Some Local Residents Unhappy With Spaceport America Job Creation

Spaceport America's runway under construction.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that some local residents are not pleased with the number of jobs that Spaceport America is generating:

Arturo Uribe, community activist in Mesquite, said there’s frustration among some area truckers, who aren’t seeing the benefits of spaceport contracts. The companies carrying out the work, he noted, aren’t obligated to make use of local employees or subcontractors.

“You have a lot of folks looking at the job situation,” he said. “Why are we as Doña Ana County residents, who are paying the most of the two counties paying a tax, not getting a lot of jobs that are coming out?”

Uribe referred to a 1/4 of 1 percent sales tax Doña Ana County voters imposed upon themselves in 2007 to help pay for the spaceport. The measure generated about $49 million toward construction.

Residents’ complaints prompted a community meeting earlier this month with New Mexico Spaceport Authority Director Steve Landeene. Uribe said the session was “heated” at times.

Landeene said he understands the companies are concerned about not having work, but contended the Spaceport Authority has done its best to help New Mexico companies, within the bounds of what’s allowed in procurement code.

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