April 2025 - Statewide Advocacy and Events
- Karen Larre
- Apr 2
- 5 min read
Dear New Mexicans,
Here is a summary of upcoming, local advocacy and activism across New Mexico for April 2025. This month's post includes announcements for these locations:
Statewide
Albuquerque
Las Cruces
Santa Fe
Please feel free to let us know about any future activities you would like to see included in these monthly newsletters by emailing admin@nmfa.us. Thank you!
Learning from Las Cruces: A new feature for the NMFA
We are including this feature because Las Cruces freedom advocates have been paving the way for other New Mexico freedom leaders for a number of years, and there's much we can learn from their experience. Historically, many of the challenges to freedom for New Mexicans show up strongly in Las Cruces first or early on. For example, Dona Ana County, where Las Cruces is located, was the site of the first Covid vaccine mandate in the United States, which was for first responders.
Did you know that, in many New Mexico cities, it’s possible for city residents to challenge a city council ordinance vote and require it to be voted on by local citizens, if enough signatures are gathered within a specified period of time? For more information about this type of local referendum option in New Mexico please visit: https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2019/chapter-3/article-14/section-3-14-17/
This is what happened recently in Las Cruces, when the city passed a comprehensive zoning code reform in February, called “Realize Las Cruces,” by a 6-1 city council vote. The new code removes single family residential zoning by allowing apartments and some businesses into most neighborhoods across the City.
Proponents of this reform say that it will allow for higher-density and more affordable housing. However, many citizens and homeowners are concerned that Realize Las Cruces opens the door for existing quiet neighborhoods to be impacted with high-density apartments and commercial developments.
Over the last month, a non-partisan grassroots petition movement has gathered thousands of signatures such that Realize Las Cruces is now halted while the City Clerk verifies the petition signatures. If the petition succeeds, Realize Las Cruces will be on the ballot for voters to decide in November.
Statewide
New Mexico Freedoms Alliance (NMFA)
NMFA Leaders Meeting, Once/month, Mondays, 5pm
New Mexico Freedoms Alliance (NMFA) hosts monthly Zoom meetings for NM group leaders to coordinate statewide actions, learn about specific ways to support each other, etc.
Meetings are once-a-month on Mondays at 5pm. If you are a NM leader who is interested in joining these meetings, please contact Sarah Smith at: concernedfornm@gmail.com
NMFA Schools Meeting, quarterly, Mondays, 6 pm
NMFA hosts Zoom meetings for NM teachers, school personnel, and parents to discuss concerns about and ways to improve education in New Mexico.
Zoom meetings are currently quarterly on Mondays at 6pm. Next meeting will be April 7.
Teachers, school personnel, parents, and school board members who are interested in joining these meetings contact Sarah Smith, concernedfornm@gmail.com
Recent outreach includes:
• OP ED: NM Schools Need to Make it Easier for Parents to Get Involved - https://newmexicosun.com/stories/670501081-opinion-new-mexico-schools-need-to-make-it-easier-for-parents-to-get-involved
• RECAP: Legislative Wins and Misses - https://www.nmfa.us/post/recap-legislative-session-wins-and-misses
Better Together New Mexico
By coordinating with leaders across the state, 5,802,400 emails and phone calls were made during the legislative session!
Albuquerque
The Rio Grande Foundation
Tipping Point New Mexico on the Air!
The Rio Grande Foundation's Podcast, Tipping Point New Mexico, airs every Thursday at 5:00 PM on KHII 88-9 FM Cloudcroft, 100.5 FM Alamogordo, and KEDU 102.3 FM Ruidoso with host Bob Flotte.
Tipping Point will also be aired on Gallup stations 98.3 FM and 1230 AM KYVA on Sundays from 7:30am to 8:00am.
ABQ unMasked - NE Albuquerque
Karen Larre: naturallyhealthykaren@fastmail.com
Meets monthly to foster community and share information and upliftment. 2025 meetings are featuring natural health presentations. Contact Karen to receive meeting invites.
The Library Guild - Albuquerque
The Library Guild meets weekly on Wednesdays at different libraries around the city (except April 16 and April 23. April 16 falls in Holy week and we are taking a rest on April 23). Regular weekly meetings on April 2, 9 and 30th. People are welcome to join us, just give me a call and I can tell them the library where we will be meeting.
Spoken Words in New Mexico
The spoken words of people in New Mexico, as a community and as individuals.
Legislative Recap, Wins, Losses, and a Call to Action
Dereck Scott recaps the legislative session which ended March 21st. Senate Bill 279 failed, and surprisingly, Senate Bill 318 (Firearms Unfair Practices Act) didn’t pass, a key victory. However, House Bill 12 expanded the red flag law. Scott also addresses a recent gang-related shooting in Las Cruces, urging viewers to contact representatives and oppose a special session for rushed gun legislation.
Las Cruces
Coalition of Conservatives in Action (CCIA)
CCIA advocates for positive change in Las Cruces in the areas of crime, homelessness, public policy, education, and other key issues affecting the local community. Advocacy at City Council, School Board, and County Commission are an important part of this mission along with educating our community in areas of importance.
CCIA hosts public meetings Thursdays at 6pm.
CCIA events and guest speakers for April include:
• Tanzi Brungard, food additives and water purity
• Jana Williams, Doña Ana County Medical Society
• Action committee meetings for Education Committee, Election Integrity Committee, and Crime & Public Policy Committee
Recent Outreach:
• RADIO INTERVIEW: Realize Las Cruces and Petition to Stop It - Chris Faivre (City of Las Cruces) vs Sarah Smith (petition organizer) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htjRNVmVTYU
• Grassroots petition effort to stop Realize Las Cruces - https://www.lascrucesbulletin.com/stories/grassroots-effort-to-stop-realize-las-cruces,110082
• PUBLIC COMMENT: If Rated Like Movies, These Books Would Be Rated R, NC17, or XXX - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRV9T6Y9FGY
• PUBLIC COMMENT: Juvenile Crime and Malpractice Reform Won't Happen Until Progressives are Gone - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mEdEe0YXZ8
Santa Fe
Santa Fe Federated Republican Women
Anne Doherty, President: http://www.santafefrw.com
SFFRW April Luncheon
with Jay Block and NM GOP Chair Amy Barela
Apr 08, 2025, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Santa Fe, 4360 Country Club Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87507, USA
This month, we have two guest speakers: newly elected Senator Jay Block, the Republican representative for District 12 in Rio Rancho, a retired USAF lieutenant colonel with a background in political science and international relations, who recently introduced a bill for a Government Accountability to Taxpayer Office; and Amy Barela, the new Chair of the Republican Party of New Mexico, who previously served as Otero County Commissioner and First Vice Chair of the State Party. Amy aims to build on Steve Pearce’s legacy and focus on turning New Mexico red over the next two years. We look forward to hearing from both speakers!
We hope this is helpful! Again, please feel free to let us know about any future activities you would like to see included in these monthly newsletters.
Standing with you for positive change in New Mexico,
Karen, Sarah, and Melanie