May 10, 2005

Mr. Sandy Jones, Chair

New Mexico State Fair Commission
PO Box 8546
Albuquerque, NM 87198
RE: Moving of the Fairgrounds Casino
Dear Mr. Jones:
As the City of Albuquerque's recognized District 6 Coalition of Neighborhoods, representing over 18
neighborhoods and 20,000+ residents around the Fairgrounds area, the Coalition is opposed to the current
plan involving moving the casino next to the racetrack facilities to the parking lot south of the racetrack.
All the neighborhoods in the Coalition have voiced their opposition and as you know, many of those
residents have attended your Commission meeting in March 2005.
Currently, the Coalition's opposition is based on four main items:
A community impact study was not performed. The Fair Commission's feasibility study was limited to the
financial feasibility of moving the casino. We believe a full community impact study should be done.
Lack of wanting or seeking community and City involvement by the Fair Commission. The City of
Albuquerque has gone through a long process of planned growth strategy and not once was there any
foresight to join in that City strategy. Additionally, neighborhoods in the area have revitalization
plans that will now be impacted. But it's state property & the state has acted as if it has no
neighbors.
Doubtfulness of the legality of moving the casino from the racetrack facility. Although a pedestrian
tunnel is in the plans to connect the casino to the racetrack's infield, we do not believe it meets the
full intent of the law.
Wait until the Department of Health completes its study on the impact gambling has on families and
communities. The study is valuable to New Mexico as a whole but would have specific
meaningfulness to moving the Casino.
The Coalition has heard many other community voices bringing up other issues ranging from social justice
to the morality of gambling. All of which are real issues in the surrounding neighborhoods that range from
pockets of poverty, to economically distressed inner city older areas, to low to middle class residential
areas. Again we hope a community impact and Dept. of Health studies would flush out these concerns for
the area.
Lastly, the Coalition will remain active by continuing to attend and monitor Fair Commission meetings,
jointly working with the City and County for an impact study, and keeping neighborhood leaders and
residents informed of events.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Nancy Bearce
President, District 6 Coalition
Cc: City Councilor Martin Heinrich
County Commissioner Deanna Archuleta-Loeser
State Reps: Al Park, Sheryl Williams Stapleton, Gail Beam, Mimi Stewart
State Senators: Shannon Robinson and Cisco McSorley