Category Archives: Articles

New Mexico goes all out for the census

Part of the planning for the 2020 US census is identifying geographic locations that are hard to count. On anational map that identifies those areas by color, New Mexico is lit up like a Christmas tree. The map was shown … Continue reading

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Let’s avoid the referendum trap

The British initiative known as Brexit is my candidate for the worst referendum in the history of the world. In Brexit, citizens of the United Kingdom voted in 2017 to withdraw from the European Union by simply voting  “leave” or … Continue reading

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What’s behind the doors of massage parlors ?

The massage parlors in Albuquerque seem to have bought their signs from the same sign company. Many of the signs are identical, the word “MASSAGE” in bright red letters against a white background. They are everywhere. I’m beginning to think … Continue reading

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Human trafficking victims can be anywhere

The girl looked out from my computer screen with big round eyes and a sad face. She was maybe 12 years old, an ordinary looking white girl with long straight hair.  Behind her was a featureless background should. Text below … Continue reading

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What will a marijuana store look like?

Marijuana for sale in state run stores? In New Mexico? Are you kidding? To at least a few legislators, the idea is completely serious. Sen. Mark Moores, R – Albuquerque, is one. In 2019 he was a sponsor of Senate … Continue reading

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Building out broadband requires coordination

Under railroad tracks throughout New Mexico lies buried treasure. The treasure is black fiber. Black fiber, also called dark fiber, is fiber optic cable that nobody is using, cable that someone had the good sense to put into the ground … Continue reading

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Workers’ comp deserves more attention

  Update to this column:  On October 22, 2019, it was announced that Loretta Lopez had been appointed director of the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration (WCA). Lopez was most recently deputy director of the Risk Management at the state’s … Continue reading

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The unfixable liquor license system

To call New Mexico’s liquor license law a mess would be an understatement. The law is blatantly unfair in how it allocates access to liquor licenses, and it is not helpful either to the state or to New Mexico citizens. … Continue reading

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Sometimes those high salaries are needed

I used to say to myself, “New Mexico, love it or leave it.” I was thinking about salaries. I have changed my thinking. This is New Mexico, I thought. New Mexico is a special place and we are all lucky … Continue reading

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What the Kids Count report reveals

New Mexico is once again at the bottom of the barrel for the well-being of children. The annual survey known as Kids Count has placed us at 50 out of 50. Kids Count measures categories in the areas of economic … Continue reading

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