Is the "past" the only thing Las Vegas, NM can sell?

The history of Las Vegas, NM is amazing.  The founding settlers (all Hispanic) had to fight the Comanche and plains Indians just to gain a foothold.  General Kearney stood on a roof in the Plaza to declare New Mexico\Arizona was now American and no longer Mexican.  The defining factor was the railroad.  Those iron tracks brought "Doc" Holiday, Jesse James, Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett.  There is a book that calls us the "Wildest of the Wild West".  I believe that is true.  Those were the good old days, now we need to attract people for other reasons than gambling, whiskey, women and land grabs.  We are a great community to attract Senior Citizens who are looking for a place to retire.  To do this we need top notch hospitals, shopping centers, and some degree of "culture".  As a community, we need to put forth our best face.  We need our leaders to do all that is reasonable to attract people.  Our young people trying to raise a family need to have jobs.  Are we attracting business?  Is our Chamber of Commerce attracting new business?  Is our Economic Development Corp. attracting new business?  Does the city offer incentives to a new business?  I believe I know the answer to these questions and it is not "yes".

What is the identity of Las Vegas, NM

At one time Las Vegas, NM was the largest town in the territory of New Mexico, but when the railroad went south so did the future of Las Vegas.  We, like all small towns in NM, have a myriad of problems and not the least of which is water. The State Legislature appropriated $10 million to apply to our water issue.  I pray that the $10 million does not go down a million little rat holes.  That appropriation will go along way to solving the water issue.  Another positive thing was the sale and renovation of the Castenada, a former Harvey House.  Its restoration should help the revival of the entire RR district.  We need to make sure we do not loose our RR connection.  It is important to us, but more so for the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch located south of Raton.  It would be nice for Las Vegas to position itself as the retirement center of Northeastern NM.  We need to attract new jobs, new opportunity for business, and we need to seriously reconsider our position on fracking.