Trump’s wall is a naming opportunity

My suggestion for Donald Trump’s wall between the U.S. and Mexico is that Trump use his own billions to pay for it, name it after him and give him a tax deduction. This might satisfy his ego and save the rest of us the cost. And maybe even get him to pay for its upkeep. This would always be his main legacy, regardless of what may happen in his presidency. Herman I. Morris formerly of Santa Fe Plano, Texas

Unsafe information

I read with disgust, the headline in the New Mexican’s “Local” section, for May 3 (“Sheriff candidate to end illegal parking on sidewalk,” May 3). Really? Do you think it sells papers, interjecting personal information about an individual running in the upcoming Santa Fe County sheriff ’s election — for something as trivial as parking? As you wrote, Leonard Romero, running for Santa Fe County sheriff, is a retired law enforcement officer. Anyone with a lick of common sense would not release, even in a vague way, where the individual, or his family, resides. Jeff Little Santa Fe

Smart and ethical

In June, Democratic primary voters of the First Judicial District, are fortunate to be able to vote for Maria Sanchez-Gagne for district judge. As a former attorney general, I hired Maria to work in the Criminal Prosecutions Division. She had been employed at the District Attorney’s Office and was an expert at prosecuting felony child abuse and violence against women cases. In 2005, I established the Border Violence Division and appointed Maria to be the director. Maria successfully extradited the first murder defendant from Mexico for New Mexico state crimes. This defendant had murdered his wife and fled to Mexico. Maria’s superb ability to communicate in Spanish enabled her to work effectively with Mexico’s attorneys general. Maria also was instrumental in drafting and passing New Mexico’s human trafficking legislation. Maria is extremely smart, ethical, hardworking and has the temperament necessary to be an outstanding judge. Patricia Madrid former New Mexico attorney general Albuquerque

Trump’s big trouble

With this fellow Donald Trump in the White House, we are in big trouble. He is dividing this country to a point where democracy no longer will exist. He insults world leaders with his childish remarks, and I think they are tired of his behavior. His only loyalty appears to be to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

If he doesn’t stop his his autocratic behavior, he’ll get this country into a nuclear war. If any country launches a nuclear bomb, mankind will be wiped out from the face of the Earth. Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain, a true patriot, veteran and war hero, said that Trump is “an individual that unfortunately is not anchored by a set of principles.” I agree with the senator. Joe E. Gurule Santa Fe

Welcome news

Your story (“Feds: LANL to share plutonium work,” May 11) was a welcome surprise. The announcement by the National Nuclear Security Administration, a quasi-independent agency inside the Department of Energy that oversees nuclear arms production at nine U.S. sites, was not a complete surprise because troublesome nuclear safety issues at LANL get a lot of attention. (A list of nine U.S. sites can be found at www.energy.gov).

It appears that bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., are paying attention and drafting a Plan B to ramp up plutonium pit production (Plan A was to let LANL handle it). Now, New Mexico will be a little bit safer. South Carolina, where the work will be shared, not so much. If the Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Defense Department insist on building these weapons, then we must insist that they do it safely. A free press is vital to this mission. To Rebecca Moss and all the writers at The New Mexican — thank you for all you do. Barney Magrath Santa Fe

Climate change

Leslie Lakind’s op-ed (“Climate change is real; make the right choices,” My View, May 13) gives me hope for the future. With the U.S. military and the majority of the rest of the world in accord about climate change, it’s time for our politicians to step up and implement green policies. Sadly, I’m afraid that until our federal representation gets the message, the doable things we could accomplish to mitigate climate change will go undone and the American people just won’t take this seriously until our government shows more leadership. Anna Gooding-Call Salem, Mass.