City will move to dismiss mansion tax lawsuit |

The city will move to dismiss the housing tax lawsuit

While a proposal to tax luxury property sales passed overwhelmingly in the November 7 local elections – 73% – the measure still faces a legal challenge. The measure imposes a 3% excise tax paid by buyers on the portion of home sales over $1 million. However, before the election, the Santa Fe Association of Realtors, along with two people who say their properties are worth more than $1 million, filed a lawsuit alleging that city officials lacked the authority to impose a “mansion tax” under state law. City Attorney Erin McSherry refuted that argument in an Oct. 6 memo and now tells SFR that the city will file a motion to dismiss the case due to a lack of “strong arguments” from the Realtors. “The key thing here is that autonomous cities are supposed to have the authority to govern themselves, and the laws are supposed to be freely applicable to allow self-government,” McSherry says. “So everything in the state constitution and in state laws has to be looked at through the lens of governance by the city. That’s the starting point, but then we go through all the arguments that the plaintiffs are making,” McSherry says. The tax is scheduled to take effect six months after The day the election results are certified. The state canvassing board plans to meet for this process on November 28, which will set the effective date of May 28, 2024.

Santa Fe Airport renovations have been postponed again

At its meeting today, the City of Santa Fe Finance Commission will again be asked to approve additional funds and time for renovations at the Santa Fe Regional Airport. The city began construction on the first phase of construction in March 2022, and the first phase of the project — more parking, along with a station expansion and remodeling — was theoretically supposed to be completed last January. This did not happen. As SFR reported in March, project manager James Garduño said at the time that he expected the project would not be completed until late November or December, largely due to unexpected underground utility line crews encountered during construction. According to a memo from Garduño included in tonight’s Finance Committee meeting packet, the contract with Bradbury Stamm Construction requires a third amendment allocating an additional $1.7 million and another 150 days to complete it. The memo says the terminal expansion is 70% complete, including baggage claim and parking lots 2, 3 and 4. “During the renovation process, it was discovered that the 1959 station was older than expected. “At this point, we will need a variety of repairs to ensure that the building’s infrastructure is safe and ready for our public’s daily use,” the memo said. Additional funding will come, according to the memo. , from a grant from the state Department of Transportation Aviation, bringing the total amount of the project to just over $25 million (originally submitted as a $21.5 million project) and pushing its completion date — according to the change order document — up to July 2024. If the modification is approved It will go before the city Public Utilities Commission on November 27 and the City Council on November 29.

SFPD arrests stabbing suspect

Santa Fe police arrested and charged a suspect Saturday afternoon in the stabbing deaths of three people Friday at De Vargas Skate Park. Prior to the arrest, SFPD announced it had identified Thomas Fragua, 22, of Santa Fe and issued an arrest warrant charging him with three counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. SFPD, with the assistance of the Albuquerque Police Department, later located Fragua at Presbyterian Hospital near downtown Albuquerque where he went to get treatment for cuts on his hands. He was booked into the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center. Police responded to De Vargas Park around 4:25 a.m. Friday where they found three victims with stabbing injuries. All victims were transported to local hospitals, and according to the latest report from SFPD, one was in stable condition and two were in critical condition; One victim in critical condition underwent emergency surgery and the other was transported to the University of New Mexico Hospital for a higher level of care. An Axon Community Request link has been created for community members to submit any photo, audio or video evidence related to this incident or contact Detective Francisco Alvarado at (505) 955-5251.

Also on the police front, the SFPD is scheduled to open a new downtown office today at City Hall, which will be accessible to the public in the southwest corner near the Council Chambers, between the Convention Center and City Hall. The office will be open from 9am to 4pm Monday through Friday and will provide the majority of services normally available at police headquarters (2515 Camino Entrada): People will be able to use a self-help kiosk to complete a police report online; Submit public records requests; and meeting with administrative staff, among other resources. To collect property, people will still need to visit the headquarters. SFPD says it plans to hold a grand opening event in the future.

EMNRD Secretary leaves office

One of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s first Cabinet appointments, Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Secretary Sarah Cottrell Probst, will be leaving state government, the governor announced late last week. In a statement, the governor described Cottrell Probst as “an exceptional leader who has played a pivotal role in advancing our state’s clean energy and environmental stewardship initiatives.” Cottrell-Probst, who will serve until the end of the year before leaving for an undisclosed job in the private sector, issued a statement in which she called her time as secretary a “privilege” and said she was “proud of our state’s expanding clean energy economy and natural resource management.” are gems, our forest conservation and firefighters are second to none, and our industry stewardship is accountable and transparent. A press release announcing Cottrell Propst’s departure cited her leadership role in the state’s 2019 Energy Transition Act; and the reported effectiveness of the state’s new rules regarding methane emissions (although environmental watchdogs have criticized the state’s actual implementation of these rules); and the establishment of the state’s Enchanted Land Heritage Fund, a source of permanent conservation funding.

Listen

While last summer OppenheimerThe mania has waned, and Christopher Nolan’s film about J. Robert Oppenheimer continues to generate discussion, as well as the latest episode from Los Alamos National Laboratory. Down to science Podcast. Host Joey Montoya talks to LANL historian Alan Carr about the film’s historical accuracy and how Oppenheimer’s complexity as a human being combined with the complexity of the time in which he lived makes “putting together the narrative…an accomplishment in itself,” Carr says.

Hit pause

Vogue magazine The magazine returns to Santa Fe to explore its “seductive charms” through its “haunted inns” and “fake skies.” Alexandra Malmead writes that Santa Fe has four seasons (so far so good). The coming winter will be quiet, except for the holiday season. “This makes Santa Fe a meditative escape from the daily, errand-filled reality. And if you’re looking for some excitement, there’s still plenty: although the city closes early (in fact, it can be hard to get a drink after 9 p.m.) Santa Fe offers plenty to do, eat, and see. The story includes lodging recommendations (La Posada is one of the “haunted lodges” mentioned above), along with activities and dining. These excursions include a more than hour-long trip to Abiquiú and Ghost Ranch, Which “feels like a trip back in time,” as well as a tour of Georgia O’Keeffe’s home and studio there. Malmede advises driving to Lake Abiquiu afterward. “In the winter, it might be too cold to swim, of course, but the water Shine.” The new Vladem Contemporary, the Lensic Center for the Performing Arts and the Santa Fe Opera are also receiving notice, among others. On the food front, Vogue magazine She recommends a variety of favorites, including The Shed, Tune-Up Cafe, Izanami and Geronimo, and for day trips, “stop by the Bread Shop for picnic essentials: sourdough straight from the oven, organic foods from Ground Stone Farm” and a can of trout , and imported processed meats.

Chow down

Condé Nast The magazine is also continuing its love affair with Santa Fe (regular Word readers may remember the magazine’s story last month on the “12 Best Things You Can Do” here), with a new report on the “12 Best Restaurants” in Santa Fe. (We assume the conceited “12” has something to do with the number of months in a year, but we’re not entirely sure.) The story notes that while Santa Fe certainly has artsy and outdoorsy businesses coming out of its yin-yang (we’re paraphrasing), it’s “also home to a vibrant culinary scene, and not just because of the signature red and green peppers that smother everything from enchiladas to burritos.” And burgers to more creative and modern food. On the city’s four-hundred-plus-year-old streets you’ll find upscale food trucks, sophisticated bistros, eclectic international cuisine, and restaurants to match the city’s colorful arts scene. This list also includes Geronimo and The Shed, as well as The Compound, and Tia Sophia’s , Jambo Cafe, Sazón, La Boca, ElChile Toreado, Dolina Bakery & Cafe, Horno, Paloma, and Kakawa Chocolate House.

It improved even more

The National Weather Service expects it to be a sunny day, with a high near 55 degrees and east winds around 10 mph becoming southerly in the afternoon. the Next week looks generally warmerWith a slight chance of rain later in the week.

Thanks for reading! Over the weekend, The Word indulged itself Cat Power’s New Bob Dylan Cover Album, Dylan creative 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert And I spent $3.99 to rent Dylan 1994 MTV performance of “Unplugged”. (Worth every penny).