To keep the world livable, vote wisely
The new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report stresses the importance of never reaching a 2 degree Celsius global temperature rise. For instance, stopping the temperature rise at 1.5 degree means 70 percent to 90 percent of the oceans’ coral reefs would disappear. The extra half-degree increase would destroy greater than 99 percent of reefs. At present, we are on the way to a more likely rise of 4 degrees Celsius.
Citizens Climate Lobby has a plan for a carbon fee-anddividend system that rebates the fee imposed on carbon back to citizens to mitigate the financial burden and phase out carbon pollution. With voting wisely, all of us applying pressure the government, we can keep the world livable for future generations. Stephen Schmidt
Santa Fe
Let state pay
When I grew up, my parents taught the children to save our money to pay for something we wanted. There are multiple bond issues on the ballot for the upcoming election. The state is projected to have over a $1 billion surplus. Why should the taxpayers be burdened with more debt? Shouldn’t the state pay for these projects with money it has rather than paying off a loan with interest? Richard Gonzales
Santa Fe
Prepared, serious
I met and worked with Matthew McQueen before he ran and won the New Mexico House District 50 seat in 2014. Matthew defended his seat in 2016, and I am supporting him again in 2018. As a House and Senate legislative policy analyst for a few legislative sessions, I had close access to the deliberations and found Matthew serious, prepared, active and community-minded, with a strong background in land protection and environmental issues. Recently, and notably, he led the legal fight against the Pilot Flying J truck stop proposal, representing residents of Rancho Viejo and the Turquoise Trail communities. At a recent candidate forum in Eldorado, Matthew again demonstrated his knowledge, expertise and ability to work with diverse and controversial topics, and bring people together to achieve understanding and solve problems. Voters of District 50 should keep Matthew McQueen. Ed Moreno
Santa Fe County Commissioner District 5
Connections
I find it tremendously disheartening that our Santa Fe Fiesta and our children’s and grandchildren’s schools are changing our traditions (“A new era for Fiesta,” Sept. 7). Our families have been celebrating Fiesta de Santa Fe for generations. Everybody had a say-so in this decision — tribal and church leaders, city officials, the schools and Fiesta Council — but did anybody ask for our opinions?
This has been a part of some Santa Fean families for centuries. It is our culture, traditions and religious right to celebrate our heritage. How disturbing it is for people to come into our city and change our ways. Every culture has history, good and bad. To my brothers and sisters of Santa Fe, Que Viva La Fiesta! Grace Trujillo
Santa Fe
No time changes
Hey, everybody running for governor of New Mexico, I will, as will many others, vote for whomever passes a rule, law, whatever, that stops changing the time for New Mexico. Please, whoever becomes governor, stop the time change cycle, please, please, please. Thank you. Keith Higgins
Santa Fe
Bless musicians
Talk about living treasures. Santa Fe is blessed with so many world-class musicians. They give of their time and talents, often playing for free at our varied fundraisers, rallies, music on the Plaza, or raising funds for hospital stays, or perhaps at a funeral for a friend. The various music venues give a lump sum to the band, to be split four or five ways — hardly an amount reflective of their gifts. If every customer tipped the band the cost of a single drink, it would transform the lives of the musicians who give so much to us. Our investing in their future will fortify their lives, enable their creativity, fund their recordings, give hope to their future and show our gratitude for the joy they have shared with all of us. Richard Rice
Santa Fe
Vote!
Our natural world is under siege from global warming and a president who wants to dismantle our environmental protections. If you love it, as I do, you must vote. If you, too, love the towering cottonwoods, yellow and regal, along Palace Avenue, vote. If you, too, love to walk on the Dale Ball Trails and get away from cars and trucks into the quiet serenity of the forest, vote. If you, too, love to gaze across the Rio Grande Valley and see Mount Taylor 100 miles away, or hear a coyote howling in the dark, or see a red rose blooming against an adobe wall, vote. Vote like our Earth depends on it, because it does. Joan Kendrick
Santa Fe