Increase not tied to cost of living INDEX; TIPPED wages remain

The debate to raise the minimum wage of hourly employees across New Mexico concluded towards the end of the state legislature’s first session, with House and Senate conferees reaching a compromise.

As a result of the compromise, the minimum wage in New Mexico will increase from $7.50 an hour to $12 an hour over a four-year period. According to the Gallup McKinley-County Chamber of Commerce, the schedule calls for the following increases and dates:

$9 an hour, starting January 1, 2020

$10.50 an hour, starting January 1, 2021

$11.50 an hour, starting January 1, 2022

$12 an hour, starting January 1, 2023

In addition...

Urges Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to take action

ALBUQUERQUE – On March 19, Attorney General Hector Balderas urged the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to take immediate action to protect consumers from abuses in payday lending, vehicle title lending, and other types of high-cost exploitative consumer lending, after a rule aimed at protecting borrowers from abusive lenders was delayed a second time.

“President Trump’s Consumer Finance Protection Bureau is failing to deliver on its promise to protect New Mexican consumers,” Balderas said. “Yet another delay on this necessary piece of protection will be devastating for New Mexican families, and allow predatory...

Cannot patch when wet; Need materials and staff

Drivers and pedestrians have likely taken note of the many potholes that dot Maloney Avenue, Second Street, Third Street, and other roads in and around Downtown Gallup.

While potholes can be avoided until they are filled, they can be especially problematic when it’s wet since it is difficult to gauge how deep a puddle is until a person or vehicle passes through it.

Moreover, city maintenance staff is unable to tend to these potholes when it is wet outside, according to City Manager Maryann Ustick. And oftentimes when the city does patch the potholes using a cold mix asphalt, along comes a freeze-thaw and, combined with traffic...

‘WE LOVE GALLUP’ CAMPAIGN

Two cleanup events for the City of Gallup were topics of discussion at the March 12 Gallup City Council meeting. The two events will be identified as “We Love Gallup” as a designation of community pride.

Jennifer Lazarz, tourism and marketing manager for the city, updated the council on the Clean and Beautiful Grant and the Comcast Cares Community Clean Up Event taking place May 4.

The Clean and Beautiful Grant is a federally-sponsored grant by Keep America Beautiful. Figures provided by Lazarz for projects using the grant came out to about $15,560, with $4,300 for litter reduction, $977 in recycling initiatives, $5,747 for enhancement efforts...