Gonzales is also considering running for Governor of New Mexico. This speech concerns something I care very much about, that it is not enough to advocate for increased pre-Kindergarten learning opportunities for children, but you have to raise the next question, as to how to pay for it. Taxing 2 cents per ounce on sugar soft drinks would accomplish all of this and more quite well, and this plan is already functioning in Oakland, Berkeley, Philadelphia, and Boulder, Colorado. It will be on the ballot for Santa Fe in May 2017, and if you like the plan and would like to see this in your own city, please: talk to your city councilors and to your mayor.
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I had originally intended to publish both the entire speech as text as well as embed a video of the speech. I am hoping this video link works well for you; you may have to download a free system for doing so and you may already have it on your computer. If you like Marimba music, it is at the beginning as warm-up, and if you like New Mexico Pueblo Dancing and singing, that is about 45 minutes in; the actual speech starts at about 1 hour and two minutes into this video:
http://www.santafenm.gov/video_on_demand/video/551
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Breaking news from Chicago on the Immigrants Day:
plus Bloomberg News on the same subject, dateline Philadelphia:
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This is a news story by Steve Hsieh writing for the Santa Fe Reporter, out already, very soon after the speech finished:
It's Strong ~~~ Mayor Javier Gonzales delivers his third State of the City speech, February 15, 2017
http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/article-13068-its-strong.html
Mayor Javier Gonzales used his third annual state of the city speech to highlight successes of his tenure, defend controversial proposals, including a tax on sugary beverages to fund early childhood services, and rebuke President Donald Trump's anti-immigrant policies.
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