Talkofthetown: Let the Netherwood Park kids have some monkey bars and a slide

Playgrounds positive additions to parks

We didn’t want it either.

The city proposed a kid’s playground for Altura Park and no one living around the park supported it. We went on record in opposition. Then-Mayor Jim Baca stepped in and insisted the playground be built.

Since, it has become a terrific success. None of the neighbor’s fears of trash, late-night hooliganism, or homeless invasions materialized.

Instead, kids and their parents have a place to relax and play on the monkey bars and slides. Kids can enjoy running and playing in the park, but anyone can see how much the little kids love the playground.

My advice is to welcome the playground — your kids and grand kids will love it, too.

ROBERT JACKSON

Albuquerque

Panhandlers’ animal abuse must be stopped

I am in full agreement with the Aug. 2 letter to the editor by Michael Huckins about stopping animal abuse by panhandlers. It is shameful and puts the animals in danger.

Anywhere in Albuquerque, there are panhandlers with dogs and the dogs are sitting out in the hot sun, on blistering concrete, with no protection and it appears no food nor water. I have taken to keeping small Ziploc bags with dog biscuits in the glove box in my car, and if I am at a stoplight and see one of these unfortunate animals, I make the panhandler take the bag, and I sometimes have a small bottle of water to offer.

I don’t know how these people can manage to obtain these dogs in the first place when they can’t even care for themselves. I am a strong supporter of Animal Humane New Mexico, and I know their only concern is for the animals, so I’m not sure how these dogs are being obtained.

Mr. Huckins questions whether any of these dogs are service animals or not, but my observations suggest that they are not service animals. Some are tiny breeds, and I’ve seen one panhandler with three of them, multiple times.

We need to put a stop to this for the sake of the animals. I am a long-time pet person, and I understand the bond between people and pets, however, this doesn’t seem to be the case here, from what I’ve seen on the streets.

Pity? Perhaps. We need to resolve this.

SUE JIMENEZ

Albuquerque

Provincialism has led to low expectations

I observed a political ad from a PAC (political action committee) representing U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich’s campaign criticizing Republican Senate candidate Nella Domenici for leaving New Mexico and pursuing her education and life’s work elsewhere. The premise being that people from the “outside” can’t solve New Mexico’s problems and only people who grew up and stayed in New Mexico can.

This is what I will call ignorant provincialism and is exactly why New Mexico is in the condition it is in.

I have lived here most of my nearly 70 years and met many people who moved here for work or school from other states and countries. The observations are many, but one that I have heard over and over again is that what some might call “laid back,” they call it lackadaisical. They think we are OK with the status quo and don’t want to see things change.

One person I worked with who came from New York claimed he was surprised that, in general, people here were OK with “good enough,” the virus of low expectations.

I believe that having someone from outside of our little bubble of New Mexico who has proven that they were willing to compete and succeed in larger arenas is exactly the kind of leader New Mexico needs to dig ourselves out of this ditch we have been stuck in for way too long.

MICHAEL DANIEL

Rio Rancho

Governor’s health care pitch misses the mark

Governor making the pitch to Texas health care providers in Tuesday Journal article demonstrates she understands there is a shortage of N.M. health care professionals.

It is a small step forward. Unfortunately she is only trying to lure physicians to N.M. based upon abortion politics, without any mention or focus on updating necessary legislative policies, regulations, laws needed to make it financially attractive for physicians to want to move and live here long-term, i.e., ultra-high malpractice premiums, hidden gross receipt tax on medical services, the arduous process of credentialing by insurance companies and hospitals, licensing department delays, and the fact that New Mexico has the highest Medicaid enrollment in the region and the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates.

It’s like trying to build a house without first putting in a proper foundation.

DAVE LEWIS

Albuquerque

Taxpayers entitled to Gov’s travel receipts

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is wasting no time filling up her passport as she jets off to New Delhi and Chennai focusing on economic development and education issues.

Our governor has made similar trips to Dubai, Egypt, Taiwan, the Netherlands and her most recent trip to Australia attending the Asia Pacific Hydrogen Summit.

The Australia boondoggle was the trip where State Auditor Joseph Maestas upgraded his and his companion’s air fare by $30,000. As the story goes, he wanted to arrive rested and ready for a productive workday.

How many people travel with the governor on these trips? It’s been reported that she travels with staff and security. Are spouses invited? I have no problem with them going as long as the applicable expenses are reimbursed back to the state.

Can we, the taxpayers, get full disclosure on the cost of hotels, meals, air fare, car rentals? After all, it is our money she’s spending.

I’m not sure which is worse, having her jet off to faraway places or having her parked up at the state Capitol pretending to care about the affairs of the state.

MICHAEL DAVIS

Albuquerque

Not full-time, but more time for lawmakers

I partially agree with Mayor Tim Keller’s call for a full-time Legislature. The current 60/30 session schedule doesn’t get the job done.

However, using California as an example of a successful full-time government is a laugh. California legislators spend their 12 months scheming ways to spend tax dollars on frivolous ventures and how to soak taxpayers to fund them.

Consider the high-speed railway to nowhere and wanting to tax car owners based upon the number of miles they drive. There’s a reason the Tesla, Chevron, Apple, and regular citizens are abandoning the state.

I relocated from San Diego to Albuquerque in 2015 and California still demands that I pay state income taxes and prove that I have medical insurance.

I would support increasing our New Mexican Legislature session to three or a maximum of six months a year. I would not support paying our representatives a salary because there is no shortage of candidates for office, and that job isn’t really a full-time, 40-hour work week even when in session.

THOMAS FRANCL

Placitas