Let’s Talk New Mexico 6/16 8am: Last November President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed both houses of Congress and was signed into law after almost six months of debate. The final negotiations among legislators left the price tag for the bill at $1.2 trillion, about half of which will make its way to states over the next several years to improve drinking water distribution systems, rebuild roads and bridges, and modernize travel with updated airports and a system of electric vehicle charging stations.
On the next Let’s Talk New Mexico we’ll dig into our state’s infrastructure wishlist, how those federal dollars are being spent, and how we can get more money for our most desperate needs – especially for our rural neighbors. We’ll also talk about some of the less obvious, but necessary, infrastructure projects like renewable energy and broadband internet.
Share your ideas about infrastructure spending, our greatest needs, and how you suggest we spend to ensure a robust future by emailing LetsTalk@kunm.org, tweeting #letstalkNM or calling in live during the show at (505) 277-5866.
GUESTS:
- Martin Chavez, former Albuquerque Mayor and infrastructure adviser with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
- Heidi Crebo-Rediker, adjunct senior fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
- Terry Brunner, chief executive officer, Pivotal New Mexico
- Derrick Lente, Democratic state representative
Resources:
- Bipartisan Infrastructure Law website
- Rural Infastructure Study - Pivotal New Mexico
- Former Mayor Chávez to serve as NM’s infrastructure adviser - Albuquerque Journal
- Webinar by Heidi Crebo-Rediker and Stephen E. Flynn on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Ac and how officials can utilize that funding in ways that address resilience, sustainability, climate adaptation, and equity.
This episode is part of our Your New Mexico Government project, a collaboration between KUNM radio and New Mexico PBS. Support for public media provided by the Thornburg Foundation.
