NM Braces for Post-Roe Reality

Post-Roe New Mexico

Pressure on New Mexico abortion providers is expected to increase swiftly and significantly in the wake of Friday’s US Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and ending a 50-year-long constitutional right to abortion. “Oh, my gosh, the magnitude for us is going to be tremendous,” Dr. Lisa Hofler, the clinical vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of New Mexico, tells the LA Times. “This ripples far beyond New Mexico, and they’re going to be coming to us.” Last year, in anticipation of the court’s action, New Mexico’s legislators repealed a 1969 state law that had criminalized abortion in the state. State Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, the lead sponsor of that repeal, described Friday’s ruling as “a day of hurt,” to SFR, but said she remained hopeful “we will be working together to strengthen that autonomy that is part of the human rights that we have in this country of ours.” In her statement, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham described the SCOTUS decision as the “culmination of decades of careful, sinister planning by hyper-partisan, archconservative Republican leaders in D.C. For years, they have pushed for cruel restrictions on women at every turn—inhibiting access to contraceptives and forcing them to endure torture during the simple act of walking into an abortion clinic.” The governor said she intended “to continue to fight for the right to a safe, legal abortion in New Mexico and stand as a brick wall against those who seek to punish women and their doctors just because they seek the care they need and deserve.” New Mexico residents turned out over the weekend at both protests and PRIDE events in opposition to the court’s ruling.

Monumental ideas

A sculpture of an upright ear of corn “with the colors of the kernels representing the diverse and inclusive community of Santa Fe: brown, red, white, black and yellow.” A four-sided cube displaying actors presenting dramatic recreations of different perspectives. A statue of St. Francis with a fountain for birds. These are just a few of the proposals residents submitted in response to a call for ideas from the city’s Culture, History, Art, Reconciliation and Truth (CHART) project. CHART’s “Monumental Dreams and Conversations” program asked people to respond to the question: “What deserves a monument, memorial or work of art in Santa Fe?” CHART itself grew out of the controversy surrounding the former “Soldier’s Monument,” or obelisk, on the Plaza, which protesters pulled down in October, 2020. Some of the new proposals would replace the former monument, such as the “Cube of Perspectives,” noted above, in which “visitors would be shown…dramatic recreations by actors digitally cast onto a wall with sounds” presenting different perspectives on the controversial monument. Other proposals include ideas for sculptures throughout the city, such as one representing brightly painted rock cactus at the intersection of Cerrillos and Cordova roads; an outdoor and online photography exhibit highlighting the lives of piñon trees at the start of the La Tierra Trails; and a series of totems representing different aspects of the community at the Midtown campus. CHART will continue accepting feedback on the proposals through July 10. CHART is expected to present a report on its work in August.

Rain increases containment on Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire

As of last night, containment had grown to 92% for the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, measured most recently at 341,735 acres. Both firefighting and the monsoon rains have contributed to the increase, fire managers say. While most of the Santa Fe National Forest reopened on Friday, the Camino Real Ranger District and Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger Districts remain closed as firefighters continue to work on fire suppression repair, and due to potential post-fire impacts, including flash flooding and dangerous debris flow. On Saturday, Santa Fe National Forest’s Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team announced it had begun its Phase 3 assessment of national forest lands impacted by the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire on the east side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. According to a news release, “initial preliminary analysis suggests the headwaters of the Pecos River to the Dalton Day Use/southern forest boundary are susceptible to post-fire flooding that may pose a risk to public safety. Additional elevated flows along the Pecos River may occur from the southern forest boundary to the confluence of Canon de los Trigos. Presence of ash, floating debris and high levels of sediment transport can be expected. A large portion of the Upper Pecos Watershed…was exposed to fire which increases the likelihood of increased post-fire flows.” A community meeting at 6 pm tonight will be livestreamed on Facebook.

COVID-19 by the numbers

Reported June 24:

New cases: 1,250; 558,259 total cases

Deaths: six; Santa Fe County has had 310 total deaths thus far; there have been 7,905 total fatalities statewide. Hospitalizations: 196. Patients on ventilators: 18.

Vaccines for children: Parents of children ages 6 months to 5 years can now schedule appointments for vaccinations at VaccineNM.org.

Case rates: According to the most recent DOH report on geographical trends for COVID-19, for the seven-day period of June 13-19, Grant County had the highest daily case rate per 100,000 population in the state: 103.1, followed by Los Alamos County at 101.5 and Rio Arriba County at 59.8. Santa Fe County has a rate of 57.7.

Community levels: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “community levels” tracking system—which uses case rates along with two hospital metrics in combination for its framework—for the seven-day period of June 16-22, six counties show high—or “red”—levels—three fewer than last week. Thirteen counties, including Santa Fe County, are classified as having yellow or “medium” levels. CDC recommendations for individuals and communities based on the community-level rankings can be found here, but include the recommendation for people living in counties with “high” community levels to wear masks indoors and on public transportation. The CDC updates its map every Thursday.

Resources: Vaccine registration; Booster registration Free at-home rapid antigen tests; Self-report a positive COVID-19 test result to the health department; COVID-19 treatment info: oral treatments Paxlovid (age 12+) and Molnupiravir (age 18+); and monoclonal antibody treatments. Toolkit for immunocompromised individuals. People seeking treatment who do not have a medical provider can call NMDOH’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-855-600-3453.

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

Listen up

Source New Mexico reporter Megan Gleason spoke with reproductive choice advocates across the state in the wake of Friday’s US Supreme Court ruling. Gleason talks with KSFR’s Gino Gutierrez about her reporting, and how New Mexico—where abortion is legal—might approach further strengthening abortion rights in the state. The Austin American-Statesman and USA TODAY teamed up recently to produce this video documenting the journeys of 15 women who traveled from Texas to New Mexico seeking abortions in the wake of Texas’ ban—a scenario expected to increase exponentially as abortion becomes illegal across the country.

We win

TravelAwaits’ readers chose Santa Fe as their favorite US city in the magazine’s Best of Travel awards, beating out 11 other cities, including Milwaukee, Kansas City and Oklahoma City (which ranked second, third and fourth place, respectively). “Santa Fe is a must-visit city, full of history and culture, and with plenty to do to keep you busy for weeks,” the magazine, which describes itself as a travel guide “by the 50+ traveler, for the 50+ traveler,” writes. “Get outdoors and hike through the nearby forests and mountains all while experiencing a spectacular sunset. Relax away your stress at one of the area day spas or rejuvenating hot springs. Try red and green chiles, a New Mexican specialty.” Albuquerque also pulled an award as the most pet-friendly US city, and TEN 3, at the Sandia Crest, won for the US restaurant with the best view. Also on the travel beat, Travel Off Path rounds up the top seven off-the-beaten-path activities in New Mexico (some of which seem decidedly on path FWIW), noting Sandia Park’s Tinkertown, Lake Carlsbad’s recreation area and Plaza Blanca, described by the publication as being near the Arizona border…by which we assume they meant near Abiquiu.

Wild horses

Sculptor and designer Ross Hansen pays tribute to Ojo Caliente in Tino’s White Horses, Hansen’s first solo show in Los Angeles, which opened over the weekend at Marta gallery. Based in both California and New Mexico, Hansen’s work in the show, as described by Wallpaper magazine, is “inspired by the equine neighbors dwelling in the remote desert landscape of the latter. The functional pieces, which range from seating, lighting, furniture and vessels, specifically reference the unincorporated Ojo Caliente community, best known for its distinctive geological formations and its mineral hot springs.” Gallery co-founder Benjamin Critton says the gallery has “known and admired Ross’ work” ever since encountering it at via Volume, Hansen’s long-standing Chicago gallery. “Communing in part with the desert landscape of the US Southwest has imbued the works with a naturalism and, in some cases, biomorphism that feels particularly exciting as it relates to both the artist’s existing practice, and to the general landscape of contemporary functional artwork,” Critton says.

Rain drops keep falling

The National Weather Service has us under a flood watch until 9 am. Otherwise, today holds a 70% chance for rain, with both showers and possibly thunderstorms after noon. Look for a high near 69 degrees and south wind 5 to 15 mph. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Chances for rain decrease to 20% overnight and somewhat dry out mid-week before rains potentially return at the end of the week.

Thanks for reading! The Word hopes folks will take a minute to read former Santa Fe resident Dana Levin’s poem, “Without Choice,” in the Atlantic magazine.