January 13, 2017
Dear Representative and Secretary of Interior Nominee Zinke:
As business owners across New Mexico, we face many challenges. When it comes to economic and job growth, New Mexico is ranked as one of the worst in the nation. In 2015, we ranked 32nd in GDP growth, and 45th in unemployment. It is clear that a supportive business climate is needed in our state.
An economic bright spot for our businesses has been the National Monument designations of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks (OMDP) in 2013 and Rio Grande del Norte (RGDN) in 2014. Both areas have seen an increase in visitation, with concurrent benefits to local communities, since their designation.
According to BLM data, from Fiscal Year 2015 to 2016, visitation to OMDP has grown by 102 percent. At RGDN, visitation for the two most recent fiscal years, 2015 and 2016, has seen a 45 percent increase when compared to the two years immediately prior to the monument’s designation (2011 and 2012).
At the local level, we feel the positive impact of National Monuments. Increased visitation has resulted in increased revenues and we view the designation of these national monuments as part of a new positive economic climate geared toward developing a strong, resilient economy that builds community wealth.
Business and communities near the monuments are using RGDN and OMDP to recruit and retain the emerging “quality of life” workforce, to attract retirees interested in active lifestyles and quick access to protected public lands, and to develop new products and services.
It is clear is to us that protecting our beautiful, culturally rich, and historically- and scientifically-significant public lands supports New Mexico’s economic growth. As more Americans spend their time and dollars on outdoor recreation, we expect to see these positive trends continue in New Mexico. Our state is a shining example of the positive economic impact National Monuments can have on local communities.
We urge you to do all you can to ensure the continued existence, funding and access to our monuments, and to resist any efforts to shrink or repeal them.
Sincerely,
A. Christine Putnam
Putnam-Pritchard Interiors/Nubu Design
Santa Fe
Abbey Carver
Brazito Farms
Mesilla Park
Adam Harper
Osceola Energy
Albuquerque
Alena Gilchrist
Elevation Energy Consulting, LLC.
Taos
Alex Amacher
Teres Kids
Santa Fe
Alice Benjamin
Sewist With a Twist
Las Cruces
Alicia Garcia
WESST
Las Cruces
Amy Tischler
Simply Social Media
Santa Fe
Annata Black
GA Black
Taos
April Christensen
The Village Development Center
Las Cruces
Arianna Parsons
Beck’s Coffee
Las Cruces
Ayla Bystrom-Williams
HoneyMoon Brewery
Santa Fe
Barbara Kuhns
Wordsmth, LLC
Las Cruces
Ben Gabriel
Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks
Las Cruces
Ben Thomas
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps
Ranchos de Taos
Bill Kipnis
Siemens Industries
Taos
Blanca Surgeon
Blanca Surgeon Consulting
Santa Fe
Bob Diven
Diven Art/Fish Out of Water Productions, LLC
Las Cruces
Bob Nash
Oldawan Tools to Stay Sharp
Santa Fe
Bobbe Besold
Seat Of The Pants
Santa Fe
Carla Freeman
InfoManagement
Santa Fe
Carol Campbell
Wellness Improvement Experts
Albuquerque
Carrie Hamblen
Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce
Las Cruces
Cassie McClure
McClure Publications
Las Cruces
Cecilia Galban
Flashpoint Presentation Design
Las Cruces
Celerah Hewes
Thoughtfully Produced
Albuquerque
Celeste Madrid Taylor MD
Celeste Madrid Taylor MD
Las Cruces
Charles Leavitt
Lumiere Editions, Inc.
Silver City
Christian Casillas
Self-employed
Santa Fe
Cliff Feigenbaum
GreenMoney Journal / GreenMoney.com
Santa Fe
Colleen Boyd
Downtown Desert Yoga
Las Cruces
Colleen McCann
A New Conversation
Santa Fe
Dan Carter
Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance
Las Cruces
Daniel Allan
Daniel Allan, MD
Las Cruces
Daniel Quat
Daniel Quat Photography, LLC.
Santa Fe
David Chapman
Tapas Tree Grill
Silver City
Dawn Baca
Sunrise Realty LLC
Albuquerque
Dawn Chander
Dawn Chandler Fine Art
Santa Fe
Dawn Hommer
CAASNM
Las Cruces
Dawn Owen
Rhea Lana’s of Las Cruces
Las Cruces
Deanna Green
Enchanted Occasions Event Rentals
Las Cruces
Debra Oliver
Common Ground Mediation Services
Santa Fe
Debra Sands-Miller
Desert Habitat Designs
Las Cruces
Deirdre Price
Create, Inc.
Las Cruces
Dennis Bianchi
Dennis Bianchi & Associates, LLC
Santa Fe
Deret Roberts
Art Obscura Art Gallery
Las Cruces
DJ Heckes
EXHIB-IT!
Albuquerque
Don Kurtz
Rio Associates
Las Cruces
Doug Abbott
Intellimetrix
Silver City
Douglas Campion
EnergyWorks
Las Cruces
Dr, Ernest A Flores & Maria A Flores
LAs Cruces Mental Health Center
Las Cruces
Dr. Dianne Elise Strauss
Portfolio Group – Salon Prive
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Dr. Peter M. Belletto, CEO
Italia Associated, LTD
Albuquerque
Edie Tsong
Radiant Animal
Santa Fe
Elaine Stachera Simon
College Park Publications LLC
Las Cruces
Elizabeth Baer
Elizabeth Baer, LISW
Albuquerque
Elizabeth McAndrew
SilverCityTour.com
Silver City
Evangeline M. Pacheco
Evangeline Pacheco Real Estate
Santa Fe
Floyd Archuleta
Des Montes Produce
Taos
Francine Wunk
Roof and Woof
Santa Fe
Frank Rene Lopez
Ngage New Mexico
Las Cruces
Gabe Vasquez
New Mexico Wildlife Federation
Las Cruces
Gene Butler
The Firebird
Santa Fe
George Farmer
Axle Canyon Ecological Preserve
Silver City
Geraldine January
Wild Desert Mindfulness
Radium Springs
Gill M. Sorg
City of Las Cruces City Council
Las Cruces
Gordon West
Restoration Technologies
Silver City
Gregory K. McMillan
Greg McMillan, Real Estate Broker with Sotheby’s International Realty
Santa Fe
Gurumeher Khalsa
GMK Web Design
Santa Cruz
Gwyneth Jones
Spirit Basket
Silver City
Haj Khalsa
Simple Goods LLC
Santa Fe
Heather Brewer
HB Strategies
Albuquerque
Heather Hume
Lulu’s in Mesilla
Mesilla
Helene Minot
Independent Contractor
Santa Fe
Howard Kaplan
CASA – A Center Advancing Sustainable Architecture
Albuquerque
Howie Dash
Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter – Southern Group
Las Cruces
Ida Marie Hernandez
Peace Village of Las Cruces
Las Cruces
Jacob Walikainen
Department of Homeland Security
Silver City
Jamie Welles
JWelles & Associates, LLC
Albuquerque
Janet Ragonese
Lowes Home Improvement
Santa Fe
Jenifer Russin
Russin Reporting LLC
Las Cruces
Jennifer Nail
CNM — Central New Mexico Community College
Albuquerque
Jennifer Wellington
Jardin Chicks
Santa Fe
Jo Ann Garay
Dona Ana Community College Small Business Development Center
Las Cruces
Joe Studer
VALIC Financial Advisors
Albuquerque
Johanna Nelson
NM Economic Development Dep
Santa Fe
John Kutinac
Las Cruces Counseling Center
Las Cruces
John Olivas
JACO Outfitters, LLC
Holman
Jonathan Droege
SunPort
Albuquerque
Julie Seton
Indelible Enterprises, LLC
Las Cruces
Justin Dean
Musician
Taos
K R Garland, PhD, DD
InnerConnections
Silver City
Karen Waters
Karen Waters LLC
Santa Fe
Katie Hyde
Indigo Baby
Santa Fe
Katie Macauley
Mountain Kids
Santa Fe
Karen Feder
Moonlight Beadery
Las Cruces
Ken Odenheim
HIS/Rio Bravo Appraisers
Las Cruces
Kenneth Pushkin
Pushkin Group, Ltd.
Santa Fe
Kenneth W. Kemmerer
Wildwood Incorporated
Rio Rancho
Kurt S. J. Anderson
New Mexico Geothermal LLC
Las Cruces
Lara Leavitt
Lumiere Editions Inc.
Silver City
Larry Glover
Wild Resiliency Institute
Santa Fe
Laura S Harper
Del Valle Pecans, LLC
Mesilla Park
Lauren Bjorkman
Author
Taos
Laurie Shade-Neff
heART Connection
Las Cruces
Lawrence Rael
La Villia De Rio Grande
Albuquerque
Leah Messina
Sinuate Media
Las Cruces
Lee Gruber
Syzygy Tile, Inc.
Silver City
Linda Lillow
Triple L, Ink Graphic Design
Albuquerque
Lisa LaRocque
City of Las Cruces Sustainability Office
Las Cruces
Lisa Randall
Santa Fe Public Schools
Santa Fe
Lisa Willman
Lisa Willman CPA
Las Cruces
Lois Duffy
Lois Duffy Art
Silver City
Luke Spangenburg
New Solutions Energy Inc.
Santa Fe
Marcus Miner
Las Cruces Endodontics
Las Cruces
Marge Garcia Loehr
Adventure Partners LLC
Tesuque
Marguerite Wood
Business Management Consultant
Santa Fe
Maria Hondros
Sunpower by Positive Energy Solar
Santa Fe
Maria Rotunda
Earthprints LLC
Santa Fe
Mariah Tallent
Voltreides
Las Cruces
Marilyn J Alcorn
Silver Adult Care Services
Silver City
Marilynn Freeman
BodyMindCoherence
Silver City
Marjorie Kamine
Marjorie Kamine, Consultant
Santa Fe
Mark Franklin
Interpretive Design
Albuquerque
Mark Sechrist
Full Circle Heritage Services
Vado
Mark Westbrock
Positive Energy, Inc.
Las Cruces
Mary Ann Shaening
Shaening & Associates, Inc.
Santa Fe
Mary Canavan
Blue Heron Enterprises, LLC
Las Cruces
Maxine A Chavez
ABQ Drug Testing Inc.
Albuquerque
Melissa Brice
Reclaim Wellness, LLC
Las Cruces
Melissa Chavira
Meliscor Designs
Las Cruces
Michael Maccini
Pinon Window and Door
Los Ranchos
Michele Lis
ML Consulting, LLC
Santa Fe
Mindy DeMott
Coldwell Banker Trails West Realty
Santa Fe
Monica Lucier
Staybridge Suites
Las Cruces
Monique Anair
Enviroescapes, LLC
Santa Fe
Monique Schoustra
Great SW Adventures, Inc.
Santa Fe
Nancy Barnes-Smith
Home 2 Stay
Las Cruces
Nancy Simmons
Professional Proofreading
Las Cruces
Oscar Simpson
Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico
Albuquerque
Paul Angel
Cheddar Advertising
Las Cruces
Rachel Courtney
Pretty Nice Creations
Las Cruces
Rafael Gomez
Red Pueblo Works
Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo
Rebecca Summer, PhD
Gila Resources Information Project
Silver City
Richard Fisher
Action Programs for Animals
Las Cruces
Richard Jennings
Earthwrights Designs
Santa Fe
Risana Zaxus
Kingdom Kleening
Cerrillos
Robb Hirsch
EDL Consulting & CCLI
Santa Fe
Rodney Sims
Sims Green Energy Services LLC
Alamogordo
Ronald J. Fitzherbert
Blue Gothic Design Studios, LLC
Las Cruces
Rosanne Camunez
Camunez Law Firm, PC
Las Cruces
RoseAnn Hernandez
Mesilla Valley Film Society
Mesilla
Ruth Jaure
Jaure Consulting
Las Cruces
Ruth Romo
Full Circle Health Center
Las Cruces
Ruthe Morand
Santa Fe Exchange
Santa Fe
Ryan Moore
Green Insight, LLC
Albuquerque
Sandra McCardell
Current-C Energy Systems, Inc
Albuquerque
Sharon Peyton
Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest
Las Cruces
Stephanie Preciado
Reviver Printing
Las Cruces
Stephen Auger
Stephen Auger Laboratory, LLC
Santa Fe
Steven Shelendich
Silver Architects
Silver City
Steven B Harris
stevenbrianharris.com
Las Cruces
Steven Bradley
Green Building Associates
Santa Fe
Sue Garfitt
Santa Fe Properties
Santa Fe
Sylvia Bustillos
Chope’s
Las Cruces
Talea T Alberson
MMJ’s Pawn and Trader Man Pawn
Las Cruces
Taylor Selby
Affordable Solar
Santa Fe
Thomas R. (Bob) Pennington
Agua Fria Nursery, Inc.
Santa Fe
Tom Blankenhorn
Taos County Commissionre
El Prado
Tom Frouge
Avokado Artists
Placitas
Tom Ribe
Great Southwest Adventures
Santa Fe
Trip Rothschild
Rothschild Consulting
Santa Fe
Vaughn Dearing
Gro-West Property Services
Arroyo Seco
Vicki Pozzebon
Prospera Partners, Inc. (dba VickiPozzebon.com)
Santa Fe
Vincent Gutschick
Las Cruces Academy
Las Cruces