On Sunday, April 7, 2019 the Albuquerque Journal published a lengthy editorial regarding the 2019 New Mexico Legislative session and what it accomplished.

The editorial was entitled “Governor’s Signature on Raft of 2019 Legislation Changes The Sate Landscape in Many Areas”. You can read the complete editorial here for the paragraphs about to be cited:

https://www.abqjournal.com/1300487/a-new-look-for-nm.html

Not at all surprising, the Albuquerque Journal editorial offers a very conservative and very Republican observation of the session and for that reason merits a point-counter point to the legislation they editorialized on by a Democrat. Because of the length of the editorial, this article is the second in a series of four articles to take issue with many of the editorial comments.

Following is the Journal Editorial paragraphs dealing with public education funding and the public-school grading system each followed by counter points offering a different perspective from a Democrats point of view.

JOURNAL EDITORIAL POINT:

“Education was … high on the governor’s campaign-promise list. Her signature on a new Early Childhood Department promises to bring efficiencies and accountability to the state’s disparate pre-kindergarten programs. Her approval of hundreds of millions more dollars for K-12 education is designed to improve opportunities for the state’s most disadvantaged students while complying with a court order. Her increasing teacher pay honors the profession and should aid morale. And her requiring the Children, Youth and Families and Public Education departments to follow students who move among districts and services should ensure more kids are safe and on track.”

COUNTER POINT:

The dramatic increases in public education funding, creation of the Early Childhood Department (CYFD), the mandates to Children, Youth and Families and Public Education departments, not to mention raises for educators and increasing CYFD social workers by 125 were clearly the biggest accomplishments of the 2019 Legislative session. Notwithstanding, the Journal gives “luke warm” comments and does not highlight the importance of the State District court ruling that mandated the increases.

On Friday, July 20, 2018, Santa Fe District Court Judge Sarah Singleton ruled that the state of New Mexico is violating the constitutional rights of at-risk students by failing to provide them with a sufficient education. The court ruling was a confirmation of what went on for the last 8 years with the state’s at-risk children under the Republican Martinez Administration. The Judge found that it was clear that many New Mexico students are not receiving the basic education in reading, writing and math they should be receiving in our public-school system.

In her blistering written opinion, Judge Singleton wrote:

“[The evidence presented at trial] proves that the vast majority of New Mexico’s at-risk children finish each school year without the basic literacy and math skills needed to pursue post-secondary education or a career. … Indeed, overall New Mexico children rank at the very bottom in the country for educational achievement. … The at-risk students are still not attaining proficiency at the rate of non-at-risk students … and the programs being lauded by [the Public Education Department] are not changing this picture.”

In New Mexico, 71.6% of the state’s public-school students come from low-income families, and 14.4% are English-language learners. Further, 14.8 percent of students have disabilities, and 10.6 percent are Native American. Judge Singleton addressing proficiency rates for Native American students said that in the past 3 years, those students’ reading proficiency was at 17.6% and their math proficiency was at 10.4%.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1200069/questions-surround-ruling-on-nm-education-funding.html

The Court found that New Mexico does not have enough teachers and that New Mexico teachers are among the lowest paid in the country and stated:

“The evidence shows that school districts do not have the funds to pay for all the teachers they need. … [An example is] Gadsden, one of the better performing school districts in the state, has had to eliminate over 53 classroom positions and 15 essential teachers since 2008.”

The Court also faulted the former Republican Governor’s Administration’s failure to provide access to technology in rural districts.

Judge Singleton ruling addressed the state teacher evaluation system implemented by the Martinez Administration by saying:

“[The teacher evaluation system] may be contributing to the lower quality of teachers in high-need schools. … In general, punitive teacher evaluation systems that penalize teachers for working in high-need schools contribute to problems in this category of schools.”

The Court rejected the former Republican Governor Administration’s arguments that no new funding is needed because at-risk student performances are improving.

During the last 8 years at-risk children finish each school year without the basic literacy and math skills needed to pursue post-secondary education or a career.

No doubt the Journal’s “luke warm” comment “[the increases were] designed to improve opportunities for the state’s most disadvantaged students while complying with a court order” were the result of the District Court eviscerating the Journals’s favorite former Republican Governor’s failed public education policies and an education system that made things actually worse for children throughout New Mexico. A popular photo op of the former Republican Governor was to read aloud children’s books to child students sitting around her with admiring gazes and we all know why the former Governor was doing the reading: the children themselves did not receive the basic education in reading for their age level!

ENACTED EDUCATION BUDGET

The total approved education budget is a whopping $3.2 Billion, 16% over last year’s budget, out of the total budget of $7 Billion. Included in the budget is a $500 million in additional funding for K-12 education and increases in teacher pay. The massive infusion of funding to public education is the result of the District Court ruling that ruled the state of New Mexico is violating the constitutional rights of at-risk students by failing to provide them with a sufficient education. The District Court found that many New Mexico students are not receiving the basic education in reading, writing and math they should be receiving in our public-school system.

Early childhood programs will be given a major increase in funding. Under the enacted 2019-2020 budget, every public-school district will be allocated significantly more funding. Teachers have not had any raises to speak of for the last 8 years. Teachers and school administrators will be given 6% pay raises with more money to hire teachers.

A new “Early Childhood Department” was created starting in January 2020. This was a major priority of the Governor Lujan Grisham. The new department will focus state resources on children from birth to 5 years of age. A major goal of the new department, coupled with other investments, will be more New Mexico children growing up to secure gainful employment as adults who don’t require government services.

JOURNAL EDITORIAL COMMENTS:

“Unfortunately, the governor took the Legislature’s lead and removed the one window parents have into how well their child’s school is doing. A-F school grades will be replaced with an incomprehensible “dashboard.” And, unfortunately, the signed bill that provided raises for teachers will also automatically boost many school administrators’ salaries 6 percent, sending money that could have gone to classrooms into the pockets of those in Central Office instead. And the governor is phasing out the important ability for students over the age of 22 to still get a public education and high school diploma.”

COUNTER POINT:

Unfortunately, Journal Editorial comments are so misplaced as to be laughable if not downright embarrassing. The Journal refuses to acknowledge the biggest failure of former Republican Governor “She Who Must Not Be Named”: the failure of New Mexico’s public education system and failing our children for the last 8 years.

On December 28, 2018, it was reported that the 2018 high school class graduation rate is 73%, a 10%-point jump since 2011 when the former Republican Governor took office, something she can legitimately take credit for under her leadership. However, after 8 years of her failed leadership and despite her efforts, the state lags behind the national average of 84% for graduation rates reported by The National Center for Education Statistics.

Despite the all-time-best rates, New Mexico still lags behind all the other states in the United Stated, except the District of Columbia that had a lower high school graduation rate last year than New Mexico at 69.2 percent.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1262414/nm-grade-rate-at-73-percent.html

Throughout the 8 years of Former Republican Governor “She-Who-Must-Not-Be Named”, she was at odds with teachers over the controversial “Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers”, or PARCC, tests. Republican Governor “She-Whose-Name-Shall-Not-Be-Named” with her education policies and her Secretary of Public Education appointments, especially the appointment of Secretary Hanna Skandera, contributed to and resulted in a failing education system.

Judge Singleton ruling addressed the state teacher evaluation system implemented by the former Republican Governor Administration by saying:

“[The teacher evaluation system] may be contributing to the lower quality of teachers in high-need schools. … In general, punitive teacher evaluation systems that penalize teachers for working in high-need schools contribute to problems in this category of schools.”

Things for New Mexico’s children have only gotten worse during the last 8 years under the former Republican Governor’ s leadership. For the first time in five years, New Mexico has fallen to last among states when it comes to the economic, educational and medical well-being of its children, according to a nonprofit that tracks the status of U.S. kids.

According to the 2018 Kids Count Data Book, 30% of New Mexico’s children were living in poverty in 2016, compared to 19% nationwide that year, the earliest figures available. In educational measures, the report says 75% of the state’s fourth-graders were not proficient in reading in 2017, compared to 65% nationally, and 80% of eighth-graders were not performing up to par in math in 2017, compared to 67% across the U.S.

The most troubling in the 2018 Kids Count Data Book is New Mexico’s steep drop in ranking for health care measures which previously was a bright spot for the state.

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/report-new-mexico-ranks-last-in-child-well-being/article_0f6865fc-d34a-5050-9f74-21680e98a2a5.html

Rather than spending her time with photo ops reading books to illiterate children, the former Republican Governor should have paid more attention to reading the dismal statistics regarding New Mexico’s children.

___________________________________________________________________________

POSTSCRIPT

You can review all four “Point-Counter-Point With The Albuquerque Journal” articles by clicking on the below links:

Chapter One: Point-Counter-Point With The Albuquerque Journal On “Open Primaries”, Election Day Registration And Voter Registration

Chapter Two: Point-Counter- Point With The Albuquerque Journal On Public Education Funding And The Public School Grading System

CHAPTER THREE: Point-Counter- Point With The Albuquerque Journal On Gun Control Measures, Anti-Crime Legislation and Redacting and Expunging Criminal Records

CHAPTER 4: Point-Counter-Point With The Albuquerque Journal On Energy Transition, Minimum Wage, Right To Work, Ethics Commission And Hemp

Eight dead, including a child of 5 beaten to death by her father with a rubber shoe and an 8-year-old girl was shot and critically injured in a Northeast Albuquerque home from a stray bullet, all in four days! The news headlines for April 4, 5, 6 and 7, is a tragic reminder of what Albuquerque has become and what it is today: a very violent city.

The news headlines for the 4 days were:

Thursday, April 4, 2019, Carlos Armijo, 42, was gunned down outside his South Valley home; Bernalillo County sheriff’s deputies say it was retaliation after a fight outside a taco truck.

Friday, April 5, 2019, morning, first respondents found the battered and unresponsive body of 5-year-old Sarah Dubois-Gilbeau. The child’s father has been charged in her death, allegedly beating her with a rubber water shoe for not doing homework he assigned.

Friday, April 5, 2019, 19-year-old Eric Apisa was pronounced dead, three days after being shot in the head during an apparent drug deal.

Friday, April 5, 2019,, BCSO deputies found a body with signs of trauma in a ditch in the 1700 block of Bridge SW. They identified the man as Manuel Barraza, 49.

Friday night, April 5, 2019, APD officers shot Pedro Escalante, after he fled an “altercation” in a stolen vehicle, crashed into a car and pointed a gun at police during a foot chase.

Saturday April 6, 2019, a woman was found slain in a home in the 1100 block of Via Chamisa NE.

Saturday April 6, 2019, a couple was found dead in a home in the 600 block of Princeton SE, south of the University of New Mexico.

Sunday, April 7, 2019, a young child was hospitalized after being shot in a Northeast Albuquerque home.

https://www.koat.com/article/violent-weekend-plagues-the-duke-city/27080087

On Monday night, April 8, 2019, a man was shot and killed on Albuquerque’s West Side.

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/apd-man-shot-killed-on-albuquerques-west-side/5309212/?cat=500

VIOLENT CRIME STATS

On March 30, 2019, the Albuquerque Police Department released the City’s crime statistics for the first quarter of 2019 which runs from January to March of 2019.

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/apd-most-crime-is-down-but-non-fatal-shootings-are-up/5299172/?cat=500

The good news is that APD reported that crime is continuing to drop from 10 years of historic highs in all major categories. The bad news in the statistics released is that the city saw an increase in nonfatal shootings.

According to the statistics, non-fatal shootings went up 12% and there have been 131 nonfatal shootings the first quarter of the year compared to last year’s number of 114. The statistics reflect that in the first three months of nonfatal shootings around the city occurred roughly three times every two days. Nonfatal shootings have increased from 2017 to 2018 rising by 14%.

APD DECLARING VIOLENT CRIME AS “PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE”

On April 8, 2019, APD finally announced its long anticipated new program and efforts that will deal with “violent crime” in the context of it being a “public health issue ” and dealing with crimes involving guns in an effort to bring down violent crime in Albuquerque.

City official’s argued that gun violence is a “public health issue” because gun violence incidents have lasting adverse effects on children and others in the community that leads to further problems. APD will track violent crime relying on the same methods used to track auto thefts, weekly reports summarizing shootings, refining policies, and learning from best practices used by other law enforcement agencies.

One goal is for APD to examine how guns are driving other crimes, such as domestic violence and drug addiction.

On April 8, 2019, APD Officials, accompanied by Mayor Tim Keller, announced several proactive and reactive initiatives designed to combat gun violence in the City.

The initiatives announced include:

1. Using data from APD’s Real Time Crime Center to focus on areas with a heavy concentration of gun violence and identify any patterns.

2. Forming units of officers called Problem Response Teams in each area command. The Problem Response Teams will be made up of officers who don’t take calls for service but will be available to help community members as they need it. After a violent crime, the teams, along with Albuquerque Fire Rescue, will visit the neighborhood and provide resources or information.

3. Identifying those who are selling firearms illegally to felons or juveniles.

4. Working with agencies and universities to conduct research on gun violence as a public health issue.

5. Implementing a standardized shooting response protocol that police must follow within the first 72 hours of a reported crime. APD intends to collect and test all casings at shooting scenes and intends to purchase new equipment and technology that can assist detectives in investigating gun crimes.

6. APD is in the process of hiring additional personnel for the crime lab and securing technology that will increase efficiency around DNA testing including automating the entire unit. The unit that tests DNA and the unit that tests latent fingerprints will be split in an attempt to reduce a backlog of evidence that needs to be tested.

7. Increasing the use of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network and the Problem Response Teams. The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network program is used to identify which guns have been used in multiple crimes by analyzing all casings they can find at violent crime scenes where a firearm has been discharged

8. Use of a placard police officers can hang on doors to encourage residents to call with information about a crime.

APD officials also announced that the city has already received state and federal money to create a Crime Gun Intelligence Center that will use new technology.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1301057/police-to-focus-on-gun-violence.html

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Bringing down violent crime involving guns, such as murders and domestic violence, is always more difficult because of issues such as substance abuse, the disintegration of families and many times the failure of law enforcement to respond and social services to respond to warning signs.

A murder is usually committed when another crime is being committed such as armed robbery or domestic violence or it’s a crime committed in the heat of anger and a gun is readily available.

Most victims who are murdered know their killer.

It’s difficult at best to bring down homicide rates, but it can be done when you bring down other violent crime such as armed robbery, aggravated assaults, illicit drug offenses and domestic violence.

Domestic violence is clearly the most difficult category to bring down when it comes to violent crime because of the “cycle of violence” involved with such crimes.

All too often in domestic violence cases, the abused decline to charge and prosecute and return to their partner or spouse with the “cycle of violence” continuing.

New Mexico has ranked among the top 10 states with the highest rates of women killed by men during the last decade.

On September 16, 2017, according to an annual study published by the Violence Policy Center, it was reported women are more likely to be killed by men in New Mexico than nearly any other state.

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-mexico-s-rate-of-women-killed-by-men-among/article_eb7e4a2c-273d-5eb6-8007-e5936639b64f.html

The study found the state has the 10th-highest rate of women killed by men, marking the third straight year New Mexico had appeared toward the top of the list, while New Mexico’s overall homicide rate ranked lower.

Statics in Albuquerque show that after about the 10th or 11th time there is a call out of the Albuquerque Police Department to a home for domestic violence, it is usually to pick a woman up in a body bag.

Albuquerque’s dirty little secret is that domestic violence is the number-one reason why a woman is admitted to the emergency room of the University of New Mexico Hospital.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed Senate Bill 328 which prohibits gun possession by someone who’s subject to an order of protection under the Family Violence Protection Act.

Under the enacted legislation domestic abusers must surrender their firearms to law enforcement.

The gun possession prohibition also applies to people convicted of other crimes such as battery on a household member.

APD should concentrate on and target domestic violence as its first major step to bring down violent crime.

The fact that crime is continuing to drop in all categories from 10 years of historic highs in all major categories but nonfatal shootings is commendable, but far more must be done to reduce overall violent crime.

The increase in nonfatal shootings is a reflection that Albuquerque is a violent city with a culture of violence that will be extremely difficult at best to eliminate.

Only time will tell if APD’s new initiatives are successful, and we all most hope they are for the safety of our families and ourselves.

On Sunday, April 7, 2019 the Albuquerque Journal published a lengthy editorial regarding the 2019 New Mexico Legislative session and what it accomplished.
The editorial was entitled “Governor’s Signature On Raft of 2019 Legislation Changes The Sate Landscape In Many Areas”. You can read the complete editorial here for the paragraphs about to be cited:

https://www.abqjournal.com/1300487/a-new-look-for-nm.html

Not at all surprising, the Albuquerque Journal editorial offers a very conservative and very Republican observation of the session and for that reason merits a point-counter point to the legislation they editorialized on by a Democrat. Because of the length of the editorial, this article is the first in a series of articles to take issue with many of the editorial comments.

Following is the Journal Editorial paragraphs dealing with open primaries, election day registration and voter registration with counter points offering a different perspective from a Democrat:

JOURNAL EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION:

“Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s first legislative session is over, and her collaboration with the Democratic-controlled House and Senate means things in New Mexico will start to look very different in the coming year. Some will be great improvements, some absolutely won’t, and some need to play out before being put in either category.”

COUNTER POINT:

Thankfully, after 8 years of governing by former Republican Governor “She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named”, New Mexico will indeed to start looking a lot different and much better as the coming years play out under the new leadership of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.

JOURNAL EDITORIAL COMMENTS:

“The changes Lujan Grisham approved on the election front were … all bad. Lawmakers refused to recommend open primaries, so New Mexico will continue to disenfranchise around one out of five voters who decline to pledge allegiance to a party line. Yet New Mexicans can now register to vote on Election Day, opening the door back up to candidates and advocacy groups rounding up folks and driving them to the polls, then encouraging a vote for the price of a chicken dinner.Residents will also be automatically registered to vote when they sign up for public assistance or a driver’s license, eliminating the concept of having individuals put a little conscious thought into the responsibilities that come with casting a ballot. And many of those votes could come to naught, since Lujan Grisham signed away the state’s Electoral College votes to whomever wins the national popular vote for president.”

COUNTER POINTS:

The Albuquerque Journal paints with too broad of a brush proclaiming “all the changes on the election front were … all bad.” They are “all bad” to the Albuquerque Journal and the Republican Party.

COUNTER POINT ON OPEN PRIMARIES

The Journal boldly proclaims that without open primaries, one out of 5 New Mexico voters are disenfranchised in primaries because they decline to “pledge allegiance to a political party” and they registered Independent. The truth is that joining any political party in New Mexico only requires the simple task of checking a box on a voter registration form and there is no “pledge of allegiance” to the party you choose.

The argument that Independents are being disenfranchised by not being allowed to vote in a political party’s primary is as bogus as it gets. Independents’ are not prohibited to vote in any general election. Allowing Independents and Republicans and Democrats to select any party’s next nominee is a nefarious way to destroy the party primary system that has worked so well over the years. The “party affiliation” system goes to the core of elections, and it does not deprive anyone from voting in a general election.

Another argument made for “open primaries” is that all taxpayers, Democratic, Republican, Independents and the non-aligned, pay for the primaries, including polling places, workers, voting machines, etc., and therefore our primaries should be open. The argument made is that if the parties want closed primaries, let them pay the bill. Holding and running elections is an essential government function and a service provided by Government.

Taxpayers pay for all sorts of government services or projects that they will never use. Interstate freeways, roads in rural areas, the Rail Runner and Albuquerque Rapid ride bus system are good examples of services not used by the overwhelming majority of taxpayers, but they pay for them. Other examples are library’s, the zoo and our museums. In order to be placed on a ballot, a party must have “major party status” and must secure at least 5% of a general election vote. Independents do not like either party so they do not declare party affiliation and by doing so they are voting with their action to remain independent when they do not join, but still have the right to vote for anyone they choose in the general.

The party system, more often than not referred to as the “two party system” is used at every level of government to choose nominees through primaries, unless the elections are nonpartisan, such as municipal elections. Nominating someone to run in a general election by people of liked mind and core values is the most important decisions any party can make. Political parties are not government and do not require membership dues or loyalty oaths nor require you to vote only for the party nominee.

Simply put, any voter that wants to participate in a party’s primary should be a member of that party and not be part of an opposing party wanting to “high jack” a parties nominating process by trying to vote for the weakest candidate possible to run in the general election.

COUNTER POINT ON ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION

The Journal in a sarcastic and very cynical tone says that same “election day registration will … [be] opening the door back up to candidates and advocacy groups rounding up folks and driving them to the polls, then encouraging a vote for the price of a chicken dinner.” Being able to register to vote, even on election day, should be made available and as easy as possible. A person registering must affirm under penalty of perjury that they age qualified to vote, be a citizen of the state and country when they register and have legal residency in the State.

The Journal’s alarm reflects the Republican mantra that there is “wide spread” voter fraud going on in the state, which was made popular by Republicans former Secretary of State Dianna Duran who resigned in disgrace after being convicted of criminal charges, and Southern New Mexico Congressional Candidate Yvette Harrell who demanded a recount and would not concede an election. Duran and Harrell never were able to prove voter fraud. When a person votes, no one is allowed in the voting booth with you and how you actually vote is strictly confidential, is no one’s business but your own and no one knows how you actually voted. If you vote on a full stomach after having the Journal’s “chicken dinner”, and vote exactly the way you want without coercion or physical force, why not vote on a full stomach!

COUNTER POINT ON AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION

The Albuquerque Journal takes issue with “automatically registering to vote” people “… when they sign up for public assistance or a driver’s license” arguing “eliminating the concept of having individuals put a little conscious thought into the responsibilities that come with casting a ballot”.

The Albuquerque Journal is so very wrong on so many levels with this editorial comment on “automatic registration”. It is also a reflection of a more sinister motivation when it singles out people who apply for “public assistance”, which is Republican code for “poor minorities who we do not want to be voting”. No matter a person’s wealth, they have the right to vote, so long as they are of legal age, a citizen of the United States and a resident. Further, registering to vote is what the concept “one person, one vote” is all about. On the other hand, corporations are not people, not allowed to vote, at least not yet, but allowed to spend as much as they can to voice their opinion, which is what voting is all about, to influence and election under Citizens United.

The Albuquerque Journal editor’s complain about same day voter registration by implying that election day fraud will occur by “rounding up folks and driving them to the polls, then encouraging a vote for the price of a chicken dinner.” No doubt the Journal is concerned that it is people who apply for “public assistance” who will be rounded up and offered a chick dinner to vote. When a person applies for government assistance, proof of identity and residency is required. Also, New Mexicans must now comply with the federal “real ID” and driver’s license renewal mandates. To obtain or renew a driver’s license requires the production of at least 4 documents such as an original social security card, passport, original birth certificate, and utility bills to prove who you are and your residency. Qualifying for government assistance or obtaining a driver’s license requires considerable conscious thought as well as documentation which results in an ideal time to register a person to vote. This should eliminate that someone will be bribed with a chicken dinner on election day that the Journal fears.

NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE INITIATIVE

The editorial states “… Lujan Grisham signed away the state’s Electoral College votes to whomever wins the national popular vote for president.”

COUNTER POINT ON POPULAR VOTE COMPACT

Governor Michell Lujan Grisham did not “sign away the state’s Electoral College votes” at it was irresponsible to make the accusation without any explanation.

On April 4, 2019, Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation to officially add New Mexico to a joint compact with more than a dozen other states that would give the state’s Electoral College votes to the presidential candidate with the most popular votes nationwide. The Electoral College consists of 538 electors and a simple majority of 270 electoral college votes is required to elect the President. New Mexico has only 5 electoral college votes, one for each elected member of congress, while the larger, more populous states have far more such as California (55), New York (31), Texas (34), Florida (27).

The Journal editorial failed to point out that the joint compact only goes into effect if enough states sign on to bring the total Electoral College votes up to at least 270, enough to win the Presidency. With New Mexico agreeing to the compact, 14 states and the District of Columbia have enacted into law the “National Popular Vote” representing 189 electoral votes which is well short of 270 needed to win the presidency. The purpose of the compact is to ensure a President who has less popular votes cannot be elected president, as was the case in 2016 when President Trump won the election despite garnering roughly 3 million fewer votes than Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

The most compelling reason for the compact is that it will ensure a President is elected with a majority vote and the will of the people is honored. The biggest downside to the compact is that smaller states such as New Mexico will no longer be “swing states” that could decide a close election in the electoral college and be ignored by candidates running for office.

Notwithstanding, if enough states sign onto the compact, it will not matter what New Mexico has done and the State will always have the option to repeal the legislation, as will the other states.

CONCLUSION

Stay tune for Chapter two dealing with public education funding and the public-school grading system.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

POSTSCRIPT

You can review all four “Point-Counter-Point With The Albuquerque Journal” articles by clicking on the below links:

Chapter One: Point-Counter-Point With The Albuquerque Journal On “Open Primaries”, Election Day Registration And Voter Registration

Chapter Two: Point-Counter- Point With The Albuquerque Journal On Public Education Funding And The Public School Grading System

CHAPTER THREE: Point-Counter- Point With The Albuquerque Journal On Gun Control Measures, Anti-Crime Legislation and Redacting and Expunging Criminal Records

CHAPTER 4: Point-Counter-Point With The Albuquerque Journal On Energy Transition, Minimum Wage, Right To Work, Ethics Commission And Hemp

On March 8, 2019, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law Senate Bill 8 (SB 8) enacted by the 2019 Legislature which requires background checks for guns sold privately and at gun shows.

Debate on the legislation was hot and heavy, but SB 8 past the Senate on a 22-20 vote and passed the House 42-27 vote. With the Governor’s signature Senate Bill 8 has now become law effective July 1, 2019. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham also signed Senate Bill 328 which prohibits gun possession by someone who’s subject to an order of protection under the Family Violence Protection Act which prohibits the possession of firearms by domestic abusers.

BAKGROUND CHECK MANDATES OF NEW STATE LAW

Private gun sales will have to go through a federal firearms licensee to do a federal background check.

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/gov-lujan-grisham-signs-gun-background-check-bill-into-law/1836222192

Licensed gun dealers are already required to do federal background checks on gun sales. The new state law requires a background check before any gun sale, including between two individuals. T

There are two exceptions: sales between two close family members and sales between law enforcement officials.

The new legislation plugs a “loophole” that allows two individuals to arrange a sale on their own to avoid a background check. Under the law passed, people who want to sell a gun they own must arrange for a licensed dealer to do the background check for them before they make the sale.

Licensed gun dealers charge up to $35 for federal background checks. Supporters argue the background check law will make it more difficult for criminals or others prohibited from having a weapon and obtain a gun. Opponents argued criminals will ignore the law arguing background checks are nothing more than a financial burden and annoyance to law-abiding gun owners who are exercising their constitutional rights under the Second Amendment and their right to bear arms

Elected sheriff’s across New Mexico strenuously objected to the legislation and mounted a strong lobbying campaign to defeat passage to the point of appearing before the legislative committees in mass, fully uniformed and armed to make their point of disdain for the legislation.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OPPOSITION

Elected County Sheriffs repeatedly spoke out against the gun legislation during legislative committee hearings. Some elected sheriffs testified that they simply would not enforce the legislation if it became law.28 of New Mexico’s counties and municipalities in the state have passed “Second Amendment Sanctuary” ordinances in defiance to enacted legislative gun control measures.

Republican House leadership said the law enforcement outcry showed that lawmakers ignored the will of the people, especially those in rural parts of the state.The Republican House leadership are pursuing a petition to repeal the background check law by way of the rarely used voter referendum process.

https://bearingarms.com/tom-k/2019/03/22/nm-sec-state-rejects-gop-petition-put-gun-control-ballot/

Governor Lujan Grisham last month accused the sheriffs who opposed the new law of being part of a “national misinformation campaign” driven by the National Rifle Association (NRA).

NEW MEXICO CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL ISSUES WARNING

On April 4, 2019, Democrat Attorney General Hector Balderas sent a strongly worded letter of warning to virtually all sheriffs and police chiefs throughout New Mexico telling them that they risk legal liability if they refuse to enforce the new background checks law for gun sales.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1300209/ag-directs-sheriffs-chiefs-to-enforce-gun-law.html

Balderas advised them of their legal obligation to enforce law an its requirements outlined regardless of whether they agree with the legislation. In his letter, Balderas acknowledged that sheriffs and police chiefs have discretion over how to run their agencies. However, Balderas reminded the law enforcement command staff that personal political opinions and law enforcement discretion:

“do not absolve us of our duty to enforce validly enacted laws. … As law enforcement officials we do not have the freedom to pick and choose which state laws we enforce. … In short, the taxpayers of your city or county assume the financial risk of your decision to impose your personal views over the law. … [Discretion] cannot subvert the rule of law. All New Mexicans, including public [law enforcement] officials, are equally subject to the law.”

Balderas said a police chief or sheriff who refuses to enforce the law could be held liable if a gun sale results in a prohibited person obtaining a firearm and doing harm.

On April 5, 2019, Democrat Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace, who is also president of the New Mexico Sheriffs’ Association, objected to Attorney General Balderas letter on two grounds:

1. Sherriff Mace felt the letter was premature because the law does not go into effect until July 1, 2019

2. Law enforcement officers have the discretion in how they enforce the law and Deputy Sheriff’s can issue a warning citation without charging.

Sherriff Mace is quoted as saying:

“[Sherriff’s are] elected by the people in our communities and that’s what we’re looking at – what do the people in our communities want?”

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Attorney General Hector Balderas is the chief law enforcement official for the state of New Mexico and the Attorney General chairs the law enforcement board that issues law enforcement certifications to virtually every law enforcement sworn officer in the state. Attorney General Hector Balderas’ strongly worded letter to all of New Mexico’s law enforcement agencies is a major wake up call and the agencies would be damn fools to ignore it, especially the warning of potential civil liability.

When attorney General Balderas says “the taxpayers of your city or county assume the financial risk of your decision to impose your personal views over the law” what he is referring to is the real possibility of the family’s of victims of crime who have been killed suing a law enforcement agency for negligence or wrongful death when the victim is killed with the use of gun by a person who obtained a gun without a background check.

By law, law enforcement must take reasonable steps to enforce the background checks or run the very real risk of being accused of negligence that contributed to a person being killed. Any elected Sheriff who proclaims they will not enforce the law will be basically making an “admission against interest” that will no doubt be used in a court of law in a civil action for wrongful death.

The letter sent was in no way “premature” like Sheriff Mace would like everyone to believe. July 1, 2019 is roughly 10 weeks away, and given the law enforcement’s opposition, all will need time to implement policies and procedures to enforce the law and perhaps they may need training and assistance from the State Law Enforcement Academy. What would be pathetic is if the elected Sheriff’s just ignore the law-making background checks mandatory and make absolutely no effort to enforce it and not set up policies and procedures to enforce it.

Elected Sheriff’s cannot “pick and choose” the laws they like as AG Balderas correctly points out. It is downright laughable that Sheriff Mace compares mandatory background checks to issuing a warning citation without charging after pulling over a speeding driver. You cannot instruct law enforcement to use “warning citations” with the intent to subvert the law.

Imagine the scenario if a speeding driver is in fact drunk, given a warning, and then drives off speeding, and gets into an accident killing someone. Discretionary authority comes into play only with very minor infractions of the law and failure to secure a background check on a weapon of death is far more serious than a speeding ticket.

Elected County Sheriff’s have an ethical obligation to honor their oaths of office and enforce the criminal laws as enacted by the New Mexico legislature as best they can and in good faith. Sheriff Maes comments “[Sheriff’s are] elected by the people in our communities and that’s what we’re looking at – what do the people in our communities want?” was irresponsible.

Enforcing the laws is not contingent on what the “people in our communities want”, and no doubt there are many laws that people do not want enforced, like laws prohibiting DWI and the sale of marijuana. The legislation requiring back ground checks on private sales of guns and at gun shows sends a very strong message that the New Mexico gun culture needs to accept a level of responsibility to ensure that they know who they are selling guns to and make sure their weapon is not placed in the wrong hands.

The 28 counties and municipalities in the state that have passed “gun sanctuary resolutions” in defiance to the legislative gun control measures are engaging in “feel good” legislation to merely make a political statement. “Gun sanctuary resolutions” in all likelihood exceeds their authority that would probably set aside by the courts if ever challenged. Elected District Attorneys in the State should follow the lead of Attorney General Balderas and send the sheriff’s a similar letter.

Court challenges to the “gun sanctuary resolutions” could and should be mounted by the elected District Attorneys or appointed county attorneys for the courts to pronounce the resolutions null and void. District Court Orders should be sought mandating the Sheriff’s to not only follow the law but to promulgate policies and programs to get the background checks implemented.

The opposing counties and municipalities would better serve their residents and constituencies if they were to promulgate and implement policy measures and provide funding to help the Sheriffs and Police enforce the law regarding background checks and perhaps fund such services free of charge for their constituents.

On a more personal note, all too often elected officials who are seeking higher office while in office avoid making hard decisions in order not to offend their constituencies forgetting the importance of their current jobs. Attorney General Hector Balderas is commended for his action of reminding the elected Sheriff’s to do their jobs and place Public Safety above their political beliefs and to enforce the laws they swore to uphold. Attorney General Balderas has served with distinction as both New Mexico State Auditor and now as Attorney General and he has close to 3 years left in his second term as AG. Hector Balderas’ with his actions now are evidence that he made the right decision not to seek higher office putting public safety first for New Mexico and its citizens.

On April 1, 2019, the Keller Administration submitted its 2019-2020 fiscal year operating city budget to the Albuquerque City Council for review and budget hearings.

You can review the entire proposed budget here:

http://documents.cabq.gov/budget/fy-20-proposed-budget.pdf

The operating budget submitted if approved by the Albuquerque City Council is for $1.1 billion for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2019.

The 2019-2020 budget represents an overall 11% increase in spending over the current year.

The proposed 2019-2020 budget is the first time in city history that the city operating budget will exceed the $1 Billion figure.

You can read Albuquerque Journal coverage here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/1299497/abq-budget-could-surpass-1-billion-for-the-first-time.html

Last year, the operating budget was $997 million.

The city council raised the gross receipts tax last year by three-eighths of 1% before the budget was even submitted.

Last years tax increase was implemented in order to deal with a projected deficit of $40 million, a deficit that never materialized.

Last year’s gross receipts tax increase generates $58 million per year.

Mayor Tim Keller signed off on the tax increase breaking his campaign promise not to raise taxes without a public vote.

The 2019-2020 proposed budget does not contain any proposed tax increases but does create new fees to generate revenue.

The new budget also contains a $34.3 million windfall with use of accounting “slide of hand” referred to by a city official as a “orphan month” windfall.

The $34.3 million from the “orphan month” will be used for one time expenditure’s.

Under the proposed budget submitted, the general fund, as opposed to the operating fund, is increased by $65 million to a grand total of $642 million.

2019-2020 CITY DEPARTMENT BUDGETS

The overwhelming majority of city hall government operation and services is funded by the general fund budget.

There are 26 major City Hall Departments.

Following is the 2019-2020 proposed budgets for each department:

Animal Welfare: $12,560,000
Aviation: $79,904,000
Chief Administrative Office: $2,094,000
City Support: $100,353,000
Civilian Police Oversight: $1,027,000
Council Services: $4,933,000
Cultural Services: $44,477,000
Economic Development: $5,938,000
Environmental Health: $8,693,000
Family and Community Services: $79,731,000
Finance and Administrative Svc: $70,145,000
Fire and Rescue: $97,894,000
Human Resources: $90,799,000
Legal: $6,324,000
Mayor’s Office Department: $1,070,000
Municipal Development: $61,687,000
Internal Audit: $976,000
Office of Inspector General: $405,000
Office of the City Clerk: $2,613,000
Parks and Recreation: $43,473,000
Planning Department: $16,772,000
Police: $209,852,000
Senior Affairs: $18,149,000
Solid Waste: $71,658,000
Technology & Innovation: $24,298,000
Transit: $51,551,000
Grand Total: $1,107,376,000

DEPARTMENT BUDGETS WITH THE HIGHEST BUDGET INCREASES

The City Departments that will have the highest increases in their budgets are:

Albuquerque Police Department, $16.5 million, TOTAL BUDGET: $205.4 million.

Albuquerque Fire Rescue, $9.6 million, TOTAL BUDGET: $97.8 million.

Family and Community Services, $7.4 million, TOTAL BUDGET: $79.7 million.

Municipal Development, $6.3 million, TOTAL BUDGET: $61.6 million.

MAJOR BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

The Keller Administration announced the following major highlights to the budget submitted to the Albuquerque City Council:

PUBLIC SAFETY

47% of the General Fund expenditures fund the Police and Fire departments.

The 47% for public safety should not come as any surprise seeing as Albuquerque Police Department (APD) intends to spend $88 million dollars, over the next four-year period, with 32 million dollars of recurring expenditures, to hire 322 sworn officers and expand APD from 878 sworn police officers to 1,200 officers.

This years budget (2018-2019) had funding for 1,040 sworn police and at mid year APD had 920 sworn police.

The 2019-2020 budget call for funding of 1,050 sworn police.

APD is projecting that it will have 980 officers by this summer by growing the ranks with both new cadets and lateral hires from other departments, including APD retirees.

APD has recruited 59 sworn police officers as “lateral hires” from other law enforcement agencies in the State of New Mexico.

The budget provides for hiring more officers, fighting crime through community policing, enhanced addiction and mental illness services and Department of Justice compliance.

Full funding is provided to increase the Police Department by another 100 officers.

$6 million is budgeted for a public safety vehicle sustaining fund.

$1.7 million is budgeted to increase the number of sergeants to enable community policing.

$125,000 is budgeted for community risk reduction that AFR and APD developed jointly to help schools and businesses recognize weak areas in safety and conduct threat assessments for events like active shooters.

EXPENDITURES FOR SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS

The budget includes funding for streets, parks, transit systems and neighborhoods as follow:

$711,000 for the Addressing Dilapidated and Abandoned Property Team (ADAPT).

(NOTE: The Keller Administration has renamed the Safe City Strike Force as the Addressing Dilapidated and Abandoned Property Team (ADAPT) ).

$11.4 million is budgeted for the Animal Welfare Department, including spay and neuter vouchers and veterinary operations.

$158,995 is budgeted to enhance park security by adding security patrols to the City’s urban parks, in addition to cameras, lighting, fencing and other design features that are aimed at improving safety.

HOMELESSNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Funding for homelessness and behavioral health includes the following:

$3.2 million more is budgeted to pay for year-round operation of the city’s Westside Emergency Housing Shelter West Side which until this year functioned only during the winter months.

$2 million of one-time money is budgeted for housing vouchers and related housing first programs.

$4.2 million is budgeted for affordable housing and $8.2 million for homeless services.

$6.9 million is budgeted for mental health, substance abuse, early intervention and prevention programs, domestic violence shelters and services, sexual assault services, and services for abused youth.

OUT-OF-SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH

$1,000,000 is budgeted to fund more than 80,000 youth slots in summer and out-of-school programming.

$172,681 budgeted to keep every outdoor pool open until 8:00 p.m., seven days per week during the summer.

Full general fund support to the Head Start program is also provided for in the budget.

JOBS AND THE ECONOMY

$1 million is budgeted to create an innovative Increment of One Job Training program with CNM.

$2 million is budgeted to replenish the Local Economic Development Act fund.

$7.7 million is budgeted in Lodgers’ Tax funds for tourism and economic development.

NO NEW TAXES BUT NEW FEES

The 2019-2020 proposed budget contains no increases in the gross reciepts tax, but does contain new fees for essential services for those that use them.

The proposed 2019- 2020 budget includes a new emergency incident cost recovery fee.

The Albuquerque Fire and Rescue Department (AFRD) intends to bill a resident’s auto insurance company when it is dispatched to a call for service to the scene of a car crash or vehicle fire.

This will be the first time AFRD will be billing for services to the scene of a car crash or vehicle fire and the billing is expected to yield $1 million and fund 12 new firefighting positions.

The 2019-2019 budget proposal includes increasing the inspection fee AFRD charges as part of the business registration process.

Inspection fees for business registration varies by square footage.

Under the new inspection fee structure, some businesses will see no hike and perhaps even a reduction in the fee.

Businesses between 1,501 and 3,000 square feet would pay $100 compared to $60 now paid.

The proposed budget also increases the fee Solid Waste charges for tire recycling.

“ORPHAN MONTH” WINDFALL CLAIMED

The City’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Sanjay Bhaka revealed that the city is covering some of the budget increases with gross receipts and property tax revenue created by an accounting policy change.

The fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30, but the city has traditionally applied June’s taxes to the following fiscal year because they do not arrive until August.

CFO Bhaka referred to applying June’s revenues to the following year with the revenues received in August as an “orphan month”.

The accounting policy shift will now extend the window in which the city can recognize the revenue and the accounting reset results in an extra $34.3 million in revenues.

According to CFO Bhakta, the accounting policy change is a “correction” of current practices and it aligns the city finances and accounting practices with state government financing and nearly all other governmental entities around the country.

The $34.3 million according CFO Bhakta is a “one-time, lifetime” boost in revenues that the city cannot apply toward recurring costs.

$29 million of the $34.3 million will be applied to numerous one-time investments the Keller Administration feels are important.

One-time investments include:

$6 million for public safety vehicles such as police cars for new police cadets.

$2.3 million for park security.

$2 million for the business recruitment and growth.

$2 million for housing vouchers and related programs.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1299497/abq-budget-could-surpass-1-billion-for-the-first-time.html

ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

Anyone with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a Major in finance, and who has taken college accounting and finances courses, probably cannot ever recall the accounting term “orphan month”.

Notwithstanding the City’s external audit firm giving its blessing in the change in accounting and reporting practices, the Keller Administration is playing “hocus pocus” with city finances proclaiming an “orphan month windfall” of $34.3 million in order to create essentially a “slush fund” to pay for onetime projects the Keller Administration wants to fund.

What the Keller Administration is in fact doing is basing the current City’s proposed budget on 13 months of revenue rather than the traditional 12 months, and it’s a dangerous practice.

The City relies on gross receipts tax revenues that are collected by the state and then distributed to the city.

Gross receipt tax revenues tend to “eb and flow” depending on the overall economy of the state, and when revenues do not come in as projected, deficits occur, as what happened last year that resulted in a tax increase.

Further, last years tax increase generates $58 million more a year, so its difficult to understand why the city now feels the need to rely on an “orphan month” for $34 million in additional revenue and increasing fees to balance the budget.

The $34.3 million according CFO Bhakta is a “one-time, lifetime” boost in revenues that the city cannot apply toward recurring costs.

Instead of being responsible with the “windfall” the Keller Administration decides to just spend the money and not place it into “reserves” for future needs and until the New Mexico State Auditor can render an opinion on the the change in accounting practices.

State Auditor Tim Keller established a reputation of honesty and integrity by uncovering all sorts of “waste, fraud and abuse” in the use of taxpayer money.

When Keller was elected Mayor, he brought with him CFO Sanjay Bhaka as well as now Chief Administrative Officer Sarita Nair from the State Auditor’s Office, and all three should know better.

The New Mexico State Auditors Office conducts mandatory audits of the City of Albuquerque.

Least anyone forget, New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller was the one who found the backlog of 4,000 rape kits, not to mention the city spending more on civil lawsuit settlements that was considered reasonable all of which got Keller plenty of news coverage as he was running for Mayor.

Absent from the Keller Administration is any announcement if the current State Auditor Brian Colon’s office has given the approval of the city’s new accounting practices and the use of an “orphan month” revenue to free up $34 million in revenues.

The Albuquerque Fire and Rescue Department (AFRD) billing a resident’s auto insurance company when it is dispatched to a call for service to the scene of a car crash or vehicle fires in order to raise $1 million and fund 12 firefighter positions borders on the grotesque.

It is difficult to understand how that $1 million in a $1.1 Billion-dollar budget cannot be found to deliver a basic essential service to a car crash or vehicle fire to assist.

A very large percentage of people do not carry car insurance, and those who do, the insurance carrier may deduct the charge from an insurance claim.

The city maintains a contract with numerous private wrecking companies that are on a rotating schedule, when the city could easily purchase “tow-trucks” and do the job to clean up crash scenes.

And if there is a fatality, and no insurance, the City will probably want to charge the decedent’s family for the call for service which can easily be in the thousands of dollars.

This is not the first time city hall has gotten the “bright idea” to start charging citizens for essential services that they have already paid taxes for, but last time it was police services.

In 2017, Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis lead the charge with the introduction of a city council resolution that would allow the private sector and the businesses community to partner with the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) to create specific crime plans for business areas.

https://www.petedinelli.com/2017/10/16/sorry-for-your-loss-here-is-your-apd-bill-for-services-rendered/

The Davis plan was that if you can afford to pay more for your law enforcement protection services that you have already payed taxes for, the City would divert more law enforcement resources for protection to your area.

AFRD increasing charges as part of the business registration process is also highly questionable as being needed given last years increase in taxes and revenues.

Over the next few weeks, the Albuquerque City Council “Committee of the Whole”, consisting of all 9 city councilors, will hold budget hearings on each department budget and alter or amend the budget as they see fit, vote to approve and the budget will take effect July 1, 2019.

Perhaps the City Council can find responsible custodian to adopt the “orphan month” windfall and reject the change in accounting practices.

Below is an insightful guest editorial article written by Chris Schroeder and published in the Albuquerque Journal on Sunday, March 31, 2019.

The article is then followed by further “Analysis and Commentary.”

The title of the article is “NM Real Opportunity Is Small Business.”

CHRIS SCHROEDER

Chris is 35 years old, has lived his entire life in Albuquerque and New Mexico, was educated at UNM and has been married to his wife Crystal for 6 years and the couple have a two-and-a-half-year-old child.

Since 2014, Chris Schroeder has been the Chief Operating Officer for the highly successful Real Time Solutions, a web-based software company headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico with its offices in downtown Albuquerque.

With over 15 years of experience of creating high-performing websites and applications for his customers, Chris and his company Real Time Solutions is making a difference for his customers.

Chris is passionate about Albuquerque and New Mexico.

He serves on several boards and is actively engaged in new initiatives that are geared to make Albuquerque and New Mexico stronger.

Two major initiatives that Chris Schroeder is involved with are SOMOS ABQ and WeConnectNM.

SOMOS ABQ is a downtown festival conceived by young professionals to illuminate the beauty and brilliance of Albuquerque. SOMOS ABQ is everything we love about Albuquerque: its food, its music, its art, its community and its sun for days on end.

SOMOS ABQ combines those loves with creative forces, showing instead of telling, and sharing the pride in our beautiful city.

Last year, over 25,000 attended the annual SOMOS event in downtown.

WeConnectNM is an active community group that was formed to support and promote New Mexico as an exceptional place to establish a business, connect to opportunities, raise a family and enjoy a unique quality of life.

The vision of WeConnectNM is to make New Mexico the most “Small Business Friendly State in the Nation.”

ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL GUEST COMMENTARY BY CHRIS SCHROEDER:

“I’m somewhat shocked by what I’ve been reading lately regarding Amazon’s decision to pull out of New York City. It’s hard for me to understand how this is a long-term win for that community. The online giant promised to bring 25,000 new jobs with the average salary north of $100,000 a year. That’s $2.5 billion in payroll alone, annually! I think it’s fair to say that, given the opportunity, New Mexico would roll out the red carpet and welcome Amazon with open arms. I know I would.

While the Amazon deal is an incredible game changer, there is an alternative opportunity facing our state that has the potential to create explosive growth in our economy.

That opportunity is small business.

New Mexico is largely a small-business state. There are over 150,000 businesses, and 99% of them are small businesses that employ 54% of all New Mexicans. The local entrepreneurs that run these companies are the brave souls that ultimately drive this economy. These individuals create the companies that bring new wealth and economic growth to a region in the form of jobs, increased revenues and a thriving business sector. I think it is fair to say that small business is the heartbeat of our economy and certainly the backbone. Since that is the case, we must do everything we can to support our businesses and ensure their success and growth.

Recently, I’ve heard individuals set a vision for New Mexico to become the most business-friendly state in the nation. While that sounds great, truthfully, I think it’s completely unrealistic. We are competing with Colorado, Texas, Arizona, Utah, etc., that all have booming economies, incredibly business-friendly climates, and proven track records. Why would we try to compete with these states at their level? Our strategy for economic growth must be different. Michael Porter, a professor at the Harvard School of Business, wrote, “Strategy is about making choices, trade-offs; it’s about deliberately choosing to be different.” New Mexico must choose to be different when it comes to our strategy for economic growth. While everyone else is trying to woo the proverbial Amazon, we must choose to invest in our own.

In doing so, New Mexico could become the most small-business-friendly state in the nation. That is a vision that is attainable, sustainable and incredibly beneficial to our communities.

In order to realize this vision, we must become jealous for our local companies and prop up our home-grown firms. We must realize that doing business with them is in the community’s best interest, and that our tax dollars are best spent on local, New Mexico companies that employ the best and the brightest. We must support our local entrepreneurs by connecting them to resources, encouraging the development of essential infrastructure and creating incentives designed to support their growth. If we are able to do this, New Mexico’s economy will dramatically grow from within.

And if we can sustainably grow from within, then perhaps our children can lure the Amazons of their generation to our incredible state. Or better yet, foster the growth of a New Mexico company to become the next global corporate giant right here in the Land of Enchantment.”

https://www.abqjournal.com/1298265/nms-real-opportunity-is-small-business-ex-state-has-a-chance-for-explosive-economic-growth.html

DINELLI COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Chris Schroeder, at age 35, in a real sense represents Albuquerque’s future as being now.

According to US Census figures, in 2010, New Mexico’s median age was 36.7.

In 2017 the most recently released data show it was 37.8.

A major reason for the increase in New Mexico’s higher median age is young people leaving New Mexico in droves, something that has been going on for the last 8 years.

According to the Census Bureau, the nation’s Hispanic population is young, with a median age of 29.3 compared with 38.0 for the country as a whole.

In New Mexico, the median age of the Hispanic population statewide was the same in 2010 and was 30.3 years old and was the same in 2017.

Between 2011 and 2016, 42,000 more people exited the state than entered and there was unprecedented exodus of young people leaving the state with the majority being the college educated.

ECONOMIC BASE JOBS VERSUS SERVICE INDUSTRY JOBS

An “economic base job” is one created or needed by a business or industry that increases economic growth of a region by increasing exports of manufactured products, goods or services from the local economy or region to another region or economy thereby increasing the size of the local economy with profits and cash flow from outside the region.

The corner stone of the “economic base theory” is that an increase in economic growth of a region or economy is dependent on increase in exports, manufactured goods or services from one region or economy to another region or economy and supplying markets outside the local economy.

A service-based industry is one that offers its products, goods or services primarily within a particular region and does not supply markets outside the region nor increase the economic base of a region.

In general, service base industries offer lower paying or minimum wage jobs not requiring much education or technical skills while economic base industries provide jobs requiring higher education and higher trained skills.

SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT KEY TO CREATING ECONOMIC BASE JOBS

Current City a State Government officials are damn fools is they do not listen to and take notice to what Chris Schroeder has to say about small business being Albuquerque’s and New Mexico’s opportunity to diversify our economy.

Simply put, small businesses create economic base jobs.

Chris Schroeder accurately points out:

“… New Mexico must choose to be different when it comes to our strategy for economic growth. While everyone else is trying to woo the proverbial Amazon, we must choose to invest in our own … and prop up our home-grown firms. We must realize that doing business with them is in the community’s best interest, and that our tax dollars are best spent on local, New Mexico companies that employ the best and the brightest. We must support our local entrepreneurs by connecting them to resources, encouraging the development of essential infrastructure and creating incentives designed to support their growth. … ”

The City of Albuquerque needs to make a much bigger commitment in helping small business development.

The 2018-2019 approved budget for the city’s Economic Development was a pathetic $3.9 million out of a total operating revenue and approved budget of at almost a billion dollars at $955,300,000 for fiscal year 2018-2019.

Albuquerque can and must expand and find better ways to use financial incentives for small business development.

The City’s Economic Development Department needs to find a better way to help small business.

A good start would be funding a $20 million initial startup fund for new small businesses with claw back provisions and with the program administered by the Economic Development Department.

Our elected officials and the business community, including the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, Albuquerque Economic Development (AED), the Economic Forum, NAIOP and the banking, finance and development industries tend to give lip service to small business development.

The Hispano Chamber of Commerce provides far more help and assistance to developing new, small businesses.

The City, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, Albuquerque Economic Development (AED), the Economic Forum, NAIOP and the banking, finance and development industries need to think long and hard about finally doing something to help smaller business investment and development instead of just being satisfied with protecting their own financial interests, bottom lines and membership numbers.

City and county government and the business community need to listen more carefully to successful young business people like Chris Schroeder who have a much bigger stake in this city’s and the state’s future because of their age and the ages of their children.

Otherwise, the only jobs for millennial’s will be employment in old age homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals and funeral homes taking care of the needs of the age group of 55 to 90 while Albuquerque becomes just another dying dusty little community in the Southwest.

Below are links to 3 other related blog articles from last year that are on topic:

Where Have All The Young People Gone? Gone For Jobs Elsewhere Everyone!

Investing In Ourselves To Achieve Economic Development

Race And Equity Profile Report Gives Economic Development Roadmap