SENATE MEMORIAL 109

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING MARCH 2, 2017 "INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT DAY" IN THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, the area in the city of Albuquerque centered around Louisiana between Central and Zuni, comprising the communities of La Mesa, Trumbull, South San Pedro, Elder Homestead, Fair West and surrounding areas, is known as the international district; and

     WHEREAS, the residents living in that community come from various countries of origin and have diverse ethnic, racial and national backgrounds; and

     WHEREAS, the resettlement and refugee program of the late 1970s through the 1990s for the Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Cambodians and Laotians, run by Catholic charities, was based in the southeast area of Albuquerque, Trumbull village and La Mesa, now known as the international district; and

     WHEREAS, businesses in and around this area cater to a clientele from around the world; and

     WHEREAS, the area is commonly recognized as the most internationally and culturally diverse in New Mexico, is a vibrant part of Albuquerque and has a rich history of technological advancement; and

     WHEREAS, Henry Edwards Roberts and three Kirtland air force base colleagues founded Micro instrumentation and telemetry systems located in what is now Albuquerque's international district; and

     WHEREAS, the men built the first microcomputer prototype, the Altair 8800, in October 1974, making the international district home to the first personal computers; and

     WHEREAS, Micro instrumentation and telemetry systems hired Paul Allen and Bill Gates to write a beginner's all-purpose symbolic instruction code, more commonly referred to as BASIC, for that first personal computer; and

     WHEREAS, Paul Allen and Bill Gates then formed their own company, Microsoft, and their original office still stands in the international district; and

     WHEREAS, the international district will continue its historic tradition of embracing technological advancement by hosting the public charter school, Technology Leadership high school, that opened in August 2015; and

     WHEREAS, efforts to create a positive awareness of the international district's past, present and future and of its diversity are supported by local county, city and state elected officials;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that March 2, 2017 be declared "International District Day" in the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to members of the media in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, to the principal of Technology Leadership high school and to city and county officials representing the area.

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