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Welfare, politicians and money

Michael Smith
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Welfare, politicians and money

Tom Wright

According to the Census Bureau, 20% of New Mexicans are on welfare, the highest percentage of any state in the nation. This is measured by families on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), General Assistance or SNAP and does not include Medicaid, Medicare, housing vouchers, school lunch programs, unemployment insurance or tax credits. According to the state Medicaid website, 702,063 New Mexicans were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP assistance as of May 2025. That’s 33% of our population.

Why are New Mexicans so poor? A lack of a good education may be one answer. A lack of a good job could be another, but few businesses are willing to move to New Mexico. Health care is a large-sector employer, but the Legislature refuses to buck the tort lawyer’s lobby and cap malpractice suits. Medicare reimbursements have not risen much in 20 years and many of our citizens are elderly.

So, where do you go to get a good job? The answer is, another state or go to work for the government, our largest employer. But that doesn’t solve the education problem, nor child welfare or homelessness and most state employees received only a 4% raise this year, which didn’t cover inflation – except for some who were fortunate enough to work for the governor, like her chief of staff Daniel Schlegel who received a 16% raise, to $234,000. The governor’s general counsel is now paid $208,000, a 19% increase. Our chief investment officer, Vince Smith, received a 40% raise and now makes $455,000, according to the Sunshine Portal. Not bad pay, for our top executives. Some lower-level goslings only received 10%.

But Mayor Webber to the rescue. He wants the minimum wage in Santa Fe to move from $15 per hour to $17.50. Politicians would rather pass what I will call “hero legislation” than reduce the cost of living through deregulation of construction requirements and tax cuts. Our state has billions in permanent funds that are sitting idle. Our state collects taxes on our Social Security and the gross receipts tax could be lowered and amended.

Our legislators half-try and fail every year to correct the problems at the state’s Children, Youth and Families Department. Educational outcomes remain at the bottom nationally. Crime in Albuquerque makes it one of our nation’s most dangerous cities. Española is close behind. The National Guard has been deployed to both cities to help the police. We have a drug problem and we spend millions to deal with the homeless, but it is mostly about housing and little about treatment.

If you have been to Santa Fe lately, you will notice a plethora of new apartment buildings, all in the name of affordable housing. A 900-square-foot, two-bedroom unit runs $1,800 per month. Is that affordable?

With all the high-paid government executives, you would think one of them would come up with suggestions to address the real problems. Maybe our legislators could or should. Alas, politicians had rather make a big show and collect the lobbyists’ campaign donations to maintain status quo. Nothing ever changes until we, the real people, change out our politicians when we vote.

Tom Wright is a Santa Fe columnist and El Rito Media investor.

NM becomes first state to offer free universal child care

Michael Smith
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NM becomes first state to offer free universal child care

Sarah Rubinstein
Alamogordo News

New Mexico will offer free universal child care to all residents starting Nov. 1, becoming the first state in the nation to do so. This will remove any past income eligibility requirements for no-cost childcare.Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the news during a press conference Monday.

Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico Legislature have been working towards this goal in 2019 after they approved expanding access to no-cost child care to families with incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Now, it is estimated that with universal child care, the average family will save $12,000 per child annually, according to a press release from the governor.

“Child care is essential to family stability, workforce participation, and New Mexico’s future prosperity,” said Lujan Grisham in a press release. “By investing in universal child care, we are giving families financial relief, supporting our economy, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive.”

In addition to the new rule, New Mexico plans to expand child care access by establishing a $12.7 million low-interest loan fund to construct and renovate child care facilities. The state will also partner with employers and school districts to expand child care options and launch a statewide campaign to recruit licensed and registered home providers, the press release states. Childhood programs that commit to paying entry-level staff a minimum of $18 per hour and offer 10 hours of care per day, five days a week, will receive an incentive rate.

New Mexico House Republicans spoke against the news on Facebook, calling it “nannies for millionaires.”

“New Mexico already provides free child care for families up to 400% of the federal poverty level. Now, Democrats want taxpayers to subsidize childcare for the wealthy, while ignoring real emergencies like our doctor shortage, failing CYFD and rising crime,” it wrote.

Stage (almost) set for Red Dirt Black Gold

Michael Smith
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Stage (almost) set for Red Dirt Black Gold

Photo Mike Smith Artesia Daily Press

Stage hands spent Wednesday afternoon setting up for the Red Dirt Black Gold Festival, set to start Thursday in downtown Artesia. The music and fun wraps up Saturday.

Artesia boys’ soccer team continues streak with win in the New Mexico Challenge Tournament

JT Keith
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Artesia boys’ soccer continues streak with New Mexico Soccer Challenge win

JT Keith

Artesia Daily Press

jtkeith@elritomedia.com

The Artesia boys’ soccer team is not only leaving a legacy in their play on the field but starting a tradition of playing winning soccer. In the last two seasons, the boys’ soccer team has started 9-2 and, as of print date, 8-2, with a chance to tie last year’s start if it can win against Valencia at 3 p.m. Saturday, at Robert Chase Field.

The ‘Dogs took care of business with a 2-0 victory on the road against New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) on Tuesday. Over the weekend, the team won the New Mexico Soccer Challenge Tournament against Bernalillo (3-1) and Ruidoso (3-1) in Bernalillo. It was the second consecutive time the team has won the tournament, after winning it at home last year.

The team has played nine games in a month, and Artesia boys’ coach Phillip Jowers is looking forward to a time for his team to have a chance to rest. 

“We are playing multiple games a week,” Jowers said. “I tried to work the schedule so that we have two between every game. At that point, there is a recovery day and a pregame day, so I have not had a full-on practice for what seems like a while. When you play that many games in a short amount of time, we must make sure we are ice bathed and doing all the stuff to prepare them to play for the next games.”

Provided | Artesia Athletics

Here are the Artesia boys’ soccer team after securing the New Mexico Soccer Challenge Tournament

Dream

Jowers said that he has a vision of the north grass stands being full of soccer fans watching the boys play games. 

“I don’t need it to happen for every game,” Jowers said, “but I would like it to happen one game, before I am done coaching. The idea is to be a perennial contender like a St. Pius X, where they are a perennial contender to win the state every year.”

Pack the Mack

The Artesia City League will play at the Mack on Sept. 20; the Artesia girls soccer team will play at 11 a.m., and the Artesia boys’ soccer team will play at 3 p.m. against Los Lunas. 

“This year is different than last year,” Jowers said. “It is a good group of boys, and this is a good team.”

Whom to identify with?

Michael Smith
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Whom to identify with?

David Grousnick

Luke 15:1-2 begins with these words: Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

That is the framework for all that follows in chapter fifteen: the story of a shepherd and his sheep, of a widow and her coins, of a man and his two sons. It is important to remember the situation which prompted Jesus to tell these stories and to ask – “whom do I identify with in this situation?”

That’s what we do when we read a novel or watch a movie. We tend to identify with someone in it. So, which group or character do you identify with in this gospel reading?

Do you identify with Jesus, the good guy, who tries to straighten out the religious folks? Who calls into question all they believe? Who reaches out and loves everyone, especially the most unloved?

Do you identify with the Pharisees, the ones who rightly saw the dangers of too close an association with the “wrong crowd.” For what parent has not worried about a child falling in with the “wrong crowd”?

But here the Pharisees go beyond looking out for people. They are convinced that they and they alone understand God and our relationship to Him. They are right and no one else.

Do you identify with the tax collectors and sinners, those traitors, the tax collectors who worked for the Romans, robbing their own people? With the sinners, the people of the land who never attended synagogue and seemed to lack even basic morality?

Which one are you? What ought we to do?

Now this raises an interesting question: What is your view of God? The scowling judge waiting to convict you? The disapproving parent whose love you have to earn? Your view of God affects every decision and relationship in your life.

Kathleen Chesto wrote to Catholic Digest to tell them about an incident that occurred in her family. Her five-year-old child approached her one day in the kitchen and asked, “Mom, is God a grown-up or a parent?”

Mom was a little puzzled by the question. “I’m not sure what you mean,” she said. “Is there a difference between a grown-up and a parent?”

“Oh yes,” her five-year-old answered quickly. “Grown-ups love you when you are good and parents love you anyway.”

I know this sounds trite to some of people, but have you ever really come to appreciate the wonder of God’s unconditional love?

I dare say that there are some people who don’t really believe in unconditional love. They have never received it, and they have never given it.

Some people are still trying to earn their way to heaven. And they are expecting others to earn their way as well.

Relax, my friends, and let God love you. Jesus is trying to tell us in this parable that God’s love doesn’t depend on our goodness; it depends on God’s character.

Here is this truth expressed in I John 4: 10, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

We invite you to come and worship with us at First Christian Church. Morning worship is at 10:30 and we are easy folks to get to know!

Newborn death case debated

Michael Smith
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Newborn death case debated

Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press

A police bodycam video allegedly showing an Artesia teenager confessing to suffocating her newborn son was at the center of a New Mexico Supreme Court argument regarding the admissibility of comments made by the defendant while under medical care.

The video in question, taken in 21-year-old Alexee Trevizo’s hospital room at Artesia General Hospital while she was being questioned by police in January 2023, formed the basis for charges against Trevizo of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

Now-retired Fifth Judicial District Judge Jane Shuler Gray ruled in May 2024 – about a year after Trevizo, then-19, was arrested – that the alleged confession was inadmissible. Shuler Gray said using the footage as evidence would violate Trevizo’s rights against self-incrimination and also doctor-patient confidentiality.

That ruling was subsequently appealed by prosecutors to the New Mexico Supreme Court, which held oral arguments on the matter Sept. 4. A verdict had not been rendered as of Monday, Sept. 8.

Michael Thomas, deputy district attorney for the New Mexico Department of Justice, argued before the five justices of the State Supreme Court that Shuler Gray “erroneously” ordered the evidence suppressed and that the decision should be thrown out, allowing the criminal case to proceed with the video as evidence.

“A careful review of the video is critical to a proper understanding of the issues as it undercuts a myriad of defense assertions and glaringly fails to support and outright contradicts the district court’s findings,” Thomas argued.

Justice C. Shannon Bacon said her concern with admitting the video of the alleged confession was that it could be taken out of context with what “police were told prior to entering the room.”

“There’s been a report, they’ve heard from the nurse, probably things the nurse shouldn’t have told them, then they’re invited into the room,” she said. “That’s action before going in. They didn’t just pop their head in.”

Initially, a jury trial on the murder charge was scheduled for Aug. 26, 2024, but was delayed after Shuler Gray’s sealed opinion ordered suppression of the statements made by Trevizo to medical staff and police at the hospital.

That ruling, in response to a defense motion to exclude the video and confession, did not exclude medical records obtained by investigators, read the prosecution’s appeal filed July 8, 2024.

The defense motion also argued the case should be dismissed, contending Trevizo’s doctor-patient privilege was violated when statements she made to a physician were used as evidence in the criminal prosecution, and that she was not properly advised of her rights to avoid self-incrimination when speaking with police officers at the scene.

According to the state’s appeal, Trevizo told a doctor, “I’m sorry … it came out of me … I didn’t know what to do,” when she was told by medical staff that her son was found in a bathroom trash can, thus allegedly admitting her role in the infant’s death while not under arrest or restraint.

Prosecutors also argued Trevizo’s mother was present during the conversation as a third party, thus removing doctor-patient confidentiality.

Justice Julie Vargas questioned why police were brought into the room by medical staff after Vargas said it appeared staff intended to discuss Trevizo’s medical treatment with her.

“Why did they feel like it was appropriate for them to go into the room with the doctor to discuss treatment?” Vargas asked.

Thomas argued that police had “reasonable suspicion” that a crime was committed by Trevizo after being told the baby’s body was found in a bathroom they knew had only been entered by the defendant.

“The medical staff clearly knew that the only person who had been in that bathroom was the defendant,” Thomas said. “This was not going to be a whodunit.”

Amber Fayerberg, attorney for the defendant, said the legal matters were “simple” in the case but that the potential impacts of a verdict would be “extraordinary for every vulnerable patient in New Mexico.”

“Physicians and medical personnel take on the role of caregiver. Police take on the role of investigator,” she said. “If we accept the state’s position in this case, that line completely disappears and it’s to the detriment of New Mexico patients at their most vulnerable moment.”

Managing Editor Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

Eddy County accepts 2025 tax rates

Michael Smith
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Eddy County accepts 2025 tax rates

Adrian Hedden
Carlsbad Current-Argus
achedden@currentargus.com

Eddy County taxpayers will see mostly minor decreases in municipal property tax rates for the 2025 tax year, running from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, after county commissioners voted unanimously to approve the tax rates Sept. 4.

The vote was taken during a special meeting at the Eddy County Administration Building in Carlsbad. Only three of the five commissioners were present for the meeting: District 3 Commissioner Philip Troost, District 4 Commissioner Bo Bowen, and District 1 Commissioner Ernie Carlson.

The vote to accept the rates devised by the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) followed a presentation on the rates by County Assessor Rhonda Hatch.

She noted some minor increases in non-residential property taxes but said rates for most tax districts in the county declined or stayed the same.

“Most of our residential rates, they went down,” Hatch said. “In our non-residential, we are seeing some slight increases; nothing really substantial.”

A lower tax rate does not guarantee a lower tax bill, Hatch said. Taxes are based on the value of property and if the assessed valuation of the property rises, the increase could offset any reduction in the tax rate.

Commissioner Carlson emphasized that the county does not set tax rates but approves or rejects them every year after they are calculated by the Department of Finance and Administration, based on local budgets and shifting property values.

The rates encompass all taxing jurisdictions, including the state, county, municipality, local school board and special entities such as Artesia General Hospital and Southeast New Mexico College.

“We as a county have not raised the rates. I just want to make that clear,” Carlson said before voting to accept the 2025 tax rates. “The county commission had no control over those rates that did go up.”

Commissioners voted to accept a 23.8 mill rate ($1 per $1,000 property valuation) for Carlsbad residents, a decline of 0.283 from the 2024 rate of 24.164. Property taxes are assessed by dividing the mill rate by 1,000, then multiplying the result by one third of the property’s value, which is the amount New Mexico uses as the basis for tax assessments.

In the case of a $300,000 home in Carlsbad, that would mean a $100,000 taxable value would be multiplied by about 0.0238 for a tax of $2,380 on the property for the year. Carlsbad’s non-residential rate was set at 28.7, a slight increase from the 2024 rate of 28.4.

Artesia was approved for a mill rate of 15.8, down 2.82 from 2024 for residential properties, while the non-residential rate declined by about 2.5 from 21.6 in 2024 to 19.1 this year. The declines in Artesia were attributed to the defeat of a mill levy that partially funded Artesia General Hospital.

The levy had provided between $4 million and $7 million a year to the hospital since it was put into effect in 1979 and was reauthorized by voters every four years until it was voted down in a mail-in election last spring.

Eddy County Clerk Cara Cooke said the tax would be put before voters again in the Nov. 4 general election, meaning the tax rate could go back up for Artesia residents, based on a hospital levy of about $2.70 per $1,000 of taxable property value.

Now that tax rates have been set, property owners can expect to receive bills for 2025 property taxes in early November. Payment is due in two installments.

The first payment is due Nov. 10, although taxpayers have until Dec. 10 to make the payment without accruing interest. The second installment is due April 10, 2026.

Managing Editor Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

Artesia girls soccer defeats Clovis at home

JT Keith
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Artesia girls’ soccer defeats Clovis at home

JT Keith

Artesia Daily Press

jtkeith@elritomedia.com

For Artesia girls’ soccer coach, Tim Trentham, competitive greatness can only come from being pushed. The Lady’ Dogs soccer team escaped Robert Chase Field with a 4-2 victory on Tuesday night. The victory was the third of the season over 5A Clovis. The game was tightly contested, with Clovis taking a 2-1 lead with 30:30 left to play in the game.

“Every game has been really tight,” Trentham said. “When we score an early goal, I thought we were going to ease into it a little bit, but they came back and knotted it up (1-1), they were beating us to a lot of… and playing through. I think they didn’t change their tactics enough to have a significant impact on us. Everything they do is sent up the middle, and we did a good job absorbing that.”
Trentham said he was freaked out when Clovis (2-7-1) scored the second goal of the game to take a 2-1 lead with 30:30 left to play in the game. He said that he did not know if the team had been behind all season long, except for the two games the Lady’ Dogs had lost. 

Artesia (8-2) tied the game back to take the lead as Emily Soto scored the Lady Dogs’ second goal, tying the game at 2-2 with 25:31 to play in the game. At the 20:07 mark, Soto scored her second goal with 20:07 to play in the game by hitting a kick right in front of the net to give Artesia a 3-2 lead. Clovis did not go away, and as a Wildcat player took a shot from the left side, a speedy defender, Marisa Martin, came from the right side and kicked the ball out of bounds, saving the tying goal with 3:20 to play in the game.

JT Keith | Artesia Daily Press
Artesia’s #15 Kaylee Berdoza chase a ball down on the offensive side of the field as the Lady ‘Dogs score a goal to tie the game at 2-2. Artesia would win over Clovis 4-2 at Robert Chase Field on Tuesday night.

“Emily Soto has really stepped up,” Trentham said. “I don’t think she has scored a goal in a game this year, and for her to get two in a big game like this is pretty huge. Also, sophomore Kacy Neel scored a goal off the bench with (2:14) to play in the game. Her goal gave us some breathing room. It was 3-2 and you just can’t…”

Trentham said that Martin is an excellent defender. Martin stepped in and stopped the Wildcats’ offensive player from scoring right in front of the net. He also noted that Martin and Ayerim Alviderz share a strong chemistry and trust, which solidifies the Lady Dogs’ back line of defense.

“Marisa (Martin), she plays tough, and she is going to give you everything,” Trentham said. “Just to be able to recognize the situation and to come across the field and clear that shot out is a testament to how awesome our defensive players are. They are the ones that are keeping the games low scoring, and that is what we did last year, we kept the games low scoring and finished when we needed to.”

Trentham said he hopes to come out of the next four games strong, as it will be tough playing Santa Teresa, Carlsbad, Ruidoso, and Roswell before beginning district play away against Goddard on Sept. 27. 

“If we can get through these games, it is going to build more of our team character and just our chemistry overall. We get to the other side of these games, and I think everything looks great.”

jtkeith can be reached at 575-420-0061, or on X@JTKETIH1.

The governor’s script ignores real emergencies

Michael Smith
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The governor’s script ignores real emergencies

Rep. Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena)
House Republican Leader

Once again, New Mexicans are being forced to watch political theater instead of seeing their real problems addressed.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has called yet another special session, framing it as a response to federal budget cuts.

But a closer look reveals this is less about solving urgent crises and more about advancing a progressive wish list while pointing fingers at Washington, all while ignoring the emergencies New Mexicans face every day.

In her press release, the Governor and Democratic leaders repeatedly invoked President Trump and the “radical right” as scapegoats. That rhetoric might energize her base, but it does nothing for families struggling with violent crime, a collapsing healthcare system, or a failing CYFD.

Instead of taking responsibility for what’s broken in Santa Fe, the Governor is deflecting blame and staging yet another round of political theater.

Look at what the Governor says this session will cover: new insurance subsidies, funding for public broadcasting, and Medicaid provisions that won’t take effect until 2027. What’s missing?

A plan to address rampant juvenile crime. Accountability for children dying in state custody. A solution for the rapid loss of doctors. These are the real emergencies New Mexicans are living through right now, and they’re nowhere on her agenda.

It has become clear that progressive Democrats in the Legislature set the agenda for the Governor’s Office. Even after declaring a crime emergency and authorizing the National Guard in Albuquerque and Española, the Governor has refused to include meaningful crime legislation in this special session. Rather than lead, she is getting in line with radical progressives in the Legislature.

House Republicans are committed to real solutions. That means addressing the root causes of New Mexico’s healthcare collapse. This starts with reforming malpractice laws that put trial lawyers ahead of providers and patients. Doctors have no issue being held accountable, but the current system bars them from providing even the most basic care that New Mexicans deserve.

It also means joining the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to bring more doctors into our state and expand access to care.

New Mexicans deserve a Legislature that puts their needs first, not one that hides behind national politics while ignoring crises at home. If the Governor truly wanted to solve problems, this special session would be about saving lives, keeping hospitals open, and protecting vulnerable children.

Until then, Republicans will continue fighting for meaningful reforms because New Mexico cannot afford another session of smoke and mirrors.

Gail Armstrong is a New Mexico state representative and the House minority leader.

Vasquez promoted to lead human resources for Eddy County

Michael Smith
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Vasquez promoted to lead human resources for Eddy County

Staff reports

Anna Vasquez was promoted to be Eddy County’s human resources director. With more than 36 years of experience in both the private and government sectors, Vasquez brings knowledge, compassion, and a fresh vision for the department.

Her salary will be $132,516.80 a year.

Vasquez began her career with Eddy County in 2012 as a Human Resources Specialist. In 2015, she was promoted to Assistant Director of Human Resources. Over the years, she has supported the department in numerous areas, including employee benefits, the Employee Assistance Program, compensation and orientations. Now, she steps into her new leadership role as director.

Continuing her professional development, Vasquez is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in business management with a concentration in human resources from New Mexico State University.

Outside of work, Vasquez is a proud wife, mother of three, and grandmother of four. She enjoys dancing, taking spontaneous family trips, and cheering on her husband while he plays music. Most of all, she treasures time spent with her family.

For Vasquez, her new role is more than just a title; it’s a calling.

“Now I have a chance to make a difference, an opportunity to change things for the better,” she said. “I want to help people find a career they can thrive in here at Eddy County.”

She also hopes to reshape the way employees view the role of human resources.

“I want our department to be seen as approachable and open, here to help with everything from benefits to questions, and most importantly, to be here for the people,” she explained.

Known as a good listener, problem solver, and true people person, Anna is committed to ensuring employees feel supported and valued throughout their careers with Eddy County. Eddy County is excited to celebrate Anna’s leadership and looks forward to the positive impact she will continue to make for our employees and our community.

“She has the trust of the employees and a caring, while professional, approach,” said Eddy County Manager Mike Gallagher. “She is the right fit.”

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