What changes does new year hold for Taos?

New Year’s resolutions are always a tricky affair. The stats, the experts, the pundits tell us that a majority won’t make any. And the majority of those who do won’t succeed in their efforts. It can be a bit dreary to think about.

But after a year of international unrest and political upheaval – the United States had its share of both – and in a year in which we saw the passing of what seemed to be an unprecedented number of icons and artists, taking a look forward is never a bad exercise.

What about Taos? If you were to set a New Year’s resolution for Taos, what would it be?

The Taos News has an online poll active now at taosnews.com that asks the question, “What is your No. 1 hope for Taos in 2017?” You can vote through Jan. 2.

Answer choices are: “That the town generates more jobs”; “I hope crime goes down”; “That Taos gets more help in social services and mental health services”; “I hope Taos maintains its unique charm and identity”; “My No. 1 hope is that Taos’ economy improves for all”; and “none of the above.”

So far, an overwhelming number of respondents would like to see the Taos economy improve for all. It’s one of the overarching lessons that came out of the raucous political season. The second-highest response was the hope that Taos will get more social service and mental health service support. While there are many groups that work hard to provide what they can in those areas, the town has been without a detox facility for more than a year now. Bringing back a detox facility should be a high-priority 2017 resolution for our political leaders.

And to be sure, there are many residents in Taos County who feel the economy, which has improved for some, has passed them by. There are many who scratch and claw every day to make ends meet and put food on the table. The public and private sectors should continue to work together to bring jobs that provide a living wage for those who work full time. Service sector and tourism-related jobs are a positive, but often only a small percentage of those jobs translate into careers. The public and private sectors need to look at jobs that can become careers for the residents of Taos County, whether in health care, education or small business, etc.

And then there are those who sincerely believe that Taos doesn’t need to change in any significant way. They say Taos has survived for many decades with its own unique identity and charm. There is certainly truth to that sentiment.

But mindful evolution is a good economic and social movement.

Being mindful of the heritage and culture of Taos – while working to provide jobs and a thriving economy – is required for a healthy Taos in 2017. There will be sincere arguments along the way. There will be those who will try and cut corners and push through agendas that benefit only a few. The town and the public should stand up to those efforts. But we should also allow for improvement and have an open mind to new ideas and challenging perspectives.

We hope to help drive the conversation in 2017 about which changes make sense and which changes do not.

Happy new year to everyone who cares about this one-of-a-kind place we call home.