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The New Mexico Route 66 Centennial Coordination Group held its forth centennial stakeholders meeting September 17, 2024 at Santa Fe Community College (SFCC). Special guest speakers included Debbie Johnson of the Route 66 Centennial Commission, Lisa McGivern’s of the New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Disability, and Laisa Barthuli, Route 66 Corridor Program manager of the National Park Service. The Department of Tourism and the New Mexico Route 66 Coordination Group provided updates from board members where available. New Mexico Route 66 Association president, Melissa Beasley-Lee, vice president, Nam Tran, and association advisor, David Nidel, were on hand to provide input on questions pertaining to the kickoff of the centennial celebrations as well as a few projects still in the works nationally. The next meeting to be held in Grants is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19. Before leaving campus, association president, Beasley-Lee and husband Mike Lee made a stop at the SFCC Visual Arts Gallery to experience DREAM BIG!, the art of George Rodrique. The exhibit consists of thirty original paintings from the private collection of Rodrigue’s widow, Wendy Rodrigue Magnus, and include some of the artist’s most famous Blue Dog canvases, iconic portraits of Cajun personalities, and rarely seen artworks inspired by his lifelong love of New Mexico. Wendy explains the theme of the exhibition: “Dreams are the portal to creativity. They are tied to instinct and desire, and they are the birthplace of ideas. This exhibition seeks to inspire through stories of pursuing one’s dreams, meeting one’s fears, and expressing our art, whatever it may be, with the full wonder of our imagination.” The artwork is presented through a collaboration with SFCC School of Arts and Design, SFCC Continuing Education, SFCC Foundation, and the Life & Legacy Foundation. The exhibition continues through October 2.  The Edelbrock Sick 66 Drag Racing Cruise event comes to five Route 66 states October 10-18! Sick the Magazine is hosting a drag racing series event across Route 66 from Missouri to New Mexico. “Six individual tracks will host eight-mile drag races, after which racers will be driving those same racecars down Historic Route 66 with checkpoints along the way.” Two of the nine days will include “pit stops” in New Mexico:
Be sure to check out Sick the Magazine for the latest updates to the route. https://www.sickthemagazine.com/sick-66/  With the 100th anniversary of Route 66 coming up in 2026, the City of Albuquerque is working with 14 local businesses and property owners to restore vintage signs along the “Mother Road.” The City of Albuquerque Department of Arts & Culture and Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency is investing $432,000 in the Revamp Route 66: Sign Improvement Grant Program. As of mid-September, a little over one year after the program was announced, new and restored signs are popping up across the city. Some businesses like Root 66 Barber and The Imperial Inn have already had their signs finished. The 5501 Plaza and the Dog House said their signs are almost complete. “It’s been an honor to get it for sure. These signs aren’t cheap by any stretch of the imagination and it’s not something we would have probably invested that much money in. So to be awarded that really meant a lot to us,” said Dacia Weist, owner of 5501 Plaza and program participant. “It’s going to be great; because it’s going to show, it’s neon. So we are looking forward to it, and hopefully it will attract more people,” said Vicki Jaramillo, general manager of Dog House. KRQE NEWS 13 compiled a list and photo gallery to track the transformation of the signs at the 14 establishments participating in the Route 66 sign program. Read More Source: WRKG News Story by Fallon Fischer, Jessica Salinas  The New Mexico Route 66 Centennial Coordination Group is hosting its next stakeholder meeting in Santa Fe on Tuesday, September 17. Join us to share your ideas and perspective for how New Mexico can celebrate the Route 66 Centennial in 2026! Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 Time: 9 a.m. - 12 noon Venue: Santa Fe Community College - Jemez Rooms Address: 6401 Richards Ave., Santa Fe, NM 87508 Click here to view the full agenda.  The most enduring highway in our public consciousness, Route 66 represents a unique moment in history that continues to define the nation’s identity: the rise of the automobile and its implications of freedom, mobility, and a quintessential American story. Grants from this fund will help preserve and enhance historic places on or connected to Route 66 for future generations. Grants from the Preserve Route 66 Grant Fund are awarded to preserve historic places on or connected to Route 66. Grant funds can be used to launch new initiatives or to provide additional support to ongoing efforts. Grants awards may be made for activities and projects such as:
Grants range from $2,500 to $10,000. Applications due October 16. APPLY TODAY  The New Mexico Route 66 Association has received quite a few inquiries regarding the Route 66 Visitors Center on Albuquerque’s West Side. We wanted to clarify we are not involved with this project. This is a partner project of the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County with the West Central Community Development Group. Please refer all inquiries to: Luis Hernandez, Executive Director| West Central Community Development Group (dedicated to enriching the lives of community members in the West Central area) | 5921 Central Ave NW | Albuquerque NM 87105 | [email protected] | 505-688-4122. We met with Luis in February 2021, at which time we discussed their plans and offered our advice. We wish them all the best! (For more information about the February 2021 meeting, a follow-up article was printed in the Spring/Summer 2021 issue of Route 66 New Mexico magazine (see below). From February 2021 Association Meets with West Central Community Development Group in Albuquerque to Discuss Proposed Route 66 Visitors Center On February 3rd, New Mexico Route 66 Association Officers, including President Melissa Lea Beasley, met with Luis Hernandez, Executive Director of the West Central Community Development Group (WCCDG) to conduct fact finding with regard to the status of the $10 million project known as the West Central Route 66 Visitors Center. Construction will begin with groundbreaking scheduled for February 2021. The Visitors Center is a collaborative effort that includes Bernalillo County, the city of Albuquerque, WCCDG and the Southwest Alliance of Neighbors. Mr. Hernandez opened the meeting with a virtual animated walk-through tour of the exterior and interior spaces planned for the center, which will be located on a five-acre site at the apex of NineMile Hill. The anchor building features 21,000 sq ft with an upper floor that includes a 4468 sq ft event space and a 1369 sq ft commercial kitchen. The ground floor provides several administrative offices, a proposed tap room of 1286 sq ft with an adjacent patio, a proposed 3250 sq ft museum space, and a 1243 sq ft exhibition space. The meeting established that although the facility is anticipated to be completed in early 2022, the building currently has no confirmed tenants for operating the proposed museum space, tap room, and banquet/event hall. The WCCDG issued RFIs for the tap room and banquet hall that were due October 15. Hernandez informed the Association that there were no qualified responses to the Tap Room RFI and only one inquiry on the Banquet/Event Hall. No RFI was issued for the museum space. A number of ideas are currently being proposed for the multi-use facility including a New Mexico Music Hall of Fame, a lowrider exhibit/museum, a Route 66 Museum, drive-in movie venue, a Route 66 sign graveyard, RV Park, and amphitheater. Mr. Hernandez acknowledged that the facility has not been optimally defined and he noted that a branding professional has been retained to further work with the WCCDG to develop a clearly articulated identity. Mr. Hernandez explained that this may include revisiting the name of the facility, which up to now has been branded the West Central Route 66 Visitors Center. The Association pointed out that, given New Mexico’s and Albuquerque’s Route 66 heritage, visitors would have high expectations upon entering a Route 66 Visitors Center and a proposed Route 66 Museum. The Association emphasized that an underwhelming presentation of our rich Route 66 heritage would invoke a strong negative response from visitors that would be communicated worldwide through the very active social networks that are connected to Route 66 culture and history. The Association communicated its awareness of strong headwinds that face the project, given negative press calling the project a “boondoggle” in a 2019 Albuquerque Journal editorial, and a follow-up Journal editorial in 2020 headlined “.... Visitors Center Not Ready for Prime Time.” This is in addition to a commissioned professional economic study that concluded the project was financially unsustainable. Ms. Beasley reminded Mr. Hernandez of several key details regarding Route 66 and the project. “Their website (www.wccdg.org) states, ‘Albuquerque has the longest stretch of the historic Mother Road in the country, and when operational, the Visitor Center will have a national presence, and locally will further advance economic development on the West Central corridor.” It was well understood at the meeting that Mr. Hernandez has inherited an incredibly challenging job to realize a sustainable and creditable facility that will serve the west side community. The New Mexico Route 66 Association advised that job one is to capitalize on the February groundbreaking to issue a new RFI initiative that would include a broader outreach plan promoting the business potential available to prospective tenants, as well as creating an incentive package that could be attractive to potential tenants. Concluding the meeting, Ms. Beasley commented that “the project conveyed the look and feel of a community center the west side needs and could benefit from. However, it does not possess the proper layout and space needed for a Route 66 Visitor Center and/or Museum.” Further complicating matters, she mentioned that press releases had been distributed announcing the building will be a Route 66 Visitor Center, but that there is neither plan nor money to finish out the building to make that happen. “The Center is trying to appeal to two different demographics,” Ms. Beasley continued, “the local community and Route 66 visitors. It has accomplished serving the local community and should focus on that aspect. Unfortunately, it is in no way designed to be a true Route 66 Visitor Center or museum, nor does it have the historical knowledge of Route 66 to accomplish that goal.” The Association will convene a round table discussion among its Board of Directors to determine how it can best contribute to the success of the project  Left: Rendering of Central Ave / Route 66 facing side of Route 66 Visitor Center. Right: Rendering of event space. This area plus its kitchen and pre-function room will occupy the entire 2nd floor, totaling approximately 7,097 square feet.
Historic Route 66 turns 100 years old in 2026, and the party has already started! The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is helping celebrate the Mother Road’s birthday with the Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program. The grant program is one of a series of “birthday gifts” to be given to Route 66 in the years leading up to the road’s Centennial. The Road Ahead was awarded $250,000 by American Express to provide direct grants to help Black-owned and/or operated businesses and attractions along Route 66. The funds will also support research and programs that interpret and tell the stories of Black experiences associated with Route 66. The Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program is part of the Road Ahead’s 100th Anniversary of Route 66 celebration. Through the Centennial, the Road Ahead aims to help the millions of people who live, work, and travel along Route 66 with projects focused on preservation, promotion, research/education, and the economic development of Route 66. The first two rounds of the Road Ahead’s Black Experiences Grant Program were held in 2022 and 2023. In addition to this round of 2024 grants, the program will also be administered in 2025 and 2026. A total of $50,000 (10 awards of up to $,5000 each) is being awarded each year through the Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program. Established in 2016, with the support of the National Park Service and the World Monuments' Fund, The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership’s mission is to revitalize and sustain Route 66 as a national and international icon through partnerships focused on promotion, preservation, research and education, and economic development. Applications for The Black Experiences Grant Program are being accepted through Sunday, July 14, 2024, and are available at: RoadAhead.Route66Centennial.org.  The Program is one in a series of “birthday gifts” to be given to Route 66 in the years leading up to the historic road’s one-hundredth birthday in 2026. The Route 66 Extraordinary Women Micro-Grant Program provides critical and flexible funding to businesses and attractions located along Route 66 that are majority women-owned or operated. The Route 66 Extraordinary Women Micro-Grant Program is funded in part by a grant from the Preserve Route 66 Grant Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In addition to direct fundraising efforts undertaken by the Road Ahead, the public may make direct donations to the Extraordinary Women Micro-Grant Program online (https://100extraordinarywomen.com/route-66-extraordinary-women-initiative/). Established in 2016, with the support of the National Park Service and the World Monuments' Fund, The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership’s mission is to revitalize and sustain Route 66 as a national and international icon through partnerships focused on promotion, preservation, research and education, and economic development. The next round of The Route 66 Extraordinary Women Micro-Grant Program will begin July 5, 2024. Program guidelines, criteria, and applications will be available at: https://roadahead.route66centennial.org/. Up to 10 grant awards of $2,000 each will be made in the next round of the program. The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is pleased to announce ten grant awards from its Extraordinary Women Micro-Grants Program. The 2024 round of the Micro-Grant program was completed last month, with $2,000 awards made to:
The next round of The Route 66 Extraordinary Women Micro-Grant Program will begin July 5, 2024. Program guidelines, criteria, and applications will be available at: https://roadahead.route66centennial.org/. Up to 10 grant awards of $2,000 each will be made in the next round of the program.  Left: Flora May Cordova – Route 66 Welcome Center & Gift Shop, Tucumcari, NM. Center: Heather Arnold – Routes Rentals & Tours, Albuquerque, NM. Right: Noelle Sosaya – Rat House Vintage, Albuquerque, NM.  The New Mexico Route 66 Association announced it is the recipient of a $50,000 Preserve Route 66 Grant Fund, from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “This is an extremely high honor for the Association, and I am proud to see us recognized with this funding for our state preservation efforts,” said Melissa Lea Beasley-Lee, President of the Association.
Funds are being used to help restore many neon signs along Tucumcari’s stretch of Route 66 that were destroyed last year in a massive hailstorm. “The devastation was spread across town,” Beasley-Lee added, “and it was as if the lights went out on Route 66. We're working with businesses to replace broken parts of signs to bring them back to their shining glory again.” Businesses affected were predominantly small mom-and-pop enterprises that could not afford the financial and human resource commitment needed to repair their signs along what is arguably one of the most-photographed and admired segments of the Mother Road. “We have made multiple trips to Tucumcari to coordinate volunteers and work together to bring the magic back to this city,” she explained. The economic impact of tourists coming each year to Tucumcari specifically, and New Mexico Route 66 in general, is tallied in the many millions of dollars, and one of the main attractions is vintage signs. To be able to photograph them in operating order is typically a highlight of a Route 66 journey. The Association is no stranger to neon restoration and preservation, and in the past has contracted commercial sign companies to enable restorations. “This year, the Association has moved to a do-it-yourself capability, establishing a skilled volunteer crew to service classic roadside neon signs,” Beasley-Lee continued. “Small businesses face a cost-prohibitive situation when attempting to hire commercial sign crews, which is exacerbated for rural communities like Tucumcari where the closest commercial sign companies capable of servicing neon signs are located more than 100 miles away.” She explained that Association crews have recently saved these business owners up to 90% of the cost of repairing a sign. Efforts are ongoing until all damaged signs are repaired. Prior to the storm, work had begun creating a 30-minute Do-It-Yourself video of how to repair neon signs. It was funded by the National Park Service, with the intent for it to be made available online free of charge. The scale of the storm in Tucumcari and subsequent repair efforts provided an opportunity to have hands-on examples for more videos. The Association captured extensive video footage of the repair process, and now, as a result of these grant monies, two more videos will be produced to create a comprehensive three-part video series. “We documented every step of the process, not only for historic value, but also so that others could learn from them in the future,” Beasley-Lee commented. The completed video series will include: (1) Inner workings of a neon sign, steps to replace broken glass, lift options to reach your sign; (2) Troubleshooting a neon sign: Why is part of my sign not lighting? Why is it blinking?; and, (3) How to build a frame, bend glass, and mount a neon sign. Lastly, the Association intends to offer a free downloadable .pdf checklist to assist in assuring each step has been covered while working on a sign. “Neon signs are among the most important aspects of Historic Route 66,” Beasley-Lee asserted. “It is critical that we keep as many working as possible, while also enabling owners to do their own repairs whenever it is feasible.” For More Information, please contact: New Mexico Route 66 Association Melissa Lea Beasley-Lee, President 505-803-6966 [email protected] [email protected] The U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission, established by Congress to oversee the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the U.S. Route 66 in 2026, invites submissions for national, multi-state, or single-state activities, projects, events, or programs. Submissions will be vetted by the Commission’s national working groups and those deemed appropriate will be elevated to the full Commission where approved submissions will be officially submitted to Congress as the Commission’s recommendations. The Commission seeks to commemorate the Mother Road's historic milestone and enhance its legacy through a variety of initiatives. "The Route 66 Centennial is not just a one-time celebration; it's a platform for generating national pride in the road and expanding economic opportunities for the communities that it winds through," said Jen Paul Schroer, Vice Chair of the Route 66 Centennial Commission. The Commission, comprising members from each of the eight states along Historic Route 66, is guided by seven strategic principles: 1) Celebrate & Honor, 2) Preserve, Protect & Enhance, 3) Generate Tourism Demand, 4) Tourism Development, 5) Economic Development, 6) National Collaboration, and 7) Research & Education. These principles serve as the foundation for identifying fitting and proper activities to mark this monumental occasion. CALL FOR IDEAS: FOUR FOCUS AREAS “We are calling on individuals, organizations, and communities to submit their innovative ideas, to make this event truly transformational. Concepts should fit into one of our four priority areas,” stated Rod Reid, Chair of the Route 66 Centennial Commission. The areas of focus are as follows: Commemoratives & Publications The Commission seeks ideas that recognize the role Route 66 has and continues to play in our nation’s history through projects and programs that publicly honor the Road and the people associated with it. Infrastructure The Commission seeks ideas that enhance the overall Route 66 experience for tourists and locals alike, fostering sustained economic benefits across the road through the preservation and improvement of Route 66 infrastructure assets. Events & Celebrations The Commission seeks ideas that involve the public in special, unique, and fun activities/events that mark the historic milestone of Route 66’s 100th anniversary. International & National Marketing The Commission seeks ideas that drive national and international tourism for maximum impact through visitor spending, promoting celebrations, commemorations, and other activities that honor the 100th anniversary of Route 66. SUBMISSION PROCESS Individuals, organizations, and communities are encouraged to submit their concepts through the official submission portal on the Route 66 Centennial Commission's website route66-centennial.com. Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed by one of four Commission Working Groups at their monthly meetings. Qualifying ideas will be forwarded to the full Route 66 Centennial Commission for consideration as officially recommended activities to Congress. Notification of Results Submissions will be notified of the results on a rolling quarterly basis, ensuring transparency throughout the review process. Rod Reid, Chair of the Route 66 Centennial Commission concluded, "The Route 66 Centennial is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase the cultural significance of this historic road. We look forward to receiving creative ideas that will shape the celebration and maintain the spirit of the highway for generations to come." For more information or to submit your ideas, please visit route66-centennial.com.  Featured in this episode is the awesome history of the Enchanted Trails RV Park and Trading Post and Loyola's Family Restaurant. Also included is the newly renovated hip sensation, Hotel Zazz and finished results of the Monterey Motel's transformation! You guessed it, this episode is all about Route 66 through Albuquerque! To add to the fun, our hostess of Legends of Route 66 and New Mexico Route 66 Association President, Melissa Lea, takes us along with her to the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership meeting taking place at the El Vada Conference Center. The meetings focus on various activities leading up to and beyond the Mother Roads Centennial in 2026. During breaks Melissa sits down with some of her fellow board members and attendees to chat. In addition to meetings, we go on a fantastic tour of Glorieta Station - a 200,000 square foot facility, once a Coors distribution center, housing a private collection of neon signs, tractors, Unser Family memorabilia, and more! The neon sign collection is regarded as one of the premier collections in the country. Fast TV Network Studios Carrizozo is coming along nicely. Fast TV Network Studios Tucumcari and the New Mexico Route 66 Association Museum and Visitor Center have been delayed for months. We will finally have some good news to report in November. Fast TV Network is available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and online at FastTVNetwork.com.  Stakeholders Express Reservations and Concerns On Tuesday December 12, 2023, the first meeting of the Route 66 Coordination Group (New Mexico Route 66 Centennial Coordination Group) was held at the State Capitol building in Santa Fe with an agenda to introduce group members to the public, review, and vote on bylaws, and discuss the Federal Route 66 Commission’s centennial recommendations. The public was not impressed when three of the board members showed up 20 minutes late, along with Federal Centennial Board Vice-Chair Jen Schroer, and one group member who did not attend. The Route 66 Coordination Group was established by Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham with Executive Order 2023-131 with the overall mission to “recommend, plan, sponsor, and coordinate official Route 66 centennial events, programs, and activities in the State.” The directive to “sponsor” activities is undefined in the sense that the group is unfunded. The Executive Order’s only tangible deliverables are a “supplemental document” containing specifics pertaining to the actions of the group and to “submit meeting minutes, recommendations for state signature centennial projects, and other regular reports to the United States Route 66 Centennial Commission and/or its working groups.” This seems to suggest the group will only be producing documents. This could be disappointing to Route 66 communities who would be justified in expecting more from the Centennial Coordination Group. The Executive Order specified a 12-member organization with six members from the public sector and six members representing state agencies. The appointment of several members of the group is perplexing. Two group members were appointed representing Native American interests. These members have affiliations with San Idelfonso, Pojoaque, and Santa Clara pueblos—none of which are located or Route 66. Pueblos such as Laguna and Santo Domingo as well as the Navajo Nation, all located on Route 66 and having a historical connection to Route 66, were inextricably overlooked. The appointment of Johnny Pena is baffling. Mr. Pena, husband of Albuquerque City Councilor Klarissa Peña, is a board member and past president of the West Central Community Development Group (WCCDG) that is being paid $500,000 a year to operate the West Central Route 66 Visitor Center that has been characterized as a “boondoggle” and a “monument to waste” by the Albuquerque Journal. The Visitor Center site dedication and design kickoff was held on Dec. 21, 2018. As of December 2023, under WCCDG management, the $13 million dollar center is yet to open its planned tap room, amphitheater, museum, and banquet hall. The current WCCDG executive director, when asked about the sustainability of the Visitor Center, said, “I don’t know. It all depends on how popular Route 66 really is.” Apparently, Mr. Pena represents an organization that is uncertain about Route 66’s popularity. The Tourism Department is represented by two members. The New Mexico Route 66 Association has a history of attempts to work with the Tourism Department, presenting ideas that have proved successful in other Route 66 states. Unfortunately, they were not interested. Currently, the tourism department is not pro-actively featuring Route 66 as a touring destination unlike the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department that publishes a stand-alone 63-page Route 66 tourism guide that is offered in German, Spanish and English. In the next legislative session, the tourism department is requesting $5 million for Route 66 promotion. An egregious omission for representation on the Centennial Group is a representative of the New Mexico Route 66 Association, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation acknowledged as the subject matter experts on historic Route 66 in New Mexico. The Association has earned both national and state-wide awards and recognition for Route 66 preservation and tourism projects. It has received and executed grants from the National Park Service, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the New Mexico Tourism Department, and the Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byways agency. The Association publishes the magazine “Route 66 New Mexico” and distributes thousands of copies, without cost, at visitor centers along the Route 66 corridor. The magazine serves as the main resource for Route 66 travel information at the state and local visitor centers. The meeting provided a forum for each Group member to introduce themselves and review Group bylaws. What stood out in the bylaws presentation is the opening mission statement. “The overall mission of the Group is to assist the United States Route 66 Centennial Commission by identifying activities, projects, and events that will properly honor and celebrate the Mother Road of the United States for its centennial anniversary.” It would be reasonable to assume that New Mexico Route 66 stakeholders might take offense with that overall mission statement expecting that the overall mission of the Centennial Group should be to focus on assisting New Mexico communities celebrate the centennial. The Centennial Group discussed the Federal Route 66 Commission’s recommendations. These recommendations were originally created by The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership of which Association President Melissa Beasley-Lee has been an active member of for the last 7 years. Toward the end of the meeting was a short time for public comment. Unfortunately, there was no dialogue between the speakers and the Centennial Group. The first person to speak was Beasley-Lee. During public comment, she presented a written 14-point New Mexico Route 66 Fact Sheet to the Centennial Group members and in public commentary highlighted these Association attributes to the board:
Mike Lee, President and CEO, and co-owner of Fast TV Network Inc., also spoke. He said: “We are currently building a film studio in Carrizozo, New Mexico, and have purchased a property in Tucumcari to build our headquarters and studio space and are donating space for the Official State New Mexico Route 66 Association Museum and Welcome Center that will be housing their massive collection of Route 66 history.” “We have filmed episodes of our hit show “Legends of Route 66” across all eight Route 66 states. We have witnessed countless success stories as well as failures to small businesses on the Mother Road. Human stories. The one common thread is that these business owners have invested their hard-earned money, sweat equity, and countless hours a week bringing needed services on Route 66. New Mexico Route 66 businesses have been hit especially hard. After all, we were shut down longer than any of the eight states during COVID. The centennial is our opportunity to invest in Route 66 communities and provide help to bring celebrations, restoration projects, and new life to our beloved road.” “It is good to see that we are finally forming this committee. However, it needs to be noted that we are extremely late to the party regarding the other seven states. We have a committee that is made up of political representatives and some who are here looking for money for their own projects. What I don’t see is any representation from Gallup, Grants, Moriarty, Santa Rosa, Tucumcari, San Jon, Bernalillo, Los Lunas, or the nine Native Nations located along Route 66.” “I also don’t see the president or a representative from the New Mexico Route 66 Association, who have nearly 35 years of expertise in preservation, promotion, and stewardship of Route 66. The same Association that has been a participant in the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership for the last seven years, which formed the National Centennial footprint to begin with. Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and California have been working on this for several years. The State of New Mexico, up to this day, has not done anything for Route 66.” “New Mexico True Magazine from our tourism department barely mentions that Route 66 even exists. They cut the funding to our Association’s quarterly New Mexico Route 66 Magazine, the only Route 66 publication in the state. Yet we still went out and sold advertising to Route 66 businesses and communities who have precious few dollars to begin with to continue publishing it. The magazine that I might note is still delivered to the I-40 corridor state welcome centers at Glen Rio and Manuelito, the Albuquerque downtown visitor center, Old Town, and Sunport, as well as the Santa Fe visitor center, Bernalillo visitor center, and various Route 66 businesses throughout the state, all on our volunteer’s dime.” “So, I will ask you a question. Are we here to help the communities and businesses of Route 66 across the entire 604 miles of the New Mexico stretch of the Mother Road? Or are we going to funnel funding to Albuquerque and Sante Fe concerns and let these communities go it alone? If that is the case, then there is something extremely wrong with our state government. I am here to ask you respectfully to prove me wrong. Help these communities make this centennial a success story. Listen and include those who have invested their lives making Route 66 a better place by adding the New Mexico Route 66 Association as their representative on this group board.” Debbie Pogue, owner of the Sunset Motel in Moriarty said, “if you want to learn about what travelers, including international travelers from all of the world, are coming here to see, you need to speak with the Route 66 businesses owners.” She shared the motel’s history of being the oldest motel continually run by the same family in all the route throughout the eight states. David Brenner shared the history of the Roadrunner Lodge Motel, purchasing it when it was a rundown eyesore at the request of his now ex-wife Amanda, and how they worked hard to turn it into a top-ranking Route 66 motel that has won various awards and competitions from USA Today and the New Mexico Route 66 Association to name a few. “Dave Nidel, a former New Mexico Route 66 Association President said he felt “the meeting was a little dysfunctional and that the Governor-appointed Board is starting late in the planning, almost an afterthought. During the meeting I did not observe a strategy for obtaining funding from this 2024 State Legislature, much less a suggested amount of funding. If the next time this Board is scheduled to meet is February 29, what are they thinking? The 30-Day Legislature will be nearly ended!” “We have a solid opportunity to drive an agenda that this Board demonstrated at this meeting obviously does not have in place but has a mission with no funding to back it up. Worse of all, not one of these appointed seat warmers pledged money or other resources from their organization in support of the NM Route 66 Centennial! Did you get the impression that every one of these Board members was thinking ‘What’s in this for me and my cause?’ I did.” Nidel added, “I served as President of the (New Mexico Route 66) Association in 1992 when Route 66 was celebrating its 66th Anniversary. We lobbied the New Mexico Department of Tourism to promote the commemoration of this event - as every other Route 66 State BUT New Mexico was planning. Our efforts fell on deaf ears. The Department of Tourism instead spent lots of money on the Columbus Day Quincentennial which went over about as well as a turd in a punch bowl.” Donatella Davanzo, a Route 66 research specialist, and New Mexico Route 66 Association member, who recently relocated to New Mexico from Italy, attended the Centennial Coordination Group meeting. “From the onset of discussions, the agenda to celebrate the Route 66 Centennial that the members of the group presented and discussed seemed to me just an initial phase,” Davanzo said. “Considering that the centennial is in 2026, I found their plans “out of time” and probably very late to organize all the tasks that the group mentioned: ceremonies, media production, commemorative items such as coins and stamps, collaboration with the other states’ of the Route 66 corridor, and other projects to promote Route 66 and New Mexico as well.” “Another item I want to point out is the overview focused more on tourism and capturing the attention of travelers from other countries during the centennial anniversary. Route 66 has been for years, and still is, the primary topic of my academic studies and documentary research. Traveling on the route in New Mexico, I visited several commercial businesses in operation. Talking with the owners, they explained to me how their economic conditions and the status of the old properties are very critical.” “When I listened to the comments of Melissa Beasley-Lee, Mike Lee, and Debbie Pogue who spoke during the ‘public comments,’ they were very clear in raising the issues that effectively affect the road and the communities that are challenged to survive. While they were talking, I looked at the members of the group who were listening. There was a sense of surprise in their faces. It seemed that they were listening to something totally unexpected. After these speeches, it became more evident to me how the start of the Coordination Group’s works to organize the centennial celebrations was not only extremely late but also avoided considering the real situation of Route 66 and the communities in New Mexico and the urgency to preserve them both. The key takeaways from the meeting, and the review of the Executive Order are as follows.
After listening to the public input, some board members said they were going to “reach out” to the Association and stated that they wanted to “work together.” At the meeting’s conclusion, Association President Beasley-Lee spoke with Federal Centennial Board Vice-Chair Jen Schroer about the elimination of the Association seat from the State Commission Group. She replied self-satisfyingly, “I’m not part of this group so there is nothing I can do”. Other board members dodged the question and claimed that “their hands are tied.” “Route 66 communities were ‘cut out’ with the coming of the interstate,” Beasley Lee said. “Following this meeting, it has been made obvious Route 66 communities will be ‘cut out’ once again with the coming of the centennial.” “The New Mexico Route 66 Association will continue to focus and invest in its Route 66 communities with what has been originally laid out for centennial preparations and celebrations on a national level. We currently have promotional and preservation projects in the works and have new projects lined up to launch in 2024.” “Route 66 businesses who are not currently members of the association are invited to contact the Association to learn how to get their business involved and represented. Same goes for individual members. We are always excited to have new members joining our circle of like-minded, extended family.” “We also ask those who are financially able to contribute to the New Mexico Route 66 Association to accomplish the centennial projects originally laid out that will be launched in early 2024. Details of these projects will be announced in early 2024.” The next state centennial group meeting is scheduled for Feb. 29 in Tucumcari. More information will be provided on the New Mexico Route 66 Association website’s “Centennial” page, rt66nm.org/centennial, when available. A full list of New Mexico State Centennial Coordination Group board members and their current position is listed on the New Mexico Route 66 Association Website: rt66nm.org/centennial.
Our iconic road's centennial is on the horizon, and it's our moment to drive change.
We're rallying at the state capitol's public meeting on December 12, 2023 – a pivotal moment for Route 66's future in New Mexico. Your presence is powerful! It's now or never. Stand with us to celebrate our road's rich legacy. Let's show the strength of our community and our commitment to Route 66. Together, let's accelerate into a bright future. Join us at the capitol! New Mexico Route 66 Centennial Coordination Group Meeting December 12, 2023 Date: Tuesday, December 12, 2023 Time: 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Venue: New Mexico State Capitol Building (Room 309), Address: 490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501 Click here to view a draft of BYLAWS OF THE ROUTE 66 CENTENNIAL COORDINATION GROUP Download File Dear Route 66 Business Members, As you may know, a New Mexico State Route 66 Centennial Coordination Group was formed in September 2023 under executive order of the governor. The Route 66 Association was not given a seat on this board. The New Mexico Route 66 Association President, Melissa Beasley-Lee has been a board member of the group that created the groundwork for the National Route 66 Centennial preparations since 2017. She would be the only one on this state board with seven years of knowledge regarding what has already been laid out, what is currently taking place, and what steps are now needed on a state level leading up to and throughout 2026. She is also the only member who solely represents the businesses and communities of Route 66 throughout our state. For her not to have a seat at this state level board raises a serious question – Why is she, and the Route 66 Businesses she represents not being invited to continue being a part of the centennial planning. There will be a meeting at the state capitol building Tuesday, December 12th, to vote on the formation and rules of this group. This meeting is open to the public and Melissa, as well as other association board members are planning to attend and voice their concerns about the states choice of members and plans. The New Mexico Route 66 Association feels it is vital that business members attend this meeting as this committee will be the who, what and where that our tax dollars will be spent leading up to and throughout the Route 66 Centennial. This is a once in a 100-year opportunity that can greatly affect the prosperity of your business. We hope you will plan to be present at this meeting on December 12 to let your voice be heard personally for your business, and to request that the NM Route 66 Association be given a seat on this coordination group board. |
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