Update 3-20-21
On Friday, the New Mexico Department of Health announced that all New Mexicans in phases 1B and 1C of the state’s COVID-19 distribution plan are now eligible for vaccine. This now includes frontline essential workers, residents of congregate care facilities, New Mexicans 60 and older and other essential workers. In fact, much of the state’s population over 16 is now officially considered eligible for a vaccine.
The Department of Health has also made vaccines easier for people without internet access who want a vaccine. Please dial 1-855-600-3453 to register. Services such as rides to vaccine events are also being offered, and plans for homebound vaccinations are being developed. While providers will continue to prioritize members of earlier phases in scheduling appointments, they have the option of inviting New Mexicans in later phases when they cannot fill appointments.
In a partnership with Eddy County, the Department of Health and Carlsbad Medical Center, the City of Carlsbad has been helping to host vaccine clinics every Monday at the civic center. These clinics have gone very well.
In short, if you are someone who wants a vaccine who has been waiting to register, now is the time to do so. Please visit https://cvvaccine.nmhealth.org/
If you know anyone who is interested in a vaccine who is having difficulty with any part of the registration process, please let us know and we will help resolve the issue. Additionally, if you know anyone 60 or older who has been having trouble getting a vaccine appointment, please let us know.
For the third year in a row, the proposed bill seeking a four-year pause on fracking did not get much traction. Senator Joe Cervantes of Las Cruces pointed out why the bill did not make it out of committee.
“The bill (SB 149) would cost 40 percent of the State’s budget. I insisted that if they want to cut 40 percent of the state’s budget they need to show me where they’ll raise taxes to replace that revenue,” he said. “We have a duty to responsibly balance the budget. It’s not a serious piece of legislation that could ever be passed.”
While we are relieved that this bill didn’t progress, we are certainly frustrated that it keeps resurfacing. One point that probably needs to be made a lot more is that oil and gas is not just responsible for fuel. Conventional plastic is made from petroleum products, and a partial list of products made from petroleum includes dresses, tires, curtains, paint, perfumes, crayons, pillows, golf balls, shaving cream, bandages, telephones, tents, candles, speakers and footballs, just to name a few. This lengthy list is one of the many reasons why a “transition” away from oil and gas is a long, long way away. Let’s focus on safely obtaining oil and gas right here in New Mexico.
Sincerely,
Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway