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District 5 Today
June 16, 2023
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Pride Month: A Time for Action
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Dear Constituents,
Given the many obstacles that are still being put in the way of people who are LGBTQ+, I would like to express my reasons for taking time during Pride Month (June) to reflect on inequities that still exist and do what I can to express my support for everyone in our LGBTQ+ community. One of the things I love about Santa Fe County is our openness and acceptance of people who are not like us, but we cannot take such attitudes for granted.
This year’s pride is unlike no other, the Human Rights Campaign issued its first ever State of Emergency for LGBTQ+ Americans. Pride must move beyond marches and celebrations when an unprecedented number of laws are passing throughout the United States that are stripping people of rights that many spent decades fighting for. Our friends rights, health, jobs, housing, families and kids, all are at risk. Moreover, a tidal wave of hate crimes is spreading through the nation against the LGBTQ+ communities as well as other targeted groups. Some states are banning certain types of medical treatments for people who are transgender, or are banning transgender people from participating in school sports. I believe we need to provide gender affirming care and that such personal decisions need to be left to the individual and those close to them. The government should not be policing our personal lives. But, because these discriminatory laws are being passed elsewhere, those of us who respect the rights of all people to be themselves need to speak up.
I will be the first to admit that I have worked hard at understanding what it means to be LGBTQ+, and so I urge any of you who shy away from the issue (as I did in my younger days) to take some time to understand how hard it can be to have a different gender identity or gender orientation. I urge all my constituents to learn the history of the Pride movement. You can learn more by visiting https://www.hrc.org/resources or consider attending a workshop by the Albuquerque Transgender Resource Center.
Finally, it needs to be said that being LGBTQ+ is not a lifestyle or religion that people choose over other options, it is who people are. It is time to take action, so I encourage you to join me this month by attending the Pride Parade, or look at your personnel policies at work to make sure all forms of discrimination are banned. Maybe even help develop a program to employ a more diverse workforce at your workplace. Perhaps, just wish your friends happy pride month.
In solidarity,
Commissioner Hank Hughes
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Santa Fe County Commissioners Adopt Resolution Supporting the Administrative and Legislative Protection of the Upper Pecos Watershed
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 The village of East Pecos-Photo taken by Ralph Vigil Jr.
At the June 13, 2023, Santa Fe County Commissioners (BCC) meeting, Commissioner Hank Hughes (D-5) and Commissioner Anna Hansen (D-2) sponsored a resolution to support an administrative mineral withdrawal for approximately 166,600 acres of federal lands within the Upper Pecos Watershed. With unanimous support, the Board of County Commissioners passed the resolution recognizing the need to permanently protect the Upper Pecos Watershed.
An administrative mineral withdrawal is a potential tool that would temporarily limit certain activities on public land, including hard-rock mining or mineral or geothermal leasing. In addition, the resolution requests support of the reintroduction of legislation to provide permanent protection to the Upper Pecos River Watershed as proposed in 2021 by the Northern New Mexico Congressional Delegation in the “Pecos Watershed Protection Act,” S. 182, 117 Cong. (2021-2022).
In response to overwhelming concerns about hardrock mining and environmental consequences, Santa Fe County adopted Ordinance No. 2019-2, which amended the County’s Sustainable Land Development Code (SLDC) in adopting regulations to protect the County’s environment, wildlife, natural resources from the negative impacts caused by mineral resource exploration, extraction, and processing. Furthermore, the County passed resolution No. 2020-16 that called upon Congress to reform the 1872 Mining Law in unity with San Miguel County and overwhelming support from tribal communities, acequia, Land Grant officials, and conservationist.
The Upper Pecos watershed is the lifeblood of San Miguel and Santa Fe County (“County”) ecosystems and offers some of the state’s best cultural landscapes and recreational opportunities. However, in 2021 the Pecos River was listed as one of the nation’s most endangered due to legacy mining and threats posed by exploratory drilling proposals. It is imperative that appropriate safeguards are enacted place to protect the Pecos Watershed, the Santa Fe Municipal Watershed, and aquifers that are critical to Santa Fe County’s water supply from any potential negative impacts of mining exploration or operations.
To learn more about protecting the Pecos Watershed, please visit: https://www.nmwild.org/terrero-mine-action-center/ and click here to the read the Resolution.
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Hour with Hank: Thursday, June 22, 2023, at 5:30pm
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Hour with Hank
Your County District 5 Listening Session
Thursday, June 22, 2023, at 5:30 p.m.
Join the meeting via WebEx with the information below:
Hour with Hank WebEx Meeting Access
Meeting Number (access code) 2485 952 4351
Meeting Password: 2485 952 4351
Join by phone 1-408-418-9388 United States Toll Free
Please join me for my monthly community listening session Hour with Hank. These are virtual, but casual discussions about what matters to you! As your County representative, I am committed to having healthy relationships, networks, and opportunities to listen, so I can make the best policy changes and advocate for what we need in our community and county-wide.
If you have any questions, concerns, or topics for my attention in advance of the meeting, please reach out to Gabe Bustos, Constituent Services Liaison, at 500-986-6202 or gcbustos@santafecountynm.gov.
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Santa Fe County Hires District 5 Liaison
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 Gabriel C. Bustos, New Constituent Services Liaison for District 5
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On July 22, 2023, the Santa Fe County Manager's Office will welcome Gabriel Bustos into the District 5 Constituent Services Liaison position.
Gabe has been an employee of Santa Fe County for six years, overseeing commercial development and permitting across Santa Fe County as the Senior Development Review Specialist in the Growth Management Department.
He looks forward to working with our community members and Commissioner Hughes. He is excited to help implement the Commissioner's visions for District 5.
Please help us give a warm welcome to Liaison Bustos!
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