Priorities, Mr. Mayor?

As Albuquerque’s mayor congratulates himself over the latest plan for “downtown revitalization” (price tag: $23.5 million), it’s important to remember that the Duke City has far more urgent concerns than building a retractable-roof arena and an “interactive, family-friendly, modern and sustainable water element.”

* The “city’s crime numbers have been steadily rising over the past four years.”

* The Albuquerque labor market has yet to regain the number of jobs in had more than seven years ago. Unemployment in the metro area is rising.

* The passenger count at the Albuquerque International Sunport has fallen for eight years in a row.

* Developers continue to report that dealing with the city’s red tape is a nightmare. Roy Solomon, of Green Jeans Farmery, recently told the Albuquerque Journal: “I’m not going to do another project in this town ever, ever again.”