State should work on luring retirees

MOST OF US know that New Mexico is a backward state.

(We are) near the bottom when it comes to our economy, education, health care and many other things that should be working for the benefit of the quality of life in our state. We keep trying to attract industry to move here, but so far we have not been too successful.

Two of our neighboring states, Arizona and Texas, are on the right path and their efforts have paid off. They both have strong programs to attract a large segment of our population — retirees. They are a clean industry and our state has many attributes that could attract the retirement industry to our state.

To do this, we need to provide a healthy quality of life. For example, we could do away with our state income tax imposed on seniors. We need to reduce crime rates to a point where people feel safe. We need to provide high quality recreational opportunities.

New Mexico needs to craft a program to attract seniors to our state and stop putting so much effort in promoting hard industries that have not been successful. Let’s promote an industry that does not pollute but will add to our state’s dismal quality of life, supporting small businesses and will add to a higher sense of the quality of life in our state.

LEON FAGER

Rio Rancho