New Mexico
Contract awarded for New Mexico State Fairgrounds redevelopment master plan
SANTA FE, N.M. — The New Mexico state government awarded a contract to a company to produce a master plan of the redevelopment of the state fairgrounds.
Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. will develop a plan to transform the grounds “into a stronger economic, cultural and entertainment driver for New Mexico.”
In December, city and state leaders, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, announced their plans to redevelop the 236 acres of land in the center of Albuquerque. They believe there is “substantial potential” to use the state fairgrounds more throughout the year.
Developers submitted their ideas for bids. Now, Stantec will produce a plan that “maximizes the operation and utilization of facilities.” The plan will focus on the needs and growth of the area over the “next 10 to 20 years.”
While the move spurred excitement, it raised questions about the Albuquerque Downs Racetrack and Casino and the New Mexico State Fair.
“The New Mexico State Fair has long been an annual “must attend event” for our families across the state,. This project will ensure the Fair and its facilities continue to serve as a vital economic and cultural asset for generations to come,” said Anna Silva, the acting cabinet secretary of the General Services Department. “Through this master planning process, we will identify innovative and forward-thinking ideas which will help us reimagine the future of this great state event.”
It’s unclear yet what the timeline is beyond the contract being awarded for the New Mexico State Fairgrounds redevelopment master plan.
MORE:
New Mexico leaders are backing a bipartisan bill after 12 confirmed U.S. screwworm cases, including one case in a Lea County dog.
SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico leaders are backing a bipartisan bill after 12 confirmed U.S. screwworm cases, including one case in a Lea County dog.
New Mexico State Veterinarian Dr. Samantha Holeck said the parasite has spread to New Mexico, though officials say they have not found any human cases.
“This is also not a political issue this is a nationwide issue that we all need to address because it affects all warm blooded animals including humans,” Holeck said.
U.S. Reps. Gabe Vasquez and Teresa Leger Fernandez support the Protect America’s Herds Act.
The bill would create a grant program to train people to identify, treat, prevent and report screwworm. It would also support more livestock inspections and education for ranchers.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez said she heard concerns from tribal leaders about the cost of protecting cattle herds.
“I spoke with one of our tribal leaders today and they have cattle operation and they’re worried, and they’re talking about how much more money they’re having to pay to go make sure they check on their herds and there are extra costs,” Leger Fernandez said.
Funding would prioritize states and tribal communities most at risk for screwworm outbreaks.
State health officials said screwworm is not a food safety issue. They also said ranchers should stay alert but not alarmed.
New Mexico isn’t done with Meta yet. After the second phase of a landmark trial, the state is asking a judge to make the company pay almost $1 billion to address harm done to young people in New Mexico, SourceNM reports. In a court filing, attorneys with the New Mexico Department of Justice argue that Meta’s addictive design features and recommendation algorithms “substantially contributed to the increase and severity” of problems including depression and eating disorders. The state wants a judge to order Meta to pay $953 million into a fund for public education and behavioral health programs, reports Fox News.
- After the first phase of the trial in March, a jury found the company endangered children and misled the public about its platforms’ safety. Meta was ordered to pay $375 million in damages, $5,000 for each violation.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has argued Meta executives prioritized profit over minors’ safety, ignored internal warnings, and misrepresented what they knew about harms to young users. In the second phase, First Judicial District Court Chief Judge Bryan Biedscheid heard arguments on whether the company’s actions created a public nuisance, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports. Final filings in that phase of the trial were submitted Friday. Beyond potential financial penalties, Biedscheid will also rule on the state’s request for Meta to make changes including stricter age controls and “safer algorithms” that “do not prioritize engagement over well being.”
Meta says New Mexico is overreaching, warning that the proposed mandates are “impractical and ill-considered” and “would risk leaving teens less safe, infringe on parental rights, and stifle free expression.” Meta argues that New Mexico hasn’t proven that its platforms affect mental health outcomes. In court filings, Meta has claimed that the state is seeking $3.7 billion, not $953 million, but Chief Deputy Attorney General James Grayson says the higher figure is an expert’s estimate of the cost to fund all child mental health interventions in the state. “We’re not trying to hold Meta responsible for mental health harms in general in New Mexico, only for what social media has cost,” Grayson tells the New Mexican.
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