Seeking a replacement for arts college

Iam a 1970 graduate of the College of Santa Fe who fell in love with Santa Fe and the Southwest, but returned to my hometown of New York City. When my friend Shannon Brame, a 1997 CSF graduate, alerted me that help was needed to bring in a new college next spring (“Ghost campus? Not for Santa Fe,” Our View, April 18), we both immediately rolled up our sleeves and got involved.

I am here to help in every way possible to bring in a sustainable institution. We have gathered together a significant, cohesive group of alumni and friends who are ready to bring together interested colleges and benefactors to bring this to fruition. Kevin McNamara

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Still time

For those who have wished for professional theater in Santa Fe, please do not miss this superb production of Time Stands Still at the Adobe Rose Theatre, playing through June 4. The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies has crafted a beautiful play about love of work and family, and the strains that either deepen or tear it apart. Catherine Lynch, the director, has sculpted a fine production, from her work with the actors to the set and lighting design. You will not see better ensemble acting anywhere. Barbara Burnett

board member Adobe Rose Theatre Santa Fe

Worse than foolish

PNM Shareholders for a Responsible Future presented two shareholders’ resolutions at the Public Service of New Mexico annual meeting last week. The first asked for a climate audit, to test PNM’s preparedness for the no more than 2 degrees of warming called for in the Paris accord. It garnered 49.94 percent of the vote. The second resolution called on PNM to disclose which assets will become stranded as PNM transitions to the new energy economy. It received 40 percent of shareholders’ votes. PNM fought the resolutions all the way, from filing with the Securities Exchange Commission to block our resolutions (PNM failed), to refusing to address shareholders’ concerns at the annual meeting in a meaningful way. PNM recommended voting against the resolutions, even as industry leader Institutional Shareholders Services recommended yes votes on both. When half your owners think you need a climate audit, it is worse than foolish to fight the request. Charlotte Levinson Santa Fe

Obstructing recovery

After nearly 20 years of recovery efforts, the population of Mexican gray wolves in the wild hovers around 100. This is far short of what is needed to maintain the species. Gov. Susana Martinez and the State Game Commission have obstructed recovery efforts for many years (“Appeals court removes block on Mexican gray wolf reintroduction,” April 26).

The latest permit issued by the state Game and Fish Department states that two captive-born wolf pups may be placed with wild wolves but that two wild-born pups must be removed, thus ensuring no net increase in the number of wolves. This is not recovery; it is another sadistic act of pathological hatred for native wildlife. New Mexico’s degenerate wildlife management harms wildlife and erodes ecological integrity. Voters will soon be able to elect a new governor, hopefully someone with a firm commitment to the ethics of wildlife management in the 21st century. Charles Fox

Santa Fe

Hands off

Regarding the Trump administration’s order to review certain national monuments designated or expanded by prior presidential administrations, it is notable that all but one of the nonmarine monuments affected by this executive order are in the Rocky Mountain region and the far West.

These sites have fundamental features in common, all of which argue for the suitability of their designations (“Yes, let’s leave ‘a better land,’ ” Our View, May 23).

Each site exhibits distinctive geology, a record of change over time important to understanding how western North America came to be, and how the continent will continue to evolve.

Protected from intensive development, the geological and paleontological resources contained within these monuments will provide a basis for ongoing scientific investigation and natural resource planning.

Just as the human population of the West has nearly reached the limits of the region’s water supplies and other natural resources, the flora and wildlife of the region have become more and more stressed by incursions of development into their historic ranges.

In aggregate, these monuments can help ensure the conservation of sufficient plant and animal habitat and also help preserve natural resources for human use and enjoyment. James Bryant

SOJOURN Science-Nature-Education Santa Fe