These letters published in the May 22, 2022 print edition of the Las Cruces Sun-News.
Train officers to deal with mental health issues
The League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico is dismayed by the fatal shooting of Amelia Baca, a member of our community with mental health issues. We strongly support the city’s efforts to ensure that responders to emergency calls involving residents with behavioral and mental health issues are trained to address those issues.
The League supports a justice system built on public trust and positive collaborative relationships with community members. That includes training officers to identify individuals with behavioral health conditions and to acquire support from behavioral health professionals. We look forward to hearing the results of a thorough investigation of the incident.
Kathy Brook and Eileen VanWie, co-presidents of the League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico
Jay Block for governor
I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti
admit that that he is not “somebody who has a deep knowledge of what is failing you.” That statement should be enough to disqualify him from seeking the office of governor.
Gubernatorial candidate Jay Block, on the other hand, does have a deep knowledge of what is failing us. Block understands that Gov. Lujan Grisham is causing grave harm to our state and our nation through her anti business, anti oil and gas, anti police, and anti border security positions.
Jay Block served in the Air Force for over 20 years, including volunteering for combat duty in Afghanistan, before retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 2016. Besides being pro military, Block is pro law enforcement, pro border security, pro oil and gas, pro business, and pro America.
After having grown up in poverty, Jay refused to become a failure; he’d seen enough failure in his life. After leaving the military, he became a successful businessman, and became the first Republican to win a county commissioner seat in his district in Rio Rancho.
It is frustrating for someone who has experienced as many successes as Jay has, to see New Mexico become a failed state under MLG’s leadership.
Not only does Jay have a deep understanding of how government should work, but also, a deep understanding of and love for the people of New Mexico.
Paul Hoylen, Deming
Don’t deify Supreme Court justices
What happened to “In God We Trust”?
The dollar bills carry the insignia “In God We Trust” and are used across all fabrics of society in and outside US regardless of whether or not people believe in God.
There has been much discourse in our nation on the appropriateness of evoking God in public spaces, including government properties and public schools. There is an increasing high-decibel outcry for separation of religion, including atheism, from public and government affairs.
As I observe the crests of the tumultuous navigation within the US, it dawns to me that the main problem in the country is ambivalence. On one hand, we want God out of everything or God in everything, and on the other hand we are deifying our institutions, especially the US Supreme Court and various elected offices. These institutions have become the Gods of America, and citizens are willing to tear each one apart so that their hands can be seen by the Gods that they have created.
Interestingly, these Gods appear to take delight in this situation, and never cease of fueling the tumultuous ride by deluging the fighting among believers with all sorts of demagogic feeds.
Despite being disturbing to some, the insignia “In God We Trust” on our dollar bills has not harmed anyone as far as I know. Why then, harm one another by deifying our institutions. Those we place on our Supreme Court or in our elected offices are not Gods, and we must stop deifying them.
Soum Sanogo, Las Cruces
Clear forests like they used to
How to control forest fires: My dad and two of his brothers before the start of WWII, worked in the CCC, Civilian Conservation Corp and their jobs were to clean the forest, not prescribe burns. They cleaned by raking out the dead growth, taking down dead trees, making trail paths — many are still there.
My dad and uncles worked in Bandelier National Park. Take the homeless people off the streets and have them work in the forest. My dad and uncles were provided uniforms, lodging and meals. They were paid $30 a month, but with today’s pay it will be higher.
Joe M. Gallegos, Albuquerque
Future without fossil fuels
New Mexico has the potential to be a true national energy leader, but fossil fuels must remain in the ground. There is no future for our children and our planet in which fossil fuel development (whether it’s cast as an alternative fuel source like hydrogen or as a benign product such as plastic bags) can continue. Our leaders must not be duped into believing a just and equitable transition includes any future role for oil and gas. Those days are over.
The U.N. and scientific organizations are warning us that the window for climate action is rapidly closing. On April 4, 2022, the IPCC’s latest report noted that global greenhouse-gas emissions must peak no later than 2025, and be reduced by 43 percent by 2030, to keep temperatures to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Needless to say, we’re on the wrong trajectory. That same IPCC report notes that we have the technological and scientific solutions, but we’re lacking the political will to implement them. Special interests (whether fossil fuels, agribusiness, and others) are blocking our progress.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine tell us that a rapid and just energy transition will require the U.S. to double the share of electricity generated by non-carbon-emitting sources to at least 75% by 2030. New Mexico can certainly be a leader in that transition, a future built on the resources we are so well endowed with — solar and wind. We simply need to seize our moment and truly shine!
In June we have a wonderful opportunity in our own back yard. The American Solar Energy Society is holding its annual conference in Albuquerque June 21–24. https://www.nmsolar.org/
Lora Lucero, Albuquerque
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