The recent release of the National Park Service report on the Valles Caldera National Preserve commissioned by U.S. Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall last June should be the last straw of justification needed before its full conversion to the National Park system as a preserve.

Management as a preserve, such as is the case for nearby Great Sand Dunes National Preserve in southern Colorado, will ensure full protection of natural resources with continuation of hunting and fishing while allowing affordable and easy access for the public — the latter clearly not the case for the purchasing taxpayers under the current trust management.

As pointed out in the NPS report, use of knowledgeable and seasoned land managers by this arm of the federal system will decrease costs while enhancing visitation rates and providing an economic boost to the local economy, obvious advantages that derive from association with the National Park system.


Public service

Common sense seems to paint a clear picture here: Our tax money pays for fire protection, police protection and military protection, for which a great many of us will never directly, except by chance, have a need. Every single one of us will absolutely, certainly, have a need for health care many times in our lives. This service should be provided for all, with no profit-based administration involved.


Better late than never

The Jan. 22 article, "Police video ignites political tension," about union opposition to disciplinary actions against officers in a beating case that occurred in 2007, quotes City Councilor Miguel Chávez: "Though these tort claims have been sort of pending ... it's sort of interesting that it's playing out now, five weeks before the election."

The case in question involved a teenage Native American. Another case mentioned in the article involved an 62-year-old man with disabilities. Both cases involved some monetary settlement and termination of officers under Police Chief Eric Johnson. "Officers make mistakes," said city police officer's union president Allan López. Going into the third year of resolution/investigation/exposé of said cases, I can only offer the old Spanish saying, "Mas vale tarde que nunca."


Firsthand knowledge

For the past eight years, I have been a volunteer working with students and faculty in math and sciences at Ortiz Middle School. It has been an extremely rewarding experience. I have been especially impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication of the faculty with whom I have interacted. In particular, I have been amazed to observe Doc Bennett, Mary Dougal and Karl Krings as they have guided the students through the fundamentals of modern biology, preparing a sound foundation in pre-Algebra, and learning the importance of and how to practice the scientific method.

The school district is so fortunate to have such talented resources. As a physicist myself, I can appreciate the talent and hard work it takes to teach these challenging and very important subjects in the cross-cultural, bilingual and large-class-size environment at Ortiz. I hope it is useful to get an independent view from me about some of the district's outstanding faculty.


Plant shelter?

I just pulled a gorgeous frozen poinsettia out of a trash receptacle on San Francisco Street. I will try my best to revive it, after a way-below-zero freezing night. What sort of barbaric primitive culture or religion encourages people to throw away plants after they have "served their purpose" after Christmas? For that matter, what would Christ himself say about the compunction of His followers to chop down young pine trees, decorate them to celebrate and honor His birth, and then throw them away for landfill or for kindling and firewood?

As a Buddhist, I note that no Buddhist would ever do something so ghastly and oblivious in terms of a shocking total lack of concern for another living being (although "only" a plant). Please hesitate next year, before participating in the meaningless plant carnage of the Christmas season. With all of the rescue groups out there for dogs and cats, which of course I commend, is there anyone else who could intervene after Christmas to rescue and save the poinsettias, rather than just throw them into the trash?