Party News

From Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez

Jun 29, 2022 |

 

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Dear Friends,
It has been a very busy few weeks! Over the weekend, I met with President Biden and requested his commitment to passing the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Assistance Act and he expressed his support for the legislation. 

I also made a direct request to the President for additional resources to protect the destroyed watersheds and secured full federal cost coverage for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program to pay for work on private land needed to protect homes and property from flooding after the wildfires. 

It’s outrageous that the U.S. Forest Service started both the Calf Canyon and Hermit’s Peak Wildfires. That’s why I also called for an independent federal investigation so that no other community in New Mexico or the U.S. suffers the destruction we have seen from these catastrophic wildfires.
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Affordable Connectivity Program Workshop

Do you need help paying for the internet? Or do you want internet services but can’t afford it? You may be eligible for money from the government’s Affordable Connectivity Program that will help you pay for broadband!

I encourage you to check if you’re eligible for and enroll in the program. To find more information and enroll, visit https://www.fcc.gov/acp or call the ACP Support Center at (877) 384-2575. 

My office is also holding a workshop on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at 6:00 PM MST about how to sign up for this important program. To participate, you can call 833-998-1736.

2022 Congressional Art Competition

New Mexico is home to many talented young artists who make our communities vibrant. I am proud to announce this year’s Congressional Art Competition winner, “The Land of Enchantment!” by Vanezia Aguayo. 

This painting captures our state’s rich history, culture, and landscapes. I’m excited to see  Vanezia’s work displayed in the U.S. Capitol!
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Around New Mexico

This Memorial Day, I joined veterans, military families, and members of my community. Together, we stood on hallowed ground and honored those fallen at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
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I also joined community members in Questa for their Healing Field of Honor Ceremony to commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and the people that we love. It was truly an honor to witness their beautiful display and reflect upon our heroes.
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It was great to meet with some of New Mexico’s AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps C.E.O., Michael Smith. I’m proud to support their work to support the preservation of our natural heritage.
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Legislative Corner

Last week, President Biden signed a bill to extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA)! For over thirty years, RECA has provided compensation to the largely rural, Hispanic, and Native New Mexico communities involved in uranium mining for the nation’s nuclear weapons program. Thanks to this extension, New Mexican miners will continue to have access to the program which was previously scheduled to sunset in July 2022. 

I know more work needs to be done to ensure just compensation for all affected New Mexicans. That’s why I’ll continue to push for the passage of my bill, H.R. 5338, the RECA Amendments of 2021. H.R. 5338 would expand eligibility under RECA to include downwinders from New Mexico and other states as well as post-71 uranium miners.
I also recently voted for, and the House passed:
  • The Protecting Our Kids Act to enact common-sense reforms to end gun violence in our beloved communities. We must do everything we can to save lives and keep our children safe across our country.
  • The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act to ensure that states, territories, and Tribes have the resources they need to conserve our most vulnerable wildlife species.

Constituent Services

Debris removal for Mora and San Miguel Counties
A full-service debris removal program to collect all wildfire debris on residential property is now available in Mora and San Miguel Counties. Debris will be collected and properly disposed of with no cost to property owners. 

For more information and to apply, go to https://nmdhsem.org/2022-wildfires/ or call the state wildfire assistance hotline at 1-800-432-2080.
Sincerely,
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Teresa Leger Fernández
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Meet the Santa Fe County Primary Winners

Jun 9, 2022 |

Meet the Santa Fe County Democratic candidates moving on to the next prize – November 7, 2022.
1) Dev Atma Singh Khalsa, Santa Fe County Magistrate Court Bench, Division 2: 2) Santa Fe County Sheriff, Adan Mendoza;
3) Santa Fe County Commission Seats: Justin Greene for District 1 and Camilla Bustamante, District 3; and 4) Andrea Romero, Legislature, House District 46.
Applause to all.
Let’s help them get elected in November. Volunteer. https://santafedemocrats.org/join-us/volunteer/

Join us as we celebrate Pride Month In June

Jun 7, 2022 |

The Democratic Party of Santa Fe County is a proud sponsor of PRIDE 22 in Santa Fe. Find opportunities to support our LGBTQ+ Community by attending events, registering voters, and having fun. All Candidates who wish to walk in the parade with Dems are welcome to do so.
Please bring your signs on Friday at 5:30 to 1420 Cerrillos Rd.

Saturday, June 4 PRIDE Train RAILS ON FIRE!
7-9 pm at Sky Railway Station Admission-$125/pp (May 1-June 4)

Saturday, June 11 Disco Inferno! A Retro Dance Party!
7:30 pm-12 am @The Mine Shaft, Madrid, New Mexico
$15 now, $20 at the door

Sunday, June 19 Let’s Kick it Off PRIDE Week Opening T-dance
Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery, 2791 Agua Fria St., Santa Fe, NM 87501
1 pm-5 pm Tickets $15.00

Tuesday, June 21, PRIDE Movie night CURED Jean Cocteau Theatre, Santa Fe 6:00 pm- 9:00 pm

Thursday, June 23, Drag Bingo @ Opuntia 1607 Alcaldesa Street,
Santa Fe, NM 87501 7 pm-9 pm Tickets $10.00

Friday, June 24, Envisioning the Future, Creating an empowered, informed, and engaged LGBTQ+ community for NM. Event and Meeting featuring Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Santa Fe Community Convention Center, 201 Marcy St., Santa Fe, NM 87501
1 pm-4 pm LIVE and Virtual Tickets: (This is a Free Event!)

Friday, June 24, Summer Sizzle –PRIDE Women’s Dance, a benefit for the Human Rights Alliance, The Scottish Rite Temple, 430 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501 5 pm-11 pm

Friday, June 24, 5:30 pm-7:00 DPSFC PRIDE PARADE Float Decorating Party at 1420 Cerrillos Road

Saturday, June 25,  PRIDE Parade/PRIDE Drive & PRIDE on the Plaza
Pride Parade 11:30am-1:00pm
Pride on the Plaza 11:00 am-5:00 pm.
Candidates and volunteers meet at the PERA parking lot at 10:00 am

 

It all started with a bucket

Jun 1, 2022 | ,

Volunteering: It all started with a bucket. Read on to learn more.

Volunteering has been around for at least 400 years. It was around the 16th/17th centuries that the word “volunteer” was first used. But the context was war. In Europe, people, mostly men, volunteered to fight for causes important to them. 

Before war broke out on this continent, volunteerism took on a more personal flavor. For instance, Benjamin Franklin, then a 30-year-old publisher of “The Pennsylvania Gazette,” wrote a series of articles on how to fight the fires that raged in Philadelphia. Ultimately, his volunteers were called Benjamin Franklin’s Bucket Brigade because their major tool to fight fires was…buckets. Volunteers pledged to help immediately when the call for help went out. Not only did these volunteers help fight the fires, they also protected the victims from looters. Yes, there were looters even then. 

It took about another 100  years for volunteering to really take hold. Aid societies, some religious, some not, built churches, and shelters, collected donations for the poor and immigrants, and, generally, gave time and expertise to help others who couldn’t help themselves. This became a global effort, one that has intensified as the world has become more complicated and more divided between the have and the have-nots. 

Studies validate the benefits of volunteering. Besides the obvious benefit of helping to build a better community and a better world, it’s been documented that volunteering helps against the effects of stress – for everyone, the volunteer, and the community being served. 

AARP Foundation Experience Corps says that more than 85 percent of volunteers feel their lives have improved because of their involvement with the program. 98 percent reported the program helped them stay physically and mentally active. Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president of AARP Foundation. Says,  “People want to matter and to be valued across their life.”

If you want to do more to help your community, there are many ways you can participate. To learn more about what you can do to make Santa Fe County, and New Mexico a better place to live, ClickHere .

Teresa Leger Fernandez – Helping New Mexico

May 14, 2022 | ,

Last week, President Biden signed a disaster declaration request to provide much-needed resources to Nuevo Mexicanos affected by the fires. Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to New Mexico businesses and residents from Colfax, Lincoln, Mora, San Migues, and Valencia affected by the wildfires. You may be eligible for federal assistance.  Click here for more information

My Number one priority is to bring the full force of federal resources to the ground to help Nuevo Mexicanos. Yesterday I introduced the Hermit’s Peak Fire Assistance Act to allow for additional damages to be paid to New Mexico residents impacted by the Hermits fire/Calf Canyon Fires. Read Santa Fe New Mexican: Click here to read

 

 

 

Constituent Services

Casework
If you are having problems with a federal agency, my constituent services team may be able to help you. Reach us at 202-225-6190
Military Academy Nominations
If you or someone you know is interested in applying for a service academy, check out the information on my website on how to apply for a nomination.
Click here to apply for the military academy
Don’t forget to follow @RepTeresaLF!

Fair Districting Pledge

Apr 25, 2022 | ,

As printed in The Santa Fe New Mexican

 Your April 20 story, “Judge allows lawsuit on maps to proceed” quoted the judge as saying the plaintiffs, including the Republican Party of New Mexico, made a “strong, well-developed case that [the redistricting bill] is a partisan gerrymander created in an attempt to dilute Republican votes” in congressional elections.

The lawsuit also says legislators “ran roughshod” over traditional redistricting to give Democrats an advantage. These are the same arguments Democrats make when Republican-controlled State Legislatures use the same tactics to redraw districts to shore up votes. Yes redistricting is a partisan gerrymander, which is why former Obama Attorney General Eric Holder started the National Democratic Redistricting Committee that asks candidates and elected officials to sign a Fair Districts Pledge and commit to restoring fairness to State redistricting. Rather than filing lawsuits, maybe Republicans should develop a similar Fair Districts Pledge to end the unfairness of both sides’ redistricting laws.

 Jim Melzer, Santa Fe

Monumental Dreams and Conversations

Apr 17, 2022 |

Chart Santa Fee is Seeking  Public Proposals

CHART seeks proposals that will create a pool of prospective monuments, memorials, and works of public art that communicate what is important to residents of the city and county of Santa Fe. The goal of “Monumental Dreams and Conversations” is to express who and what we value as well as generate conversations about the movements, events, things, places, and people that matter to us.

DEADLINE: MIDNIGHT, APRIL 30, 2022

Proposals may be submitted by email () or by snail mail (CHART, PO Box 28556, Santa Fe, NM 87592). Find the form here.

CHART will host public workshops and gatherings to inspire proposals and stimulate conversation. In addition, anyone can submit a proposal by email or mail using the downloadable form.

Complete information can be found at the CHART website: chartsantafe.com.

IMPORTANT! 

  • PROPOSALS WILL BE SHARED PUBLICLY as a way to celebrate our collective imaginings, stories, and values.
  • INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS, ARE WELCOME TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL. Neighborhood groups are also encouraged to submit. Collaborations are welcome.
  • YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST TO SUBMIT AN IDEA. You can submit a description in words rather than a drawing if you wish. Drawings and/or words are acceptable.

CHART IS HOPING FOR A DIVERSE POOL OF PROPOSALS that will collectively represent the richness of the Santa Fe community. Please feel free to share this call with those who will help the project achieve this.

Statewide Contested Candidate Pre-Primary Forum, Galisteo

Apr 10, 2022 |

Participatory government was on hand on April 9 in beautiful Galisteo.

About a hundred people gathered on a warm, early Spring day to meet and greet the contested candidates running for Attorney General – Raul Torrez /Brian Colon; Treasurer – Heather Benavidez/ Laura Montoya; and Auditor – Zack Quintero/ Joe Maestas. Each candidate compared and contrasted their backgrounds and experience all the while making the case for why they are the best person for the position.

Surprise guests Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez, Representative Matthew McQueen, and Senator Liz Stefanics were there too. Congresswoman Leger Fernandez had just attended the memorial for the survivors of the Bataan Death March and talked about how much it moved her. Both Representative McQueen and Senator Stefanics spoke to the specifics of their districts and the continuing need for people to be engaged. Also in attendance were contested candidates for Division Two Magistrate Judge, and Country Commissioner, District Three. Each articulated their experience and qualifications for these positions. So did Sheriff Mendoza regarding his race. The meeting ended with a brief discussion by the founders of Retake Our Democracy, Paul Gibson and Roxanne Barber, on the importance of legislative activism, a topic that continues to be relevant.

Look for more of these events in the future and please attend. Candidates tell us that these meet and greets are extremely helpful to them as they want to meet as many voters as possible during the run-up to the primary.