I am writing in regard to the Aug. 2 article, "Tug of war on the trails," concerning conflicts on our local trails. I am a an avid mountain biker and dog hiker, and in my three years in Santa Fe, I have yet to encounter any issues other than an overly aggressive bull near the ski area.

As a mountain biker, I am aware of potential conflict, and I try to head off problems by talking to other bikers on the trail when I see that they are not following the rules of the trail.

A group of local riders are starting a mountain-bike club in the Santa Fe area. The goals of this club will include educating mountain bikers on the rules of the trail, establishing a mountain-bike patrol, building new and maintaining existing trails, and creating a social network of riders. The club will be open to all abilities. The first meeting will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 23 in the REI Community Room.


Keep dogs leashed

Regarding "Tug of war on the trails" (Aug. 2): I am a hiker and got a very bad dog bite (in another situation) in May. While hiking, my husband and I encounter many unleashed dogs, even on trails clearly marked that leashes are required. Our approach has been to nicely ask owners to control their dogs because of the fear reaction I now have around dogs. Most are very nice; about one-fourth of the owners are outraged that we would ask. One woman even told me that I was on the wrong trail as the Tesuque Creek trail is a "dog trail." Because, you know, hiking books are written for dogs and dogs have all the rights. Leash laws must be enforced!




About a year ago, I called the police information line to inquire about police protection from unleashed dogs on the Dale Ball Trails. The woman I spoke with said there were not enough funds for trail patrol by the police. She also said I have the right to protect myself, if I were to be attacked.

Now I wonder, if I protect myself from attack, will the police or the city pay for my lawyer when I get sued in court? Also, isn't that the job of police and Animal Control? How about having police stop writing parking tickets to people legally parked and start protecting the people from real law breakers, so we can once again use the trails safely?


Forest health first

Last Sunday's editorial, "Public-land limits? Feds, tread carefully," warned the Forest Service not to be too heavy-handed in its implementation of a travel-management plan limiting off-road vehicles in the Santa Fe National Forest. Although I find myself in sympathy with its populist slant, I am troubled by two of its underlying assumptions.

First, the writer states: "The extent of their (ORV's) damage to public lands is debatable." Only if hard science itself is debatable! Given the mushrooming body of evidence to the contrary, this assertion is dead wrong.

Second: the politically correct tone of the editorial, playing to a currently popular "don't tread on me" sentiment, frames what is in fact a personal-responsibility matter as a personal-freedom matter. The real issue here is not what "I" want to be able to continue to do, but what "we" — including the forest itself — need to do so that all may thrive.


Manage, not close

Your Aug. 1 editorial, "Public-land limits? Feds, tread carefully," lacks understanding of the issues related to travel management in the Santa Fe National Forest. The statement that "it could also amount to wholesale closing of public land" is not even remotely possible and needlessly alarming. Every National Forest around the country must implement travel management (or already has), which necessarily involves the closing of many routes that have been allowed to propagate for the nearly 40 years since the 1972 executive order that called upon public-land agencies to manage off-road vehicles.

The "go anywhere" policy during those years has resulted in an unmanageable and resource-damaging situation, which is why the Forest Service is implementing travel management. The proposed action of the Santa Fe National Forest's plan includes 2,500 miles of motorized routes — the distance from Portland, Ore. to New York City — hardly a "wholesale closing."


Parking-key tax

I have a parking key, it's a great convenience for anyone who parks downtown often. I've had it for years, it cost $20 I believe, and when it runs out of money I refill it at a 10 percent discount, which is a great deal. The city has a wonderful thing in the parking keys.

I was horrified today when I went to refill my key and was charged tax. Why am I, as a key holder, exclusively charged tax on parking? This is biased taxation. While the key still offers a convenience and a small discount, this unfair taxation should be reviewed.



Santa Fe County cuts its budget and lays off two part-time employees at the Eldorado substation amid income shortfalls. Still, it continues to spend on a shaky movie-studio deal and a contaminated courthouse site. While under investigation for illegal bid-rigging, county commissioners vote to give severance of $30,000 to a county manager who resigned and is owed nothing.

Commissioner Liz Stefanics says sick leave was due and "government operates differently than private enterprise." The state only pays for sick-leave accumulation over 600 hours. I guess that the county can afford to be more generous. Maybe Commissioner Stefanics can explain why all of this makes enough sense for her to vote to give away $30,000 of taxpayers' money instead of applying it to maintaining county services. She apparently really does think that county government works differently than private enterprise.


More jobs lost

One thing not touched upon in the July 30 article, "Gas company to read meters remotely" is jobs. The new system will allow five agents to do the work of 75, so what is going to happen to the 70 meter readers who are no longer needed?

Will New Mexico Gas reassign these folks, or are they going to be directed to an already overcrowded unemployment office? In this dour economy, it is really sad to see jobs that cannot be sent overseas usurped by a small army of laptop computers.


Rest in peace, Kid

All the great New Mexicans in our history who never get coverage, yet it seems once a month I have to read about Billy the Kid. The guy was a thug, but no, we make him a "hero." I don't get it. Yes, I know he was key to the Lincoln County War.

I wish the governor would leave pardons to God and focus instead on the economy and jobs. And all of us should focus on New Mexicans — past and present — who are positive role models representing real values and virtues. Forget about this Kid and please please stop writing about him!



Join worldwide day of Earth healing

Because of the work we do, growing fruits, vegetables and livestock on our family farm in Chimayó, we feel very blessed for the providence we receive from our Earth Mother — precious life and the resources to feed ourselves and others. In gratitude, our farm has become a partner with Earth Healing Day, an event to take place on Aug. 15, from noon to 1 p.m. local time.

On that day, hopefully millions of people from around the globe will direct prayer, chant, healing intentions, and loving thoughts to planet Earth, creating a 24-hour wave of healing and restoration for Earth. This is a heartfelt invitation to all who wish to, and can, to join in this non-denominational, non-political, worldwide gesture of gratitude for Earth. Please go to www.earthhealingday.com, a wonderful guide for the day.


Balances rural interests

At last month's listening session in Albuquerque, New Mexicans got to share their views with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on conservation in our state. Far away from the action in remote northeast New Mexico, we operate a ranch where we are blessed with abundant grasslands, clean air, water and wildlife. As seventh-generation ranchers, we understand that responsible stewardship means balancing energy development on our public lands with sound protections for natural resources.

The Interior Department's recently finalized oil and gas leasing reforms for public lands strike a balance between these interests. These new regulations not only ensure that impacts to natural resources are fully considered before projects move forward, but that local citizens are included in these discussions. We believe this represents a win-win for everyone.