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Hello Bernalillo County Democrats,
Secretary Garcia here.
I want to talk about something that I believe we need to have a serious conversation about, especially when it comes to our young Democrats here in Bernalillo County and throughout the great State of New Mexico.
We are living in a time when the cost of living is becoming a major concern for many young people and families. Whether it is paying rent, buying groceries, filling up our gas tanks, or trying to save enough money to purchase our first home, the financial pressures of everyday life are something we cannot ignore.
For many young Democrats, the question is no longer just about where they want to live. The question is, can they afford to stay in New Mexico?
Housing: Can Young New Mexicans Afford a Place to Call Home?
Housing is one of the biggest concerns we need to address.
Many young people are working hard, attending college, raising families, and trying to build a future for themselves. Yet finding an affordable apartment or purchasing a home can feel out of reach.
Here in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, we need to have serious conversations about affordable housing, rental costs, first-time homebuyer assistance, and what our elected officials can do to help.
We should be asking our candidates: What are you going to do to make housing more affordable for young people? How will you help young families purchase their first homes? What solutions will you support for people who are struggling to pay rent?
Young New Mexicans deserve the opportunity to build their futures in the communities they call home.
Food and Gas: The Everyday Struggle
We also need to talk about the cost of groceries and gasoline.
When young people go to the grocery store, they have to think about how much they can afford to spend. Some are trying to stretch their paychecks between groceries, rent, utilities, transportation, and other basic necessities.
Gasoline is another concern, especially for those who must drive to work, attend school, or travel across Bernalillo County.
These expenses add up quickly.
We need to ask our candidates what they can realistically do at the local, state, and federal levels to address these financial pressures.
It is important that candidates explain not only what they want to accomplish, but how their proposals would work and how they would help working families.
Why Are Young New Mexicans Leaving Our State?
This is one of the most important questions I believe we need to discuss.
Why are some of our young people leaving New Mexico to seek opportunities in other states?
Is it because of better-paying jobs? Is it the cost of housing? Is it because they are looking for more career opportunities, better educational resources, or a chance to become financially independent?
These are questions we should be asking, and we should be listening to the young people who have made the difficult decision to leave.
New Mexico has so much to offer. We have beautiful communities, rich traditions, diverse cultures, and generations of families who have called this state home.
But our history and traditions alone cannot pay the rent or put food on the table.
We need to think seriously about how we can create opportunities that allow young New Mexicans to stay, work, raise their families, and succeed right here in our state.
And for those who have already left, we should be asking another important question: What would it take to bring you back home to New Mexico?
Questions Young Democrats Should Ask Candidates
As we attend candidate forums, town halls, Democratic Party meetings, and community events, I encourage young Democrats to ask meaningful questions and listen carefully to the answers.
- Affordable Housing: What specific policies would you support to make renting or buying a home more affordable for young adults in Bernalillo County?
- Cost of Groceries: What can your office realistically do to help families struggling with the rising cost of food and everyday necessities?
- Gas and Transportation: What solutions would you support to reduce transportation costs for working young adults, including those who depend on their vehicles to get to work or school?
- Better-Paying Jobs: How would you attract employers that offer competitive wages, benefits, and long-term career opportunities in New Mexico?
- Young People Leaving New Mexico: What do you believe are the biggest reasons young adults leave our state, and what specific actions would you take to address those reasons?
- Bringing Young New Mexicans Home: What programs, incentives, or opportunities would you support to encourage young professionals and families who have moved away to return to New Mexico?
- Education and Workforce Development: How would you expand apprenticeships, vocational training, college affordability, and job opportunities for young people who do not pursue a traditional four-year degree?
- Accountability: If elected, what measurable progress should young people expect from you during your first two years in office?
Our Young People Deserve to Be Heard
I believe young Democrats should have a seat at the table when decisions are being made about our economy, housing, education, and the future of our communities.
We should not be afraid to ask difficult questions. We should not be afraid to speak about the financial struggles we are experiencing. And we should not be afraid to ask candidates to explain their plans in detail.
Whether someone is 18 years old and entering the workforce or 35 years old and trying to purchase their first home, their concerns matter.
Our elected officials and candidates need to hear directly from the people who are experiencing these challenges.
The Future of Bernalillo County Begins With Our Young People
As we look toward the future, we must remember that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow. They are workers, students, parents, community volunteers, and leaders today.
We need to create a New Mexico where young people can afford to live, where families can grow, where education leads to opportunity, and where working hard gives people a realistic chance to succeed.
I want to see a future where young New Mexicans do not feel they have to leave their families, their communities, and their home state just to make a decent living.
I want to see those who have moved away feel that returning to Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, and New Mexico is a real possibility.
But that future requires serious conversations, practical solutions, and accountability from those seeking public office.
So my question to every candidate running for office is simple: What are you going to do to make New Mexico a place where our young people can afford to stay, build their future, and proudly call home?
Let us bring these questions to our candidate forums and meetings. Let us listen to the answers, examine the proposals, and continue the conversation.
Because the future of New Mexico depends on the opportunities we create today.
Viva La Vida!
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