During SFR’s endorsement interviews for the 2012 municipal election, a common theme arose: Nobody—nobody running for office, anyway—seemed to have much of a clue about how to improve Santa Fe’s economy. 

We don’t blame them. We at SFR are not economists, nor do we pretend to have all the answers. But in the face of what may well be a long, slow recovery, we believe it’s up to us—the people who live, work, play and create here—to reinvent Santa Fe’s economy. 

Thus, this edition of SFR’s annual “Local Economy” issue contains fewer exhortations to buy local produce (still important!) or patronize local coffee shops. Instead, we asked several business and community leaders a single question: What’s one thing that Santa Fe can do to improve its own economy?

In asking this question, we hope to start a meaningful conversation about economic development in Santa Fe. We also hope to provide a road map for public officials and community leaders so that they can contact these people, refine their ideas and make them happen. As long as a national economic recovery lurks elusively beyond our adobe walls, we may as well create our own way forward.

—Alexa Schirtzinger

About the cover designer: Rebeca Cubillo is a 24-year-old graphic designer. She began her design education four years ago at the Universidad del Valle de Mexico in Querétaro, Mexico. For the past two years, she has been a student in the graphic design department at Santa Fe University of Art and Design. Being in Santa Fe inspires her to experiment with creative design methodologies and feeds her passion for uniting art and design. This cover marks the beginning of a collaboration between SFUAD graphic arts students and SFR.