Turn out to speak up for democracy

The group, Retake Our Democracy, has scheduled a town hall from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Center for Progress and Justice, 1420 Cerrillos Road.

At the town hall, Retake will facilitate an open discussion with Richard Ellenberg, chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.

Together, participants will identify where there is common ground and where differences exist between wings of the Democratic Party.

Retake Our Democracy is a Santa Fe based 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that seeks to engage, educate, activate and organize at local and state levels.

If citizens are going to Retake Our Democracy, it is going to happen through grass-roots involvement in the political process and an open civic exchange of ideas.

Please join us for this important town hall. To RSVP, write to volunteer4retake@gmail.com. Paul Gibson director Retake Democracy Santa Fe

City gets F

In the Aug. 10 Local News section, concern was expressed about the ability of the city to maintain landscaping around the new underground tunnel (“Council approves underpass greenery, but questions care”). Anyone wondering about the likelihood of the city doing a good job of maintenance should drive down Zia Road from Camino Carlos Rey to Llano Street and look at the median — improved at high cost several years ago and neglected ever since. The City gets an F in that regard. Tom Carr

Santa Fe

Beyond belief

As the First Baptist Church of Santa Fe celebrates its 100th anniversary (“‘ A lighthouse on the hill,’ ” Aug. 11), non-members may wish to reflect on some of the “Basic Beliefs” of the Southern Baptist Convention, of which First Baptist is a member. On its website, the Convention states that “Christians should oppose … all forms of sexual immorality including … homosexuality.” It also states that “A wife should submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband …” In addition, over 80 percent of white evangelicals voted for Donald Trump. Recently, Trump’s “spiritual adviser,” Robert Robert Jeffress, a Southern Baptist pastor said, “God has given Trump authority to take out Kim Jong Un.” Do you consider these beliefs cause for celebration? I do not. David Kitts Santa Fe