On development, local voices fall on deaf ears

Iam a 31-year-old mother, a native of Santa Fe, who, despite offers of work all over the country, has chosen to invest in my home community and raise my child here. I have served this community through nonprofit service work for the past eight years. I attended the Sept. 26 City Council meeting on the Estancias del Norte development and was heartbroken by the outcome and hugely disappointed in Mayor Alan Webber and several council members (“Council clears way for subdivision,” Sept. 27).

The proposed land was deemed unfit for development on an ethical and practical basis by the city of Santa Fe five times in the 1990s. Nothing has changed except the City Council. The land is prone to flooding and erosion and is not only unfit for development, but if developed, will threaten existing structures and communities. Pandering to wealthy second and third homeowners over the interests of multigenerational Santa Fe residents is not what the residents of Santa Fe had in mind when they voted for Mayor Webber a short time ago.

Nearly 50 residents addressed the council in firm opposition to this development Aug. 29 (“Our City Council gatekeepers of history,” My View, Richard Folks, Sept. 9). Regardless of passionate, intelligent pleas to protect the land and the properties of established homeowners, six council members, including Mayor Webber, voted to push the development forward. In no way was Mayor Webber’s support of this intrusive development aligned with his simple campaign promise to “bring Santa Fe together” or “make Santa Fe’s way of life sustainable.”

Webber campaigned on retaining and providing opportunity for young people in Santa Fe. His decision concerning Estancias del Norte shows blatant disregard of facts in an effort to cater to outside moneyed interests. This is precisely the grim trend that is drowning young people today. It certainly is not the not the foundation for which I cast my votes.

To Mayor Webber, I say this: I understand that you are an entrepreneur. In 2018, such an exclusive pro-business agenda should not override the legitimate concerns of local families. I am calling on you to be innovative. Problem solve. Help your constituents find consensus. It is possible to balance economic growth while “sustaining the way of life in Santa Fe.” We elected you to safeguard communities for everyone.