We have 99 problems in Taos

We may have 99 problems in Taos... but Mayor Dan Barrone’s generous pig roasts and pancake breakfasts are not among them.

I’m all for jokes — I like to laugh (duh) and I also like to make other people laugh.

And I know a good meme when I see one.

One of my favorite memes is of Brad Pitt looking awfully sweet, cupping his own face and wearing reading glasses. The caption refers to him as “your divorced aunt who runs a community theater in New Mexico and loves using the word ‘yoni.’ ”

You probably just need to see it — but it works. And that’s because great jokes aren’t mean — great jokes give us permission to laugh about what’s uncomfortable, unsaid, unfair or uncanny about life. (And let’s face it, both Brad Pitt and eccentric aunts can afford to take the hit here.)

This week I noticed some homegrown memes circulating on social media — the butt of the joke being our current mayor,

Dan Barrone. And though I’d very much love to win his job in this election cycle, I have absolutely no desire to denigrate him.

He is a part of our community, after all, and he has contributed years of his life to bettering Taos.

My complaints with Dan’s tenure, and my lack of confidence in his ability to bring relief to any of the significant challenges we face — issues of public health, longterm housing, the environment, our economy — do not amount to disrespect.

Of course, Dan Barrone’s famous pig roasts, pancakes and parties don’t solve big problems, like our housing crisis, but they do provide us reason to gather, to celebrate our humanity and to live in the glorious sense of shared community.

Taos may have 99 problems but the mayor generously feeding people is not one.

Similarly, I hold Pascualito Maestas in high esteem for his years of community service. And while many people look at Pascual or me as a replacement for Dan, the truth is we are probably more alike than dissimilar. However, having watched Pascualito hold office for four years, I’ve yet to see him use his pulpit to push through any big ideas, or take a strong stance on the ideas that presently make up his platform.

We need leadership that can build consensus, not take refuge in the safety of split votes. Pascualito has proved unsuccessful in building coalitions as a council member, (which is also his defense for a milquetoast council term), so how does he plan to do any better by changing his seat at the table?

As mayor, I’ll bring new energy to that table and not just my own. I believe we need (non-voting) county and pueblo representatives at the table. I also believe in my capacity to cover ground across differing viewpoints and you can count on me to work tirelessly to build the relationships critical for progress.

True leadership requires relationship building — more than lip service.

If elected on March 1, I will extend an invitation to Mayor Barrone to continue his feasts on Taos Plaza — because feeding people is loving people. I would also ally myself with Councilman

Maestas. Taos needs his voice, energy and expertise to lift our community out of poverty.

Taos cannot afford to humiliate the dedicated and caring people who have found the courage to work as public servants — there’s just no place for tearing these good people down.

And just the same, should I lose the election, do know you can continue to find me looking for ways to use my energy and time to lift up our community.

Don’t get me wrong: Memes can be cathartic. Political engagement is both necessary and sometimes messy. But it is decency that is our greatest strength.

When it comes to building a more livable Taos — it’s an all hands on deck kind of situation.

For more about my platform — or to see that Brad Pitt meme — visit GOforMayor.com.