OPINION: Talk of the Town

NM needs to join health care worker compacts

We recognize drivers’ licenses from other states so why not medical licenses?

If New Mexico joined the interstate medical licensure compacts for health care workers — like 43 other states — our total number of physicians would increase by 10%, some estimates say. So why wait until next year’s legislative session to join the interstate medical licensure compacts when we can increase access to health care now during the Oct.1 special session?

It’s time for New Mexico to finally join the interstate medical licensure compacts for health care workers. New Mexicans deserve access to quality and timely health care. The interstate compact bills are intended to make it easier for out-of-state practitioners to work in New Mexico, but stalled in a Senate committee.

A group of bills dealing with interstate compacts for doctors, counselors, physical therapists and other health care professionals could move quickly through the New Mexico Legislature.

I urge you to contact your New Mexico State legislators and urge them to pass the licensure bills.

Charlotte Lipson

Las Cruces

Why no outcry over moving State Fair?

It is baffling to me that with the State Fair going on and the articles in the Journal about it, including the possibility of this year being one of the last New Mexico State Fairs in Albuquerque for who knows how many years, that there has been no protest or public outcry about the destruction of the iconic fairgrounds. It was brought up by our governor months ago and there has been few opportunities for public comment or input. I attended a Bernalillo County meeting this spring to obtain info, only to be told that the scheduled State Fair issue was taken off of the agenda.

These are our taxpayer dollars that are going to be spent. Over $1.35 million has already been spent on planning for the potential relocation, including $850,000 for the master plan and a prior $500,000 for initial redevelopment and planning. No one has talked about how much it is going to cost to move the fair, as no location has been found yet and construction costs are only going to rise.

The people behind the move would like us to believe that the State Fair in Albuquerque is no big deal. However, last year’s attendance set an all time record of over 500,000, nearly 25% of our state’s population. There is also the issue of Expo New Mexico, which hosts multiple events every month, from car shows to art shows, not to mention Tingley Coliseum, which recently had a $2 million upgrade.

The International District and the businesses along Central Avenue certainly need help but until the issues in the area are addressed and resolved, what new businesses would want to relocate there?

I would like to know who is going to benefit from this massive expenditure of time and money. In my opinion certainly not the people of New Mexico.

June Montoya

Albuquerque

Poor education hurts economy, businesses

Why are student success policies adopted in Louisiana and Mississippi called attacks on public education and teacher professionalism? The Journal article announcing the School Board Candidate Forum Sept. 10 mistakenly pitted the union against “corporate interests.” In reality, the antagonists are the union against parents, kids, teachers and others who want Albuquerque Public Schools to focus on student outcomes.

Despite increasing expenditures per pupil, student outcomes have declined. For the past decade New Mexico has ranked near the bottom. A poor education system hurts economic prosperity, job growth, business investment, retention of our youth and personal development potential.

John Rockwell

Albuquerque

Common sense gun restrictions needed

The Sept. 12 Journal Opinion headlines: “When conversation gets you killed, we’ve lost the plot” and “Political violence must end.” Charlie Kirk’s death was a tragedy but let’s not forget the tragedy of all the children killed in school shootings, the adult and children killed at event shootings and the adults and kids killed at holiday shootings. The list goes on and on and they are all tragedies. We, as a society, have decided that we care more for the right for people to easily procure guns of any kind and as many as they could possibly want than we do about the number of innocent people who are mowed down each year in gun violence. Unless we can bring ourselves to enact some sort of gun control, any sort of gun control, all we have are thoughts and prayers and the realization that we could be next. If Trump wants to clean up violent cities, it wouldn’t be a miss to start with some common sense rules on guns.

Laura Leon

Albuquerque

National Guard used for police duty

I am surprised that there has been little coverage of the probable disruption caused by activating National Guard units for police duty, such as in Washington, D.C and Los Angeles. Is anyone looking into this issue?

In 1973, I was in a Missouri National Guard unit activated for flood duty (rescue and flood control) for about 12 days. In my little platoon (about 26 men) we had three police officers, two lawyers and many tradesmen, factory workers and more whose work was disrupted. I recall one of the lawyers was in a trial that had to be suspended. Many men were very concerned about their wives having to take care of the family by themselves, even just for about 2 weeks. And in those days they had little opportunity to contact their family, except at night from the barracks.

I was lucky I was between jobs and found the pay welcome.

Walter W. Blood III

Albuquerque