A plan is being developed to turn Santa Fe's old Manderfield elementary school into a combination of residential units and artist work spaces. Clare and Michael Maraist (mah-RAY) say they have approval from the school board to buy the building for nearly $1 million but want to make sure their plans are approved before completing the sale. The 12,000-square-foot building near Canyon Road has been unused for years.
The state Supreme Court has been hearing arguments from both the Martinez administration and state workers over the question of whether employees should get back pay and pay raises totaling more than $20 million. A lower court had ruled earlier that about 10,000 employees are owed pay raises retroactively to 2008. The Albuquerque Journal says the Richardson administration allegedly used funds appropriated for collective-bargain raises and spread it out to give other employees as well as union members small pay raises.
A report by the state Legislative Finance Committee says there could be a downside to expanded health coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act. It says New Mexicans may face declining access to health care because the the state doesn't produce enough doctors and nurses. It says the problem could get worse as the state's population expands and becomes older.
Santa Fe Mayor David Coss has named Public Utilities Director Brian Snyder as his choice to replace retiring City Manager Robert Romero. The mayoral appointment will go before full city council for their consent on May 29th. Today's New Mexican says that the 38-year-old Snyder is a state-licensed professional engineer and has worked for the city since 2004. Mayor Coss says Snyder has the experience of guiding a large workforce, is familiar with union rules and knows the City's procurement and management procedures.
Santa Fe Community College will be closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from June through the end of July. They say it's a move to reduce the school's carbon footprint by not using electricity and cooling for several days a week. To make up for the loss of the typical Friday schedule, the college will be open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The fitness center will continue to be accessible over the long weekends.
More about the plans for a movie complex in the Santa Fe Railyard will be unveiled tonight at an Early Neighborhood Notification meeting. Austin-based Violet Crown Cinema's developer will be on hand to take questions from the community regarding the proposed 30,000 square-foot, 11-screen, 600-seat, movie theater and attached restaurant and bar. The meeting gets underway at 6PM at Warehouse 21 on Paseo de Peralta.
Governor Martinez has entered into an agreement with the US Defense Secretary that will allow specially trained New Mexico National Guard Commanders to oversee both in-state and federal troops in the event of disaster. That could happen with events such as multiple uncontained wildfires, widespread disease outbreak, water shortages or terrorist attack. New Mexico currently has four specially trained officers who would report through military channels to both the governor and Secretary of Defense.
Weather for Santa Fe – Sunny and dry weather will be with us for the foreseeable future. Daytime highs in the mid-to-upper 70s with overnight lows from the upper 40s to low 50s.