We, the undersigned, petition Santa Fe City Council, Mayor Javier Gonzales, and City leaders to prioritize the protection of good public service union careers, and the safe, efficient delivery of taxpayer funded public services in their budget deficit deliberations.

Whereas recent city council resolutions seek to identify $4 Million in savings through public service cuts and the elimination of vacant funded positions; and

Whereas eliminating, forever, essential public services positions would compound problems for efficient and effective delivery of basic city services; and

Whereas significant opportunities exist for the City of Santa Fe to examine its "span of control" or ratio of managers to frontline employees and phase in a sunset of unnecessary or duplicative work positions which have grown in number over the past decade; and

Whereas permanent elimination or outsourcing of good frontline city jobs will result in diminished delivery of services supporting Santa Fe's service-based and tourism economy, and would harm the livelihoods and wellbeing of Northern New Mexico working families;

Now, THEREFORE, we the undersigned call upon Mayor Javier Gonzales and City Council members to:

1. Ensure cuts to vacant positions and services do not adversely affect the health and safety of residents and workers and are equitably distributed among each sector of public services to include non-union, Management, Fire, Police, and the AFSCME bargaining units.


2. Negotiate in good faith with ALL unions representing Santa Fe City Employees to identify which vacancies will be eliminated in order to minimize disruption of public services;

3. Abandon plans calling for well-paying public careers and services to be outsourced;