“Burque Over Billionaires” was the theme of T-shirts worn by a group of protesters at the Aug. 4 City Council meeting. The group was protesting the city’s action in granting the right to build an expensive apartment complex. Albuquerque is faced with a shortage of affordable rental housing. Agreeing to build more expensive apartments exacerbates the problem.

The cost of all rentals increases because high-priced rentals raise the fair market value landlords use to justify raising rents. This is not the only problem brought on by the consolidation of resources, which will be a focus of Labor Day protests on Sept. 1. For-profit hospitals jack up the prices we all pay for insurance and hospital stays. There is increased pressure to move toward private schools and away from public education.

Our food is produced on mega-farms and sold at chain grocery stores for additional profit. The billionaires get richer, and we get poorer. On Sept. 1, Labor Day, a massive protest is planned nationwide honoring workers and protesting the movement toward consolidation of goods and services, increasing the costs for necessary services. There will be a protest rally in Albuquerque. The location has not yet been chosen, but stay tuned and plan to spend your Labor Day holiday protesting the move toward prioritizing billionaires over citizens.