Commissioner, Congressman Visit Pajarito Mesa

Bernalillo County Commissioner Art De La Cruz and U.S. House Rep. Martin Heinrich toured the “off-the-grid” community of Pajarito Mesa this week, where residents live without power or water service.

“The county can’t resolve this alone,” De La Cruz told me in an interview this afternoon. “It will be an expensive proposition.”

The community is too far from the border with Mexico to qualify technically as a “colonia,” he said. But he hopes the federal and state governments will find a way to help the county address the problem.

The area lacks streets and other basic amenities. About 300 families were living there late last year.

De La Cruz said Heinrich met with Pajarito residents on Wednesday, and they seemed appreciative when he said he would look for ways to help.

De La Cruz is a Democrat from Bernalillo County’s South Valley. Heinrich is a Democrat from Albuquerque.