Economic overview

London seems to have missed out-- lieutenant governor Diane Denish was at Holloman too, and has pledged to find resources to keep the Holloman school open.

I haven't heard about Diane Denish being at Holloman. But go for her and the people that got her down here. She may very well have the answer to keeping the school open.

But this article is about Economic overview and much to say about the OCEDC. It has always been on my mind that OCEDC should think a little more about Chapparal. Part of it is in Otero County and growing very well from all the El Paso growth. Growth means more property taxes for the county and we need the income. I heard the county has 6 deputies down there. A little more involvement from the county is warranted. They have problems that the county could solve and enhance growth even more. And also don't forget about Tularosa, La Luz, Cloudcroft, Mayhill, Weed and Timberon. I think you can forget about Oro Grande. That town is approaching complete shutdown.

I also went back to our unemployment rate for the state. It is currently 6.5% and not 5.7%. Is this Fred Mondragon staying up to date on what's going on.

Economic development - " an intentionally constructed system that enables corporations to exact huge taxpayer subsidies by promising quality jobs - and then lets them fail to deliver."

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php...

This will sound familiar to residents of Otero County:

"... the average state now has more than thirty economic development subsidies, many of which are locally granted by cities and counties. These subsidies include property tax abatements, corporate income tax credits, sales and excise tax exemptions, tax increment financing, low-interest loans and loan guarantees, free land and land write-downs, training grants, infrastructure aid -- and just plain cash grants.

Chances are you will find companies -— many companies -— that have failed to create or retain as many jobs as they said they would. Companies that are paying poverty wages or failing to provide healthcare to their employees. Companies that are abandoning our cities and sprawling onto farmland and natural spaces. Even companies that are outsourcing jobs offshore.

Dig a little deeper and you'll undoubtedly find companies that have not created any new jobs -— even some that have actually laid people off since they got the subsidies. Other companies that have gotten paid just to move existing jobs from one place to another, where they are proclaimed to be "new jobs."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php...

Listen to what he is saying........
"If you put it all in perspective, things are terrible across the United States," he said. "But New Mexico, even though we haven't quite dodged the bullet, I think is doing very well compared to the rest of the

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country. And by the way, Otero County is doing even better than the rest of the state of New Mexico."
Mondragón said unemployment is approaching the 9 percent range nationally, the highest it's been in 30 or 40 years. However, he said New Mexico's unemployment rate is at 5.7 percent and Otero County has an unemployment rate of about 4.8 percent.

"So you're a full 4 percent under the national average," Mondragón said.
Sounds like he is saying that since we are better of then the rest of the state and nation, there is no priority given to Otero County.

Here is my personal favorite Mondragon quote:

"... I see kind of a crescent across southern New Mexico starting at Truth or Consequences, going down through Las Cruces, Holloman Air Force Base, White Sands ... and perhaps all the way to Roswell."

Hey, why stop there?(A sucker is born everyday.) Take it to the state lines where you will run into other states' economic development scams. Now there is real competition and value for the consumer.

That crescent he's talking about will turn out to be a big smiley face. Meaning this is all a joke.