Good day fellow Greens,

The flowers are budding, welcoming the spring.  It is that time of year, our Convention is near.  Calling all Greens to attend our annual Green Party of Santa Fe County Convention on Saturday, April 2^nd at 3:30 in the Commons, 2300 W. Alameda! 

Like those tender buds, our party needs your nourishment and support this year, just as in years past.  If you cannot attend, but know someone who can represent, then please pass the call.  

We will elect our Executive Officers and Green Council Delegates for the coming year, and we will call for as many as forty volunteers to represent our local chapter as GPSF Delegates to the GPNM State Convention on April 30^th to be held in Santa Fe this year.  

We will decide whether the GPSF will move forward with the Initiative to Legalize Marijuana, and poll our membership as to whether the Green Party shall pursue the livable wage initiative (both posted below).  John Otter will make a presentation titled “Green Cure-All for a Sick Planet” and we will present a Green Values Award.

If you cannot support our party with your attendance, then maybe you can set-up a monthly donation to the party and help sustain us all year long.  Please contact our GPSF Treasurer Sean Knight at 660-8835 to set up arrangements.

Hope to see you there,

Rick Fabrick, GPSF Co-chair

Citizens’ Initiative to Legalize Marijuana

Whereas we, the citizens of Santa Fe believe the costs to our citizenry due to the criminalization of marijuana are far greater than any benefits gained from the “war on drugs.”   

Whereas we believe the potential benefits of the legalization of cannabis include increases in employment and city revenue, a decreased burden on our court system, reduced incarceration costs and more families staying together.

Therefore we, the citizens of Santa Fe call on our Governing Board to write the necessary laws, regulations and tax codes for the legal possession and use of cannabis by anyone 18 and older.  Also, the Governing Board shall respect the citizens’ right to engage in the legal commerce of cannabis.

The Governing Board shall define cannabis as legal property in all relevant city laws, codes, and ordinances.  Furthermore, cannabis shall be treated as the personal property of the owner, and that right shall be respected and defended by all city employees, officials and agents.

The Governing Board shall write the necessary legislation to tax and regulate: the cultivation and production of cannabis for human consumption, for the “over the counter” sales of marijuana, for business establishments that have “on premises” consumption of cannabis, and create the permit process for consumption of cannabis at public events.

The city of Santa Fe shall establish a tax rate for the sale of cannabis that does not exceed the city’s tax rate for the sale of tobacco.

The city’s permit and licensing fees to a cannabis club owner shall not exceed those required of the owner of an establishment that has a permit and license for “on premises” consumption of beer and wine.

The city’s permit fees for the sale of cannabis at public events shall not exceed that for the sales of beer or wine at public events.

Establishments that have “on premises” consumption of hard liquor shall be barred from also having “on premises” consumption of cannabis.

Marijuana used medicinally shall be tax free.

Citizen’s Initiative for a Livable Wage

Whereas we, the citizens of Santa Fe believe equity demands that a person working full-time earn a livable wage,

Whereas, we believe health care is among a person’s basic needs and part of a livable wage, 

Whereas, “economies of scale” allow for the acquisition of great wealth by a few individuals and larger companies; often their employees, whose labor generates great wealth for their employers, cannot earn enough to afford basic medical care.

Therefore, we the citizens of Santa Fe, call on our Mayor and Governing Board of the City of Santa Fe shall require all individuals and companies, that employ more than 350 full-time employees (or enough part-time and/or temporary employees whose labor hours are equivalent to 350 full-time employees), to compensate their employees who work within the city limits with healthcare, to include medical, dental, and mental healthcare, in addition to the local minimum wage.  

This healthcare coverage shall cover the direct family relations who live in the same home, and shall treat and recognize domestic partnerships and same sex couples and their families with equal respect and coverage as granted to more traditional families.

The maximum deductible shall be no greater than $250 per year.

Any employee who works thirty hours per week will be eligible to receive the full healthcare coverage described here in.

The maximum allowable probationary period shall not exceed ninety days.

The insurance shall have at least six months of post-employment portability before the insurance policy is cancelled.