Pilot Flying J truck stop meeting this week
The upcoming hearing Wednesday, May 8, is an opportunity for the Santa Fe County Board of Commissioners to act with the long-term best interest of the community as a whole, and not simply for the economic interests of one landowner and a truck stop company with a questionable environmental and ex-leadership record.
Promises of low-paying jobs and potential tax revenues when balanced against noncompliance with the county’s own sustainability plan, likely signage and night sky lighting issues, lower property values and tax base of surrounding property, in addition to traffic dangers, tip the scales against the truck stop in this location.
A truck stop at the complex Interstate 25 and N.M. 14 interchange would be a community challenge too risky to chance. It already is risky now. Also, with the drought, how can the county support the extensive water use of a truck stop, the air quality and environmental risks that a truck stop poses? Attend the meeting this week and let the Board of County Commissioners know this is the wrong use and dangerously wrong location. John Zipprich
Santa Fe
Not a spat
When will the Santa Fe New Mexican cease its deplorable sycophantic behavior toward Alan Webber? It was bad enough during the mayoral campaign to see journalists distorting events and the truth to support Webber and attack other candidates. Now, however, we have a new headline that categorizes the “pay raise” issue as a spat (“City manager, HR chief out in pay raise spat,” April 21). This is beyond unacceptable. Clearly the mayor had not done his required reading on policy before supporting an obvious transgression of the law. Webber fell victim to the corruption of city finances and was pressured into a flip-flop decision. Perhaps we should remember the observation of mayoral candidate Ron Trujillo, who wanted to “clean house” and eliminate an entrenched “shadow government.” The socalled “spat” is a serious governance issue and must be treated as such. The new mayor will not succeed with bland euphemisms for serious problems. Michael Harkavy
Santa Fe
Why Texas?
New Mexicans have to ask themselves why the Public Service Company of New Mexico, our state’s largest electricity provider, is holding its annual shareholders’ meeting this May in Texas City, Texas. It’s important that New Mexican shareholders have the ability to dialogue with our public utility without incurring travel expenses and time from work (the meeting is on Tuesday, May 22) to attend the only opportunity to meet during the year. Financial corporations outside of New Mexico own much of the company’s shares and have only a financial interest in dividends regarding energy policy in New Mexico. As a New Mexican shareholder and energy user with PNM, important issues concerning policies related to financial responsibility and accountability, and decisions concerning the environment and future energy choices, should be discussed with New Mexicans who make up 500,000 customers. Maybe our public utility is public in name only. Ann Lacy
Santa Fe
Mindful connections
Walter Howerton (“My mental illness and me — but not you,” My View, April 21), may eschew membership in the club God put him in (those of us who are manic depressive and now bipolar), but his well-written plea shows what a role model he is. An op-ed piece is evidence of communication, not isolation.
As a facilitator of a newly formed Connection Recovery Support Group for people living with mental illness, I invite him to check it out, 3:30 p.m. Monday afternoons at NAMI Santa Fe headquarters, 313 Camino Alire, Room 307, starting Monday, May 7. He may find something as a human being he has worth sharing. Even Emily Dickinson talked with her family. Anne Albrink
Santa Fe
Not in Santa Fe
I’ve read your articles on the proposed Pilot Flying J truck stop; it sounds like both sides have some valid points. However, I did notice a new truck stop under construction in Las Vegas, N.M. The sign is huge and the design is garish. I would sure hate to see something like this as a gateway to Santa Fe. Kevin McBride
Santa Fe