SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 4

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

 

 

 

 

 

A JOINT MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AREA IN THE CITY OF

ALBUQUERQUE CENTERED AROUND LOUISIANA BOULEVARD AND CENTRAL AVENUE BETWEEN LOMAS BOULEVARD AND GIBSON BOULEVARD, COMPRISING THE COMMUNITIES OF LA MESA, TRUMBULL VILLAGE, SOUTH SAN PEDRO, ELDER HOMESTEAD AND FAIR WEST, KNOWN AS THE "INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT".

 

     WHEREAS, the area in the city of Albuquerque centered around Louisiana boulevard and Central avenue between Lomas boulevard and Gibson boulevard from Wyoming boulevard to San Mateo boulevard is commonly recognized as the most international and culturally diverse area of New Mexico; and

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

     WHEREAS, in the international district, Native Americans and New Mexicans whose families have been in New Mexico for hundreds of years live alongside recent immigrants from Mexico, Central and South America, Asia, Europe, Africa and

many other places; and

     WHEREAS, many cultures, customs and faiths are represented in this diverse and vibrant part of the city, and over twenty-seven languages are spoken at Highland high school; and

     WHEREAS, the area has been home for the last five decades to the United States department of state's refugee resettlement program; and

     WHEREAS, hundreds of residents, business operators and local elected officials held several public meetings, had thoughtful discourse and unanimously concluded that creating awareness of and leveraging the area's positive image are

critical to building the community and supporting local business and property; and

     WHEREAS, since its formal recognition in 2009, the international district identity has started to flourish through economic development by creating awareness of the community's vibrant and diverse culture, goods and services; and

     WHEREAS, the international district is supported by local, county and city elected officials in the community and has supported identity-building through signage and long-range planning; and

     WHEREAS, recent improvements in the area include the future home of a new regional public library, a new police substation, a tiny home village, two urban open space locations, street lighting, route 66 median landscaping and continued expansion of the metropolitan assessment and treatment services facility that will bring new and continued vitality and needed services to the area; and

     WHEREAS, the international district, with support of local stakeholders and elected officials, hosts popular city and statewide events, including the international district festival and international district day at the New Mexico legislature;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the tenth anniversary of the international district be recognized and the district be recognized as the most vibrant multilingual and culturally diverse area in both Albuquerque and New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the city and the district's residents and political, community and business leaders be congratulated on the numerous improvements that have been made in the district since its 2009 recognition as the international district; and

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

- 3 -