OPINION: State Land Office should find alternative to land swap

I’m a resident in close proximity to the proposed land swap between the New Mexico State Land Office and the Mescalero Apache Tribe. This proposed land swap is highly suspect. The desired tract lies smack in the middle of existing and future residential development.

Anyone with any sense can see that State Lands Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard is pushing this through despite the valid, deep-seated concerns of the residents. My wife and I just happened to run into her on the way in to the public meeting at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum on Nov. 7. She neither acknowledged our concerns of the possible consequences of tribal ownership and development, not did she express an iota of desire to entertain or seek alternatives. Furthermore, her ongoing mischaracterization of the facts and gaslighting of our concerns are appalling and deeply concerning.

Both the tribe and the State Land Office are deliberately evoking cultural and historical sensitivities to justify this land swap in an apparent effort to downplay the well-founded concerns of the residents. In that sense, Garcia Richard is blatantly disregarding her duty to represent the people who elected her and entrusted her with the stewardship of these lands. I know many of us residents would gladly support designating the desired portion of the tract as a cultural heritage site for tribal use with the assumption that land could never be developed. This is something the governor could easily do and do so now.

The tribe and State Land Office can still identify another tract to swap that would be better suited for possible commercial development. Again, the state owns several tracts on the east side of Interstate 25 near and around the Doña Ana Mountains, which I understand are of a cultural significance as well.

That said, one has to ask — where was this desire 30-plus years ago before the surrounding area was developed? Additionally, since the State Land Office has no expressed will to steward this land for the benefit of its citizens, the office should transfer ownership of the residual portion of the tract that the tribe is not interested in to Doña Ana County. That way, the county, rather than the State Land Office, can manage it on behalf of the citizens of this area so it can remain a natural stormwater drainage conduit, wildlife corridor and recreational area.

There is a simple and reasonable solution to this as I identified above which would be a “win-win” for all stakeholders, all that is lacking is Garcia Richard’s will to accept that.