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In the News
New Tool That Adds But Does Not Subtract From Taxpayers
Like local and state governments across the nation, both Bucks and Montgomery counties have limited tools to balance their annual budgets: cut services, lay off employees, raise taxes, take on more debt or ask for employee givebacks. This year, the Montgomery County Commissioners raised taxes. It was the same in next door Philadelphia, where a […]
My View: Take Another, Closer Look At The Benefits Of A Public Bank
A public bank task force resolution will come before the City Council in January (“What’s the fuss about a public bank in Santa Fe?” Dec. 11). The feasibility study completed by Building Solutions was a good economic development study, but failed to address crucial public bank questions that the volunteer task force can answer. That […]
In American Towns, Private Profits From Public Works
Desperate towns have turned to private equity firms to manage their waterworks. The deals bring much-needed upgrades, but can carry hefty price tags.
Affordable Credit
The New Mexican recently published a generally excellent and informative report by Bruce Krasnow on the steps being taken by the city and residents to establish a public bank for Santa Fe (“What’s the fuss about a public bank in Santa Fe?” Dec. 11). As a founder of the Public Banking Institute and chair of […]
Public Banks Can Help Cities Honor Their Commitment to Give Sanctuary to Immigrants
But like Santa Fe, many sanctuary cities have strong movements for public banks, although not all have taken the steps Santa Fe’s city council has. Oakland’s city council adopted a resolutionto study public banking several weeks ago (and reaffirmed their status as a sanctuary city at the same meeting). Philadelphia’s did the same earlier this year. Public banking movements exist in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland (Ore.), Denver, Washington D.C., New York City, and Seattle, as well as in states like New Jersey and Vermont, which contain sanctuary cities. If implemented in those cities and states, public banks could provide a financial foundation for municipalities charting their own courses in the face of an aggressive national executive.
Let’s Do It
Bruce Krasnow’s piece (“What’s the fuss about a public bank in Santa Fe?” Dec. 11) was one of the best and clearest statements on the subject during the several years the “fuss” has been growing. Craig Barnes, a modest man, would probably be satisfied that the article did not mention his name, but the history […]
North Dakota’s Public Bank Was Built for the People—Now It’s Financing Police at Standing Rock
The nation’s only state bank was created to empower small farmers and local economies, but now it’s being used to silence indigenous people with militarized force. How did this happen?
Sawant: Cut Seattle ties with Wells Fargo over investment in Dakota Access Pipeline
Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant has introduced legislation urging Mayor Ed Murray to curtail the city’s banking relationship with Wells Fargo because of the bank’s investment in the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline
What’s all the fuss about a public bank in Santa Fe?
Villarreal’s measure does not create a public bank in city government. It establishes a task force that would take public input, conduct research and present options to the City Council on what a bank’s policies and governance would look like.
Strong Defense
As the states sometimes serve as test laboratories for the nation, so Santa Fe has an opportunity to serve as a test laboratory for New Mexico, in this instance to test the potential of a public bank to serve (as stated by the Bank of North Dakota) as “an agile partner that creates financial solutions […]

