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.
Nearly $2.5 million in federal stimulus money will go to boost children’s programs facing budget cuts, Gov. Bill Richardson announced today.
Most of the new money — $2 million – will help thousands of children stay in childcare services administered by the New Mexico Children, Youth & Families Department for a couple of more months, according to a news release Richardson’s office issued Wednesday.
But Voices for Children New Mexico, while applauding Richardson’s decision, said his action ”amounts to using an aspirin when what’s needed is a transfusion.”
Without the money thousands of low-income parents who earn just above the federal poverty level would have lost child care services, an important resource for low-income workers who couldn’t otherwise afford the service and likely would have to scramble to find someone to watch their children while they worked, which isn’t always easy, officials say.
“It helps 5,000 families that would have been disenrolled Nov. 1,” Romaine Serna of the Children, Youth and Families Department told The Independent of the federal dollars. “They will be receiving he subsidy until further notice.”
Richardson was quoted as saying he was “responding to families and child care providers who are understandably concerned about these budget cuts. We are losing $24 million in federal money and the Legislature mandated across-the-board cuts that unfortunately affect our most vulnerable families. I’m doing everything possible to minimize those cuts and protect New Mexico families.”
“The state Children, Youth and Families Department is facing a significant shortfall that could result in 7,000 children losing child care before the Legislature meets again in January,” read the statement from Voices for Children.
“Additionally, deep cuts in provider rates are likely to force some providers to close their doors,” it continued. “Child care providers are small businesses. They not only provide a critical service, which allows parents of young children to earn a living, they also provide jobs, which is especially important at a time when unemployment is high. It’s time New Mexico made young children a priority.”
In addition to the $2 million for child care services, $250,000 of the federal stimulus dollars “will restore the elementary school breakfast program to all schools; and $210,000 will restore funding for the GRADS program,” the news release from the governor’s office said.
