NM Econ Secretary Announces Departure

Econ secretary announces departure

State Economic Development Department Secretary Alicia J. Keyes is leaving her position on July 13, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced yesterday, while issuing praise for the secretary she appointed in January 2019: “New Mexico’s economy is booming, and it’s more diverse than ever before. Wages are higher and we’re seeing historic job numbers,” the governor says in a statement. Keyes, who the governor’s office says is the first woman to lead the economic development department, says in a statement her “greatest joy” in the position “has been collaborating with New Mexicans in every corner of the state to create higher-paying jobs and build economic security for future generations.” Among Keyes’ accomplishments, a news release from the governor’s office touted increasing wages and business assistance through its Job Training Incentive Program and Local Economic Development Act; the creation of the state’s Office of Outdoor Recreation; and the advances to the state’s film and television industry. The governor’s office says it is “actively seeking” a successor for Keyes, who intends “to take personal time before pursuing opportunities in the private sector while remaining in New Mexico.” As the Albuquerque Journal notes, Keyes’ is the latest in a series of cabinet-level departures in the governor’s administration.

NM Dem officials denounce SCOTUS affirmative action decision

The US Supreme Court’s rejection yesterday of affirmative action for higher education admissions may not have been any more surprising than its reversal last June of Roe v. Wade and women’s right to abortion. The latter upturned 50 years of a constitutional right; yesterday’s decision ended a policy and vernacular introduced in an executive order issued by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, the New Yorker writes. In both cases, the court had already telegraphed its intentions, although the ramifications of yesterday’s decision remain to be seen, just as those from its decision on abortion continue to unfold. Many of New Mexico’s Democrat leaders decried the court’s 6-3 ruling that the University of North Carolina and Harvard College’s admissions program “violate the Constitution’s equal protection clause, which bars racial discrimination by government entities,” the SCOTUS blog explains.

“To hollow out affirmative action ignores a history of oppression,” US Sen. Ben Ray Luján says in a statement. “The playing field has never been level for marginalized communities. I’m deeply disappointed and will keep working to create opportunities for our nation’s students.” In a statement, New Mexico Higher Education Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez says the decision “guts decades of progress made in the United States to create access for students of color who, because of historical and present-day inequities and discrimination, are less likely to have the socioeconomic advantage to successfully navigate the college-going process and gain admission into colleges and universities.” Nonetheless, she notes, New Mexico “remains committed to access and empowerment for students of color as we continue to break down barriers by providing tuition-free college through the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships and providing students with the tools and support they need to succeed.” In a statement provided to SFR, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s spokeswoman Caroline Sweeney described the decision as “the latest in a series…that roll back policies aimed at upholding equality for all Americans” and noted that that “one of the specific intents of the Opportunity Scholarship created by the governor was to ensure that everyone has access to a higher education. Gov. Lujan Grisham urges universities in the state to continue to work to make sure that everyone in New Mexico has an equal opportunity to pursue a higher education.” The state Republican Party, on the other hand, issued a statement yesterday calling the decision a “huge victory.”

DOH reports second disabled person’s death

Following a fall and a head injury, a disabled person receiving services from one of the state’s Developmental Disabilities Waiver programs died earlier this month, the state health department disclosed yesterday. The death marks the second known fatality of a person receiving services under the program. State officials last March announced an ongoing investigation of providers stemming from the death a 38-year-old disabled woman who allegedly suffered horrendous abuse by her caregivers, whom Attorney General Raúl Torrez has charged in her death. According to the state health department, the individual who died earlier this month received an in-person wellness check on April 4, 2023, and “appeared healthy without evidence of abuse or neglect.” DOH says its Division of Health Improvement “continues to investigate this case for any instances of abuse, neglect and exploitation in relation to the care provided to this client”; the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the case; and “in an abundance of caution,” DOH has referred the case to the AG’s office. The state also has contracted a third-party to conduct an ongoing independent investigation “evaluating both the agency’s Developmental Disabilities Supports Division and the Division of Health Improvement procedures to identify systemic flaws and improve processes.” Anyone who suspects abuse, neglect or exploitation of any person in the Developmental Disabilities Waiver programs or otherwise should call the Adult Protective Services Central Intake Unit at: 1-866-654-3219.

Virgin Galactic completes first commercial spaceflight

Galactic 01 yesterday successfully carried into space 13 research payloads and three crew members from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy. The company says in a news release it remains on track for Galactic 02 to kick off monthly flights for private astronauts come August (watch the post-spaceflight news conference here). Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier in a statement says the “historic flight” ushers in “a new era of repeatable and reliable access to space for private passengers and researchers.” Italian Airforce Col. Walter Villadei noted that the “groundbreaking collaboration” between the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy in conjunction with Virgin Galactic “have set a precedent for future endeavors and the boundless possibilities that lie ahead.” In a news release, Spaceport America noted it had welcomed Virgin Galactic as its anchor tenant in Las Cruces nearly 15 years ago. “Virgin Galactic has shown what perseverance really means in getting to this stage of their business,” New Mexico Spaceport Authority Executive Director Scott McLaughlin says in a statement. “In the history of space, this flight marks a very significant event. In a very direct sense, the citizens of New Mexico have been investors in Virgin Galactic since the beginning, also showing perseverance and a belief in Virgin Galactic’s vision, and we look forward to the partnership for years to come.”

Listen up

The Santa Fe Opera season opens this weekend with Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca this evening and Richard Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman Saturday night (July 1). No time like the present to watch/listen to psychiatrist Don Fineberg’s Opera Insight talks. Fineberg has been a seminar leader and program presenter for the Santa Fe Opera for more than 20 years, created the “Opera and Psychology” professional seminar; and then the Opera InSight series “to reach a broader audience, from the newly curious to the most devoted fans.”

Cheers, redux!

Earlier this week, this newsletter noted several New Mexico restaurants that placed in Wine Spectator’s annual wine rankings. But New Mexico isn’t just a place to find wine; it’s also a state in which to make wine. As we noted in February, SevenFiftyDaily magazine has described New Mexico as a “case study” for how to grow an emerging wine state, with some experts describing the wine industry’s growth here as “exponential,” given that it had approximately $1.12 billion in total economic activity last year up from $876 million in 2020. In fact, just a few weeks ago, Paper City delved into New Mexico’s “underrated wine power,” and provided a list of the state’s five most notable winemakers. A few of them, plus many more, will be on hand this weekend at El Rancho de las Golondrinas’ annual wine festival, which runs noon to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday, July 1-2, with advanced tickets $20 for adults; $8 for teens and students; and kids 12 and under free (prices go up at the door and please note the festival includes an arts and food component for the under-21 crowd; IDs will be checked at the door).

Hum dinger

Thrillist becomes the latest (and likely not the last) to “investigate” the Taos hum, which is pretty much what it sounds like (sorry, pun unintended). As the newsletter of the Acoustical Society of America, Echoes, described it in 1995: it’s an “irritating low-frequency sound” perceptible to some, but not all. Thrillist senior travel writer Vanita Salisbury arrived in Taos eager to have a “mystical” experience, and landed at the Millicent Rogers Museum as a good place to hear the hum on the advice of locals. Indeed, Salisbury hears the hum, or hears something at any rate, which she describes as akin to “Tibetan throat singing.” She also delves into the history of not just Taos’ hum but all the hums and all the possible causes for hums, which include: pipes, wind, low-frequency submarines, government mind-control, microseismic waves and echoing black holes. While the story solves no mysteries, it does provide some entertaining forgotten history, like the time former Bill Richardson, while representing the 3rd Congressional District, asked staffers to investigate after being bombarded with constituent complaints. And we thought Roswell had all the fun!

Waiting on the monsoons

Yesterday gave us a taste of monsoon weather, but the National Weather Service forecasts a sunny day today, with a high temperature near 87 degrees and east wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Saturday also looks clear and sunny, with a high temperature in the mid 80s and the chance for some gusty winds in the night, leading into a small chance for showers and thunderstorms on Sunday.

Thanks for reading! The Word fell down a fortune cookie rabbit hole after reading in this month’s Harper’s Index that 100% of fortune cookie producers plan to use AI to help write them.