California Transplants In Las Cruces (unemployment rate, to buy, camping)

[tecpatl]

quote=72chevelle]

"Ex Californians have become very involved in local politics, probably due to the fact that they do have money.... So they have the time and wherewithall to become involved, unfortunately often for the worse."

Any newish residents have as much right to participate as anyone else, don't they? I pay my taxes same as you. No-one gets into the largely thankless task of local politics simply because they have money. Probably a majority of local officeholders DO have some money, but likely because of the same reasons that prompts their involvement in local politics: education, a strong interest in and desire to participate in public affairs, the discipline to be organized and work hard (think:work ethic), wanting to be part of solutions instead of problems, on and on.

Having money isn't required to run for public office, but working hard to get enough dough to underwrite a successful campaign IS.

People who have time, make time.... anyone can do it if they choose to.
Noone has to have mucho dinero to attend meetings, pay attention, speak up during public comment, and volunteer and work for community organizations. You insult the many people who have little money, yet work for the good of their street, neighborhood and city.

"These "progressive" candidates, for instance. They are often either from California or academia. The are constantly harping on and promoting ideas that only impact a handful of well heeled individuals, and that share their "progressive" agenda. For example pushing a mandatory recycling program, pushing transit that is usually almost or empty, and increasing the size and scope of government."

Oh my God..California or Academia? Whoa...wouldn't want anyone with an Education holding office here...would we? 'Specially them pointy headed "progressive" (whatever that is) types. Jeez...I don't know what to say, except that good public transit will benefit low-income people and families far more than it will your imaginary rich Californian meddlers. What ideas will "impact a handful of well heeled individuals"? Is local government larger now than 10 years ago? Might be, due to demands of the huge increase in population here, but how is that a problem?

"This vision 2030/2040 idea is lacking in many areas, mainly in terms of moving the increased numbers of new residents around, many of which will be of Mexican heritage. I don't think they will be using the progressives' buses, but will be clogging an antiquated surface road and street network.
Personally am in favor of increased recycling and reduced government.
Increase voluntary recycling, and attempt to find markets for recyclables that currently cant' be given away."

I don't understand your concern about moving new "Mexican heritage" residents around in light of your scorn of public transit. A bus is the cheapest way to get around.
We'd all like increased recycling, I think. Nobody in City Hall or the Roundhouse can make plastics or glass economical to recycle. That's the free market's job. We could impose fees on new glass and plastic to make recycled components economically competitive, but I don't think you'd go for that, would ya?

"Why doesn't the state have a deposit law? Why not move to restrict plastic grocery and conveinence (wal mart) bags? Either eliminate or place a deposit on the ubitiqous plastic water/soda bottle."

Wouldn't plastic bag police be an unwanted increase in government?
I wish NM did have a deposit law. (Get ready for a "newcomer moment") In my home state of Michigan there has been a dep. law for over 20 years. Not only is there little can/bottle litter, but ALL roadside litter declined when the deposit law was enacted. An unexpected benefit! Some jerks still throw bottle away, but there's always someone willing to pick up that dime.

"What about reducing the flow of goods from China, and making more locally and here in the USA, and utilizing Mexico and Latin America for more imported goods?quote]"
As far as China goes, you need to talk to people from Arkansas (Walmart) about that.
We probably could agree on a number of things, including a fondness for Chevelles .

[lawmom]

Cali-girl, you bring up a major point which is that you just can't generalize about an entire state or region. Not everyone from CA is earthy-crunchy, just like not everyone from TX loves guns and drives a monster truck.

The other point you made that's spot on is that people don't like transplants with airs, regardless of where they are from. Growing up in Maine, there were a lot of transplants from MA (termed Mass*oles). My mother worked with quite a few, and was appalled at how insulting they were. They made fun of Mainers and lamented not being in MA.

Any time we move somewhere different there will be things we miss, and things we see that could be better. We should be respectful of the people who have called the new location home, though, and keep our mouths quiet in public about what we don't like (for minor things) and work with the new community for positive change for the major things.

[TKO]

I went round with you a few time Cali, it was already YEARS ago! I really like your post.

[Cali-girl]

Originally Posted by lawmom

Cali-girl, you bring up a major point which is that you just can't generalize about an entire state or region. Not everyone from CA is earthy-crunchy, just like not everyone from TX loves guns and drives a monster truck.

The other point you made that's spot on is that people don't like transplants with airs, regardless of where they are from. Growing up in Maine, there were a lot of transplants from MA (termed Mass*oles). My mother worked with quite a few, and was appalled at how insulting they were. They made fun of Mainers and lamented not being in MA.

Any time we move somewhere different there will be things we miss, and things we see that could be better. We should be respectful of the people who have called the new location home, though, and keep our mouths quiet in public about what we don't like (for minor things) and work with the new community for positive change for the major things.

Hey lawmom

My dad (who was a Vietnam Vet) was stationed for a couple of years in Maine and we lived in Bangor and Machias
Loved picking ripe blueberries off the bush (yum!) and fresh cranberries - nothing like it frozen....and the fall tree colors are spectacular.
The only thing I don't miss is Mud Season

Sorry to read of your experiences with yankees from MA; we agree that there is definitely a pecking order going on with the Upper and Lower East Side(s) of Manhattan positioned at the "top".

Thanks for posting a thoughtful response.

~Cali-girl

[Cali-girl]

Originally Posted by Cali-girl

Regarding politics, which some posters made reference to, just so that everyone knows, Dona Ana County, voted Blue for the 2008 Presidential elections. Red areas were Alamogordo and Cloudcroft and Hildago County which is where Lordsburg is. But anyway, across the board, NM voted Blue. You can check this out down to the county on FoxNews.com, enter 2008 Election Map in the Search box, if they still have it.

I voted for McCain, but whatever.

btw, for all those here who think they know something about Cali: nearly the entire Central Valley (Bakersfield on up to Sacto) voted Red and Shasta and Lassen Counties were deep Red. So there. Not all Californians are "fruit & nuts." San Luis Obispo County nearly went for McCain but ended up with an Obama win, for what its worth.

~Cali-girl (whose brother is a US Marshall)

I have been gently reminded (lol, love Californians ) that Orange County went Red for McCain as well as parts of San Diego County in addition to the other Counties noted above.

My sincerest regrets at leaving any California "Red" County off of my previous post.

~Cali-girl

[nancy thereader]

tecpatl Your name is interesting. Is that Nahautl ?

Mike couldn't rep you again, but I could. I am hoping to move to Las Cruces within a year and so I like to read everything I can about it. Is it a good place for people who are retired?

[tecpatl]

Originally Posted by nancy thereader

tecpatl Your name is interesting. Is that Nahautl ?

Mike couldn't rep you again, but I could. I am hoping to move to Las Cruces within a year and so I like to read everything I can about it. Is it a good place for people who are retired?

Yes, it is Nahuatl, a moniker given to me by an old friend a long time ago.
Though I'm not retired I think LC is a good place to do so. You'll need to go out and get involved in things, volunteer for the cultural activity of your choice, etc. as a way to meet people. Lots of folks from all over the place have retired/semi-retired here. I meet retired and current professors and other employees from NMSU, scientific people who used to or still do work at White Sands, creative types of all kinds, folks in business here in LC or in El Paso, and active retired people from all over. Makes it very interesting.
I just have a seasonal business in the Midwest so I get to spend winters here without having to work toooo hard, though I do work a lot when I'm here. Like to be busy!

[tim perry]

Originally Posted by tecpatl

I'm not from California, but am a migrant from another state, in fact, I split my time between the two places. The other place I live also gets a lot of people moving there, quite similar to the situation here in LC, so I think I understand both sides of this issue. I've been there.
People anywhere don't like others, especially recent arrivals, to waltz in with a superior attitude and a stupid "this is how we did it back in ______", approach to local people, as if nobody here has half a brain. This isn't a New Mexico thing...it's anywhere a migration occurs, and it's totally natural.
OK..that being said, it's very easy for a local population to be defensive, dismiss new ideas and attitudes, labeling people as outsiders and creating an us vs them feeling.
"That's the way it's always been", "if you don't like it, go back where you came from", and "you just moved here and you're trying to tell us how to live" from long-time residents is just as stupid an attitude as the "I'm here, now I'll show you how to do things right" crap you might hear from some some arrogant and insensitive migrants.
The population boom in the LC area is a relatively recent phenomena, and it's going to take everyone a while to figure out that New Mexico is a better place as a result of the people moving here...people who WANT to be here...just as it benefits from the deep knowledge,culture and wisdom of residents who's families go back many generations.
The only constant thing in our lives is change...period. The trick, the art, of living well is managing that change to make a better life, holding onto the strengths of the past while facing up to shortcomings of the present and having the courage to work for change where it will mean improvement. TKO and Poncho have the right idea here, and I'm sure their practical and respectful ways have made integration into a new community much easier for them. Some people never get that.
But there IS a lot of resistance, stereotyping and subtle discrimination aimed at newcomers. People haven't gotten comfortable with the change in population, ideas, culture, whatever it is that represents the "new" or evolving Las Cruces. It will take time, for sure.
I see a lot of reactionary resistance to change here now. The hysterical nonsense over the school leadership is a good example, but there are others. An administrator tries to raise standards, demand more from students, teachers and parents, and is shouted down and run out of town for it. This in a county (and state) with some of the lowest levels of academic achievement in the nation.
What were these people protecting? Certainly not the quality and high standards of their schools.
What I saw was ignorant backlash...defensiveness...fear...and an unwillingness to accept that "the way it's always been done" here is demonstrably not good enough, that that attitude is producing huge numbers of undereducated kids, unprepared to live a successful life in the modern world.
NM Teach (above) seems concerned with a money issue(and seems pretty defensive about it, to me), and cites BIGGER concerns such as family and friends. Who can argue with a focus on that? Not me....but it does beg the question: how is a laudable focus on family NOT resulting in people working harder and making changes for a better education for that family?
Schools are just an example here...and I'm not interested at all in reopening the debate on who did what or said what or any of that junk. It's just an example where change is long overdue, where a crying need exists and solutions to that need are denied as change is denied.
A week or so ago Michael Hays wrote a piece for the SunNews about education and change called A Tale of Two Cities. I don't always agree with this man, but it's worth reading, not only for the important issues he raises about education, but also because he addresses the difficulties of change. A number of the comments posted on topix about this column were virulently hateful, and more were just defensive.
New arrivals can bring fresh insight, new ideas and new energy, not to mention a huge boost to the LC area economy. It's not always pleasant to listen to them, and they're far from always right, but to dismiss people, new ideas and energy just because they're from California or wherever is to cut off one's nose to spite one's face.
When I go to bed every night I embrace a newcomer...my wife. She moved to my town almost 30 years ago, and life has been better ever since.
And now, here in Las Cruces we have better bread Change CAN be good, if we let it.

Great job putting Your thoughts into a clear, concise assestment of how things can be if looked at from all angles..Well thought and well put.. I agree 100 percent..

[malamute]

Originally Posted by tecpatl

quote=72chevelle]

"Ex Californians have become very involved in local politics, probably due to the fact that they do have money.... So they have the time and wherewithall to become involved, unfortunately often for the worse."

Any newish residents have as much right to participate as anyone else, don't they? I pay my taxes same as you. No-one gets into the largely thankless task of local politics simply because they have money. Probably a majority of local officeholders DO have some money, but likely because of the same reasons that prompts their involvement in local politics: education, a strong interest in and desire to participate in public affairs, the discipline to be organized and work hard (think:work ethic), wanting to be part of solutions instead of problems, on and on.

Having money isn't required to run for public office, but working hard to get enough dough to underwrite a successful campaign IS.

People who have time, make time.... anyone can do it if they choose to.
Noone has to have mucho dinero to attend meetings, pay attention, speak up during public comment, and volunteer and work for community organizations. You insult the many people who have little money, yet work for the good of their street, neighborhood and city.

"These "progressive" candidates, for instance. They are often either from California or academia. The are constantly harping on and promoting ideas that only impact a handful of well heeled individuals, and that share their "progressive" agenda. For example pushing a mandatory recycling program, pushing transit that is usually almost or empty, and increasing the size and scope of government."

Oh my God..California or Academia? Whoa...wouldn't want anyone with an Education holding office here...would we? 'Specially them pointy headed "progressive" (whatever that is) types. Jeez...I don't know what to say, except that good public transit will benefit low-income people and families far more than it will your imaginary rich Californian meddlers. What ideas will "impact a handful of well heeled individuals"? Is local government larger now than 10 years ago? Might be, due to demands of the huge increase in population here, but how is that a problem?

"This vision 2030/2040 idea is lacking in many areas, mainly in terms of moving the increased numbers of new residents around, many of which will be of Mexican heritage. I don't think they will be using the progressives' buses, but will be clogging an antiquated surface road and street network.
Personally am in favor of increased recycling and reduced government.
Increase voluntary recycling, and attempt to find markets for recyclables that currently cant' be given away."

I don't understand your concern about moving new "Mexican heritage" residents around in light of your scorn of public transit. A bus is the cheapest way to get around.
We'd all like increased recycling, I think. Nobody in City Hall or the Roundhouse can make plastics or glass economical to recycle. That's the free market's job. We could impose fees on new glass and plastic to make recycled components economically competitive, but I don't think you'd go for that, would ya?

"Why doesn't the state have a deposit law? Why not move to restrict plastic grocery and conveinence (wal mart) bags? Either eliminate or place a deposit on the ubitiqous plastic water/soda bottle."

Wouldn't plastic bag police be an unwanted increase in government?
I wish NM did have a deposit law. (Get ready for a "newcomer moment") In my home state of Michigan there has been a dep. law for over 20 years. Not only is there little can/bottle litter, but ALL roadside litter declined when the deposit law was enacted. An unexpected benefit! Some jerks still throw bottle away, but there's always someone willing to pick up that dime.

"What about reducing the flow of goods from China, and making more locally and here in the USA, and utilizing Mexico and Latin America for more imported goods?quote]"
As far as China goes, you need to talk to people from Arkansas (Walmart) about that.
We probably could agree on a number of things, including a fondness for Chevelles .

No on the deposit law. Michigan has a situation now where people on food stamps go into a store, buy up all the cheap pop they can, go out into the parking lot and pour it out to get the 10 cent deposit money so they can buy cigarettes and beer. The idiots running that state allow food stamps to pay for the can and bottle depost -- that's $0.60 a sixpack, pour out a few sixpacks and you've got your beer and cigarette money.

Michigan is a really messed up state.

[malamute]

It's funny that people consider the states they are fleeing the progressive states and think of the states to which they are flocking as backward.

I'm a transplant also but I think the Southwest was better when you could hear the yipping of coyotes and sounds of owls at night instead of sirens and horns, all the people moving in demanding all the things they had back in the big cities. Leave it "backward". I prefer the native New Mexico attitude myself.