Did southern Dem Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small indicate that she does not support the presidential candidacy of Bernie Sanders? In a statement to the AP Torres Small said she hasn't decided on supporting a candidate yet, but added:

I remain concerned by some of the policies the candidates have proposed, including a federal ban on fracking.

The fracking process has been key to making the SE Permian Basin one of the most productive oil fields in the world. Senator Sanders supports a ban on fracking, citing environmental concerns. Former VP Biden does not support a ban but wants it better regulated.

So did Torres Small signal support for Biden? Probably. She has steered away from the progressives since being elected in 2018 and faces a stiff conservative re-election challenge.

Torres Small is a "super delegate" to the Dem national convention who will cast a ballot if no nominee receives a majority on the first ballot. If you're a vote counter for Biden it appears you can safely put her in your column. How that would play for XTL with progressive Dems in important Dona Ana County is another question.

SLOW ROLLING

About the Monday blog citing two NM federal judge vacancies and whether filling them is being "slow rolled"  by the state's two senators waiting for the presidential election, an ABQ Legal Beagle writes:

Joe, the two greatest reasons for the local federal logjam in the criminal arena are: 

1. The unnecessary referrals by Bernalillo County District Raul Torrez. There are numerous cases referred that have little federal nexus. Then there is the decision to refer felon in possession of a firearm cases to federal court, many of which are completely non-violent and should be dealt with locally.

2. The local US Attorney, John Anderson, has orders from on high and insists that no plea deals be offered unless the highest charge in an indictment results in a conviction. This lack of flexibility results in more trials. Trials take a lot more time than plea agreements.'

Okay, but this is busy place filled with immigration and drug cases so add that to your list, Mr. Beagle.

Good insights from the Legal Beagles this week. Now we know.

BROADBAND BANTER

Readers write of our recent blogging of getting broadband to rural NM. JG writes:

In a few years, the current approaches to high-speed internet in sparsely populated areas will be obsolete, kinda like the current approach to public transport and especially Mayor Berry’s boondoggle ART. Take a look:

With performance that far surpasses that of traditional satellite internet and a global network unbounded by ground infrastructure limitations, Starlink will deliver high speed broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable.

Well, let's hope so. Starlink is part of SpaceX.

Marcus Martin writes from Edgewood:

. . . You don't have to go to tribal lands to finds folks who need help. I live in the East Mountains and my neighborhood still has the same DSL from 20 years ago. Now there are signs that CenturyLink has no plans to improve the service and might even discontinue it. Given the rolling terrain, wireless is not currently an option for many of us (we still do not even have cell service down here in the Yrisarri area). From talking to folks here the consensus is that the only way anything will get better is if there is some government involvement to motivate CenturyLink to provide internet that works (I get 1.5 MBS on a good day, and I mean day, because in the evening it goes to almost zero for reasons that remain mysterious). If  you get any information about politicos in this area who care about the issue I would love to know about it. Already new folks cannot get onto the DSL out here and if the bigshots at CenturyLink decide to turn it off we will be in a very desperate situation.

FYI: GOP State Senator Jim White represents the Edgewood area.

John Badal, president of Sacred Wind Communications, writes:

Thank you for bringing more attention to the broadband needs of rural New Mexico. . . I share your frustration. Sacred Wind Communications, was created specifically to address the digital divide on the Navajo Nation and in other rural areas. We have been operating for 13 years and have succeeded in building a broadband network over a great expanse of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. More recently we have expanded broadband to several other rural communities in northwest New Mexico. We also signed a partnership agreement with Microsoft to extend broadband even further into Navajo Nation lands.

Our company is only one of 12 rural telecoms in the State that have been delivering higher broadband speeds to their customers. The greatest lack of broadband can be found in rural New Mexico where those rural telecoms do not operate, and it is those areas that have been the targets of federal and state broadband programs. Those programs have helped to support the creation or growth of broadband operated by a few tribes and other smaller fiber and mobile wireless companies. . . The NM Public Regulation Commission manages a $5 million annual broadband fund to provide broadband to underserved areas and the NM Department of Information Technology has just implemented a Broadband Improvement Grant program targeting specific underserved areas.

As you express, the need in much of rural New Mexico is great and immediate, and what is most needed is a concerted plan to fill in all the gaps within a 3-5 year time period. While money is a critical element , there are additional challenges. Particularly, acquiring rights of way across multiple federal and state jurisdictions. This issue is being addressed in the federal legislation that you referenced in your blog, but the issue needs to be managed here at home. Some progress is being made in expanding broadband to rural New Mexico and I am hopeful our Governor will lead an effort to achieve throughout the State what we and others have accomplished in our little corners of the world.

We did not know about the Microsoft agreement, a company we mentioned on the blog as a possible partner to help get broadband to rural ares. Glad to see that and hope, as you do, that the Governor will lead a statewide effort to provide all rural areas high speed Internet service.

BILL FULGINITI

NM House Appropriations Committee Chair Patricia Lundstrom notes the passing last week of 78 year old Bill Fulginiti, the longtime director of the NM Municipal League

New Mexico lost a giant in public service last week. Bill Fulginiti, director of the Municipal League for more than 40 years, was a big guy whose presence was felt every time he entered a room. But, more significantly, his absence will be felt throughout the state. . . He was, according to others who walk the corridors of the Roundhouse, a “force to be reckoned with,” whose endorsement or dismissal of a bill could make or break legislation. But he was also known for his honesty and integrity, his willingness to work with “newbies” to help them understand the process and the policy, and the hundreds of meatball subs he and his wife, Pat, made for legislative staff every session.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2019