I've served in many volunteer positions over my 28-year benefits insurance career and 30-year residency in Santa Fe. My most recent commitment to community is as chairwoman of the Citizens' Campaign for the Santa Fe Community College bond election, Aug. 3.

Santa Fe is blessed with a strong, vibrant community college. Citizens have been generous in their support of SFCC, and in return, the college fills a void in the education community by providing affordable education to our residents.

Now it's time to embrace a new pursuit of excellence for our learning community of Santa Fe; part of that pursuit of excellence is the creation of a new sustaining and dynamic curriculum that raises the bar for our students. We must show support of this type of innovation, and we must promote strong and viable workforce solutions. We can do all of this by supporting the bond election.



Santa Fe Community College's $35 million bond proposal will go before voters Aug. 3. The county clerk placed an early voter site at SFCC, allowing students and employees to vote. Now it's our turn.

The SFCC board and administration believe voters will support a near-downtown location for university classes, so they will approve the bonds. Already university classes are available at SFCC, in Española and Rio Rancho. Public transportation is available.

Property taxes are a struggle for many in Santa Fe, especially with the economic downturn. SFCC does not guarantee that property taxes could not increase. It is certain that if approved, taxes will not decrease.

Are more classrooms and land needed? SFCC has more square feet per student than any other community college in New Mexico. Currently two additional large buildings are being constructed on the Richards Avenue campus. Next to the present campus SFCC owns 200 vacant acres. Vote "no" on the bond.



By supporting the Santa Fe Community College bond, we as a community are actually creating a cure to the economic downturn. This bond would provide much-needed ability for students to stay here in Santa Fe for higher education, opening up opportunities for work, new ideas, and ultimately economic stability.

I wish to obtain an education beyond my associate's degree; however, I cannot afford to uproot myself to attend one of the universities. I see this bond as a step to a brighter future for me and all local residents who dream of self improvement but lack the means to accomplish it. I hope that through the help of those who will support this bond, I in turn can create a future for myself that would allow me to give back to my community and the economy.



For the past two years, I've been pursuing my undergraduate degree in political science, first at the College of Santa Fe and more recently, at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas. I've driven in horrible weather, risking life and limb to get to class and back. The time required to commute has been a difficulty I've had to work into my already busy schedule, not to mention fuel and car maintenance costs.

If a higher-education center were located in Santa Fe, I would have already completed my bachelor's degree and be on to my graduate studies. I love Highlands and have had wonderful instructors, but the commute is basically taking the place of one more class a semester I could be taking without the drive.

I don't understand why there is not a four-year public institution in our city and strongly feel that this is necessary for the maintenance of the intellectual integrity of our community.



Given the seemingly universal support for the upcoming bond issue, it would be wise to consider the cautionary report on community colleges in the current issue of the Economist, which states that community colleges are severely strained: "Though federal student aid has risen, a plan to support community colleges has been all but gutted in March. States are overwhelmed by growing demand and shrinking budgets. California estimates that tight capacity forced community colleges to turn away 140,000 students this year." We would be well advised to consider the financial consequences of this proposed expansion.



The proposed SFCC bond would benefit future generations and bring about positive change for the residents of Santa Fe and surrounding areas who would like to further their education with a bachelor's or master's degree. It would allow future revenue and growth for our community.

This bond would allow residents to obtain a higher education in Santa Fe so we don't have to leave or commute elsewhere. I feel it will be a positive transition for the children who are now attending elementary and high school, and would like to stay in Santa Fe, as opposed to leaving for another state to acquire their degree in a profession of choice.

A portion of the bond would provide funds for green projects to help the college save money and shrink its carbon footprint. Obtaining a higher education is an incomparable approach to improving the quality of work and earnings.



In these troubled times, it is with a heavy heart that I must urge my fellow Santa Feans to vote "no" on the upcoming Santa Fe Community College bond issue. Knowledge and education, yes, of course, are vital. However, basic needs, food and shelter take precedence. That money can go a long way to feed the hungry and provide safe and sturdy shelter for all those in need. And the need has never been greater. When this economic storm has passed, as I am certain it will, my support for a bond issue for our SFCC will be resolute. I pray that day will come.



Financial reform? It is the same old progressive agenda that got us in trouble. Housing and Urban Development regulates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's affordable-housing program that helped create the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis. HUD even gutted underwriting standards at Fan and Fred so they could meet the 50 percent-plus affordable lending quota. It also helped create the subprime securities market and helped promote it on Wall Street.

You would think the finance reform bill would regulate this problem. Instead, it gives HUD, Fan and Fred an exemption, allowing them to fund the same housing-rights activists and community organizers that helped create the meltdown. Through the Border Fair Housing & Economic Justice Center, affordable housing will be promoted for Mexican immigrants, including undocumented aliens. Banks will be forced to lend to illegal aliens, and we taxpayers will pick up the losses. It is time to remember in November.

Tom Wright

Santa Fe

Put up or shut off

In pamphlets included with recent bills, New Mexico Gas Company states that the automated meter it is installing on every customer's home "only issues a radio message for a few seconds each month." This is no doubt meant to reassure people who are worried about electronic interference or effects on their health. But the statement is not true.

The company announced July 28 that the new meter is the Itron 100G Datalogging Gas ERT. The user's manual for this device, available on the Federal Communication Commission's website, states that it emits a
900 MHz microwave signal every 15 seconds, 24 hours a day.

Customers who have called the company have been told they cannot opt out for any reason, and that if they refuse to allow installation, the company will cut off their gas service.

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission should act to address this dishonesty and prohibit this infringement on our liberty.



The Cañada de los Alamos forest needs our help! The Santa Fe National Forest travel management proposal contains two alternatives that allow off-road vehicles in the Cañada forest. ORVs have created severe erosion and damage to the forest floor, driven wildlife out, driven many people out who used to come for quiet recreation and endanger those who still come. ORV users illegally access and damage the bordering Santa Fe watershed, degrading our water supply.

Alternative 5 would concentrate local Santa Fe ORV use into the Cañada forest with the next nearest "ORV park" almost an hour away. Alternatives 4 and 5 would be extremely harmful to the health of this beautiful forest and the well-being of the local community. Please tell the Forest Service (438-5300) to protect the Cañada forest and the Santa Fe watershed by making them ORV-free with the more environmentally responsible Alternative 3.



I live in the neighborhood behind Jackalope. We have had four burglaries since June on our street and have experienced an increase in crime since December. We are encouraged to lock gates and cars and to get big dogs to deal with it. Transients wander through our yards (leaving cigarette butts in driveway). I used to go to a nearby cafe, but someone solicited money at my table, then again in the parking lot. I can't walk to Big 5 or Jackalope anymore without being hassled for money.

The interfaith group has great attorneys working on behalf of this homeless shelter, but who will help the home and business owners? We pay taxes here, and we support local businesses. Where are our attorneys and city councilors representing this community? I know for sure that the people who are for this shelter do not live or work in this neighborhood. Please consider moving it near their homes where their kids will play. Would they feel safe?