La Jicarita

By KAY MATTHEWS

The recent fundraising newsletter from Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety (CCNS) announced that Executive Director Joni Arends will soon be retiring. Joni has been the backbone of CCNS since its inception 37 years ago, an antinuclear activist since the early days of protesting WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant`), and a partner with many advocacy and Indigenous groups such as Tewa Women United, Tularosa Basin Downwinders, Communities for Clean Water, and Honor our Pueblo Existence (HOPE). I served on the CCNS board in the 2010s and have watched with wonder, from both near and far, Joni’s ability to dive deep into Los Alamos National Laboratory’s complicated reports, statistics, and bureaucratic bullshit to try to hold the Lab accountable for the build-up of nuclear weapons and the resulting legacy waste that has poisoned workers and our communities. It’s a stressful, and often thankless job, and while Joni, more than anyone else I can think of, deserves a restful retirement, it’s going to be difficult finding someone to take her place.

But the fundraising newsletter says that there are “qualified young candidates” ready to take the helm at CCNS. Joni is working hard to make sure CCNS files and procedures are transparent and readily available to potential employees. Please donate, if you can, to help Joni transition to a new life and fund those willing to step up and keep CCNS alive. You can donate online at nuclearactive.org.

There’s still a lot going on that requires her attention now. Public hearings on LANL’s Radioactive Liquid Waste Treatment Facility (RLWTF) are scheduled for this March or April. The RLWTF is a key support facility for the proposed expanded pit production at LANL. It’s located across the street from the Plutonium Facility (PF-4) and receives radioactive, toxic, and hazardous liquids for treatment from PF-4 and other plutonium facilities through underground pipes and by truck. However, RLWTF remains improperly permitted by the New Mexico Water Quality Act instead of the more protective and legally required New Mexico Hazardous Waste Act (HWA). The HWA would regulate the pipes and tanks that handle, treat, and store contaminated liquids.

CCNS and HOPE challenged the RLWTF permit in 2023. The New Mexico Water Control Commission (WQCC) challenged CCNS and HOPE (along with Triad National Security, LANL’s contractor), claiming they didn’t have standing, but the New Mexico Court of Appeals overturned that decision. Then Triad challenged their standing again in the New Mexico Supreme Court. CCNS and HOPE are now waiting to see if the court will consider the standing case.

 Other projects for 2026 include designing a curriculum for northern New Mexico youth to participate in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) hearings and decisions. The release of the draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Plutonium Pit Production (PEIS) at LANL is upcoming, and CCNS board member, Myrriah Goméz (Associate Professor, Honors College, UNM) will create a PEIS nuclear literacy and response program for Nuevomexicano communities.

First and foremost, on the CCNS website, is a call to action. The last remaining arms control treaty between the United States and Russia will expire on Wednesday, February 4th. Without this treaty, there will be nothing stopping a new, dangerous, and wasteful nuclear arms race.  Now is the time to demand that both countries agree to Save New START.

Defuse Nuclear War, a coalition of more than 200 organizations dedicated to reducing the risk of nuclear war, has created a great toolkit to use.  It contains resources for one-on-one conversations, key messages, great graphics, social media posts, letters to the editor, and op-eds calling on the United States and Russia to preserve the limits established by a treaty. https://defusenuclearwar.org/ and https://defusenuclearwar.org/save-new-start/

Defuse Nuclear War has a sample letter to the editor for you to use with a focus on sharing local issues and concerns. Please adjust as needed for your community. https://defusenuclearwar.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/New-START-toolkit.pdf, see p. 4.

Just today, masked ICE thugs murdered another innocent in Minneapolis. Coming off the heels of a historic general strike in the city, now is the time for the working class to join the movement to kick ICE out of our cities, protect our immigrant communities, and get justice for the two people who have been publicly executed by ICE agents. Tomorrow at 11am the Party for Socialism and Liberation will be hosting an emergency protest in solidarity with the people of Minneapolis and to call for an immediate end to ICE operations across the country.    Please join us at 11 am tomorrow at the Pete Domenici US Courthouse to join the growing movement against ICE and the movement for a new system built and led by the people!  

Action Alert!!

New Mexico State Legislature: Do Pass HB-9 Immigrant Safety Act: Call the Committee members!

HB-9: the Immigrant Safety Act will be introduced tomorrow, Thursday in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee (HCPAC) hearing commencing at ~ 1:30 PM.

Please call the committee members. Simply and politely, state your name and zip code or county if the staffer asks.

Sample script: Please let [representative committee member name] know that I urge him/her to vote Do Pass on the Immigrant Safety Act, HB-9 in order to move it forward. Thank you!

Phone numbers below!

This legislation would prohibit state agencies and local governments from entering into agreements used to detain people for violations of civil immigration law, and would require any existing agreements to end as soon as possible. It doesn’t affect enforcement of criminal law.

Joanne J. Ferrary-505 986 4844

Angelica Rubio-505 986 4210

John Block-505 986 4453

Stefani Lord-505 986 4453

Andrea Romero-505 986 4327

Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson-505 986 4425

Text of bill:https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/house/HB0009.pdf

House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee
Joanne J. Ferrary, Chair

Thursday, January 22, 2026 –1:30 PM or 15 mins after Floor –Room 317

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Committee/Standing_Committee?Committee

 

Taoseños for Peaceful and Livable Futures 575 770 2629 eototos@gmail.com

Youth United For Climate Crisis Action, YUCCA, kicked off their WE GOT US campaign with a march from the Santa Fe Plaza to a rally at the Capitol on January 20, in partnership with many other advocacy groups: ACLU; New Mexico Dream Team; UNM for Justice in Palestine; New Energy Economy; Santa Feans for Justice in Palestine; the Burrito Brigade; and Indivisible. WE GOT US is YUCCA’s launching point for continued action, advocacy, and organizing during the 2026 New Mexico legislative session and beyond. If you’re a young person between the ages of 14-25 “who’s ready to organize for the just and livable future we know is possible” you can complete a member interest form at YUCCANM.ORG/JOIN.

Speakers at the rally represented broad and diverse communities including Apache, Pueblo, Mexican, and Palestinian, all of whom spoke to the current domestic oppression of the Trump administration and the need to organize, speak out, and fight back.

YUCCA organizers Kathy Sanchez of Tewa Women United

 

 

Samia Assed

 

Fernanda Banda of the NM Dream Team

Mr. Yazzie, grandfather, farmer, earth defender