In front of a live audience at Sky Cinemas in Santa Fe, Democrat Deb Haaland shares her plan for New Mexico as she seeks to win the governor’s seat in the November election.

Haaland, the former U.S. interior secretary and congresswoman, speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican Opinion page editor and “Conversations Different” host Inez Russell Gomez in a wide-ranging interview that touches on child welfare, data centers, support for rural parts of the state, affordability issues and more.

In front of a live audience at Sky Cinemas in Santa Fe, Democrat Deb Haaland shares her plan for New Mexico as she seeks to win the governor&rsquo;s seat in the November election.
Haaland, the former U.S. interior secretary and congresswoman, speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican Opinion page editor and &ldquo;Conversations Different&rdquo; host Inez Russell Gomez in a wide-ranging interview that touches on child welfare, data centers, support for rural parts of the state, affordability issues and more.

Conversations Different is presented by the Santa Fe New Mexican and features host Inez Russell Gomez in provocative talks with local and regional personalities shaping the landscape of Northern New Mexico.

Inez Russell Gomez is Opinion Page Editor at the Santa Fe New Mexican with decades of experience writing and editing the news in America's oldest capital city.

Conversations Different is presented by the Santa Fe New Mexican and features host Inez Russell Gomez in provocative talks with local and regional personalities shaping the landscape of Northern New Mexico.
Inez Russell Gomez is Opinion Page Editor at the Santa Fe New Mexican with decades of experience writing and editing the news in America's oldest capital city.

Conversations Different with Inez Russell Gomez

Deb Haaland on data centers, child welfare and supporting rural New Mexico

In front of a live audience at Sky Cinemas in Santa Fe, Republican Gregg Hull shares his plan for New Mexico as he seeks to win the governor’s seat in the November election. 

Hull, the former mayor of Rio Rancho, speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican Opinion page editor and “Conversations Different” host Inez Russell Gomez in a wide-ranging interview that touches on child welfare, data centers, a push to phase out personal income tax and more.

In front of a live audience at Sky Cinemas in Santa Fe, Republican Gregg Hull shares his plan for New Mexico as he seeks to win the governor&rsquo;s seat in the November election.&nbsp;
Hull, the former mayor of Rio Rancho, speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican Opinion page editor and &ldquo;Conversations Different&rdquo; host Inez Russell Gomez in a wide-ranging interview that touches on child welfare, data centers, a push to phase out personal income tax and more.

Gregg Hull on phasing out income tax, reversing New Mexico's population decline

Have you ever wondered who’s in charge of maintaining government buildings throughout New Mexico? That would be the General Services Department, currently led by Cabinet Secretary Anna Silva. 

Silva, a native New Mexican and longtime state official, oversees a department with various responsibilities, including assisting other state agencies with procurement, insurance and day-to-day administrative tasks. It’s also responsible for ensuring the buildings those agencies are housed in are maintained so the public can easily access them. 

It may not sound like a difficult job, but it takes skill and sound decision-making to get the work done. 

On the latest “Conversations Different” podcast episode, host Inez Russell Gomez is joined by Secretary Silva to discuss her department’s efforts to revamp landscaping at state government buildings to improve curb appeal.   

Prior to Silva’s tenure, she said a landscaping plan wasn’t really in place which led to trees and weeds overtaking some buildings. The opportunity to create a sustainable plan, under the direction of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, arose and she’s taken it seriously. She’s selected projects of impact and chosen flora that fit a building’s character.  

The results caught the attention of Russell Gomez, who wanted to learn more about the new process.  

Silva said the work was only possible because it took “a governor with a vision and a secretary with a mission” to make it happen. 

Have you ever wondered who&rsquo;s in charge of maintaining government buildings throughout New Mexico? That would be the General Services Department, currently led by Cabinet Secretary Anna Silva.&nbsp;
Silva, a native New Mexican and longtime state official, oversees a department with various responsibilities, including assisting other state agencies with procurement, insurance and day-to-day administrative tasks. It&rsquo;s also responsible for ensuring the buildings those agencies are housed in are maintained so the public can easily access them.&nbsp;
It may not sound like a difficult job, but it takes skill and sound decision-making to get the work done.&nbsp;
On the latest &ldquo;Conversations Different&rdquo; podcast episode, host Inez Russell Gomez is joined by Secretary Silva to discuss her department&rsquo;s efforts to revamp landscaping at state government buildings to improve curb appeal.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Prior to Silva&rsquo;s tenure, she said a landscaping plan wasn&rsquo;t really in place which led to trees and weeds overtaking some buildings. The opportunity to create a sustainable plan, under the direction of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, arose and she&rsquo;s taken it seriously. She&rsquo;s selected projects of impact and chosen flora that fit a building&rsquo;s character.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The results caught the attention of Russell Gomez, who wanted to learn more about the new process.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Silva said the work was only possible because it took &ldquo;a governor with a vision and a secretary with a mission&rdquo; to make it happen.&nbsp;

New Mexico General Services secretary shares why she has revamped landscaping efforts at state buildings

As our planet continues to experience environmental changes that have brought extreme temperatures and unpredictable conditions, faith leaders are stepping up to offer diplomacy when outside groups seek to extract precious resources.  

Rev. Andrew Black, associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe and founder of EarthKeepers 360, is one of those leaders. His decades-long work in conservation has centered on protecting the natural landscape and the many ecosystems that inhabit it through implementation of programs and collaborative efforts.  

While working for former U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and later, the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Black led coalitions that fought to protect public lands and national monuments, like the Valles Caldera and the Rio Grande del Norte, from irreparable destruction.  

That worked has helped him to now fight for the Arctic.  

On the latest “Conversations Different” podcast episode, host Inez Russell Gomez is joined by Black to discuss a trip he took with elected officials and other faith leaders to Alaska. The trip highlighted the relationship wildlife has in that region with the environment and why interference would have serious implications.  

In Black’s words, the trip was about “reawakening the moral consciousness of this nation.”  

While the trip’s mission didn’t have any direct ties to New Mexico, Black explains why the lessons learned there could apply here as the state sees a drying Rio Grande and an increase in animals seeking refuge in urban spaces.

As our planet continues to experience environmental changes that have brought extreme temperatures and unpredictable conditions, faith leaders are stepping up to offer diplomacy when outside groups seek to extract precious resources.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Rev. Andrew Black, associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe and founder of EarthKeepers 360, is one of those leaders. His decades-long work in conservation has centered on protecting the natural landscape and the many ecosystems that inhabit it through implementation of programs and collaborative efforts.&nbsp;&nbsp;
While working for former U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and later, the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Black led coalitions that fought to protect public lands and national monuments, like the Valles Caldera and the Rio Grande del Norte, from irreparable destruction.&nbsp;&nbsp;
That worked has helped him to now fight for the Arctic.&nbsp;&nbsp;
On the latest &ldquo;Conversations Different&rdquo; podcast episode, host Inez Russell Gomez is joined by Black to discuss a trip he took with elected officials and other faith leaders to Alaska. The trip highlighted the relationship wildlife has in that region with the environment and why interference would have serious implications.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In Black&rsquo;s words, the trip was about &ldquo;reawakening the moral consciousness of this nation.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
While the trip&rsquo;s mission didn&rsquo;t have any direct ties to New Mexico, Black explains why the lessons learned there could apply here as the state sees a drying Rio Grande and an increase in animals seeking refuge in urban spaces.

Deb Haaland on data centers, child welfare and supporting rural New Mexico

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