Highlights from the Week of April 18, 2022
There's a lot going on in the City Different!
Every Day is Earth Day
In Santa Fe
TODAY IS EARTH DAY, a time to celebrate this beautiful planet we call home – and to recognize and recommit to the work we do on an ongoing basis to become the most sustainable city in America. Here are a few current highlights:

The 2023 budget currently under consideration includes a proposed $500,000 Clean Energy Fund that would be used to provide financial support for residents to conserve energy by solarization and other methods. Along with other initiatives the fund would support, this would help Santa Fe move rapidly toward meeting our 2040 carbon-neutral goals.

The proposed Police Department budget includes funding to continue greening the vehicle fleet, which will in the near future include some 60 recently purchased hybrid vehicles.

Meanwhile, in the field, Public Works is wrapping up construction of a solar array on a carport at Bicentennial Pool / Ron Shirley Alto Park (pictured). This is the ninth of the 17 solar arrays we’re installing this year – and that's just one of a host of projects that will help the City reduce its CO2 emissions by more than 6,742,000 pounds per year (the equivalent of taking 588 vehicles off the road).

Our Water Division has a plan to ensure the city can grow responsibly. You can watch the "What's Up With Water" online presentation on April 28 at 9:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. to learn more about the past, present, and future of city of Santa Fe water.

The City is proud to be leading the way to our sustainable future, and we hope you'll join the efforts:

Many of our neighbors have already registered to lend a hand tomorrow with the Great American Cleanup. But picking up litter in your neighborhood is always welcome and rewarding, and there are several volunteer groups who do so year-round.

The Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency is hosting a Free Trash Day for city and county residents at the Buckman Road Recycling and Transfer Station (BuRRT) and Caja del Rio Landfill tomorrow, Saturday, April 23, from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Find details here.


When everyone does a little, we can achieve a lot – not just on Earth Day, but every day.
MAYOR'S NOTE:
There Is No Planet B
Fifty-two years ago, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin conceived of an environmental campaign designed to respond to the destruction of our planet. Earth Day was born. The plan was to create a day of change —a day of teach-ins, demonstrations, community events, and disruption.

Senator Nelson tapped a small group of young activists to organize that first Earth Day —among them a young man from New Mexico named Arturo Sandoval. If you look at the archives of Life magazine, you’ll see a striking photo of these change agents, with Arturo standing strong, proud, and determined smack in the middle.

Fifty-two years later we face an existential threat. We’ve made strides in our campaign for Mother Earth, but far more needs to be done. Here in Santa Fe, we understand that living in concert with the environment isn’t a movement. It’s a way of life, a way of being. We conserve water. We respect the land. We transition to renewable energy. We take care of all living things with whom we share this special place.

We also know that saving our planet is not only about the environment; it’s also about social justice. That’s why the budget I’ve proposed for our city contains seed money for a Green Energy Fund. It will enable Santa Fe residents from all income levels and all walks of life to solarize their homes, reduce their energy bills, and contribute to fighting climate change.

This Earth Day, let’s recommit ourselves to the guiding values of that first Earth Day, 52 years ago. The time is now. The cause is urgent. The responsibility is ours.
Streaming: Student Film Fest
The inaugural 2022 Film Prize Junior New Mexico Virtual Film Festival, sponsored by our Office of Economic Development and the Santa Fe Film Office, is streaming now! Sixty student films are available for free online viewing through Saturday, April 23. The selection includes submissions from six different Santa Fe schools. After watching at least three of the short films, you can vote for the "Audience Choice" award. Congrats to these young filmmakers!
Take a Stormwater Journey
The Public Works Department and the Santa Fe River Commission have launched an online StoryMap, “Stormwater in the Santa Fe Watershed,” dedicated to educating the public on the relationship between urban landscapes and water quality in the watershed. The presentation takes viewers on a journey that utilizes dynamic maps, images, and links to provide in-depth education about stormwater in Santa Fe.
REC Centers Offering More
The Genoveva Chavez and Fort Marcy Recreation Centers both began offering extended weekday hours on Monday, April 18, as a result of hiring campaigns and retention incentives that have bolstered staffing levels. GCCC is also offering a membership promotion through May 31: Residents can receive 30% off a 3-month membership if they purchase during the promotional window. Find more info here.
Celebrate Día! with the SFPL
Our awesome library will celebrate Día! — Dia de los Niños/Día de los Libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) — with two days of fun events for children of all ages. The festivities kick off a day early with a virtual, live-streamed visit with best-selling author and illustrator Raúl The Third on Friday, April 29, at 9 a.m. Then, join the ­library team on Saturday, April 30, at 10 a.m. at the Southside Library for a full day of stories, crafts and fun.
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