Author Archives: merilee

Under railroad tracks throughout New Mexico lies buried treasure. The treasure is black fiber. Black fiber, also called dark fiber, is fiber optic cable that nobody is using, cable that someone had the good sense to put into the ground … Continue reading →

To call New Mexico’s liquor license law a mess would be an understatement. The law is blatantly unfair in how it allocates access to liquor licenses, and it is not helpful either to the state or to New Mexico citizens. … Continue reading →

I used to say to myself, “New Mexico, love it or leave it.” I was thinking about salaries. I have changed my thinking. This is New Mexico, I thought. New Mexico is a special place and we are all lucky … Continue reading →

New Mexico is once again at the bottom of the barrel for the well-being of children. The annual survey known as Kids Count has placed us at 50 out of 50. Kids Count measures categories in the areas of economic … Continue reading →

“Medicare for all” is not a program. It’s a slogan. We don’t know what it means until somebody defines it. By itself, it is not a solution to America’s health care needs. Medicare for all was hotly debated during the … Continue reading →

New Mexico is making it easier for voters to register to vote or update their registration, starting after the 2020 presidential election. This year’s Senate Bill 672 provides that, beginning in 2021, voters may register or update their registration any … Continue reading →

There’s a new standard of heroism in America. The hero is the one who jumps in front of the shooter, saving lives while sacrificing his own. It happened twice in recent weeks. This is a new subject for frank talks … Continue reading →

  At least three separate controversies are going on these days at PERA, the Public Employees Retirement Association. One involves hundreds of thousands of dollars; the second involves billions, and the third involves open meetings. PERA, the Public Employees Retirement … Continue reading →

Of all the bills that died in this year’s legislature, I thought surely the pet food tax would have passed. The pet food tax – excuse me, fee — passed comfortably last year and was vetoed by Gov. Martinez. I … Continue reading →