Joe Craig of Craig and Co., an ABQ consulting firm, writes that not all of New Mexico is acting like a slacker:Went to Carlsbad and had to book a room two weeks in advance. Motels were booked, restaurants were full. Carlsbad Schools are preparing for a bond in February for $60 million. New $9-10 million addition to the Eddy County Sheriff's office is being awarded for design. Roswell, Artesia, Hobbs all looked prosperous. Of course that is oil or energy money as they call it. Poor little Lovington looked like it needed some loving, but hey one out of 5 towns ain't bad.
Kept mulling over the economic black hole that is ABQ/Santa Fe on the long drive back. The best conclusion that I came to is lack of leadership in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
It's wild down here - I have a tell-tale way of knowing if the economy is booming - watch the convenience stores. If they close at 11 p.m., it's booming as no one wants to work graveyard if there's more money to be made in a day job. Drive down the highway, signs looking for electricians on job sites, drivers with a CDL can set their days and hours, RV's looking for a place to park, rents through the roof. Pages of professional help-wanted ads in the Sunday news paper. City/county coffers overflowing with cash from sales taxes and oil field royalties rebated from the state. Life is good!
Its what they call..free market capitalism.
Aint it grand? Problem is..the boom will bust someday, unless, they put up a refinery or two there to transfer those jobs over to manufacturing. Then you will have long term financial stability.