UNM Institute
for Public Policy organizes 'citizen conferences'
Aids
state with transportation planning
The UNM
Institute for Public Policy (IPP), a non-partisan forum for
social scientific research and education, will hold seven Citizen
Conferences across the state to aid the highway departments
long range planning process.
The highway
department sponsored similar meetings in 1997 and found that
they are an effective and innovative way to incorporate public
opinion into the policy making process. Relying on New Mexicans
to provide insight about their preferences for transportation
is an especially important function this year and beyond, because
the state is facing a future where transportation needs of citizens
will outgrow available resources.
Approximately
10 randomly selected citizens will be recruited from throughout
the state by the IPP to take part in each of the daylong meetings.
In the morning there is a question and answer session where
Citizen Advisors discuss transportation issues with state and
local transportation professionals. In the afternoon the Citizen
Advisors deliberate on what they have learned and develop a
list of recommendations for transportation planning throughout
the state. The recommendations will be presented to the press,
local citizens and the highway department at 4 p.m. Local public
officials, business people and the general public are invited
to this session and will have the opportunity to join the discussion
at an informal public meeting following the presentation. The
first conference was held in Taos May 6.
The dates
and locations for the remaining conferences are:
·
Wednesday, May 8, in Tucumcari at the Convention Center
· Wednesday, May 15, in Gallup at the UNM-Gallup campus
· Wednesday, May 22, in Carlsbad at the Pecos River Conf.
Ctr.
· Wednesday, June 5, in Bernalillo at Santa Ana Star
Casino
· Tuesday, June 11, in Silver City at Western New Mexico
University
· Thursday, June 13, in Truth or Consequences at the
Civic Center
For more
information, call the UNM Institute for Public Policy at
277-1099 or (866) 602-6810.