I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
After campaigning against the measure on Twitter and Facebook, a Santa Fe think tank claims there are enough votes to stop the reimposition of the food tax from passing out of the New Mexico state Legislature. Think New Mexico announced Monday that opponents of reinstating the gross receipts tax on food had sent over 1,600 e-mails to legislators.
“The defeat of the food tax shows how important and effective your emails to policymakers truly are,” read a press release sent out today by the think tank.
In the first edition of The Independent Forum, Think New Mexico executive director Fred Nathan wrote, “Whatever money a food tax would generate for the state would be offset by reduced tax collections on other goods and services that these families can no longer afford. Thus, a new food tax would operate like an anti-stimulus package.”
In recent days, Think New Mexico had posted to Twitter and Facebook the name of a politician or group opposed to the food tax. For example, at noon Monday, Think New Mexico tweeted: ”Democratic State Senator Eric G. Griego has stated his opposition to the reimposition of the food tax.”
Why did the group use social media to campaign against the food tax?
“Beginning in late December, as the session grew near, we wanted to convey the momentum against the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce’s proposal to reimpose the food tax and have been releasing endorsements from legislators, organizations and newspapers hourly,” Nathan wrote.
As of Monday afternoon, Think New Mexico had 679 fans on its Facebook page and 166 followers on Twitter, according to Nathan.
Nathan said the opposition “began as a trickle but is now an avalanche.”
While some politicians have been able to use social media effectively to advocate for positions and gain attention, this is the first time I’ve seen a group not aligned with a political party or media outlet have an effective social media campaign. (If there is one that I don’t recall, don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments).
