MONUMENTAL MISTAKE?
Readers fear a Trump-ordered review by the Interior Dept. could result in a large loss of N.M. public lands
Parks make country great
I AM so outraged by people attacking our beautiful national monuments, including the jewel of Las Cruces — the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument. Our national parks and national monuments are so crowded now. President Trump wants to reduce them and turn over this land to developers and special interests. It is maddening. Our national parks and monuments contribute to the greatness of America. They actually make America great and (are) the envy of other countries.
GREG LENNES Las Cruces Pearce on the wrong side
THANKS FOR your article on President Trump’s executive order instructing a review of national monuments established since 1996 through the Antiquities Act (Journal April 26, “Trump vows national monuments review; NM delegation divided”).
Part of the Journal’s headline, “NM delegation divided,” is misleading. Four members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation—Sens. (Tom) Udall and (Martin) Heinrich and Reps. (Ben Ray) Lujan and (Michelle) Lujan Grisham — have strongly supported Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks national monuments. These leaders have worked to protect our state’s and nation’s natural and cultural heritage that is so central to our way of life here in New Mexico. Their actions reflect the overwhelming majority view of New Mexico residents.
Then there is Rep. Steve Pearce, who doesn’t represent the views about the monument of the vast majority of residents in the communities neighboring Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks.
Pearce claims he wants public land visitors to have access to these lands for recreational uses, hunting and grazing — activities that are specifically identified and protected in the proclamation establishing Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks. So by calling for “down-sizing” of Organ MountainsDesert Peaks, Pearce risks the continued practice of the activities he claims he wants to protect.
Additionally, diverse stakeholders from northern and southern New Mexico supported preserving these areas as national monuments, including sportsmen, tribes, small-business owners, veterans, ranchers and grazing permittees, and more. In fact, these folks came together over years of open, transparent dialogue to craft proposals that worked for their communities. There were community and county commission meetings, many draft proposals, and public listening sessions with members of Congress and the Obama administration.
Now, the Trump administration could undo years of community dialogue in just 120 days? It is a wildgoose chase that will waste federal tax dollars and put a huge chunk of our nation’s diverse heritage in its crosshairs.
It will also harm the economic growth that has come from the designations. Taos and Doña Ana counties have both experienced first-hand the economic benefits from preserving these outdoor recreation havens.
Let’s stand together as a community and defend our national monument and our way of life.
ROBERT MCNAMARA Las Cruces Trump selling snake oil
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S overly broad, ill-conceived and dangerous executive order on national monuments is, sadly, par for the course. Your editorial (“Trump monument review could be the real land grab,” May 1) shows why it’s also a fine example of his snake oil salesmanship.
If Trump truly wanted to “return control to the people” as he claimed, he would leave New Mexico’s national monuments alone. Local communities worked together to protect Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument from the very threats that Trump now brings to their doorstep.
If Trump was genuinely interested in “putting the states back in charge,” he would not even consider allowing powerful corporations to log, mine and frack these beautiful wild places into oblivion for their own short-term profits.
If he honestly wanted to “preserve the splendor and the beauty of America’s natural resources,” Trump would ensure that these treasures were protected for future generations to enjoy.
TODD SCHULKE Senior Staff and Cofounder Center for Biological Diversity Silver City
IN HIS RECENT executive order, President Trump authorized the Department of Interior to review any national monument spanning at least 100,000 acres created since Jan. 1, 1996. The president stated that the move would “End another egregious use of government power.” Once again, Trump shows he’s long on bombastic style and rhetoric and short on substance and facts.
Places like the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and the African Burial Ground National Monument were all preserved by presidents utilizing the Antiquities Act. Far from an “egregious use of government power,” the Antiquities Act gives sitting presidents the authority to, by presidential proclamation, create national monuments from federal lands to protect significant natural, cultural, or scientific features.
And while President Trump would have us believe that this is government overreach run amok, the truth is that 16 of the 19 presidents since 1906 have created 151 monuments. These areas preserve our natural heritage and have a positive impact on local economies through increased tourism.
President Trump’s executive order is tantamount to placing 29 current national monuments in 10 states and two oceans on the chopping block. I urge all taxpayers who value our shared national heritage to stand up in support of our national monuments by contacting the Interior Department, 202-208-7351.
KEN VENABLES Clemson, S.C.