Robbie Dobyns

Common Sense for the Common Good

I grew up in Santa Fe, raised my children here, and I love this community. City decisions should focus on the benefit of everyone, now and the future. Too often, quick fixes of complex problems actually avoid the real issue, are divisive, and make the problem worse. Solving real problems for the good of the entire community, not special interests and individuals, takes courage, an open mind, and hard, honest work. I can do that…and will.

My ideas for our community’s future are based on my experience and work with fellow Santa Feans, on the boards I serve, and friends and family. I do not believe they are the final answer, but propose them for discussion and refinement, so they can work for all.

Based on a recent poll, Santa Fe citizens were most concerned about water, education, and safety. Weighing my experience, knowledge, and voters’/experts’ ideas, I propose these common sense solutions.

WATER:

We need to support the long term tradition of Santa Fe residents’ conservation of water.

There is a 7% overall drop in personal use of water, in spite of a rise in population…

CONGRATULATIONS Santa Fe! Obviously, we need to insure we have an adequate water supply for the future.

First, get the Buckman Diversion Project in place. Lack of funds is no excuse, the longer we wait, the more it costs.

Second, begin the process of fixing and repairing the infrastructure. There are estimates that we lose from 15 to 25% of our water to leaks in our aging pipes. This will be a costly and daunting job, but it is costing us now…and will also cost even more in the future. It will have to be done eventually.

Third, restore the Two Mile Reservoir to add water storage in wet years; potentially develop it as a recreation site for the citizens to enjoy; and potentially use it as a mechanism to restore the Santa Fe River.

EDUCATION:

Our schools are funded by the state and managed by the Santa Fe Public School system. The city cannot change them, but they cannot succeed without the community. It WILL take the entire community to help our youth succeed in school. Successful schools directly impact the economy and vitality of a community. We can help our schools and students in many ways. I propose a few critical solutions and an exciting possibility.

First, create a paid position whose job would be to coordinate city resources with SFPS needs OR a permanent, working committee (like finance) to be accountable for support to education. This would be a commitment of the city to its responsibility to support the schools and youth of our city. Programs and ideas could be worked out and implemented.

Second, use this venue to involve the entire community in solving our substitute problem.

Third, use this venue to involve the entire community in solving our truancy problem.

What exciting possibility would I propose? We are in a unique time. We have an opportunity to provide our youth with skills for the future and to provide our city with a vibrant, clean new economy bringing in millions of dollars. How? Develop an Alternative Energy/Conservation project using wind and solar power. Facilitate our schools now in the education for the knowledge and skills needed while the project is developed. Indeed, have the students be part of the planning!

Santa Fe is extremely fortunate to have the Community College. With the Community College, SFPS, and the community we have in place the ability to accomplish this vision.

SAFETY/REDUCE CRIME RATE:

We have a good, strong police department. They get paid very little for what they do, but most are dedicated and love their jobs. We owe them appreciation and gratitude. There are a few common sense proposals I would present.

First, contract with a security business to be the first response to alarms set off in homes. Many of these alarms are false, due to accident or faulty systems. It is a major drain on the police force to respond to these repeatedly. If the alarm company or owner does not fix it…fine them.

Second, involve the entire community in NO TOLERANCE for truancy. Many cities have model programs that have made a great difference in truancy…resulting in a great reduction in crime.

PUBLIC SAFETY (Update 2-21-2008):

Months ago I proposed contracting first responders to alarm calls, since many are false. Fortunately, many agreed with me, but now the Public Safety Committee of City Council has rejected a pilot plan to do just that. Their reasoning, as published, is that the city should not pay for a problem that the alarm companies and their clients are responsible for. This is typical business as usual, nothing is done. Why not fine the companies to pay the contractor? Police Chief says it keeps two officers busy 20 to 30 minutes. How much does that cost? And what about the safety of the public in the meantime? How much is that worth? Couldn’t the committee have come up with a common sense solution instead of just a rejection?

 

We need to put a public safety officer in a home in every neighborhood. The visibility of a police car does wonders for crime reduction in a locality. Many of our off-duty police cars are sitting in Rio Rancho, or somewhere less expensive than Santa Fe, instead. Our police officers DO NOT qualify for affordable housing, but can’t afford a Santa Fe home.  Our immediate solution to public safety would be to have a public safety officer in every neighborhood…it’s not that hard to do. The city could subsidize the down payment regardless of the price of the house…in the form of a second mortgage with a nominal rate of return to the city equal to their investment. Upon sale of such a house, the city would be repaid in full. The NM Housing Authority has funds available for this type of assistance, that have not yet been explored and exploited. This would enable public safety officers to buy a home here. We need to provide the same opportunity to our teachers and nurses.

 

We need to insure our public safety officers are competitively paid to keep them here, and are provided with the best equipment for their dangerous jobs. Just compensation is necessary, and those that argue our officers get paid 13% more than Albuquerque’s are not taking the cost of living into account. Albuquerque’s cost of living index is approximately 105% and Santa Fe’s is 139%. So the hourly pay is not comparable.

 

Last, I would like to address Affordable Housing. We need affordable housing so our children can live here. The current Santa Fe Housing Opportunity Program is not working. It’s important to revisit the Tierra Contenta plan of the early 90s in which the ratios were different and we empowered the buyers of those properties, which we’re not doing now. With the current market, the homeowner could sell their home and still owe the city money! We can do better.

COMMON SENSE FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF SANTA FE!

My proposals are open for dialog. You can:

• Leave a reply below (for everyone to see)
• Send E-mail to robbie@robbiedobyns.com
• or visit our forum at SantaFeForum.org.

Let the discussion begin to increase the “good” for us all!

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