Associated Press--“We haven’t figured out a way to establish a tax structure that allows the state and municipalities and counties to raise adequate revenue to meet the needs of their citizens,” said James Jimenez, executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children.
Over the past few months, the resiliency and strength of communities all across New Mexico have been in full view as people come together to support each other through the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the pandemic has caused disproportionate harm to communities of color, worsening disparities in health and economic well-being. Just as public policies entrenched systemic racism, they can be used to dismantle it.
Las Cruces Sun-News--Nearly half reported that members of their families had seen reduced hours or pay cuts, with one in three parents or primary caregivers saying they were struggling to meet rent or mortgage payments. 36 percent of respondents who had lost work were not eligible for unemployment benefits.
Santa Fe Reporter--"New Mexico has a deep history with police brutality that culminated recently in the Department of Justice requiring the City of Albuquerque to reform the police force in the state's largest city, following a report that found a majority of police-involved shootings they investigated were unconstitutional."
Carlsbad Current Argus--“The lease rates are based on current oil and gas prices, so clearly any leases sold soon will go at bargain-basement prices. As New Mexico receives a share of the lease revenue, which helps put books in our classrooms and medicines in our clinics and hospitals, we will not be getting full value for our shared state resources,” Jimenez said.
Fact Sheet Despite the state having high rates of food insecurity, some lawmakers still talk about bringing back the tax on groceries. This may become an especially easy target as lawmakers look to replace state revenue that has been wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic, economy downturn, and drop in oil prices. Here's why they shouldn't. (State-level data on child food insecurity, SNAP usage, and more.)
NM Political Report--“It’s a reflection of the fact that despite what people say, that kids are our most precious asset, it’s not true in the way we invest our money in state and local government,” Jimenez said.
Fact Sheet (eighth in the series) Health care should be universally available in a global pandemic. While the U.S. still seems to be years away from joining the rest of the wealthy nations in guaranteeing this basic right, Congress did approve some financial assistance to states for their Medicaid programs. (State-level data on rates of uninsurance and Medicaid enrollment)
Albuquerque Journal--The good news is New Mexico is starting to see improvements in a number of areas as well as “big investments in programs that matter most to kids,” such as in education, early childhood education and child care programs, said Amber Wallin, deputy director of New Mexico Voices for Children.
Public News Service--James Jimenez, executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children, said the last-place ranking is disappointing, but the overall improvement in 10 of the 16 indicators is encouraging. "So that's a positive thing - not as much as we'd like, and maybe some other states are improving more than we are, but at the same time, at least 10 of those indicators moved in the right direction," Jimenez said.