At least that is the opinion of Denise Keron, executive vice president of the Santa Fe Association of Realtors.
Keron, writing in the Santa Fe Real Estate Guide, a free publication that lists homes and some commercial properties for sale in Santa Fe, describes the proposed ordinance as an "anti-growth and anti-development bill which does not take into account the legitimate needs of the city for certain types of development and continued urban growth.''
Keron says the ''ordinance and concept are seriously flawed.'' The ordinance would allocate water on a first-come, first-serve basis. That will have wide-ranging impacts, warns Keron.
''Allocating water on a first-come, first-served basis will have a largely negative impact on affordable housing, the real estate industry, the building trades industry, the tourist industry and the restaurant industry," she says. ''It is certainly not a viable long-term solution to the problems facing our city and county. Known effects of ordinances such as these are higher housing costs, lowered business opportunities and overall higher cost of living.''
Indeed, while water is precious, she says the city may not be facing a looming water shortage.
''Our Santa Fe (county) government says that we currently have a 40-year supply of water and there is no water crisis,'' she says.
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