SENATE MEMORIAL 115

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

INTRODUCED BY

Jacob R. Candelaria

A MEMORIAL

AFFIRMING THE IMPORTANCE OF NEW MEXICO LAND GRANT COMMUNITIES AND REQUESTING THAT NEW MEXICO COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENTS SUPPORT MEMBERSHIP OF LAND GRANT COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENTS.

     WHEREAS, land grants were made to individuals and communities during the periods of Spanish and Mexican rule in New Mexico's history; and

     WHEREAS, these land grants were private land grants made to individuals and communal land grants made to groups of individuals for the purpose of establishing settlements; and

     WHEREAS, communal land grants were also made to pueblos for the lands they inhabited; and

     WHEREAS, there are hundreds of land grant communities throughout New Mexico, including the Alameda land grant, the Atrisco land grant, the Elena Gallegos land grant, the San Miguel del Vado land grant, the Maxwell land grant and the Tierra Amarilla land grant; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico land grant communities are of historical importance to the state's culture and embody positive community growth and economic development; and

     WHEREAS, a regional council of governments is a multiservice entity that delivers a variety of federal, state and local programs while continuing to function as a planning organization, technical assistance provider and visionary to its member local governments; and

     WHEREAS, regional councils of governments are stable, broad-based organizations adept at building consensus, creating partnerships, providing services, solving problems and managing finances; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico councils of governments include the south central council of governments, the northwest New Mexico council of governments, the eastern plains council of governments, the mid-region council of governments of New Mexico, the southwest New Mexico council of governments and the north central New Mexico economic development district; and

     WHEREAS, allowing New Mexico land grant communities to be members of New Mexico councils of governments would promote inclusion of all local communities in governing decisions and community development; and

     WHEREAS, it would be mutually beneficial for New Mexico councils of governments to support the membership of New Mexico land grant communities in the councils of governments;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the importance of New Mexico land grant communities be affirmed; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that New Mexico councils of governments be requested to support membership of New Mexico land grant communities in the councils of governments; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the chair of the New Mexico land grant council and the chairs of the south central council of governments, the northwest New Mexico council of governments, the eastern plains council of governments, the mid-region council of governments of New Mexico, the southwest New Mexico council of governments and the north central New Mexico economic development district.

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