The heartfelt letter from Carmella Romero ("Displaced in place," Dec. 3) concerned the condo-ization of old Santa Fe neighborhoods. What made this neighborhood so lovely was its mix of old and new — with the new respecting the old and not overwhelming it.

However, the city saw fit to allow the building of four condos in place of one old house, and three more on another lot one house up, where a lovely old house had sheltered three generations of one family. I understand the need for families to sell and move on, but why can't an old house be replaced by a new, but similar house? Why change the neighborhoods instead of supporting and renewing them? Developers rule this city. Should I join the greed fest and build a condo on my driveway? Will the city apply the same rules?

Nicole Anter
Santa Fe

Twin travesties
We truly can relate to the travesty occurring on Juanita Street. I live on Del Norte Lane, a short, narrow street off Rosario Boulevard. The very same thing happened in our neighborhood.

Recently, five condos have been built, with two more to go. One condo is literally built right next to the street. Whoever purchases the property will have no front yard to enjoy; there isn't one. They won't be able to go to their backyard — because there is none. This street will now be congested with 10 to 12 more vehicles.

I was born and raised in Santa Fe and remember the beauty that was here, and I see what it has become. I call it greed. Pack as many structures into one small piece of land, the more the better. Who cares what the neighborhood will look like? The developers will never live there. When will the madness stop?

Mabel Gonzales Specht
Santa Fe

City council failure
I am writing to note my concern that recent coverage and some letters to the editor in this paper are missing the point on the current problems facing residents of the Juanita Street neighborhood in my district. Much has been made of meetings and efforts by City Councilors Chris Calvert and Patti Bushee now to give voice and attention to our neighbors' concerns.

In context, this disaster is an inevitable consequence of the City Council's failure to conscientiously address the rezoning recommendations that were adopted in the city's 1999 Master Plan. Councilor Bushee's tenure on the council obviously makes her negligence the greatest. It is incomprehensible that she should get favorable press for a problem she helped create.

G. Anthony Garcia
City council candidate
District 1

Join drilling fight
Please come out to Santa Fe High School tonight and support the fight against oil and gas drilling in the Galisteo Basin. The drilling will effect air pollution, waste and poisoning of our precious water and destruction of a beautiful landscape and property values, which will plummet. I have worked in the oil and gas fields northeast of Aztec and know firsthand what a stinking, polluted moonscape it is.

Is this what we want on our doorstep? Please help stop this greedy and unnecessary project!

Diana Thatcher
Santa Fe

No rate hike
The current demand by the Public Service Company of New Mexico for an additional $80 million in rate increases is unnecessary. New Mexico is experiencing only 2 percent growth per year, and a 1 percent per capita increase in demand for more electricity.

PNM could cut its energy production by 30 percent, if it followed the practices of other power companies such as Austin Energy in Texas and PG&E in California.

These companies have had rigorous energy-efficiency programs in place for years that have cut their generation load, reduced their need to build new power plants and cut their state's carbon emissions.

Our Public Regulation Commission needs to demand these best practices from PNM and withhold any rate increases until PNM can outline what energy efficiencies it will implement and what, if any, increased costs are involved.

Teresa Seamster
Santa Fe