A disgusting exercise of raw power was on display at the Albuquerque City Council’s August 21^st meeting when the Floor Substitute for the Short-Term Rental (STR) ordinance was introduced. The goal was to strengthen the city’s existing STR regulations to reduce the speculative conversion of the city’s housing stock to short-term rentals favored by the AirBnB marketers. In July 2023, there were approximately 1255 STRs permitted in Albuquerque representing about 60% of the total. Many STRs are unpermitted.

Regardless of where we each may be on the climate denial spectrum – and we’re all on it – the relentless news coverage about the earth-shattering records broken this summer (global earth temperatures, fires, floods and even the hot tub ocean) should be getting our attention.

Leading up to the U.N. Climate Ambition Summit in New York, the youth are organizing the March to End Fossil Fuels on Sunday, September 17^th.  They are joined by labor unions, faith leaders, environmental groups, artists, writers, the elderly, social justice and indigenous rights groups and, from New Mexico, the Progressive Democrats of America – Central New Mexico, and New Energy Economy. The goal of this action is to persuade President Biden to declare a climate emergency which will unleash additional executive powers to curtail fossil fuel production. It’s not too late to sign up to volunteer to help make the March a success. There are things we can do from as far away as New Mexico. With our record high levels of oil and gas production, New Mexicans who want to see a just transition to renewable energy should be well-represented in the March to End Fossil Fuels.