COMMENTARY: The Federal government reopened last week, and that is great news for New Mexico. Our state was the second-most affected in the country, and thousands of New Mexicans had to apply for unemployment, take out emergency loans and visit food banks just to make ends meet.
This should never happen again. Federal workers make our communities better. They should be appreciated and supported, not held as hostages because someone in Washington isn’t getting their way.
Courtesy photo
Bill McCamley
To the air traffic controllers: You guide thousands of lives through the sky, and it has never been as safe to fly as we work, visit family and vacation throughout the nation. Thank you.
To federal marshals, FBI agents, TSA personnel, Customs officers and all other law enforcement: You protect us, and our country is a better place because of your service. Thank you.
To food inspectors: Your work allow us to enjoy our meals and cook for our families with peace of mind. Thank you.
To park rangers and BLM staff: You take responsibility for our enchanting mountains, forests, lakes and deserts. You give all New Mexicans the ability to find joy in them, and your work makes great jobs possible in our thriving tourism industry. Thank you.
To doctors, nurses, techs and all others in the Indian Health Service: You provide for the health of our Pueblo and Tribal brothers and sisters everyday. People are alive and as healthy as they can be because you are there. Thank you.
To the National Weather Service: You give farmers information on when to plant, warn us when deadly floods and fires occur, and give schools and businesses information on when to close because of snow. Without you, we’d be in the dark. Thank you.
To the IRS: Yeah, we know how people feel about taxes. But without you, none of the above would be possible. Our military wouldn’t exist, children would go hungry without SNAP, and seniors would be left without Social Security and Medicare. Thank you.
To the contractors who work for all the agencies above: You clean our buildings, supply our food banks, protect our workers and documents, and provide thousands of other vital services. Again, without you, none of the above would be possible. Thank you.
For those who’ve never lived paycheck to paycheck, or known the stress of not being able to pay certain bills so you can pay off late ones from last month, I’ll tell you this: It sucks. The weight never really leaves. Even though it was a decade ago for me, I will still only pay bills by check as they are more flexible than monthly direct payments from my bank account.
Unfortunately, during the shutdown, some in power treated these workers’ situations with a flippant, careless dismissiveness that showed they didn’t know how applying for a loan can affect your credit score. Or how working a second job takes you away from your kids. Or the shame of having to visit a food bank even though you work full-time.
To all federal workers in this state and beyond, know that New Mexicans are all in this together. We’re family. What you do for our communities is valued and appreciated. We will work as hard as we can to make sure that we get through the remnants of this shutdown. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration will stand with you, no matter what may come.
Again, thank you.
Bill McCamley is the secretary-designate of the N.M. Workforce Solutions Department, a member of the Michelle Lujan Grisham Administration. Agree with his opinion? Disagree? NMPolitics.net welcomes your views. Learn about submitting your own commentary here.