Paid leave would support state’s creative community

As a dancer, my work comes in the form of contracts, gigs, and teaching — and usually more than one job at a time. I’ve dedicated eight years to teaching dance at Sirena Studio in Albuquerque — since the studio opened. It’s hard to put my love of dance and teaching into words, but getting paid to teach something I’m passionate about is a privilege. It’s helped make ends meet while creating a community through dance.

But my job security and income is easily lost with even just the smallest of injuries. I work with tremendously talented people, and none of us should have to worry about losing our income when life inevitably happens. The arts have always been an economic driver in this state and serve as the primary source of income for so many. We need a public support system for all contract workers across the state, and that’s why I support the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (Senate Bill 3). New Mexicans value the arts, and I hope our legislators will pass this bill and send a strong signal that our work and livelihoods are valuable and worth protecting.

Ally Lowry Albuquerque

Use solar

In November, the Los Alamos National Laboratory announced a 14-mile power transmission project that would cross the Caja del Rio. We oppose this project because an environmental impact statement has not been prepared. When this is done, it will be clear the project is unnecessary, and any additional power required for LANL can be generated by a solar and battery system. In this land of sunshine, solar has many advantages. Among them are: solar is cheaper; solar does not require additional land; solar is more flexible for future needs; solar is more reliable; solar does not damage the environment; solar does not threaten wildlife; and solar does not damage cultural sites.

Keith Anderson Santa Fe

Filling in

Yesterday, I sent an email to District 2 Councilors Carol Romero-Wirth and Michael Garcia and City Manager John Blair regarding a pothole that I thought was not just an annoyance but actually presented a true safety hazard. I was pleased and impressed to discover it was repaired today. Many thanks for your help with this. Also, huge thanks to the pothole repair crew. Great work.

Milton Combs Santa Fe

Beware

The potholes are hungry — feed them!

Loralee Freilich Santa Fe

A culture feast

Santa Fe offers more cultural venues than most medium-small cities in the U.S. We who live here sometimes find it difficult to keep up with all that is offered in many different genres. Quite frankly, we are very fortunate to have such a “problem.” Because of the plethora of artistic choices, some may just get by us. I was thrilled to see one of SITE Santa Fe’s current exhibitions, Nicholas Galanin: Interference Patterns, featured on the cover of last Friday’s Pasatiempo, with a most informative review (“Holding pattern,” Jan. 19).

With that said, I would like to share this exceptional venue as it is currently featuring what I call a “trifecta blockbuster.” In addition to the Galanin show, there are two additional and different artistic genres at the SITE Santa Fe museum (all interesting for all ages): N. Dash: and Water and Billie Zangewa: Field of Dreams, both unique visual story-telling. A bonus: The guides work with each artist during the exhibit installations and are extremely knowledgeable and happy to share their knowledge. Ask questions!

Robin Merlo Santa Fe

Let ’em go

Where do I sign up to help Texas secede from the union? Can’t happen soon enough — we can even throw in former President Donald Trump to sweeten the deal. Then the civilized people of the other 49 states would not have to put up with either.

Ken Earle Santa Fe