Morning Word: Former UNM Athletic Director's Appeal to Santa Fe

We're hiring! Well, not we...
Why was the University of New Mexico's athletic director asking Gov. Susana Martinez' most trusted political adviser how to respond to questions about who was actually hiring the school's next basketball coach? The Albuquerque Journal asked Jay McCleskey and UNM, but neither had an answer. Paul Krebs says he asked McCleskey what to do "as a friend and a media strategist," but that the decision on hiring Paul Weir was made without influence from Santa Fe. The Journal requested emails from Krebs in his final months on the job, and also found drafts of a resignation letter Krebs made taking more responsibility for a scandal surrounding a golf trip to Scotland where the university paid for potential donors to attend. That expense is being investigated by two state agencies.

Shifting stances on pot
When SFR asked gubernatorial candidates whether they supported legalizing recreational marijuana use in New Mexico, Peter DeBenedittis was neutral on it and Michelle Lujan Grisham wanted to wait until we knew more about the impact on states that legalize it. Fast forward a few months and DeBenedittis is all-in on recreational use. Lujan Grisham still wants robust safeguards in place, but gave a more full-throated endorsement of the concept. Jeff Apodaca still favors it, Joseph Cervantes still holds a position that's closer to where Lujan Grisham is and Steve Pearce is still opposed. 

Contractor contributions
Santa Fe has its own mayoral race coming up in March 2018 (you may have heard), but Albuquerque is in the final months of selecting its next mayor. Here's an issue to watch: Three of the candidates have accepted contributions from city contractors. City campaign code requires those to be given back, though the owners of those contracting companies can donate as individuals.

Slap-dash robbery
Police arrested Anthony Frazier over the weekend after a customer at the Shake Foundation burger stand on Cerrillos Road said Frazier did a dance, pulled at a belt he was wearing on his throat, slapped the customer, then stole a green chile cheeseburger that fell after the 25-year-old Frazier delivered the slap. Police caught up with Frazier nearby.

Oil-patch school district considers DACA support measure
School board members in Lovington are considering a resolution that would voice support for those impacted by a potential reversal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The district says there are 20 families in the southeastern New Mexico town who would be affected.

Brother, can you spare a...
Speaking of considering resolutions, Santa Fe is in the process of deciding whether to change its panhandling ordinance to prohibit asking for money within 20 feet of a business. The American Civil Liberties Union says that may run afoul of free speech guarantees. The city's tourism head says it could make shopping near the Plaza downtown a more pleasant experience. 

A sobering experience
The city of Santa Fe will give $150,000 to a center that saw support scaled back from Christus St. Vincent earlier this year. The center has 15 beds for men and women who voluntarily try to stay dry. Santa Fe County has given $300,000 to the center, which it hopes can increase its services.

Thanks for reading! Every day, thousands of you open this newsletter and scroll through it. The Word gives you mad respect, yo.

Spread the Word at sfreporter.com/santafe/signup.

Santa Fe Reporter