New Mexico

LTE: New Mexico’s Approach On Poverty Doesn’t Address Its Root Causes

Published

1 year ago

January 22, 2025

BY BUSHRA ELFARISSI
Vice President
Young Democrats of New Mexico

New Mexico has made significant strides in addressing poverty, but we must ask: Are we truly addressing the root causes of poverty and bridging the wealth divide, or are we merely offering short-term relief? The state’s reposition from first in poverty to 17th in the nation — driven partly by a focus on the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which accounts for both cash resources and non-cash benefits like housing and food assistance — marks notable progress. However, it doesn’t mean the individuals or families relying on these benefits to survive are no longer poor. Once we shift our focus from merely alleviating the symptoms of poverty to finding long-term solutions, we can pave the way for a more prosperous future for all New Mexicans.

Unlike the Official Poverty Measure, the United States’ standard poverty measure which considers only cash resource availability, the SPM paints a more detailed picture of poverty by factoring in resources like food, health care, and housing assistance. Though the heightened nuance provided by the SPM gives us a better understanding of the lived experiences many face, it’s important to acknowledge that programs designed to address immediate needs, while invaluable, are not a cure for poverty. In fact, they often highlight New Mexicans’ vulnerability rather than their economic independence.

Consider this: in New Mexico, approximately 72% of babies are born into Medicaid. And according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 40.3% of children in New Mexico are part of families receiving public assistance —the highest rate in the nation. While the multitude of assistance programs New Mexico provides are essential, we also need to focus on creating pathways for long-term economic security. It’s similar to how doctors treat a disease – they don’t just focus on mitigating pain; they work toward a cure so those painful symptoms cease entirely. In the case of poverty, we should not only be proud of our efforts to treat its symptoms but also work toward solving the systemic issues that keep people dependent on assistance.

Baby Bonds, a landmark initiative architected by world-renowned economist Dr. Darrick Hamilton and introduced in New Mexico by State Treasurer Laura M. Montoya and New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez, would establish a government-funded trust for every child born in New Mexico after July 1st, 2025. When the recipients reach adulthood, and after taking a financial literacy component, they could use the funds for government-approved wealth-building opportunities, such as down payments on a home or reliable vehicle, higher education, trade school, or startup capital for a new business venture. With the potential to provide over $20,000 per individual by the time they turn 18, Baby Bonds is a forward-thinking solution that can help bridge the wealth divide and provide future generations with the financial knowledge and tools to thrive.

Unlike traditional assistance programs, which are vital in the short term, Baby Bonds is an investment directly in New Mexicans and offer a sustainable pathway to economic independence and wealth while building our economy. True progress isn’t about fewer New Mexicans qualifying as poor on paper; it’s about ensuring every New Mexican has the tools to thrive on their own. But of course, Baby Bonds isn’t a silver bullet[PC1] to address every ailment threatening our state’s economic welfare. To create lasting positive change, we must continue to support and strengthen existing assistance programs that improve quality of life, while also investing in solutions that foster long-term economic independence. By combining Baby Bonds with the robust assistance already in place, we can break generational cycles of poverty and lead New Mexicans to a brighter future.

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New Mexico

Santa Fe National Forest, other Northern New Mexico land, announce fire restrictions

Published

7 hours ago

April 1, 2026

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Santa Fe National Forest, other Northern New Mexico land, announce fire restrictions

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New Mexico

New Mexico State women’s basketball’s 3 best March Madness moments

Published

19 hours ago

April 1, 2026

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New Mexico State women’s basketball’s 3 best March Madness moments

New Mexico State’s women’s basketball team has entered a new era with the hiring of Adeniyi Amadou as its new coach. He’ll try to take the Aggies back to the NCAA Tournament, where they appeared multiple times in the 1980s and 2010s.

NM State has six NCAA Tournaments, four conference tournament championships (all won as part of the Western Athletic Conference) and eight regular-season conference championships to its name in women’s basketball. The Aggies have reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament once in 1988, although that was when teams could receive first-round byes if they were a high enough seed (they were a No. 6 seed then and lost to Washington in their first NCAA Tournament game).

Let’s look back on some of those seasons. Here are the three best March Madness moments in NM State’s women’s basketball history:

First conference tournament win (2015)

NM State began its WAC dynasty in 2015.

The Aggies won their first-ever conference tournament in women’s basketball in the 2015 WAC Tournament. NM State was the regular-season conference champion and earned the No. 1 seed and a bye to the semifinals of the WAC Tournament as a result. The Aggies went 2-0 to secure a conference tournament championship.

Bolstered by 22 points from Sasha Weber and 16 rebounds from Brianna Freeman, NM State pulled out a 79-75 overtime win in the semifinals over Seattle. Another 20 points from Weber helped the Aggies win the WAC Tournament championship game 70-52 over UT-Pan American (which has since merged with UT-Brownsville to form UTRGV) and reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1988. Freeman was named the WAC Tournament MVP.

Three in a row (2017)

The Aggies would then make it three consecutive WAC Tournament championships two years later.

NM State entered the 2017 WAC Tournament with a perfect 14-0 conference record, and it kept that unbeaten run going. The Aggies defeated UMKC (now referred to as Kansas City) 71-63 in the semifinals thanks to four players scoring in double figures, including Moriah Mack’s 21 points in 40 minutes of action. NM State then took down Seattle 63-48 in the championship game off the back of a double-double from Tamera William at 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Mack won the WAC Tournament MVP that year. She scored 18 points against the Redhawks in the championship game. It was the third and final WAC Tournament championship for then-coach Mark Trakh before he joined USC.

Resilience in overtime (2019)

Another regular-season conference championship wasn’t enough in 2018, as the Aggies lost to Seattle in the semifinals. But NM State got back on its perch in the WAC in the following year.

Guided by second-year coach Brooke Atkinson, the Aggies needed two overtime victories to win the 2019 WAC Tournament after defeating Chicago State in the quarterfinals (the WAC Tournament went from seven to eight teams starting in 2018, with no byes to the semifinals). The first one came in a 91-80 win over UMKC after NM State allowed just five points in overtime. The Aggies were forced into double overtime during the championship game against UTRGV, which ended with a 76-73 win.

Gia Pack scored 86 points across the WAC Tournament, including 36 against UMKC, to win the tournament’s MVP. Brooke Salas scored a team-high 29 points in the championship game.

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New Mexico

‘Just incredibly creative’: Tinkertown near Albuquerque prepares for the season

Published

1 day ago

March 31, 2026

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‘Just incredibly creative’: Tinkertown near Albuquerque prepares for the season

BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) — Wood carvings, glass bottles, and other odds and ends help make up an art museum tucked away on Sandia Crest Road. It all started over 40 years ago with a man aiming to be as creative, as curious, and as open to experience as possible – Ross Ward.

“I often describe a walk through the museum as kind of walking through the head and the heart of my dad… You begin to understand that this person was very passionate, very curious, very excited, and just incredibly creative,” said Ross’s daughter, Tanya Ward Goodman. “And it inspired you to do the same.”

Tinkertown is an artist-built environment that first opened its doors in 1983. There you can find animated miniature figures, various artifacts from Ross’s travels, and thousands of glass bottles, among much more. The spot has been around for quite a bit now, but they’ve recently made an exciting new change that’s been in the works for years.

“We have turned the entire museum into a 501(c)(3),” said Tanya. “And our mission is to preserve and protect the work and the artistic legacy of Ross Ward and translate his vision into a rousing call to live a more creative and colorful life.” Tanya added that it “has always been a little bit of a self-sustaining enterprise… the fact that all proceeds already went into the operation and management of the museum, it really isn’t a huge leap for us.”

Their main goal as a non-profit? To ramp up art and writing workshops while encouraging rural collaboration between New Mexico artists. It’s also a way to potentially bring more helping hands to the museum.

“My dad died in 2002. He had early onset Alzheimer’s. He was diagnosed at 57, and he died at 62. And my stepmother, Carla Ward, has been running the museum since his death, and she’s getting to a place where she would like to retire or take some steps back,” said Tanya. “I think she’ll always be involved because she loves it and it’s been such a deep labor of love on her part… We had been sort of exploring different options and thinking about how to keep the museum open while also having some sort of retirement for her, and we would need to bring in extra people.”

The change comes in time for Tinkertown’s 2026 season opening on Friday, April 3, with a grand opening celebration on Sunday, April 5 – Ross’s birthday. There will be live music, cake, book signings, and more. “I wrote a memoir called ‘Leaving Tinkertown’ that was published by the University of New Mexico Press,” said Tanya. “I will be signing books. University of New Mexico Press will sell that book. We have other books about Tinkertown. Other authors will be there.”

As for the 2026 season overall, Tinkertown hopes to see more familiar faces and new faces alike come through the doors. “People come from not only all over New Mexico and the rest of the U.S., but all over the world,” said Tanya. “We have a huge map and there are, by the end of the season, there are colored pins in almost every continent and country in the world… I think what I hope that they learn is just that if you have an idea and an interest that you can follow that and wonderful things will happen.”

You can learn more about Tinkertown on their website.

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