success in santa fe: score on for the revolution from below. - led shop signs

In the struggle between the rich and the poor, people like Valentine Valdez often hold the short end of the stick.
But not in Santa Fe.
Valdez, a retired gatekeeper, grew up climbing through the mountains around New Mexico's historic, picturesque and increasingly fashionable capital.
A few years ago, when he was hiking on Mount Atalaya, Valdez met a piece of land that has traditionally been considered to be of great Hispanic community members in Santa Fe
Now, however, Valdez has always believed that the public space is divided into places where many developers plan to build $500,000 --and-
Housing for rich people from California.
"I realize that greed is destroying our community," Valdez said . "
A 70-year-old speakerone.
"I realize that if we don't fight back, the rich will overthrow the poor --
Like they did for thousands of years.
"The counterattack described by Valdez has evolved into a compelling story of municipal transformation, and in less than two years, Santa Fe's town hall has been broken from a conservative, pro
And handed over to one of the most progressive local governments in the United States.
The mayor and city council of Santa Fe could have been considered a rubber place
Local officials stamp the extravagant development proposal and then march for cocktails with their wealthy contributors, who now vote for a moratorium on development and then go to a union rally or a Green Party meeting.
At one point in Santa Fe, class issues were ignored, but now the local people talk frankly about the economic gap.
"People know there is a class difference, but politicians in most places never talk about it," declared Mayor Debbie jalamillo . ".
"We are really talking about it in Santa Fe.
How can we avoid this problem?
Obviously what happened-
You have rich people who force the poor to leave their homes, their communities.
That's not what I made up.
This is what we can see every day.
This is what people choose us to do.
"The new mayor and the Commission also publicly appointed gay officials for the first time, and set up a green environmental organization at the planning agency. now, discussions of local governments are filled with phrases such as "populist coups" and "revolutions", which have shaken the status quo.
Jaramillo admits: "Our takeover may be seen as a revolution compared to the political history of the city hall," she started her political journey in 1986 as a radical community activist, he was sworn in as mayor seven years later.
"I think those who think elections are a revolution are doing this because the shift that has been made is from a good --old-
Real professional Boys Clubdevelopment-
The type of government led by women-
A Hispanic woman.
He said that the interests of the working people and the poor should be put first.
"This shift is so remarkable that state observers are starting to use Santa Fe as an example for progressive people across the country.
It illustrates the possibility of establishing alliances involving the Green party, trade unions, the elderly, ethnic minorities and the white working class, and highlights the issue of contributing to the maintenance of such alliances.
"I think the left must start thinking about making development and affordable --
Housing as an alliance tool
Do important things.
Santa Fe shows how this has happened, "said Steve Koble, former presidential campaign official for pastor Jesse Jackson.
"If the left is serious about environmental issues, wealth and poverty, it shows the way to build alliances and succeed.
"Former New Mexico governor Tony Anaya, a Santa Fe resident, was one of the most progressive governors in the country during his 1980 s term, agreeing with Cobb.
"Models in Santa Fe can go somewhere else.
In fact, it should go somewhere else, "said Anaya.
"The model of building alliances around issues such as development is something that the progressives need to know, if we really want to be at the local level and ultimately win at the national level.
"While the left wing alliance has won control over many cities across the country for years --
From Burlington, Vermont to Berkeley, California
The example of Santa Fe is unique, not only in terms of the composition of the Union, but also in terms of a prominent emphasis on class issues.
Again, everything in Santa Fe is unique.
Its roots can be traced back more than seven centuries until the Pueblo Indians built a village on the present city site, Santa Fe, one of the oldest and most unique communities in North America.
The place was so appealing that the Spanish conquistors fought the Indians for the land.
Eventually, a thriving business center was established in the 19 th century, thriving as the terminal of the Santa Fe Trail.
Soon after the beginning of the 20 th century, it was named the capital of New Mexico.
A gentle city of native architecture sits in 7,000-foot-
On the plateau, a pure blue stream flows through its center, and artists and writers have always portrayed Santa Fe as a Garden of Eden.
Author D in the 1920 s. H.
Lawrence wrote, "When I saw the bright, proud morning light in the Santa Fe desert, there was still something in my soul that I began to attend.
However, despite the high praise of Lawrence and his contemporaries, Santa Fe is still a relatively quiet, culturally diverse state --
Until government towns in their 1970 s
When improving the "new" reputation of traffic links and rowing
Age centers are beginning to attract more and more new people.
California is particularly rich.
The locals call it "different cities ".
"Like Lawrence, a lot of people are attracted to the scenery and the relaxed lifestyle, so they decided to stay.
Santa Fe's population has surged from 40,000 in her 1970 s to more than 60,000 today.
Another 45,000 people live in the surrounding county seat.
For the first time in three centuries, 1990 census shows that more Hispanic Americans live in the community than Hispanic Americans.
"All of a sudden, you start to see the mansion on the mountain," Valentine Valdez explained . " His family has lived in Santa Fe for generations.
"In the community, over the past few years, you 've begun to see that these houses were not bought by children from Santa Fe, but by Hollywood people with big checkbooks.
"In fact, in the 1980 s, house prices in Santa Fe soared.
Between 1990 and 28%, the median price of a house rose by 1993.
Once inconspicuous neighborhood near the city center, simple adobe homes now cost $300,000, like-
Room apartments can cost up to $1. 500 a month.
"The city has experienced the most incredible middle-class process in the last 20 years.
"City councillor Chris Moore said he was a Green Party activist and was elected in March 1994 with Jaramillo.
"Many rich people come here to travel and decide to retire here.
The problem is that while they push up house prices and taxes, wages do not rise in parallel.
So the locals
People who have lived here all the time
They are under great pressure to sell their homes to millionaires from California.
"Long term residents like Valdez.
More than 40 years ago, he built his adobe residence on the east side of the city.
Now they find their property rich, but they lack cash.
With the rise of family value. property-
The tax bill went up so fast that people like Valdez
People living on Social Security and small pensions
In order to be able to live at home, a loan must be made.
Within a few years.
Valdez saw his Apodaca Hill community from a family, lowto middle-
Income reported by local newspapers.
New Mexico, now known as the Million
Near the dollar.
"As the value of the home assessment rises, small houses in beautiful, quaint historic neighborhoods are built for $10.
$20,000 or $300 suddenly went up in dollars. 000.
Senator Moore explained that his area includes the community of Valdez.
"This means that the assessment has increased, and your seniors have to pay a property tax of $1,000 a year. The real-
Carrots in the real estate market
People know they can sell a lot of money.
Tax is a stick.
Locals are under a lot of pressure to sell goods to some wealthy buyers.
"With the arrival of 1990 people, the problem is that Valdez doesn't want to sell and move --
Like many of his neighbors.
Thirty miles and forty miles from town.
The bigger problem is the future of future generations of work --
Class people like him are rapidly disappearing.
"I am afraid that one day I will become too much, I will lose my home, my land --
Where has my roots been, "explains Valdez. "I felt so sad;
The locals were forced to leave their hometown.
We have to respond, otherwise it will no longer be our town.
"Counter-attack development is slow.
Santa Claus has been taught to enjoy travel and lifeand-let-
Live atmosphere in the community
Reflected in the store logo that says "stealing is a bad business --
Newcomers are traditionally very welcome.
"Especially in the 1980 s, Santa Fe became a tourist --
Pay great attention to touristshungry -
"This is a mistake," Anaya said.
"Santa Fe is very close. development -
The city council has never met the development it does not like.
"However, the elderly are beginning to realize that the tourist boom and the boom in development are turning their city into a place they can no longer afford.
As a young housewife and mother, Debbie jalamillo was ahead of the first high school students in 1986profile anti-
Development activities.
She led a petition campaign to prevent road projects that destroyed existing neighborhoods in order to promote development in the surrounding areas.
Jaramillo was so outspoken and so effective that in 1988 she was elected as a member of the City Council as a lonely person --
But little silence
The enemy in the direction of Santa Fe.
Although she lost 7 on many issues-
Members of Parliament successfully put development issues on the public agenda and named themselves.
Calling Jaramillo's committee term controversial is understatement.
Speaking to The New York Times about wealthy newcomers, she said: "These people are conquistors and they don't need weapons to take over our town.
Instead, they came here with their large sum of money and higher education.
On 1993, she told a reporter from the San Diego Union
Tribune-
This is a feature of wealthy California moving to Santa Fe --
Hispanics in northern New Mexico are considering burning millions.
Dollar house to fight what they think is white invading their area. Jamarillo's in-your-
The traditional authority facing the impact of Santa Fe
In late 1980 and early 1990, a mix of rich Hispanics and Anglos led by Mayor Sam pique.
An enthusiastic development official, Pick has the support of a similar person
Most people in the City Council
Jaramillo challenged the mayor in 1990 and won nearly 30% of the vote.
But when she ran again in 1994, many local experts described her as too sharp.
She was even accused of being racist.
As her criticism of the new arrivals is so impassioned, the vast majority of them happen to be British.
In fact, Jaramillo has worked hard to combat racism and established a wide range
Build alliances around common economic issues.
But her opponent ignored the job.
"I think a lot of the time they think that if they can turn the situation around and turn the discussion to another topic, then they don't have to deal with the real problem," said the 40-year-old. three-year-old mayor.
They think they have a simple
Call her racist and soon people will talk about racism, not the economy.
This is a way to get rid of the real problems at hand.
I think this is a strategy to bypass the issues that need to be addressed.
"However, Jaramillo will not be blocked in the 1994 campaign. Though the pro-
The development leader, Senator Chavez, used three of her. to-
One, although she was weakened by the third candidate, he was more moderate
The development platform, Jaramillo established an alliance, which is too rare these days.
"I think her victory is not so much because of the actual organization.
Moore, who supports Jaramillo, said: "The Formed Party candidates, people know that the formed party has disappointed them . ".
"She's got a lot of Hispanic support --
Especially from the elderly
She has also attracted a lot of support from liberal English.
Any presence of developers, union members, Greens and the left.
"Run on the slogan of provocation", Es Tiempo ("It's Time")
Jaramillo purchased a newspaper advertisement declaring that "what is popular is not always right, what is right is not always popular," and said, "it is time for the town hall to focus on the needs of the citizens, instead of focusing on the needs of developers, politicians and special interest groups.
Jaramillo, who made the issue of economic gaps an important part of her campaign, said, "it's time to reverse the trend that has exacerbated the economic and racial divide in our city.
We must stop ignoring less affluent communities and deteriorating places.
While other candidates were chattering on crime and gang issues, Jaramillo noted that she joined the gang when she was young and said, "social conditions such as poverty, housing poverty, the lack of economic opportunity is the main cause of crime.
We must solve the problem of crime from the root.
"Former Governor Anaya sees Jaramillo's position on economic progress as a powerful tool for underfunded candidates in political war.
"The awareness of class here is very real," Anaya said . ".
"Santa Fe's class has more open discussions than you find elsewhere. Why?
Part of the reason is that everything is obvious.
You have a $800,000 house on the ridge.
Rich people, many of whom are new, look down on the rest of us.
It's not hidden. it's obvious.
On the other hand, you have your local family, families that have been here for generations, and have to sell them because they are burdened with property taxes that don't increase due to going outof-staters.
Debbie just let people know she saw what they saw.
They responded.
"The last poll before the election showed Jaramillo was 12 percentage points behind, but when counting, she won easily with 39% of the votes --Candidate field.
In addition, the election in a counter
Development, the Group of Eight
That means the new mayor can turn her bold words into action.
This prospect makes local developers feel cold.
She threw herself into the campaign of her main opponent in the last few days before the election.
The newspaper editorial warned the mayor that she must be careful so as not to "scare" her election into business.
But Jaramillo does not think the word "intimidation" is appropriate.
"Intimidation is just a term they like to use --
"I think the reality is that the election has angered a lot of powerful people," she said . ".
"Whenever I say the truth, I see a series of things when I say what needs to be said.
There are many kinds of reactions.
I saw some people become really defensive and try to get me-
Call me racist or something.
But I know it's because I talked about the real problem.
Have a real understanding of what's really happening in this country --
Who is better, who is not good, who is not good.
But it is rare to hear it in itself in a political context.
So when I say that, I think people are scared by it.
They just don't want politicians to seriously talk about wealth and poverty.
So far, Jaramillo is barely willing to trim her sails.
She filled the council seat she had to give up, became mayor of an open gay community activist, and-
Although Jaramillo is a Democrat for Jesse Jackson
She has little doubt about the appointment of the Santa Fe well
The Green Party was organized for the local committee.
The new Council has funded an innovative tenant hotline and adopted a resolution calling for environmental protection
Research on the impact of the nearby Los Alamos nuclear facility project and recognition of trade union organizations in the local private sector.
The mayor and Parliament are currently considering a bold urban charter proposal that will limit campaign spending and expand direct democracy through initiatives, recalls and a referendum.
It will also prohibit the adoption of any city regulation, resolution, referendum or policy "based on race, age, religion, color, national origin, gender discrimination, sexual orientation, physical or mental disorder, or physical condition.
"In key development areas, Jaramillo and the council acted quickly --
Although not always as fast as some local activists would like.
The city has launched projects aimed at providing affordable housing. A forty-six-unit resort-
Failed apartment development was obtained from resolution trust with the goal of lowand moderate-Income families.
The city is also buying plots where affordable housing can be built.
Jaramillo has come up with a plan that requires all developers to set aside a certain percentage of future development, including affordable-housing units -
By law, this will have to be mixed up with more expensive units.
In fact, the debate now is not about whether this is a good idea, but about where to set the criteria for affordability --
Santa Fe's planners think the $120,000 house is affordable, but Moore thinks the number should be close to $80,000.
To guide economic growth more effectively
Usually follow the pattern of water availability
The city will also purchase a private sangre de cristto water company.
In the boldest operation to date, city and county officials voted in June to strictly limit the development of Santa Fe in the eastern mountains, just a few years ago, valentine Valdez sees the place where developers claim to have precious open space.
Senator Frank Montano, who has called this the most important local legislation in decades, announced growth
The regulation will "not only protect the people who live today, but also protect us and the people who live after them.
"After the vote, Valdez contacted Moore, a Green MP leading in growth --
When the two hugged, Valdez whispered, "You did a good job, my friend.
Stressing the need for community alliances to support bold initiatives in the new parliament, Moore replied, "No, we're doing a good job . ".
"The question of whether Santa Fe progressive can really change the development model --
And the economic gap.
No reply has been received.
Some local activists say Jaramillo and the new parliament are not as tough on land speculators as they should be.
Others say there is no way to do enough.
"I think we are moving in the right direction.
We are getting some balance.
But this could be the old theory of locking the warehouse door after the horse ran away, "Anaya said.
"There are too many developments, and the pressure of development is still too great.
We lost a lot of Santa Claus I wanted to see.
I'm not sure if we can reverse the influx of migrants and drive the Browns out of town.
"Despite this, many activists are still full of real confidence after economic growth has passed --
Control legislation.
"You can make a difference here," observed David Albin, a local architect and community activist who participated in the land several times. use fights.
"You can swing at this level.
Maybe it's not what everyone wants, but what we do here is important.
"Arbin believes that this will ultimately be related to progressive people throughout the American community.
"Remember," he said, "as early as 1890 s, the populist began in the small towns of Oklahoma City and Kansas, they ended up writing down the final agenda set by Bob Lafite and Franklin Roosevelt and others.
Why shouldn't a small city in New Mexico be the place where the next set of progress agendas are written?
"The Green future if Green has a future in American politics, it is likely to take the form of people like Chris Moore. The pony-tailed complex-
The system researcher at the Santa Fe Institute became the first Green Party activist to be elected to public office in New Mexico. last year, he won the seat of the Santa Dafi City Council, and he quickly established his position as an environmental activist, he rarely recognizes the false boundaries of contemporary politics.
"Environmental activists need to be linked to social and economic issues," Moore said . " He played an important role in setting the agenda for the burgeoning green movement in New Mexico.
"People on the left need to go out
Populist on the right.
We need to send a strong message that the status quo is not working and that the Greens are able to do this more effectively than Democrats.
"For Moore, this means active participation in union organization activities and efforts to establish a higher minimum wage in Santa Fe --
Maybe $7 an hour.
It also means reaching out to small businesses.
Business owners-
Who can play a vital role in the development of a sustainable economy.
"We made a big mistake in allowing Reagan Republicans to attract small businesses through big businesses," Moore said . " Moore is organizing a series of meetings between the Greens and local business owners.
"There is no reason for these people not to be on our side.
The people on the left just didn't spend enough time talking to them.
"Moore's combination of green idealism with the actual politics of alliance building and community expansion has given him a key role in Santa Fe's rapidly evolving political arena.
Even though Debbie Jaramillo, the Democratic mayor, was only half-joking when he said "Chris drives me crazy," she added, "He brings a truly exciting intellectual energy to the process.
He worked hard to find a viable solution to the uncompromising.
"Moore's success is even more amazing because he is a new English native who represents a town with a large Hispanic population and it is not easy to believe in outsiders.
Moore won the support of the community, not by tucking the philosophical motto, but by rolling up his sleeves and joining the local struggle for affordable housing and tax relief --
He easily deals with the green issues of land use and development control.
Natural 20 age came to Santa Fethree -
After receiving his PhD
Dr. in physics at Cornell University, who is active in green politics on campus
Moore plunged into the street.
Level organization of the property-tax relief.
This allowed him to live in the old man's house, who regarded him as a boy activist.
When he was advised to attend the City Council, Moore initially rejected the idea.
However, after talking to some older Hispanic Americans in the eastern district of Santa Fe, he decided to enterpartisan race.
Moore raised $12,000 with the support of the Greens, the Sierra Club and some local unions and organized a highly complex but indomitable campaign.
He beat.
Better to know
Funding candidates by promising to compete for strict growth controls, neighborhood protection and progressive taxes.
Since his election, Moore has been an effective advocate of the council's most progressive initiative --
Including support for urban workers in contract negotiations, and the establishment of strict development restrictions in the mountainous areas around Santa Fe.
At the same time, he maintains a crazy schedule of participation in neighborhood, environment and union organizations.
"Even if you enter the office, you still have to be a community organization.
"Elsewhere, one problem with the left is that they give up outreach when they get into the office," Moore said . ". "That's death.
This is just a recipe-
Alienating everyone's tenure.
I want us to be a sports party.
I want the Greens to prove that you can work from within and still be a revolutionary party.
John Nichols is the editor of The Madison Capital Times in Wisconsin.
He wrote about electrical politics for such a setback.