Action (Help) needed for New Mexico.

****NOTE:  I completely stole this from Chiwulff******

I felt there was no need to tell the same story in my own words.  I hope nobody minds.  This is important.

From the “say it ain’t so, Joe” file here’s some very critical access news out of New Mexico.

Kudos to the Utah Stream Access Coalition for getting this information out yesterday (from their email) –

On Friday, in the final minutes before the New Mexico legislative session adjourned, in an all-too-familiar fashion, stream access there was stripped from the public and handed over to private interests. Just like that, our concerns that another state could follow Utah’s lead on stream access went from possibility to reality. We are all in this together, and that’s why it’s important for you, as USAC members, to step up and take action.

The bill in New Mexico, SB 226, restricts access to rivers and streams that cross over private property, like HB 141 in Utah. It passed the House on a 32-31 vote, and is now sitting on New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez’s desk. She is expected to sign the bill into law by the end of the week. This is where we can help. Educate Governor Martinez on why she must VETO SB 226.

CALL THE GOVERNOR RIGHT NOW AND TELL HER TO (PLEASE) VETO SB 226. THEY ARE TALLYING VOTES IN THE OFFICE, AND YOUR 30-SECONDS MATTERS!
505-476-2200

I haven’t had time to research this fully (I’m lying in a recovery room at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston as I post this morning), though as the bill appears to lack definition of navigability (for one thing) it appears to be a set up further legal wrangling and the potential for progressive trouble as have been seen in Utah.

And legal precedent, however misguided, can strengthen the case for encroachment in other locations and states down the road.

There are always two sides to any argument but at first glance this looks like a genuine push-the-shitty-bill-through-on-the-last-day-of-the-session bad idea.

Make the call or fire an email to the guv today.

More to come.

Albuquerque Journal article 21 March.