Sometimes we’re poor because we lack adequate opportunities.
Sometimes we’re poor because we don’t work hard enough.
And sometimes we’re poor because we keep electing people who keep us poor.
Maybe they know it. Maybe they don’t. And maybe they just don’t know any better.
If we are going to break out of last place, we must make better decisions.
A few weeks ago I brought to your attention the article by Janay Ndjongo that appeared on newsbreak.com.
It was titled “The worst city to live in New Mexico has been named,” and it was Española.
The metrics used to make this determination include economy, community and overall quality of life.
There was nothing in the study discussing how much we love our community or each other.
Reports such as this don’t take into account our amazing food, culture and music.
But a study such as this does force us to look at who we are and what changes we can make to improve our outcomes.
In the previous articles of this series, I was purposefully vague.
Here on out, I will begin to flesh out specific examples of how our processes and ways of thinking negatively impact our community and continue to keep Española in last place.
One of the metrics used to determine how well cities rank is the general health of the economy.
Specifically, the article looks at housing prices. The higher the prices, the more robust and stronger a city is. Yet “Española thinking” is doing everything it can to keep us down.
During an October 24th city council meeting, members heard from a ciizen who wants to build a small community of homes in Middle San Pedro.
He has already purchased the land and wants to build six homes and sell them at prices between $500,000 and $650,000.
Great news on all fronts for the economy of Española. It brings six families into the city limits, creates jobs and boosts the city’s income in a town that desperately needs housing.
Yet this development got whacked from both the peanut gallery NIMBY’s (Not In My Back Yard folks) and the politicians themselves.
We shout from the rooftops that we need more tax revenue and we must grow our population.
We’re also the first to say but “not in my back yard”.
We cherry pick and tell the developer what we want or bemoan that it’s going to create too much traffic, noise or pollution-or worse still that the world is somehow going to end.
We even use the common, “I’ve been here for generations” trick.
How does being here longer give you more rights to what happens next door? Like the saying goes, you can’t pick your neighbors.
As the council meeting got under way, the legitimacy of the proposal was called into question- of course it did. Hadn’t the council already heard and denied the proposal?
Isn’t this spot zoning and against the ordinances? “This must be stopped,” you could almost hear the gavel say. Then a few level-headed councilors insisted on getting the attorney’s perspective and immediately laid to rest any concerns.
This proposal had already bounced back and forth between commission and council several times.
The developer recieved all the appropriate licenses and jumped through the proper hoops. Even the planning director gave the blessing on the project.
When it came down to a vote, the stars lined up and the development was approved thanks to some very level-headed councilors.
Even though the developer was encouraged to build more moderately priced housing, it was a unanimous decision in favor.
We cannot risk telling anyone willing to invest their hard-earned capital in our city that their money is no good here.
And we can’t play games with their time, money and their livelihoods.
Sending them back and forth between committees is a sure way to discourage anyone from developing here.
City rankings look at housing prices to measure quality of life. In general, lower prices mean lower desirability and lower demand.
By insisting we maintain low housing prices, NIMBY’s and politicians unknowingly keep us ranked in last place.
Why do we keep lowering our standards? Why do we aim for mediocrity? The people of Española can afford nice houses.
We deserve the very best. Stop saying, “pobrecitos.”
Because the more we hear we’re poor, the more we believe we’re poor.
Javier Sánchez is the former mayor of the City of Española, NM, and the co-owner of La Cocina New Mexican Restaurant.