Latest news with #MichelleLujanGrisham
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cities can fight back with guaranteed income programs
Mayors for a Guaranteed Income helped fund a pilot project at Santa Fe Community College. (Courtesy SFCC) If you are like me, you are still reeling from the news that the 'big beautiful bill' (which is unparalleled in its ugliness) received the necessary votes in the U.S. House and Senate, along with the president's signature. Although the U.S. Senate was close (and Dem senators all voted nay) what kind of madness is this? The very notion of passing legislation that dismantles Medicaid; blunts the effectiveness of nutritional assistance; and cuts funding to rural hospitals highlights the degree that a philosophy of philistine self-interest has infiltrated the current political climate. Trepidation over the fallout spreads nationwide. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says the bill 'will hit New Mexico hard' and state officials have outlined nightmarish scenarios in which more than 88,000 New Mexicans lose Medicaid and more than 58,000 to lose their Supplemental Assistance Program help. 'This is draconian,' Victor Pineda, executive director of the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, California, which provides quality of life assistance to the disabled, reportedly said. 'The cuts are a direct hit to our ability to help people stay in their homes who will now be forced into homelessness or institutions.' In the meantime, what can help supplement the loss of basic services in underserved communities? What can cities and mayors do? For one thing: They can put more of their remaining resources toward expanding guaranteed income programs. In 2018, Mayor Michael Tubbs of Stockton, Calif. initiated the first guaranteed income program in the USA, which for two years gave $500 every month to 125 low-income residents. A study in the program's aftermath conducted by a team of independent researchers determined that the money significantly improved participants' mental health and financial standing. Tubbs then founded Mayors for Guaranteed Income (MGI), a network of committed cities that have sponsored pilot programs in cities including Madison, Wis.; Pittsburgh, Pa; New Orleans, La.; and Santa Fe, here in New Mexico. In 2021, with an MGI grant, Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber launched a pilot program that provided $400-per-month stipends to 100 young, low-income Santa Fe Community College students with child-caretaking responsibilities. A 2025 independent study again concluded that rather than fulfilling easy cliches — meaning the assumption the young grantees would waste the funds on alcohol or video games — participants experienced meaningful improvements in key takeaway areas 'This successful program directly addresses the fundamental problem that is holding New Mexico back: poverty.' said Mayor Webber, after the report was released. Today, more than 100 cities have sponsored direct cash payment programs that lasted one year (or preferably two years). In every case, most participants experienced admirable gains in food and housing security. In Santa Fe, participants experienced a 19 percentage point rise in full employment. But why should these results be surprising when 37% of Americans say they fear an unexpected $400 expense? A consistent extra few hundred (in lieu of having an empty bank account) can make a difference, a larger-than-expected step forward. For proponents, an important assurance is that guaranteed income programs come with 'no strings attached.' A family that needs money to pay for school supplies can choose this option; a recipient who knows that buying a car would be a valuable investment can save for that. Guaranteed income programs have been praised for having an 'entrepreneurial' spirit. But I believe the better word for them is 'self-empowering' in that they encourage the underprivileged to value themselves and invest in their own futures. These humble sums of cash directed without stipulations at crisis communities, including immigrant families, students or homeless youth, provide a measurable boost. Related programs stipulate the money is spent toward specific goals, like preventing homelessness. Funding for renters facing eviction is one of the most important ways cities, including Santa Fe, can potentially use targeted funds in a time when homelessness is at its highest level since the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development began keeping statistics in 2007. Here is the rub. These programs abet and enhance the social safety net. They cannot replace it. These programs are a tool: a necessary weapon. Times may become desperate. Cities must fight back.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Officials say hundreds of homes damaged in Ruidoso flooding
RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) – Ruidoso officials and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham held a news conference in Ruidoso Thursday morning to give an update on Ruidoso flood response efforts. Ruidoso residents begin long road to recovery following historic flooding Gov. Lujan Grisham says that she is in talks with the feds about how much money may be made available for aid distribution. Authorities have been assessing the flood damage, and the number of damaged homes continues to rise, with officials saying 200 to 400 homes have been damaged. Officials said they had approximately 65 swift water rescues with people getting stuck in homes, cars, and trees. Many in the village are experiencing water outages as utility workers assess the damage. Drinking water is available at the Gateway Church, Wingfield Park, and at the Humane Society. Floodwaters reached as high as 20 feet hit the Village of Ruidoso Tuesday, and claimed the lives of three people, including two children. Gov. Lujan Grisham signed an emergency declaration Tuesday night in response to the flooding in Ruidoso. The emergency declaration requests federal response teams and repair resources to Ruidoso immediately. Areas hit the hardest include the Upper Canyon, Brady Canyon, Cedar Creek, and Paradise Canyon. With more rain expected in the region, state leaders are urging residents to stay vigilant. 'We will protect New Mexicans. But if you live here in Ruidoso, follow the emergency evacuation orders. We cannot lose another life,' said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-New Mexico). President Donald Trump signed an emergency declaration for New Mexico, which will help bring in millions of dollars to the region for flooding recovery and response efforts. There is a disaster recovery center set up at ENMU-Ruidoso, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There, case managers can help with replacing documents, finding resources, and answering insurance questions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
3 dead after historic flooding in Ruidoso
Editor's Note: The Village of Ruidoso confirmed late Tuesday night that three people died in the flooding. This story has been updated with that information. This is a developing story; KRQE News 13 will provide updates as it becomes available. RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) – Devastation has hit Ruidoso again. Tuesday night, three people died, dozens had to be rescued, and homes were destroyed after violent flash flooding. Late Tuesday night, the Village of Ruidoso confirmed that a four-year-old girl, seven-year-old boy, and a 40 to 50-year old man were swept downstream and killed. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has declared a state of emergency, requesting federal response teams for the area. She added the state has already sent support and some federal resources are already on their way. 'Our hearts are broken for the families who have lost their loved ones in this terrible tragedy,' said Mayor Lynn Crawford in a news release. 'The entire Village of Ruidoso extends our deepest sympathy and compassion to these grieving families during this unimaginably difficult time. We are united in our sorrow and our commitment to supporting one another as we face this devastating loss together.' Story continues below News: Ruidoso residents begin long road to recovery following historic flooding Entertainment: Paul McCartney to perform in Albuquerque for the first time News: Record-breaking flooding destroys homes, leaves 3 dead in Ruidoso Community: Proposed project would add bicycling-centric upgrades along Buena Vista in ABQ Historic flooding caused the Rio Ruidoso to rise to 20 feet, five feet higher than the previous record. Flooding caused an entire home to be swept away. 'We started the morning with a flash flood watch from the National Weather Service, so we knew there was something probably on the horizon,' said Village of Ruidoso Public Information Officer Kerry Gladden. Only hours later, that watch became an emergency. 'On the north end of town, we were starting to see some significant flooding,' said Gladden. Flash flooding tore through parts of Ruidoso Tuesday afternoon, impacting areas around Upper Canyon, Brady Canyon, and the Rio Ruidoso. 'I don't think it was a shock because we were prepared, but you know you certainly don't want to see it happen on this scale,' said Gladden. Last summer, the South Fork Fire devastated the village, and then burn scar flooding caused even more damage. Yet, many are saying what happened Tuesday is the worst they've seen so far, and village officials agree. 'We had one of our water gauges, which we call the Hollywood gauge, and it's down at the end of Ruidoso in between Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs, and it saw a historical high of twenty feet,' said Gladden. Up from 15 feet just last year, Gladden said, swift water rescue crews quickly got to work. 'There was one home that was swept away, I do not know, I don't have any confirmation if there was anyone inside,' said Gladden. Ruidoso Downs Race Track crews had begun restoring the track earlier this year, putting in culverts and a retention basin to help with flooding. Video from Tuesday shows flood water taking over the track, overpowering those flood mitigation efforts that worked just two weeks ago. Gladden said this is the village's new reality for the next few years. She hopes in light of the tragedy in Texas, everyone takes these warnings seriously. Ruidoso officials said that there were 50-60 rescues made Tuesday. Search and rescue operations were still underway Tuesday night. A few people were taken to the hospital. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Globe and Mail
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Globe and Mail
Deadly New Mexico flood damaged at least 200 homes, number could rise as officials survey aftermath
At least 200 homes were damaged during a deadly flash flood in the mountain village of Ruidoso, and local emergency managers warned Wednesday that number could more than double as teams survey more neighbourhoods. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was among the officials who took an aerial tour of Ruidoso and the surrounding area as they looked to bolster their case for more federal assistance for the community, which has been battered over the past year by wildfires and repeated flooding. The governor said the state has received partial approval for a federal emergency declaration, freeing up personnel to help with search and rescue efforts and incident management. She called it the first step, saying Ruidoso will need much more. 'We will continue working with the federal government for every dollar and resource necessary to help this resilient community fully recover from these devastating floods,' she said. An intense bout of monsoon rains set the disaster in motion Tuesday afternoon. Water rushed from the surrounding mountainside, overwhelming the Rio Ruidoso and taking with it a man and two children who had been camping at a riverside RV park. Their bodies were found downstream. One person is still unaccounted for. Lujan Grisham expressed her condolences and wished a speedy recovery for the parents of the 4-year-old girl and 7-year-old boy who were killed. She said it will be an emotional journey. 'There are no words that can take away that devastation,' she said. 'We are truly heartsick.' Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, whose district includes Ruidoso and surrounding Lincoln County, told reporters more rain is coming and that residents remain at risk. She urged people to follow emergency orders, saying 'we cannot lose another life.' Broken tree limbs, twisted metal, crumpled cars and muddy debris remain as crews work to clear roads and culverts wrecked by the flooding. Tracy Haragan, a lifelong Ruidoso resident on the verge of retirement, watched from his home as a surging river carried away the contents of nine nearby residences. 'You watched everything they owned, everything they had – everything went down,' he said. A popular summer retreat, Ruidoso is no stranger to tragedy. It has spent a year rebuilding following destructive wildfires last summer and the flooding that followed. This time, the floodwaters went even higher, with the Rio Ruidoso rising more than six metres on Tuesday to set a record. Officials said the area received about nine centimetres of rain over the South Fork burn scar in just an hour and a half. 'It is such a great town, it just takes a tail-whipping every once in a while,' Haragan said. 'We always survive.' The river runs thick with sediment that can settle and raise future water levels. Stansbury said already-promised federal funding to remove silt from the riverbed would help mitigate future flooding, but that the community would need continued help for the next decade after suffering successive catastrophes. Lujan Grisham said the federal government likely will advance US$15-million – from the Department of Agriculture and the Federal Emergency Management Agency – to jumpstart recovery efforts. That amount could climb to more than US$100-million in the coming months as Ruidoso tries to rebuild and mitigate future floods. The governor said officials need to rethink how funding is doled out to reduce the risks of future flooding, in efforts that might restore watersheds and forests. Ruidoso has also recently requested US$100-million in federal aid to convert flood-prone private land to public property after successive years of violent flooding. The mayor emphasized Thursday that the flood damage was far greater than he and others had realized, highlighting damage to water lines and distribution points for potable drinking water. 'Things have changed,' Crawford said. 'There was a lot more damage than what we had assumed and what we thought in the beginning. ... We've had to take a step back to move forward.'
Arab News
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Arab News
As many as 200 homes damaged as officials survey the aftermath of a deadly New Mexico flood
RUIDOSO, N.M.: At least 200 homes were damaged during a deadly flash flood in the mountain village of Ruidoso, and local emergency managers warned Wednesday that number could more than double as teams survey more neighborhoods. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was among the officials who took an aerial tour of Ruidoso and the surrounding area as they looked to bolster their case for more federal assistance for the community, which has been battered over the past year by wildfires and repeated flooding. The governor said the state has received partial approval for a federal emergency declaration, freeing up personnel to help with search and rescue efforts and incident management. She called it the first step, saying Ruidoso will need much more. 'We will continue working with the federal government for every dollar and resource necessary to help this resilient community fully recover from these devastating floods,' she said. An intense bout of monsoon rains set the disaster in motion Tuesday afternoon. Water rushed from the surrounding mountainside, overwhelming the Rio Ruidoso and taking with it a man and two children who had been camping at a riverside RV park. Their bodies were found downstream. One person is still unaccounted for. Lujan Grisham expressed her condolences and wished a speedy recovery for the parents of the 4-year-old girl and 7-year-old boy who were killed. She said it will be an emotional journey. 'There are no words that can take away that devastation,' she said. 'We are truly heartsick.' Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, whose district includes Ruidoso and surrounding Lincoln County, told reporters more rain is coming and that residents remain at risk. She urged people to follow emergency orders, saying 'we cannot lose another life.' A community rebuilds — again Broken tree limbs, twisted metal, crumpled cars and muddy debris remain as crews work to clear roads and culverts wrecked by the flooding. Tracy Haragan, a lifelong Ruidoso resident on the verge of retirement, watched from his home as a surging river carried away the contents of nine nearby residences. 'You watched everything they owned, everything they had — everything went down,' he said. A popular summer retreat, Ruidoso is no stranger to tragedy. It has spent a year rebuilding following destructive wildfires last summer and the flooding that followed. This time, the floodwaters went even higher, with the Rio Ruidoso rising more than 20 feet on Tuesday to set a record. Officials said the area received about 3.5 inches of rain over the South Fork burn scar in just an hour and a half. 'It is such a great town, it just takes a tail-whipping every once in a while,' Haragan said. 'We always survive.' Requests for aid The river runs thick with sediment that can settle and raise future water levels. Stansbury said already-promised federal funding to remove silt from the riverbed would help mitigate future flooding, but that the community would need continued help for the next decade after suffering successive catastrophes. Lujan Grisham said the federal government likely will advance $15 million — from the Department of Agriculture and the Federal Emergency Management Agency — to jumpstart recovery efforts. That amount could climb to more than $100 million in the coming months as Ruidoso tries to rebuild and mitigate future floods. The governor said officials need to rethink how funding is doled out to reduce the risks of future flooding, in efforts that might restore watersheds and forests. Ruidoso has also recently requested $100 million in federal aid to convert flood-prone private land to public property after successive years of violent flooding. The mayor emphasized Thursday that the flood damage was far greater than he and others had realized, highlighting damage to water lines and distribution points for potable drinking water. 'Things have changed,' Crawford said. 'There was a lot more damage than what we had assumed and what we thought in the beginning. ... We've had to take a step back to move forward.'
