NM Restaurant Association Launches Recruitment Campaign

COVID-19 by the numbers

Yesterday, New Mexico health officials reported 2,286 new COVID-19 cases for the three-day period of Aug. 28-30, bringing the total number of cases to 231,785. DOH has designated 202,111 of those cases as recovered. Bernalillo County had 551 new cases, followed by Doña Ana County with 215 and Eddy County with 198. Santa Fe County had 73 new cases.

The state also announced seven additional deaths; there have now been 4,512 total fatalities. As of yesterday, 394 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, 32 more than Friday.

Currently, 77.3% of New Mexicans 18 years and older have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 67.5% are fully vaccinated. In the 12-17-year-old age group, 59.3% people have had at least one dose and 46.8% are fully inoculated. In Santa Fe County, among those 18 years and older, 88.9% have had at least one dose and 78.6% are fully vaccinated. Today is the final day of eligibility to receive a $100 incentive for receiving a first or second shot of Pfizer or Moderna, or a first-and-only shot of J&J. To receive the incentive, New Mexicans must get vaccinated and opt in at at vaccinenm.org/stay-ahead by 5 pm on Friday, Sept. 10.

You can read all of SFR’s COVID-19 coverage here.

Restaurant group courts workers

The New Mexico Restaurant Association has launched a campaign titled Hungry for Success to try to lure first and return workers back to the understaffed industry. In a section titled “Second Chances,” the campaign reads: “Our industry takes pride in being one of second chances. We understand that no one is perfect and sometimes life throws you curve balls. The stability that comes from gainful employment is often a cornerstone in rebuilding after major life obstacles. Restaurant owners are waiting with open arms and want to see you succeed. Many other industries and occupations throw walls up and judge applicants for things in their past that might not have been in their control or situations that they have outgrown. If you are looking for a second chance, your seat at the table is waiting.” The campaign includes a job listing board. “I think we are going to turn a corner here, and a corner we really needed to turn,” NMRA Chief Executive Officer Carol Wight tells KOB 4 news. “So many restaurants are shut down right now and not completely shut down, they are having to shut down on Mondays or Tuesdays, a lot of them are making their hours shorter.” Wight also tells the Santa Fe New Mexican the campaign is timed to reinforce the looming Sept. 4 date at which federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits ends. According to the state Department of Workforce Solutions, in mid-August, 5,800 unemployed workers fell into the food service category.

Gov signs emergency order for Rio Arriba County

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham yesterday signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Rio Arriba County in response to the heavy flooding that began there on Aug. 15, providing for up to $750,000 for the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to help city and county recovery efforts. Similar declarations have been made for Lincoln, Chaves, Valencia, Eddy, Doña Ana and Mora counties, which also allows for state assistance and, when necessary, help from the New Mexico National Guard and other cabinet departments. Rio Arriba County Fire Marshal and Emergency Services Chief Alfredo Montoya, in a statement thanking the governor, said local acequias and infrastructure had been “significantly damaged” by the flooding and failure to restore local acequias would “have severe adverse effects” on the area’s “predominantly agricultural communities.” DHSEM Secretary Bianca Ortiz-Wertheim said the department “has been coordinating with emergency managers and first responders in Rio Arriba County “since this disaster began. Now, with the funds from this emergency declaration, local leaders will have the resources they need.”

NM hate crimes increased last year

Hate crimes rose last year in New Mexico, according to data released yesterday by the FBI. Hate Crime Statistics 2020 includes the latest compilation of bias-motivated incidents across the US, submitted by 15,136 law enforcement agencies. All totaled, New Mexico had 55 incidents, five more than the year prior. The top victims in the incidents were targeted by race, but gay men also were listed in the top five groups. “We know that African Americans are adversely affected by hate crimes but Chinese, Asian and Pacific Islanders, the LGBTQ trans citizens—they’re being subjected to racial hatred,” Albuquerque NAACP President Harold Bailey told KRQE news. “So we all need to be aware of this situation and do something about it.” The FBI’s Albuquerque division says it’s making such crimes a priority. “The FBI wants everyone in New Mexico and across the nation to know that we are going after hate crimes,” Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda said. “There is no place in our communities for hate. Anyone who was a victim or a witness to a hate-related incident is encouraged to report it to law enforcement and the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.” Tips can also be sent online at tips.fbi.gov.

Listen up

The Art of Construction podcast, which focuses on innovation and creativity within the building industry, recently spoke with Santa Feans Edie Dillman and Jonah Stanford, CEO and CTO of B.PUBLIC Prefab, a building company dedicated to sustainability and environmental responsibility (SFR also spoke with Dillman last year for a story about public benefit companies, of which B.PUBLIC is one). Dillman and Stanford join AOC Executive Director Matt McMullen to discuss “the story of B.PUBLIC; the urgency for more sustainable building and valued skilled labor; the importance of building performance measurement, and how people are truly the only solution to the issue.”

Outdoor entrepreneurs heading to Farmington

The state Outdoor Recreation Division yesterday announced six entrepreneurs who will pitch their business ideas at the Sept. 30 Outdoor Economics Conference in Farmington. Two of the finalists have participated in New Mexico State University’s BizSprint Outdoor Accelerator program, which ORD helped fund. “The founders have business ideas including zero-waste sunscreen manufacturing, a mobile bike repair shop, a used outdoor gear e-commerce platform and an innovative e-bike subscription program,” ORD Director Axie Navas said in a statement. “In other words, they truly represent the creativity and the breadth of the outdoor recreation economy, which employs over 35,000 New Mexicans.” The finalists were scored on their business description, ability to scale the company in New Mexico and revenue potential; each will pitch a panel that includes Economic Development Secretary Alicia J. Keyes; State Sen. and President of Las Cruces Green Chamber Carrie Hamblen, D-Las Cruces; and Sun Mountain Capital Principal Brian Lewis, among others. The winner will receive a $5,000 prize to create a marketing video of their business idea.

The beauty of Taos

Condé Nast Traveler tallies up the 26 most beautiful towns in the US, noting that while cities are great, towns also provide reasons to at least pull over for an hour or two (we’re paraphrasing). The “lovely high-desert town” of Taos represents for New Mexico, with Condé Nast noting its long history via Taos Pueblo, as well as its status as an UNESCO World Heritage site. These days, the magazine opines, Taos “is known for its culture: Painters, sculptors and writers began to come here in 1899, and Taos now has a thriving artists’ colony. The town’s natural beauty—with red-rock canyons, clear blue desert skies, and snow-capped mountains on the horizon—inspires creative people of all palates.” And as long as we’re talking about our neighbor to the north, Taos Ski Valley announced yesterday it has added a variety of features for the coming winter season, including: a new Eis Haus ice-skating rink; dinner sleigh rides on Friday and Saturday nights; a new plaza and mountain entry area, along with new pro-guided mountain experiences.

Bidding August farewell

Santa Fe has a slight chance for isolated thunderstorms today and tonight—20%—according to the National Weather Service, after noon and before 9 pm, respectively. Otherwise, it should be mostly sunny, with a high near 86 degrees and northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Thanks for reading! The Word has been fully vaccinated for a while, but if she wasn’t, she would consider Guam’s Air V&V program and spend a few weeks on the beach. In other news, we have a few more tickets to Zozobra to hand out this week. Reply to this email your favorite memory of Zozobra and you could win a pair.