StephenSpitz.com – New Mexico People Places and Ideas

Corrales resident Sandra Postel is the winner of the Stockholm Water Prize, considered the Nobel Prize for water. We are honored that she will be our guest.

Host Stephen Spitz will begin the discussion with Ms. Postel’s latest book, Replenish—the Virtuous Cycle of Water and Prosperity. Further discussion will include: will there be enough fresh water for the ever growing world population and what is the outlook for New Mexico and the Western United States? All this and much more, with special guest Sandra Postel.

Produced with assistance of Tristan Clum and Lynn Schibeci

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Bobby Unser, a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and part of the only pair of brothers to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” has died at his home in Albuquerque. He was 87. In April 2010 host Stephen Spitz had the chance to sit down with Bobby Unser.

If you are interested in what it is like to first take the track at Indianapolis at speeds over 200 mph, while the owner of a million-dollar car nervously watches a rookie driver immediately go for top speeds, then you must hear Bobby tell the story of his initial attempts to qualify for the 500. We will also ask Bobby what it is about this family –individually or collectively– that makes it the most successful family in racing if not in all of sports. (Besides Bobby and Al, Al, Jr. has won Indy twice and two other family members have competed an additional seven times in the 500.)

Produced with assistance of Tristan Clum, John Burgund and Lynn Schibeci

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Albuquerque, South Valley, representative Javier Martinez has become one of the most prominent, if not the most prominent, legislator in Santa Fe. On this month’s show Representative Martinez joins host Stephen Spitz to discuss his journey from his childhood home in Juarez, Mexico, to an organizer in Albuquerque’s South Valley, and then on to our Legislature.

Among other things we will discuss Representative Martinez’s sponsorship of the two most contested actions in the 2021 Session: tapping our $ 22B Permanent Fund to expand early childhood education and legalizing marijuana.

Produced with assistance of Tristan Clum and Lynn Schibeci

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In June 2020 it was front-page headlines that two long-time Senate leaders, both conservative Democrats, had lost primary election bids along with two of their colleagues. Then in the November general election, three progressive Democrats won seats formerly occupied by Senate Republicans.

The person widely credited for these progressive victories is former State Senator Eric Griego, head of the NM Working Families Party. How and why did this happen, did it impact the 2021 Legislative Session, and what are the long-term prospects? Host Stephen Spitz will put these and related questions to Senator Eric Griego on this month’s show.

Produced with assistance of Tristan Clum and Lynn Schibeci

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New Mexico’s 60-day legislative session began January 19 with Democrats in full control, namely a Democratic Governor, a large majority in the House, and, for the first time, a solid majority in the Senate.

So will the 2021 Session have a decidedly liberal Democratic outcome? If so, what legislation can be expected to pass? Host Stephen Spitz will put these questions to Joe Monahan, the author of the State’s go to political blog, New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan.

Produced with assistance of Tristan Clum and Lynn Schibeci

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The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual Kids Count report has again ranked New Mexico last among the 50 states in child well being. The Foundation found that: 30 percent of our kids live in poverty whereas 22 percent of the nation’s children live in poverty; 12 percent are born to teenage mothers, compared with a US average of 7 percent; and 2 percent are confirmed as victims of child abuse, twice as high nationwide average of 1 percent. Even more disheartening, our child abuse rate actually increased in 2018.

What can be done? Host Stephen Spitz will put this question to Allen Sanchez, President and CEO of CHI St Joseph’s Children and the 2019 recipient of the Alice King  “Spirit of Hope Award” in recognition of his leadership on behalf of the children of New Mexico.

Produced with the assistance of Roman Garcia, Marino Spencer, and Lynn Schibeci

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The just passed Energy Transition Act sets New Mexico on a path for carbon-free electricity generation by 2045.

The controversial Bill requires the state’s public utilities to derive 50 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2030, 80 percent by 2040, and be 100 percent carbon-free by 2045. That’s a dramatic increase from the state’s current mandate of 20 percent from renewables by 2020.

While most environmental groups and our Governor supported the legislation, New Energy Economy and Mariel Nanasi opposed it. While applauding the clean energy mandates, they argued that PNM was circumventing the jurisdiction of the PRC where it would have been restricted to recovering 50 percent of its costs for closing two coal-fired power plants.

Was this a good compromise as our elected representatives concluded? Host Stephen Spitz will put this and related questions to Mariel Nanasi, one of the leading environmental voices in our State.

Produced with the assistance of Roman Garcia, Marino Spencer, and Lynn Schibeci

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Our 60-day legislative session begins January 15 and Democrats have the upper hand, with a newly elected Governor, an increased majority in House, but only a shaky majority in the Senate.

So will Governor Lujan Grisham and fellow Democrats be able to pass their agenda in the 2019 Session? Host Stephen Spitz will put this question to Joe Monahan, the author of the State’s go to political blog, New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan.

Under discussion will be all major budget items, along with certain high profile proposals, among the many thousands of expected bills, including: 1) a dramatic increase in funding K-12 programs to meet the Yazzie court ruling; 2) legalization of recreational marijuana; 3) a Constitutional Amendment that would distribute 1% of New Mexico’s $17 billion Permanent School Fund to early childhood programs; 4) ethics legislation, and, 5) removing the $50m cap on film incentive rebates

Produced with assistance of Roman Garcia and Lynn Schibeci

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The Gila River and Wilderness are the heart and soul of A Song for the River, the latest book by Philip Connors. Every summer since 2002, Connors has been perched in a tower 50 feet above the Gila Wilderness, watching for fire.

His first book, Fire Season, recounted the lessons learned about mountains, wilderness, fire, and solitude. A Song for the River updates and deepens the story: the mountain he loves goes up in flames; a lookout on another mountain whom he comes to think of like a brother dies in a freak accident; and three high school students he admires die tragically in an airplane crash while researching the wilderness and the wild river they wish to save. What is it about the Gila that generates these themes of living and dying?

These are among the questions that will be explored when New Mexico People Places and Ideas host Stephen Spitz sits down with New Mexico author Philip Connors.

Produced with assistance of Tanya Cole and Lynn Schibeci

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