r/NewMexico

With around 15 million people relying on it for drinking water, the Rio Grande is said to have lost around 85 percent of its historic flows due to overuse and major droughts for several years, the World Wildlife Fund noted in June.

I’ve been looking into Constitutional Amendment 4, and I think there’s an interesting question here about who can afford to serve in our state government.

New Mexico is the only state where legislators don’t receive a regular salary for their work. They get per diem and mileage reimbursements, to defray of the costs of actually having to travel and rent a house in Santa Fe, but taking time away from a regular job to serve can still be a real financial burden.

Think about it: if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, raising kids, or working a job where you can’t just take weeks off, running for the Legislature is a pretty big ask. Meanwhile, people who are retired, self-employed, or financially comfortable may have more flexibility to do it.

Our Legislature includes plenty of lawyers, business owners, and other professionals. Those backgrounds bring valuable experience, but it’s fair to ask whether our current system makes it harder for working-class New Mexicans to participate, and represent the interests of actual citizens and not just special interests.

There’s also the question of accountability. Paying legislators would go a long way towards reducing corruption or special-interest influence. We can see with the recent PNM merger how financial pressures affect decisions made in public service. Of course, we also need strong ethics rules, financial disclosures, and transparency, but this is one of many ways we can help make government ethical.

I'm curious what others think. Does paying legislators make it easier for everyday New Mexicans to serve, and what safeguards would help keep our government accountable to the people it represents?

My family and I recently visited New Mexico, and stayed in Santa Fe for a few days. I kept smelling this smell that smelled so good, and I didn’t realize I was smelling roasted green Chile’s until a day or two there. I started noticing how many people had roasters in their yards.

I’m back in Ohio and miss that smell so much. That, along with the blue corn donuts and blue corn sourdough pizza crust. I miss your state and it’s beautiful scenery, smells, and food.

So a Greyhound bus left me here in Deming and I need to move to Lordsburg NM to board my new bus.

Can someone please drive me to Lordsburg? I can pay $100. I tried Uber, taxis and everything but there is no availability.

Please help!

Grew up out there, now stuck between Midwest and east coast. Anyone wanna send pics of what you love?

My company went bankrupt and was sold to another company. However, the new company that bought the old employer is now refusing to honor previously accrued sick leave, stating that I was technically terminated from the previous company at bankruptcy and hired as a “new employee” under the new company. Is this allowed? It seems that if they use the terminology of being terminated from the bankrupt company and hired as a new employee with the new company, they are able to get out of honoring accrued sick leave.

We've planned a trip next week to the Enchanted Circle. Horseback riding. Looking for the fall colors, hiking the area. Etc.

What are the roads, trails and peaks like after all the flooding? Should we wait for roadwork or other utilities to be repaired? I don't want to be in the way. I also dont want to burden the outfitters. In the same token I'd like to help those depending on tourist travel?

Living in LC & hoping to go somewhere.

Thanks in advance