N.M. dealer to pay for kids to play sports

When a New Mexico city began talking about charging children $5 to play in sports leagues that use municipal fields, a local auto dealer stepped in.

Gary Hamilton, the owner of Hamilton Auto Group, told the Clovis parks committee that he would foot the bill for every child in town. He estimated that it would cost him $30,000 to $60,000 a year.

“If it was $100,000 a year, I’d still do it,” he told The Eastern New Mexico News. “It’s the right thing to do.”

The city originally discussed charging $50 but received numerous complaints. Officials said they would send an invoice to Hamilton, who has General Motors, Ford, Stellantis, Hyundai and Toyota dealerships near the New Mexico-Texas border.

Hamilton said it’s important to make sure the fees don’t stop any child from playing a sport.

“If we’ve got more kids doing wholesome things,” he said, “we’ve got less crime.”