounding the City of Albuquerque’s contract with attorney Scott Greenwood, who was hired last year to be the city’s chief negotiator with the Department of Justice on police reform.

Last week, the council postponed granting more public money to Greenwood’s ballooning contract amid questions about his spending habits and undisclosed relationship with TASER International, a stun gun company that the city recently came under fire for granting no-bid contracts to and possibly violating state and city laws in the process.

After this segment aired, the city council voted Monday to give Greenwood an extra $530,000, bringing his contract to $750,000. Watch it below:

Panelists also talked about calls from environmentalists and Attorney General Hector Balderas for the New Mexico Supreme Court to review copper rule, which regulates how copper is mined in the state. While proponents of the rule say it’s a compromise, opponents argue that it violates the state’s clean water laws.

Watch the discussion below (and for good background on the subject, read reporter Laura Paskus’ 2013 investigation for the Santa Fe Reporter on how the copper rule became so controversial).

Finally, the panelists end with a talk about the city’s plans to build a high-speed dedicated bus lane along 10 miles of Albuquerque’s Central Avenue.

Watch panelists discuss mass transit plans for Albuquerque below:

Oh, and what would the program be without a discussion of Rachel Dolezal, the former Spokane NAACP chapter president who’s story of transforming herself from a white woman to a black woman went viral earlier this month?

Panelists took a stab at understanding the Dolezal phenomenon during the Web Extra segment. Watch below:

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Politics Newsletter: LFC Budget report

Politics Newsletter: LFC Budget report

The Dec. 4 politics newsletter includes Legislative Finance Committe revenue tracking report, countdown to the legislative session and Meanwhile on the Hill.
Judge rules that congressional map is not an unlawful gerrymander

Judge rules that congressional map is not an unlawful gerrymander

A judge upheld the congressional maps that Republicans alleged included illegal gerrymandering, particularly in the case of the state’s 2nd Congressional District. Ninth Judicial…
Challenger announces she’ll run for Ivey-Soto Senate seat

Challenger announces she’ll run for Ivey-Soto Senate seat

Former New Mexico House Democratic Campaign Committee finance director Heather Berghmans announced her run for state senate District 15 on Thursday. She is running…
PNM customers may see a small rate decrease 

PNM customers may see a small rate decrease 

New Mexico Public Regulation Commission hearing examiners recommended that the regulators approve a rate decrease for the Public Service Company of New Mexico customers…
New Mexico’s environmental progress discussed at panel

New Mexico’s environmental progress discussed at panel

Panel topics discussed were legislative successes and failures, the Energy Transition Act, Gaming Commission reform, the state budget and its reliance on oil and…
Senators call removal of RECA from NDAA as ‘major betrayal’ and ‘injustice’

Senators call removal of RECA from NDAA as ‘major betrayal’ and ‘injustice’

The National Defense Authorization Act conference report leaves out a key provision that would have provided assistance to New Mexico “downwinders” who have become…
More learning time, free meals coming to students this school year

More learning time, free meals coming to students this school year

As children prepare to return to school for the new public school year, they will see some changes after legislation passed in the 2023…
Legislature hears about post-COVID impacts on education

Legislature hears about post-COVID impacts on education

Public education is still recovering from the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns. The state Legislative Finance Committee’s Public Education Subcommittee released a report Wednesday detailing…
ECECD hosts baby showers to let parents know about resources

ECECD hosts baby showers to let parents know about resources

Friday afternoon, a line of people formed outside a room in the Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum in Albuquerque.  The line was made…
Gov. Lujan Grisham tests positive for COVID

Gov. Lujan Grisham tests positive for COVID

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham tested positive for COVID-19 for a third time. The governor’s office said that Lujan Grisham is experiencing mild symptoms and…
Study: New Mexico had highest increase in abortion since 2020

Study: New Mexico had highest increase in abortion since 2020

Between January 2020 and June 2023, New Mexico saw a larger increase in abortion than any other state, according to a new report. The…
Doctors encourage vaccinations for respiratory illnesses, including COVID

Doctors encourage vaccinations for respiratory illnesses, including COVID

Health officials from hospitals throughout the state encouraged New Mexicans to get vaccinated against three respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. After the U.S. Food and…
US Supreme Court expected to hear the abortion medication case this term

US Supreme Court expected to hear the abortion medication case this term

Two upcoming U.S. Supreme Court cases  this term could impact abortion rights and victims of domestic violence. The high court has not set a…
Indigenous Women Rising: Abortion fund budget has doubled since Dobbs

Indigenous Women Rising: Abortion fund budget has doubled since Dobbs

Representatives from the abortion fund provider Indigenous Women Rising told members of the Interim Indian Affairs Committee on Monday that their monthly abortion fund…
Study: New Mexico had highest increase in abortion since 2020

Study: New Mexico had highest increase in abortion since 2020

Between January 2020 and June 2023, New Mexico saw a larger increase in abortion than any other state, according to a new report. The…
Lujan Grisham signs letter asking for availability of over-the-counter birth control pill

Lujan Grisham signs letter asking for availability of over-the-counter birth control pill

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham joined with other governors this week to request the federal government ensure that a newly approved over-the-counter birth control pill…
Senators introduce suicide prevention legislation

Senators introduce suicide prevention legislation

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report shows upward trends in the nation’s high schoolers expressing they felt hopeless, considered suicide…
Indigenous Women Rising: Abortion fund budget has doubled since Dobbs

Indigenous Women Rising: Abortion fund budget has doubled since Dobbs

Representatives from the abortion fund provider Indigenous Women Rising told members of the Interim Indian Affairs Committee on Monday that their monthly abortion fund…
Local election results certified, with some recounts pending

Local election results certified, with some recounts pending

The New Mexico State Canvass Board met Tuesday in Santa Fe to certify the official 2023 local election results. The State Canvass Board is…
NM Supreme Court hears gerrymandering oral arguments, decision to come at later date

NM Supreme Court hears gerrymandering oral arguments, decision to come at later date

Attorneys for both the Republican Party of New Mexico and Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver delivered oral arguments on Monday in the case…
Voter education campaign begins as voting begins in local elections

Voter education campaign begins as voting begins in local elections

Tuesday marked the beginning of early voting for local elections throughout the state. It also marked the beginning of a voter education public service…
PNM customers may see a small rate decrease 

PNM customers may see a small rate decrease 

New Mexico Public Regulation Commission hearing examiners recommended that the regulators approve a rate decrease for the Public Service Company of New Mexico customers…
New Mexico’s environmental progress discussed at panel

New Mexico’s environmental progress discussed at panel

Panel topics discussed were legislative successes and failures, the Energy Transition Act, Gaming Commission reform, the state budget and its reliance on oil and…
Senators call removal of RECA from NDAA as ‘major betrayal’ and ‘injustice’

Senators call removal of RECA from NDAA as ‘major betrayal’ and ‘injustice’

The National Defense Authorization Act conference report leaves out a key provision that would have provided assistance to New Mexico “downwinders” who have become…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report