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Thomas: Las Cruces Must Maintain Progressive Leadership

Sharon Thomas
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city of las cruces photo

Commentary: For nearly a decade now, the city has enjoyed progressive leadership. Successes have been many--curbside recycling, substantial increase in trails and parks, renewable energy (solar on city buildings), a water reclamation plant, minimum wage increase, a renewed downtown that is giving the city back its heart. These successes have resulted in much deserved national recognition, the latest as the #1 best run city in the state and #6 best run city nationally.

 

 We need progressive leadership to be able to maintain this momentum. The city is working on an Arts and Culture designation for the downtown, opening new avenues for funding. Plan4LasCruces, the comprehensive plan, will soon come before the city council. It aims “to continue to make Las Cruces a great place to live, work, and play for persons of all ages, backgrounds, cultures and economic levels.”

 

The Five Year Strategic Plan is being implemented. It’s about better sidewalks, more transit, a one-stop shop for developers, connecting the university with the downtown, moving toward commuter rail between Las Cruces and El Paso, and greater collaboration with both the Las Cruces Public Schools and NMSU.

 

We are making a name for ourselves as a progressive community that offers a high quality of life. The city now has it’s own economic development department that can focus on helping our local businesses to grow and prosper. It will also promote our excellent arts and culture community. It can work with local entities, like La Semilla, to help our farmers produce commercial products. We see progress all around us; we are poised for even greater accomplishments.

 

Help the city continue on this road to success.  Vote for the progressive city council candidates—Council District 3, Gabe Vasquez; District 5, Gill Sorg; District 6, Yvonne Flores, and Joy Goldbaum for municipal court.