Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce president (and blogger) Simon Brackley passes along this chart, compiled from Chamber members’ responses to the question, “If a declining economy forces you to have to cut business expenses in the year ahead, will you cut?”
(Presumably, there should be an ellipsis after “will you cut.” Either that, or it should say, “what will you cut?” But we won’t be sticklers. You get the point.)
The question was asked only of Chamber members in the hospitality business—which is still a huge part of the local economy. Click the chart for a larger image.
What’s the takeaway? There’s a small irony in the popularity of “travel” as a cuttable expense, considering that these businesses rely on other people continuing to travel.
But considering that “other” was far-and-away their first choice, the lesson here may be that businessowners here have no idea where to begin cutting costs—especially since the recession already forced them to hire fewer staff this summer.
The Trinity site, where the US set off the first man-made atomic explosion, is only open to the public twice a year. One of those times was last Saturday. I went with a couple of friends, expecting to find a couple dozen science geeks and amateur historians. I did not expect hundreds of camera-toting gawkers from all over the country who behaved as though they’d pulled over at the World’s Largest Ball Of Yarn!, rather than a great scar upon the earth inflicted by mankind and symbolic of his hubris and folly.
And yet…
Say cheese!
Look! This partially vaporized column must be important—it’s fenced off!
The whole thing reminded me of those parades they have in Pakistan, where the military drags its nuclear-tipped missiles through the streets, met by cheering crowds. Hooray! We’re a nuclear power!
Is it just me, or does Gov. Bill Richardson sound less than thrilled about Santa Fe’s 400th Anniversary festivities? Maybe they should’ve had Cal Worthington do the ad.
An addendum to this week’s story on the sure-to-be-slow summer tourism season: Last week, SFR asked city of Santa Fe finance director David Millican what the projected 10 percent drop in hotel occupancy would translate to in terms of gross receipts tax revenue for the city.
Millican got back to us*, but too late to make the print edition. Here is his reply, in part:
We are predicting 9% drops in GRT generally and have not done a detailed study on tourism because tourist and non tourist information is lumped together in two major categories, Retail and Accomodations and Food…
In other words, it’s hard to say what a slow tourism season means for the city budget. More from Millican after the cut:
Gov. Bill Richardson is about to have a press conference at the Roundhouse with Robert Redford. The press is waiting around a table. Redford and Richardson are, we can only assume, finishing a cigar. No idea what the announcement is about, but state tourism officials are in the house.
I’ll update when there’s some news.
Redford is, for once maybe, not the biggest celebrity around New Mexico today. President Barack Obama was just in Albuquerque.
Here’s the news: Redford will launch Sundance New Mexico.
The focus will be on training programs for Native American and Hispanic filmmakers, Richardson says. The operating costs will be “relatively modest…for now.”
The Sundance project will be housed at Los Luceros, which the state purchased at Richardson’s urging.
Redford says his “love of the area…goes many years back.” He also notes that he was an early supporter of Richardson’s political career.
But he’s not so clear on exactly why he’s doing this now. “There’s change in the air right now,” Redford says, both positive and negative. “The positive has to do with arts and culture.”
New Mexico Film Office Director Lisa Strout says the initiative will cost $80,000-$90,000 over the year, paid from existing funds. Richardson says it will likely cost much more over time, “but if it means expanding the Hispanic and Native American training program we’re announcing today, it will be worth it.”
Redford points out that other countries still subsidize art, but it’ been sidelined in the US.
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Zane:
I don't mind being a punching bag. I view SFR's policy of publishing letters as part of that high ground.
Jonathan Drew:
Last week the letters section of the SFR was filled with people criticizing Zane's coverage of the WiFi issue. I think this week had a couple too.
What’s the takeaway? There’s a small irony in the popularity of “travel” as a cuttable expense, considering that these businesses rely on other people continuing to travel.
An addendum to 
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