Agenda 21 manifested itself in Las Cruces and Dona Ana County recently under the guise of the Vision 2040 plan now known as the One Valley One Vision Plan. Using sustainable development and Smart Growth land use policies local governments gain control over private property through restrictive zoning codes. The One County One Vision Plan was based on Agenda 21 (ICLEI) objectives and is full of such restrictions. The anti-growth concepts that are contained in the locally developed Vision 2040 and corresponding sustainability plans have, in part, led to the devastation of our construction industry and associated businesses. Mayor Miyagishima in his recent State of the City address commented that the city’s Gross Receipt Tax revenues were improving and things looked good for the city. He cited a significant increase in the number of building permits over last year but failed to acknowledge their value is less than last year. Unfortunately, according to the City Budget Manager’s February 14, 2012 Economic Indicators report of that increase was eliminated by a 24.5% construction GRT decrease the following month. This represents a large percentage of the city budget. Year to date GRT revenues continue to decline from the same period the previous year and revenues from the building trades are down nearly $1 million. Thus, the steep decline in construction jobs has hurt general retail trade.
Agenda 21 policies have infiltrated all levels of government from the city to the national level and will destroy our national sovereignty and undermine our constitutional protections. If Agenda 21 advocates succeed in their deception and implement its policies we will, within a generation or two, find ourselves living in highly compacted centralized ghettos of government controlled housing where we will be totally dependent on public transportation and government handouts for our existence.
Those of us who have been campaigning against Agenda 21 are encouraged by the National Republican Committee resolution (http://www.republicanassemblies.org/rnc-adopts-resolution-exposing-agenda-21/) passed on January 13th. This resolution opposes Agenda 21 and rejects the notion that US National sovereignty is a social injustice and the radical view that private property ownership, single family homes, private vehicle ownership, individual travel choices and privately owned farms are all destructive to the environment. We need to reject all politicians who mistakenly believe Agenda 21 is good for America.
