Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@currentargus.com

Volunteers rolled up their sleeves and traded a regular workday for some hard work serving local nonprofits during United Way of Eddy County’s Eighth Annual Day of Caring on Sept. 18.

“It’s a highly collaborative effort with a focus on successfully completing projects,” said Kyle Marksteiner, executive director of United Way of Eddy County. “We get the jobs done.”

In Artesia, 40 volunteers from local businesses and United Way industry partners gathered for breakfast and a video conference with Carlsbad volunteers as organizers outlined the needs of United Way’s nonprofit partners.

Some of the projects the workers pitched in to complete: painting cinderblock walls at a street corner for the city of Artesia; painting the interior of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) office; cleaning out and organizing a storage shed and painting office space at Oasis Women’s Services; and stuffing bags for the Written in Red foundation.

Among those helping out at Artesia nonprofit Haven of Hope were Raelynn Bean, customer services supervisor for Central Valley Electric (CVE) Cooperative; employees from Royal Services; and Morgan Fox, district representative for State Rep. Jon Henry and State Sen. Jim Townsend.

Haven of Hope’s executive director, Denys Rivera, said the organization is dedicated to providing help and life skills to single mothers and their children through affordable housing and services such as classes in financial literacy, health and parenting.

Rivera said she was asked by Marksteiner if the organization needed help.

“Right away, I knew there was one (project) we couldn’t manage alone – organizing our four storage areas across campus,” she said.

Bean grabbed a broom and helped clean up a storage room in the main office.

“CVE was honored to be part of the United Way Day of Caring,” she said.

As a nonprofit electric cooperative, Bean said, CVE is guided by seven principles, among them concern for community.

“This was a great opportunity for us to put that principle into action. We look forward to participating again next year,” she said.

Fox was in a garage at one of the cottages at Haven of Hope, moving boxes of Christmas decorations. She said participating in Day of Caring was a pleasure and a privilege.

“I enjoyed it immensely and I recommend people actively seek opportunities to volunteer all year long,” Fox said. “There is so much that is rewarding in a day of hard work in service to people who could really use your help.”

Rivera and Haven of Hope Family Life Coordinator Rebecca Williams would not have not been able to take care of the storage areas without outside help, the director said.

“We got everything cleaned, organized and labeled in record time,” she said.

“We were sweaty and tired, but our hearts were completely full. Their willingness to step in lifted a huge burden and made our new restocking process easier.”

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 extension-2361.

Sarah Rubinstein

Artesia Daily Press

As the countdown to New Mexico’s special legislative session begins, lawmakers are voicing their hopes for the agenda — and, in some cases, questioning whether the session should happen at all. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the call for the Oct. 1 special session earlier this month, stating the need to address federal budget cuts.

In a press release, the governor shared a few actions that lawmakers may consider in response to federal cuts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to rural health care, Medicaid coverage, food assistance for children, seniors and families in need and public broadcasting. The press release also stated the governor is in discussions with lawmakers to address “behavioral health challenges that affect our criminal justice system and community safety” in the special session.

“New Mexicans should not be forced to shoulder these heavy burdens without help from their elected officials,” Lujan Grisham stated in a press release. “After discussions with legislative leaders, we’ve resolved to do everything possible to protect essential services and minimize the damage from President Trump’s disastrous bill.”

As far as a specific agenda is concerned, the governor is currently working with “the majority in legislature to craft an agenda that has a consensus,” according to the governor’s Deputy Communications Director Jodi McGinnis Porter. At the same time, House and Senate Republicans have stated that they have been “completely excluded” from conversations leading up to the special session in a press release. A proclamation will be issued right before the session that will lay out all items that will be considered, said McGinnis Porter.

Before the session was announced, the governor was believed to consider legislation that would ban U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Centers according to Chief General Counsel Holly Agajanian’s comments to the Courts Corrections and Justice Committee on July 30. However, the governor has yet to indicate if this legislation will be on the special session’s agenda.

Since the announcement, House and Senate Republicans have expressed concern and questioned the urgency for the session. On Sept. 15, they sent a joint letter to the governor, requesting more details about the anticipated policy proposals and for the governor to consider adding their own legislation to the agenda. This includes violent and drug related crime, juvenile crime, interstate medical compacts, homelessness, Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) reform and medical malpractice insurance reform.

State Senator Crystal Brantley (R-35) expressed her opposition to the special session and its anticipated action items, arguing that all the issues could be addressed during the next 30-day legislative session in 2026.

“The budget cuts made by Congress will take months to sort out, leaving plenty of time to responsibly address them in the 30-day session,” Brantley said. “Instead, taxpayers will be forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a political messaging session under the guise of an ‘emergency.’”

State Rep. Andrea Reeb (R-64) expressed similar sentiments over the potential action items for the special session.

“The fact remains, there are no immediate issues facing New Mexico as a result of HR 1.,” she said. “Changes in Medicaid and SNAP benefits don’t go into effect for another two years, and we still don’t know what impact those changes will have.”

Reeb also stated that instead of looking into these issues, which are “truly not urgent,” legislature should be addressing the issues stated in the GOP’s proposed agenda.

“My hope for this session is that we stop with the political theatre and truly address the immediate issues facing this state. That means addressing our healthcare shortage that is making it increasingly difficult to find care. Fixing our broken child protection system to stop these senseless deaths. And reforming our criminal justice system to keep the most dangerous people off of our streets,” she said.

However, Democratic lawmakers like State Rep. Sarah Silva (D-53) have voiced their agreement with the governor’s urgency to address federal budget cuts.

“The punches to our wallet and well-being are coming fast from the federal government,” Silva said. “It’s important that we as state lawmakers work with the same urgency so families can remain stable no matter what.”

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth and Speaker of the House Javier Martínez stood by Grisham on the special session announcement and potential agenda as well.

“New Mexico cannot stand by while Washington’s reckless budget cuts inflict generational harm on families and communities across the state,” Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth stated in a press release. “A special session is essential to protect our rural healthcare providers, safeguard Medicaid coverage, and ensure that New Mexicans don’t bear the burden of federal failures.”