Author: gpabqmetro

The Green Party of the Albuquerque Metropolitan Area represents Sandoval, Bernalillo, Torrance, and Valencia Counties in New Mexico, U. S. A.

Calling out the Guard

Governor MLG will deploy the New Mexico National Guard to Albu(r)querque in mid-May to assist APD. The guardsmen and guardswomen are not supposed to be in fatigues, are not supposed to be armed, and are not supposed to do any ordinance enforcement. The agreed support role is to help monitor cameras, control traffic, and perform other civilian-type duties. Read the press release from the Governor’s office here: https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/04/08/governor-authorizes-national-guard-to-support-albuquerque-police-department/

May 8th will be the 55th anniversary of the last time the Guard was sent to ABQ to help. What resulted was an armed attack on peaceful protestors. Let’s not forget this history.

GCCC Launch

Believe it or not, 2026 campaign launches are starting. Let’s support GREEN PARTY candidates for Congress. Join the launch of the Green Party Congressional Committee’s effort for the brave Greens running for Congress. Launch presentation is Wednesday, April 30, 6pm MDT on Zoom. Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/aV-I-fKTTBuWKCYzMBU8Jg

Marcha de Justicia and National Day of Action, April 5, 2025

First, the César Chávez/Dolores Huerta march and celebration start in the morning at the NHCC (4th Street & Avenida César Chávez/Avenida Dolores Huerta). The event runs from 9:00 a. m. to 3:00 p. m. The Marcha de Justicia begins at 10:00; afternoon festivities begin at noon. We hope to have a couple of people in their Green Party gear participating in the march.

Second, the Hands Off! action will have at least two events on Saturday in the metro area: Main Street Memorial Park, Los Lunas at noon and Civic Plaza, ABQ at 2:00 p. m. We will have the green banner at the ABQ event. Join us!

GPAMA 2025 Annual Meeting/Convention

Our Annual Meeting/Convention is Saturday, March 22, 12:30 p. m., 1111 Carlisle Blvd. SE, Studio 2. There will be officer elections and a potluck. Please let us know if you are interested in running for local office this year. Let us know if you need a ride.

Glyphosate Moratorium Revisited

On Tuesday, February 25, the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners will consider a motion to rescind the current glyphosate moratorium (AR 2019-44 Glyphosate Moratorium) and adopt a new policy that will allow use of glyphosate on medians, roadways, and hardscapes (gravel, cobblestone, etc) for one year. The proposed new resolution also calls for completion of the Integrated Vegetation Management and Maintenance Plan (IVMMP) within that year–the plan was not completed after the disruption of the pandemic. We believe it is important to make sure the commissioners know that glyphosate is not a long-term option for weed and grass control and that they can support the work of the management plan without re-introducing glyphosate use. If you live or work in Bernalillo County, please send a quick e-mail to the commissioners or make a call to your commissioner or sign up to give public comment. Please do this by early afternoon on Tuesday, Feb 25 (meeting starts at 5:00 p. m., contact info below). Here are some talking points you make wish to consider:

  • Bayer/Monsanto lost a series of lawsuits and has settled tens of thousands of claims for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other malignant blood disorders. Pay-outs to date total ~$10 billion.
  • The U. S. Supreme Court, in June 2022, declined to review Bayer’s appeal of the Appeals Court decision to uphold scaled-down awards.
  • The EPA withdrew its Interim Decision on the registration review of glyphosate in September 2022 after it failed to make a determination of health effects but held off on requiring a label change on glyphosate products.
  • Bayer ended sales of glyphosate for residential use in the U. S. A. in 2023.
  • As recently as December 17, 2024, a half-page ad appeared in USA Today advising Roundup users who where diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukaemia, or other blood cancer that they could be eligible for compensation.
  • A recent study suggested that the introduction of genetically modified seeds and glyphosate significantly reduced average birthweight and gestational length of infants in rural communities.
  • Locations downstream from high-intensity glyphosate use have increased infant mortality.
  • Increased pesticide contamination of water supplies in Brazil affected by the introduction of intense genetically modified soy production appears to have resulted in increased cases of childhood leukaemia.
  • A recent study in mice showed that glyphosate exposure increased brain inflammation and the proteins found in Alzheimer disease with the primary metabolite remaining in the brain months after exposure ended.
  • The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics called for a full global phase-out of glyphosate based on the Precautionary Principle: When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. Others have called for a review of safety standards and assessments, particularly since product approvals were based on potentially tainted studies from three decades ago.
  • Internal documents, known as The Monsanto Papers, came to light during litigation and revealed a co-ordinated effort to attack and discredit researchers and journalists who published findings that raised questions about the safety of glyphosate and a well-funded plan to produce literature and opinions supporting safety claims by Monsanto.

The commissioners:
Barbara Baca — (505) 468-7027, District1@bernco.gov
Frank Baca — (505) 468-7448, District2@bernco.gov
Adriann Barboa — (505) 468-7108, District3@bernco.gov
Walt Benson — (505) 468-7010, District4@bernco.gov
Eric C. Olivas — (505) 468-7212, District5@bernco.gov

Use commission@bernco.gov to send an e-mail to all the commissioners.
Sign up for public comment, in person or virtually, for the meeting at https://www.bernco.gov/boards-commissions/speak-at-a-meeting/

Immigrant Justice Information

Updated 10 March 2025

1. Here is the edited audio from the Immigrant Justice webinar panel on February 5. The content is really good.  Listen here.
2. HB 9 Immigrant Safety Act is currently in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee (HCPAC) and not yet scheduled for a hearing passed the House and is in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee. This legislation would prohibit public bodies in New Mexico from using public property to detain individuals for federal civil immigration violations. Please contact the relevant legislators and encourage passage of this bill.  Learn more here: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=9&year=25
3. Federally, HR 1511 would restore portions of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1929 that allowed individuals lacking documents who have lived in the United States for at least seven years without a criminal record to apply for citizenship.  Learn more at the link below and please encourage Representative Stansbury to join her colleagues as a co-sponsor of the bill:  https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/1511/text