NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Following an Albuquerque man’s display of billboards showcasing New Mexico’s harsh statistics, the state’s Economic Development Department has offered its own take. They have introduced billboards in a similar style, focusing on positivity. One of their messages stated, “While some want to drag us down, we’re here to lift up the truth.”

“We noticed those billboards and felt compelled to present what we believe is the true narrative of New Mexico’s progress,” said Rob Black, Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department. “Highlighting positive statistics tells the story of our advancement and prosperity for families.”

Initially, the five billboards were put up shortly before the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta by Joseph DiGangi, through his LLC, Land-of-enchantment.org. These billboards highlighted New Mexico’s poor rankings in crime and education, with the tagline “Why can’t we do better?” His aim was to encourage change.

In response, the state’s Economic Development Department introduced social media content featuring mockups of billboards similar to DiGangi’s. These focused on different achievements, like New Mexico’s top ranking for PhDs per capita and leading in Research and Development expenditures. “We’ve also emphasized unique achievements like being the only state with free childcare and college tuition,” Black explained.

DiGangi’s billboards will stay up until October 12, coinciding with the conclusion of the Balloon Fiesta. The state aims to use the event as a platform to celebrate accomplishments.

local affiliate KRQE reached out to the billboard creator, Joseph DiGangi, and he responded with the statement below:

While there’s praise for New Mexico’s strides in childcare and college accessibility, challenges remain, such as 80% of eighth-graders struggling with grade-level reading and math. New Mexico ranks last nationally in education, as the KRQE Facebook page shows over 3,000 likes and 1,000 comments urging acknowledgment of these issues to facilitate collective solutions.