Souper Bowl marks 20 years of helping food bank Taste, C-1
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CYFD chief: Some tragedies unavoidable Secretary defends how agency handled Omaree Varela case, seeks funds for more staff By Patrick Malone The New Mexican
Faced with hard questions about the death of a 9-year-old Albuquerque boy whose past abuse was known to her department, the Cabinet secretary in charge of protecting
children implored lawmakers to fill vacant positions at her agency in order to keep vulnerable kids safer. Still, Yolanda Berumen-Deines, secretary of the Children, Youth and Families Department under Gov. Susana Martinez, couldn’t assure a legislative panel Tuesday that tragedies such as the death last month of Omaree Varela will never happen again. “As long as we’re dealing with human behavior, and human behavior being as unpredictable as it is, I believe that there’s always the possibility … that we could experi-
Indian group targets ‘Redskins’ National Congress of American Indians contends the name of the NFL team in Washington is derogatory and racist. lOCal news, B-1
ence this once more,” Berumen-Deines said. “But it won’t be because we haven’t made the effort to improve our services, to reduce the likelihood in every way we possibly can.” Omaree had been placed in foster care, but on the authority of the Children, Youth and Families Department, he was returned to his mother in 2011. She now is charged with child abuse resulting in death for allegedly kicking him to death.
Propane prices climbing Frigid weather and increase in demand is sending the cost of the gas skyrocketing. lOCal news, B-1
Seeger influenced generation Singer, songwriter, social activist Pete Seeger died Monday at the age of 94. Page a-6
Please see CYFd, Page A-5
2014 LEGISLATURE
STATE OF THE UNION
Public rallies for ed funds President Barack Obama arrives Tuesday on Capitol Hill to deliver his State of the Union address. J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Obama vows 2014 will be year of action President says he will sidestep Congress to advance proposals By David Nakamura and David A. Fahrenthold
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama sought Tuesday to restore public confidence in his presidency after a dispiriting year, pledging to use his White House authority with new force to advance an agenda that Congress has largely failed to support. In his fifth prime-time State of the Union address, Obama made clear that instead of trying to fix the mess in Washington, he was now promising to find ways around it. “America does not stand still,” Obama said. “And neither will I. Wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do.” In a speech that lasted just over an hour, Obama struck moments of bipartisan harmony, most starkly in an emotional moment near the end when he called on the nation to draw inspiration from Cory Remsburg, an Army ranger blinded in one eye by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan during his 10th deployment. Remsburg, who was dressed in his uniform and seated next to first lady Michelle Obama, drew a lengthy standing ovation from lawmakers in the House chamber, and he flashed them a determined thumbs up.
LiliAna Serna, 3, of Española, a student at Las Cumbres Conjunto Preschool, participates in a rally Tuesday in the east lobby at the state Capitol, where about 300 people were pressing for more funding for early childhood programs. LUIS SÁNCHEZ SATURNO/THE NEW MEXICAN
Proponents of early childhood initiative blast Sen. Smith By Milan Simonich
InsIde
T
u Ban on texting while driving clears Senate panel hurdle. u Health ailments sideline two House Democrats. u Senate Democrats take aim at head of Human Services Department. Page a-4
The New Mexican
he political fight over spending hundreds of millions of dollars on early childhood education turned personal Tuesday. About 200 adults and perhaps 70 children rallied for the education initiative outside the state Capitol. One of their leaders, Allen Sanchez, told the crowd that one powerful legislator was putting himself ahead of the people’s will. Sanchez’s criticisms were aimed at Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee. Smith last year refused to allow a vote in his committee on the early childhood initiative, killing the proposal. Sanchez said he feared that Smith again could single-handedly stop the bill. It would advance to a public vote in the November election if it cleared the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“Sen. Smith doesn’t believe in your vote,” said Sanchez, CEO of St. Joseph Community Health and the political spokesman for New Mexico’s three Catholic bishops. “Sen. Smith told me, ‘We can’t give the children the checkbook.’ ” Another proponent of the initiative, Javier Benavidez of the Center for Civic Policy, said Smith often does not understand tax and finance bills, yet he holds himself out as the Senate’s expert on those matters. “After having to clean up one blunder after another by Chairman John Arthur Smith, it’s preposterous that a few select senators continue to defer to his obstruction of a game-
changer like early childhood education,” Benavidez said. In an interview a few minutes later, Smith fired back at his critics, especially Sanchez. “We’re wanting quality programs. Allen Sanchez doesn’t care about quality at all. He just wants money,” Smith said. The amendment Sanchez favors would tap into the state’s $12 billion land-grant endowment to help expand early childhood programs. St. Joseph Community Health is a provider of those services, and Smith said that colors Sanchez’s judgment. “Allen Sanchez is extremely tenacious, and he is highly incentivized to be that way,” Smith said. Smith would not commit to hearing the initiative for early childhood education if it reaches his committee. “We’ll wait and see what happens,” he said. Proponents of the measure believe they can win in the House of Representatives, as
By Daniel J. Chacón
The New Mexican
When she had her business in an unincorporated area of Santa Fe County, Julia Castro didn’t have to pay the city’s minimum wage. But she did, anyway. Now that Castro has her business within city limits, none of her employees earns the so-called “living wage.” They make more.
Index
Calendar a-2
Classifieds C-3
Comics C-8
“Paying the living wage makes for a better workforce, happier people. They’re more confident, more competent, and they give better service,” said Castro, owner of Cafe Castro on Cerrillos Road. “I think it’s the moral and only right thing to do.” Castro was among about two dozen people who testified before county commissioners Tuesday in support of a proposed ordinance that would mandate a minimum wage in unincorporated areas that is higher than the current statewide minimum of $7.50 an hour. Commissioners took no vote but scheduled the proposed ordinance, which is similar to the city of Santa Fe’s, for a second reading and possible action Feb. 11.
Please see wage, Page A-6
Lotteries a-2
Opinion a-7
Police notes B-2
Editor: Ray Rivera, 986-3033, rrivera@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Dennis Rudner, drudner@sfnewmexican.com
For most of the speech, however, Obama made clear he would no longer be content to wait for Con-
Please see OBaMa, Page A-5
InsIde u Wounded war hero Cory Remsburg is high point of Tuesday night’s address. Page a-3
Please see RallY, Page A-4
Today
County ‘living wage’ earns backing Supporters for raising the minimum go before commission; no vote taken
Presidents aims to go it alone
Sports B-5
Mostly sunny. High 50, low 29.
Pasapick www.pasatiempomagazine.com
Page a-6
Center for Contemporary arts
Obituaries Margaret R. Chavez, 93, Santa Fe, Jan. 25 James J. Gutierrez, 54, Jan. 18 Charles Thomas Iddings, Jan. 27 Gary Montano, Jan. 24 John L. Montano, 94, Jan. 23
1050 Old Pecos Trail, 982-1338. All the News That’s Fit to Print, group show, Spector-Ripps Project Space, through March 30. Icepop, installation by Sandra Wang and Crockett Bodelson of the art collective Scuba, through March 30, Muñoz Waxman Gallery. Call for hours or visit ccasantafe.org.
Page B-2
Time Out a-8
Taste C-1
Main office: 983-3303 Late paper: 986-3010
Three sections, 24 pages 165th year, No. 29 Publication No. 596-440