New Mexico Mercury

Climate Whacks Mexico’s Economy

The twin blows of Hurricane Ingrid and Tropical Storm Manuel are jolting the Mexican economy. According to the federal Budget and Taxation Secretariat (SHCP), the storms will shave Mexico’s estimated 2013 growth rate from 1.8 percent to 1.7 percent. Federal officials expect growth to pick up pace during the fourth quarter of the year, but the latest downward indicators followed a series of previously announced reductions in the year’s projected economic growth rate, which plunged from 3.5 percent to 3.1 percent even before reaching a new low in the aftermath of September’s storms...

The Mexican Uprising Deepens

Less than one year after taking office, the administration of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto faces serious challenges to its core policies. Leading the opposition are tens of thousands of public school teachers protesting the new No Child Left Behind-like law they contend will cost jobs,  aggravate educational inequities and lead to privatization.

The protest, which counts months now, is expanding in both scope and participation and more and more assuming the character of a multi-issue popular movement...

The Corporatization of Street Dealing South of the Border

A persistent narrative of narco issues south of the border maintains that violence is largely over the struggle to control drug routes leading into the dope-ridden United States, the world’s largest consumer of illegal drugs.  Yet, an increasing share of Mexican narco-violence can be attributed to conflicts over domination of the country’s own expanding domestic market. From Tijuana to Tapachula and from Monterrey to Mexico City, the internal market is thriving as sales of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and methamphetamine all meet a demand that’s soared since the early 1990s...

Mexico’s Teacher Uprising

Conflict and struggle are key words at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year in Mexico. After a summer break, the controversy over education reform laws promoted by the Pena Nieto administration and backed by the country’s major political parties is back at center stage.

In recent days, tens of thousands of teachers and their allies have taken to the nation’s streets, plazas and highways to register their firm opposition to the education reform package, including the professional service law approved last week by the Mexican Congress that establishes a new educator evaluation system requiring teachers to pass No Child Left Behind-like standardized tests...

Will Syria Crisis Stifle Immigration Reform?

As the political crisis and debate intensify over Syria, immigrant advocates fear the issue of possible U.S. military action will delay comprehensive immigration reform in Washington.

¡Ah, Chihuahua!

The changing character of the vast Mexican state that's our neighbor.

New Mexico-Chihuahua Border Brouhaha

In the aftermath of a media blitz staged by the state governments of New Mexico and Chihuahua to jointly promote the development of the emerging Jeronimo-Santa Teresa borderplex, a sharp polemic over the project has rekindled in Ciudad Juarez.

Defending the History and Culture of Ciudad Juarez

In the crisis-ridden rubble of downtown Ciudad Juarez, a group of citizens is arising to restore the cultural vitality and legacy of the Mexican border city.

A Sotol Story

A modern day adventure through the mysteries of an ancient potion.

Sunland Park’s Missing Minutes

The New Mexico Attorney General’s Office (AG) has reaffirmed its dismissal of a citizen complaint against a former administration of the border city of Sunland Park, New Mexico. Filed by resident Ken Giove, the complaint raised more questions about the extent of previous, alleged electoral hanky panky as well as the mystery of important government documents missing from Sunland Park City Hall.

Giove’s complaint centered around the January 2011 passage of a City Council ordinance that lowered the salaries of the mayor and city councilors to $1.00 per month, an action which was subsequently reversed with the City Council’s approval of a February 2012 ordinance restoring the earlier salary levels retroactive to August 2011...