DJ Spaghetti Takes the Mic
Our March event around the theme LOCAL was marked by record attendance, lots of laughs, and two glittery pageant sashes. Musical guest Michael Tait Tafoya opened the morning with his distinctly local style, blending Spanish classical, flamenco, and modern guitar.
Before Mayor Michael J. Garcia took the mic, there was an important agenda item: the ice breaker quiz.
Attendees competed for the title of Santa Fe’s Most Local Local by checking off “only in Santa Fe” milestones. It turns out, many people have tailgated at the opera, but only one admitted to their car ending up in the arroyo. With 38 check marks each, the competition ended in a tie between attendee Liesette Bailey and… the mayor! Both donned “Most Local Local” sashes to celebrate their victories.
When the mayor took the floor (his sash safely stowed), he offered his definition of local:
A sense of place, traditions, culture, and service to the community.
Sense of place started at his grandmother’s house, where he spent every Saturday morning there as a kid helping out. Now he lives in that same home raising his own children.
On traditions, he brought us to Christmas Eve with farolitos. “I wouldn’t say I was a pyromaniac,” he joked, remembering how much he loved being outside with them. That tradition continues with his own kids today.
Culture included a younger Garcia trying to blend into hip hop, name-checking A Tribe Called Quest, and eventually returning to the decks as “DJ Spaghetti.” His point stayed consistent: you must embrace and honor whatever the local culture is.
Then came service, which included his contribution to revitalizing an Albuquerque neighborhood and cleaning out acequias—an annual effort he described as a way of life that’s unpaid, communal, and necessary so “life can continue on.”
Garcia admitted he never planned to be an elected official, asserting, “I like my privacy.” But he felt pulled toward policy-making to ensure community voices were heard. Now in his first term as mayor, he creates space for conversations on local land ownership so the "little guy" has a voice in the future.
When asked how he supports Santa Fe being named the most creative city in the country, the mayor emphasized his priority to partner with local entities, providing resources and opportunities. He closed with a playful warning:
“Watch out New York, watch out LA!”
Door prize winner Pam Granata took home a silver Zia necklace from ACL Jewelry.
Thank you to CrashMurderBusiness for the coffee and to The City of Santa Fe Economic Development Department for the green chile breakfast burritos from El Parasol.
And a special thanks to Jeshaka for creating this month's Sketch Notes!
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Check out March’s Flickr Album.
Photos by Ivan Barnett and Marisa Gjurgevich, and Kerry Kehoe.
Video by SpaceHelmetPictures and Alexander Webb.
