Author Archives: Stephen Spitz

Politics inside New Mexico’s “Roundhouse” are notoriously complex with legislative success dependent on personal connections, intra-party rivalries, the power of lobbyists, and basic deal making. This year saw a change in  House leadership, a different more friendly vibe, and push-back against the Governor’s agenda by fellow Democrats. Meanwhile, there was also record spending and a 30% budget surplus.  Bills regarding paid family leave, paid legislators and staff, crime, and the environment were introduced. What, of significance, occurred?

New Mexico People Place and Ideas host Stephen Spitz will put that to this month’s guest, Joe Monahan, the lead political blogger in New Mexico: he will provide listeners with an inside look at what  passed this Session along with the big misses.

Produced with assistance of Lynn Schibeci, Gus Tafoya, and Tristan Clum.

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This month’s guest is Michael S. Vigil, a former undercover DEA agent in Mexico, who rose to be Chief of International Operations worldwide.  

One of his favorite accolades is a narcocorrido tribute from a famous Mexican musician, Alberto Angel, the ballad elevating his fame to rival those of the international drug lords he pursued. But why choose to be an undercover agent and what is it like living on the knife’s edge of danger? Host Stephen Spitz will explore this along with the escalating violence of the Mexican Cartels, and what can be done to stop them?

Produced with assistance of Lynn Schibeci, Gus Tafoya, and Tristan Clum.

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Albuquerque, like most US cities, has a housing crisis. But, it’s acute here. According to the City, the shortage is 80,000 homes, 30,000 units for those with low and moderate incomes and 50,000 market rate houses and apartments. Those with lowest incomes face the greatest challenges and, of course, this is one cause of homelessness. But the lack of available housing also affects workforce and economic development. In response, the City has announced a “Housing Forward” initiative to spur conversion of old motels and offices and the construction of new market rate housing. 

Joining host Stephen Spitz to discuss this is Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. We will explore how Albuquerque got here and how “Housing Forward” could change the housing  landscape.

Produced with assistance of Lynn Schibeci, Gus Tafoya, and Tristan Clum.

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Contrary to pre-election surveys, the Latino electorate did not veer sharply Right and was pivotal in key Senate races in Nevada and Arizona. Was the polling wrong about the importance of the economy and unpopularity of Biden with Latinos? And how does this square with the much-publicized result in Florida, where Latinos did veer sharply Right? 

Joining host Stephen Spitz to discuss this is UNM professor Gabriel Sanchez, who has provided election analysis for Albuquerque TV stations, Latino Decisions, and NPR. We will explore the above questions as well as Latino support for Democrats in New Mexico what Republicans need to do to win state-wide races.

Produced with assistance of Lynn Schibeci, Gus Tafoya, and Tristan Clum.

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Today’s guest is the most famous comedian you have never seen and didn’t even believe existed. His name is Jack Handey (yes that’s his real name), and the name is undoubtedly familiar to fans of Saturday Night Live.

Jack Handey, a long time resident of Santa Fe, is the person responsible for SNL’s consistently hilarious series, “Deep Thoughts”, along with many other sketches. On SNL Deep Thoughts was an interstitial segment between sketches that was introduced by Phil Hartman and read live by Handey (neither actually appeared on screen). Handey’s one-liners proved to be extremely popular. Hartman would intone “And now, Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handey…” and peaceful easy listening music would play while the screen showed soothing pastoral scenes, much like a New Age relaxation video. Handey would then read the Deep Thought as the text scrolled across the screen.

Now Handey has written his first novel, The Stench of Honolulu: A Tropical Adventure. The plot is not complicated, a search for treasure in Hawaii, but the humor will definitely appeal to anyone who enjoyed Deep Thoughts.

Please join host Stephen Spitz and Jack Handey as we learn how Handey got into comedy and what makes comedians and jokes “funny”. Produced with the assistance of Joe Green.

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Constitutional Amendment #1 would increase funding for early childhood education and K-12 via an 11/4% annual distribution from New Mexico’s $25B Land Grant Permanent Fund (LGPF). Will this change educational outcomes? 

In Paul Tough’s NYT-bestselling How Children Succeed, he first introduced us to the research that shows that character strengths like grit, perseverance, self-control, and optimism play a critical and often overlooked role in children’s success. But, how can early childhood education and K-12 do this? Tough’s answer is in his book Helping Children Succeed. His conclusion: We should stop trying to “teach” qualities like grit and self-control to our kids. Instead, he argues, we need to recognize that these capacities are the product of children’s environment.

Please join host Stephen Spitz and author Paul Tough as they explore how early childhood and K-12 programs have changed home and school environments and helped children to succeed.

Produced with assistance of Jefferson White, Elias Henley, and Lynn Schibeci.

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Constitutional Amendment #1 would increase funding for early childhood and K-12 via an 11/4% annual distribution from New Mexico’s $25B Land Grant Permanent Fund (LGPF).  As a Constitutional Amendment voters, must approve it this November to become law. What is the LGPF, how did it accumulate so much money, and how would these additional funds impact our early childhood programs?

Joining host Stephen Spitz to discuss all this is the head of the State’s Early Childhood and Care Department, Elizabeth Groginsky. We will explore the above questions as well as how much it would cost to fully scale up early childhood programs and whether this could be a game changer.

Produced with assistance of Lynn Schibeci, Elias Henley, Tristan Clum, and Roman Garcia.

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New Mexico is experiencing its worst drought in more than 1000 years. Available surface water has already decreased by one-quarter and is forecast to significantly decline. To make up for this, groundwater pumping has increased, but since much more water is being used, than being replenished, it’s unsustainable. What does this mean for the average New Mexican? Will we be able to live normal lives?  And, what is the State doing to manage this crisis?

Joining host Stephen Spitz to discuss all this is the State’s top water official under Governors Richardson, Martinez, and Lujan Grisham, John D’Antonio Jr., PE. We will explore the above questions as well as the right to use water, who uses how much water, and why Mr. D’Antonio resigned in protest.

Produced with assistance of Lynn Schibeci, Elias Henley, Tristan Clum, and Roman Garcia.

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By early Spring New Mexico had already experienced its two largest wildfires in history as well as the McBride fire, which destroyed more than 200 homes in Ruidoso. Is this the new normal? And are controlled burns really the answer given that the disastrous Hermits Peak fire that ended up destroying more than 300 homes and displacing thousands of New Mexicans.

Joining host Stephen Spitz to discuss this is UNM professor and fire ecologist, Dr. Matthew Hurteau. We will explore how fire risks are best managed, why fire suppression still rules the day, and how the Hermits Peak fire went so horribly wrong.

Produced with assistance of Lynn Schibeci, Elias Henley, Tristan Clum, and Roman Garcia.

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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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