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Sunday, July 11, 2010
Letters
Dominguez Incident Nobody's Business
As a native of Santa Fe, I feel it inappropriate to use newspaper space for concerns that are none of our business. City Councilor Carmichael Dominguez is not the first city official to have something wrongdoing happen to him. In fact, I've seen other city, county and state officials in worse situations that could be questionable. This circumstance could have happened to anyone, and for those who are robbed of more and should have their story appear as an editorial for help, denied!
I feel that when I see articles or editorials about officials and their personal life's that it makes the newspaper look trashy. Some people might say different, but no one likes to feel belittle. Sometimes I want to investigate the writers of the Journal and the New Mexican and print their personal lives in the paper. This editorial has shown nothing more besides mitote, and Mr. Dominguez should take it with a grain of salt.
NICKY MYER
Via e-mail
Commission Lacks Common Sense
Many years ago, electric utilities charged higher rates to customers who used less electricity, until the utilities were ordered by regulators to reverse this price structure to encourage conservation. Apparently, the Santa Fe County Commission did not get the memo.
Annual residential solid waste disposal permits now cost $65 for 24 trips, or about $2.71 per trip. Of course, the price per trip increases as the number of trips declines. For example, a person making eight trips pays $8.13 per trip, or a single trip permit can be purchased for $15. So those of us who generate less solid waste are being compelled by the County Commission to subsidize those who are creating more waste.
My district's commissioner, Kathy Holian, suggested that I purchase bag tags, available for $1 each, with a minimum purchase of five. Following her advice I might spend less money, even as I deal with the inconvenience of having to secure these tags from the county clerk instead of at the dumpsite, but the fundamental unfairness remains: Our high volume solid waste producer, with the 24 trip pass, will spend as little as 27 cents per bag.
But beyond the simple injustice and the wrongheaded financial incentives, the new program has predictable consequences with potentially devastating results. Americans have an abiding distaste for unfair taxes, as the July 4th holiday reminds us, and the frustration over such a tax will lead many to seek alternatives to the county solid waste program. Some may choose to burn their trash, increasing the risk of wildfires. Also likely is increased dumping in arroyos, bringing more bears down from the mountains. I wonder what advice Kathy Holian will have for the mother of a child mauled by a garbage-eating bear?
The simple solution is to allow the purchaser of a 24-trip pass to use all the trips, regardless of how many years it takes. Everyone would then pay the same price per trip, with an incentive to extend the life of the pass by generating less waste. Perhaps we need a County Commission with more common sense.
RICHARD BANK
Santa Fe
Off-Road Vehicles Destroying Forests
Thank you to New Mexico Environment Secretary Ron Curry for recognizing the emergency situation created by off-road vehicles in the Santa Fe National Forest.
I visited the Jemez Mountains two years ago and was stunned by the damage done by off-road vehicles. Last month I visited the same areas and the devastation was heartbreaking. The Jemez is not alone in suffering; off-road destruction pervades the eastside of the Santa Fe National Forest and all New Mexico forests. Rutted dirt bike trails cover the Jemez; ATV tracks lead into the Santa Fe Watershed.
The management of the Santa Fe National Forest is doing a disservice to the people of New Mexico. Our forests, water quality, wildlife habitat and economy are being destroyed while the U.S. Forest Service sits on their hands and makes excuses. The Travel Management Plan they tout does not address water quality or quantity. Their "plan" is a map with far too many routes in the wrong places. The noise of ATVs and dirt bikes will be heard throughout the forest, driving out hikers, wildlife and the vast majority of New Mexicans and visitors who seek the peace of our forests.
Why doesn't the Forest Service listen? Who is the Forest Service listening to?
CAROL JOHNSON
Glorieta
M.D.'s Argument Is Totally Illogical
Your article "Fighting Firearms with Firearms" goes to prove that not everyone with M.D. after their names is intelligent. Of course, a doctor having worked for the state for 26 years should have been the tip-off. Perhaps a better and more accurate argument for New Mexico could be that anyone with a driver's license shouldn't be allowed into restaurants serving alcohol. Or better yet, to solve a myriad of problems and make Mr. Richter really comfortable for his staff, prohibit restaurants from serving alcohol altogether. There is nothing written in stone that says you need booze with your meal. People can then be forced to do all of their drinking at home, the same argument that some are now making for the legalization of pot.
But I have a challenge for the Journal. At the end of, let's say, five years, you can provide the statewide statistical data as to how many people are killed or maimed in restaurants serving alcohol by individuals who have concealed carry permits vs. the number who are killed or maimed by doctors' medical malpractice!
DESHAWN JONES
Santa Fe
New Mexico Truly Land Of Opportunity
I should be concerned about Mr. Sanchez's future after being charged with embezzlement and forgery while working for the Albuquerque Public Schools. However, I figure he probably still has plenty of employment possibilities in Española. New Mexico is the land of opportunity.
DEANN ZWIGHT
Albuquerque
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