We just traveled through NM this week on our out and back trip to the Grand Canyon from the East Coast, and my wife and I were astounded at the level of poverty and homelessness on display in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and a number of other cities and towns we traversed. And then I remembered which political party has run the state of NM most of the time for decades...and the shock wore off.
There's always been a significant amount of homeless here - I think the weather has something to do with that. The problem has REALLY exploded in the last couple years since they legalized marijuana for recreational use - homeless everywhere in dem controlled urban areas and a "dispensary" on every street corner. Most homeless I've encountered here are not home-grown New Mexicans.
We just traveled through NM this week on our out and back trip to the Grand Canyon from the East Coast, and my wife and I were astounded at the level of poverty and homelessness on display in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and a number of other cities and towns we traversed. And then I remembered which political party has run the state of NM most of the time for decades...and the shock wore off.
There's always been a significant amount of homeless here - I think the weather has something to do with that. The problem has REALLY exploded in the last couple years since they legalized marijuana for recreational use - homeless everywhere in dem controlled urban areas and a "dispensary" on every street corner. Most homeless I've encountered here are not home-grown New Mexicans.