by Sunnie Redhouse
Daily Lobo
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About 10 UNM students got to share their concerns and ideas with Mayor Martin Ch†vez in an informal question-and-answer session Wednesday at the SUB.
This comes a week after the mayor was a no-show for a debate on campus.
The majority of students who attended the session were over the age of 21, but they expressed their concerns for Ch†vez's proposal to ban alcohol sales at all-ages shows. The decision could potentially eliminate all-ages shows in Albuquerque, since the sale of alcohol pays for a lot of overhead costs in musical venues.
The mayor said he isn't worried about underage students not having enough things to do in the city.
"There is more to do today for students under the age of 21 than there was ever before," Ch†vez said, although he didn't give any examples.
Other topics discussed were employment opportunities, public transportation systems and how money is spent.
Brian Eagan, president of UNM's Students for Martin Ch†vez for Mayor, said he wanted to get students involved on campus by allowing them to share their thoughts and concerns with the mayor.
"He likes working one-on-one," he said. "He has a long-time vision for the city of Albuquerque."
Ch†vez said he likes talking to students.
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"At most it gives students a sense of connection," he said. "That someone is listening."
Eagan said the session was scheduled three weeks ago, so it is the mayor's way to make up for his absence at last week's debate.
Students asked the mayor about violence in the city compared to other cities in the United States.
"We (the city) have every police program known to human kind," Ch†vez said. "And our buses are safe."
For those students who commute to school, their shared concern was transportation and gasoline prices.
Ch†vez said he plans on unveiling a more efficient transportation system in Albuquerque before his next tenure would be over.
"My goal is to break ground on the rail system before I leave," he said.
He said it was a great concern to him and he knows how big of a concern it is to everyone.
Eagan said although he would have liked more students to participate, he thought the turnout was good.
"Sometimes you want a big event, and sometimes you want to be able to talk to people," he said.
Student Heather Sands said she thought Ch†vezˇaddressed what students thought was important, and after talking with him she feels more confident in his abilities as mayor.
"They (students) have little ideas pop out, and it really helps me be better," Ch†vez said. "I need young people to aspire to leadership positions in the public."
