Remote State of State

"She had me at February 8th." So reacted one frazzled parent/blog reader upon hearing the Governor announce at her Tuesday State of the State speech that she is finally authorizing in-person classes for New Mexico's youth. 

(Video here. Transcript here.)

After nearly a year of a very rocky experiment with remote learning that has cost students academic achievement, caused mental health issues and jeopardized athletic careers and scholarships, MLG's school reopening announcement was like winning the Powerball for perturbed parents. The rest of her speech might as well have been given to an empty theatre. Mr. and Mrs. New Mexico had heard what they wanted. 

Of course this being New Mexico there is a fly in the ointment. In this case the sigh-of-relief announcement was spoiled by the superintendent of the ABQ Public Schools who immediately cast doubt on the reopening, saying there were still fire fire safety checks to be done. 

Well, get them done. Is there a law against working overtime? 

The kids have been out for nearly a year and the true cost is still to be determined. Even our restrictive Governor got the message. A posse was forming at the Roundhouse to take away her school closing authority and give it to local school boards. There's nothing like a threat of losing power that motivates a chief executive. 

If APS fails to start the grand reopening Feb. 8 those protesters who raided the national capitol this month may look like cub scouts when the protests begin here. 

While MLG's video played, downstairs at the Roundhouse senate committees were starting to mark up pandemic relief measures, one of which provides $600 tax rebates for those earning less than $31,200 a year, most of whom work in the hard hit restaurant, hospitality and leisure industries. 

We blogged this week of the excessive reserves being held in Santa Fe. Senate Majority Leader Wirth says of the $185 million tax rebate/restaurant break package:  

With reserves pegged at $1.7 billion (25 percent) for the budget year that starts July 1, you have a long way to go, Peter. 

The Governor pointed out that the budget calls for putting $500 million in federal and state relief money on the street but guess what? The state has now taken over the #1 spot in the nation for the number of Medicaid recipients. They qualify for the health program because of very low or no incomes. That's 43 percent of the state's population on the rolls. The runner-up states aren't even close.

And even as the Guv was plodding through her speech the state was reporting unemployment in December soared from 7.2% to 8.2% of the workforce as stricter coronavirus measures took hold. That's even more economic wreckage to reckon with. 

Its difficult for well-paid government workers, white collar professionals and comfortable seniors to fully grasp the crisis occurring among those who work paycheck to paycheck. But it's happening and the reverberations will echo far into the future as will the need for economic relief.

Back at the State of the State, it was appropriate that the presentation was a technical mess. The Governor's Facebook was unable to post the video at the announced time and when the TV websites went to the video after an introduction by House Speaker Egolf, viewers got a a frozen picture of the Guv. 

Viewers of this year's remote legislature are used to the technical screw ups as are too many students who have been battling with inferior technology at home.

Egolf tried to fill the time by asking Lt. Gov. Morales how the weather is in Silver City. Well, he may know how to be speaker, but the TV anchors don't have to worry about Egolf coming after their gigs. 

In her speech MLG called on each lawmaker to dedicate half of their capital outlay money for broadband investments for a total of $200 million. But that's like asking an 8 year old to give up the new bicycle that was set up for him under the Christmas tree. 

The lack of leadership in advancing a comprehensive broadband plan with a firm timetable has been noticeable, even as the devastating impact on the state's economy, health and student learning is fully revealed by the pandemic. It's a task for gubernatorial leadership--if there ever was one.

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