ALBUQUERQUE — Many of our state and nation’s systemic racial inequities are the result of public policies that benefit some groups while disadvantaging others. Such policy is even found in our tax codes. But by changing them, New Mexico can begin to build a more equitable future. That’s the main message in a new report issued by New Mexico Voices for Children.

The report, Tax Policy: A Powerful Tool to Advance Racial Equity in New Mexico, looks at some of the public policies that created and continue to maintain systemic racism, while including recommendations for building a more equitable tax code.

“When people think of systemic racism, tax policy is probably not the first...

The Governor has announced a new series of actions to keep us safe from COVID-19. While some businesses are waiting out the storm, others have had to close permanently, or severely curtail operations, throwing thousands of people out of work, perhaps for a lengthy period. Often, the people hurting the most are the lower income workers, the restaurant, motel, retail workers who live paycheck to paycheck.

For these people, a storm is coming. And Civil Legal Services will be there to help. Even as the virus subsides, economic consequences of the pandemic will remain for many New Mexicans.

The storm is approaching. There can be no doubt about that. According to a study by the U.S. Census...

“New Mexico Voices for Children is cautiously optimistic about the revenue estimates released today [Dec. 8]. Given that 70 percent of the estimated decline in revenue for the current fiscal year can be attributed to the drop in oil and gas prices, it is clear that New Mexico needs to stabilize its revenue streams.

“While the revenue estimates tell us how much money is expected to be available, they do not tell us how much money is needed for New Mexico to prosper – money to boost our economy, provide rocket fuel for our K-12 moonshot, keep the promise of Opportunity Scholarships for higher education, finally achieve universal early care and education, and shore up our health...

Local resources prepare salsa maker for growth

Carla Gallegos-Ortega’s homemade salsas were a hit with family and friends for as long as she can remember. In 2017, she entered the Salsa Festival in Albuquerque’s Old Town and enlisted her daughter and a few friends to help her produce 16 gallons of salsa in an outdoor tent.

She left that festival with an award and the ambition to become a food entrepreneur.

Later that same year, she discovered The Mixing Bowl, a commercial kitchen that offers a food-business incubation program and hourly kitchen rental. By June 2018, Gallegos-Ortega had a license for her business, New Mexico Sabor; a health department permit; training in best...