TALK OF THE TOWN

Carbon capture will benefit the state

SEN. GEORGE Muñoz is correct when he writes “it’s just good common sense to take the record-high windfall from oil and gas revenues and invest in new and more sustainable technology.” By using the inflow of revenues from oil and gas, which historically has been the largest contributor to our state coffers, New Mexico can create its second energy revolution by investing in technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen.

Muñoz highlights that in the 2023 legislative session the Senate Finance Committee budgeted millions of dollars for “renewable energy development, advanced energy technology projects, energy transition assistance, and to develop and implement actions related to climate change.”

CCS and hydrogen are natural complements to these kinds of investments, all of which will help mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect the state’s rich environment.

New Mexico is blessed to be the second-largest producer of crude oil in the United States, while also producing the lowest carbon intense barrel of oil extracted anywhere in the world, thanks to the Lujan-Grisham administration’s efforts in developing our bestin- class methane rule for oil and gas production. However, with new investments in CCS and hydrogen, New Mexico can leverage our existing resources, along with the governor’s climate leadership, to pave the way for economic growth and a cleaner energy future.

ROB BLACK President/CEO, NM Chamber of Commerce, Albuquerque

Work requirements hurt NM seniors

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS have awoken, Rip Van Winkle-like, to find a Democrat in the White House.

Despite their steadfast support for Trump’s budget-busting tax cuts for the wealthy, they now insist our budget deficit is terrible, horrible, no good, very bad. Undeterred by the alarming increase in food insecurity, they decided cutting food assistance for vulnerable older adults is a responsible governing approach.

The debt ceiling agreement raises work requirements for many older adults receiving food assistance although most work already. Any resulting deficit reduction will be negated by new work exemptions, secured by Democrats, for veterans, homeless people and youths aging out of foster care.

In New Mexico, the requirements will put an estimated 13,000 older recipients at risk of losing food aid, although some will qualify for the new exemptions.

Although Republicans contend work requirements lead to economic selfsufficiency, the data do not support this claim. Work requirements fail to increase recipients’ employment or earnings over time.

In spite of vast income and wealth inequality, with wealthy individuals and corporations paying a pittance in federal taxes, Congressional Republicans believe forcing vulnerable older people to work in exchange for roughly $6 a day per person in food assistance is sound public policy. ...

JUDITH GORDON Bernalillo

Homelessness hurts our public areas

PUBLIC SPACES (like) parks, squares, pedestrian walkways, give a city its character, and a sense of community, allowing for spontaneous interactions.

These spaces present opportunities for neighbors to get to know neighbors, children to play freely, and families to celebrate life events.

Albuquerque’s public spaces are shrinking. Duke City residents find needles, human waste, and drugged-out, intoxicated individuals in many public areas. Businesses that used to have welcoming facades are now fenced off, with secure entrances.

This fearful retreat into private space is characteristic of many developing countries with a First World/Third World component, and large disparities in wealth. The retreat of the public realm happens slowly. We lived in Johannesburg, S. Africa, and witnessed how once prime properties overlooking parks and golf courses lost value because they were too exposed.

My son’s home in Johannesburg has multiple security layers; the community is gated, with armed response patrols, electrified fence around the home, and panic alarms in the children’s bedrooms. In contrast Medellin, Colombia, has addressed the spatial wealth gap through excellent public transit and one-stop amenities/services at transport hubs throughout the city.

Once a global pariah for its violent crime, today Medellin is transformed and a mecca for retirees.

We are sensitive to the plight of the homeless and are respectful to persons we encounter in neighborhood encampments. Our agency develops and manages supportive housing for the homeless and mentally ill, most of whom are excellent tenants, friends and neighbors. However there are those who defecate in our Dumpster areas, light fires near our buildings and break into vacant units. One fellow set fire to a unit and then asked, when would the unit be ready?

Albuquerque has 1,300 vacant and abandoned buildings that could be repurposed for a range of housing opportunities. Something has to give.

JOHN BLOOMFIELD Albuquerque

Metal detectors will mean safer schools

HERE IS much rhetoric and a lot of words said about keeping kids safe in schools. Millions of dollars are spent on software, cameras, fencing and gates.

Kids sneak guns into schools all the time. What’s to stop them — good intentions?

Gun laws aren’t going to protect kids in schools; schools must protect kids in schools. Schools need improved protection like metal detectors. According to National School Safety and Security Services, metal detectors may be a necessary tool in school districts with a history of chronic weapons issues and related violence such as shootings. And according to Hanover Research, installing metal detectors is a form of best practice that allows the school management to be confident it has done all it can to discharge its duty. Installing metal detectors gives students and staff a measure of assurance the school is safe because every person has to be cleared through the entrance.

Detectors also serve as a form of deterrent because visitors to the school know they will be searched and may think twice about carrying a weapon or other dangerous object into the premises. This is a small price to pay for keeping guns out to schools. School safety researchers suggest metal detectors can create long lines to get in or give students a sense of fear. We already use metal detectors at concerts, sporting events and government offices, and many kids have attended those venues and are familiar with metal detectors. Students are already afraid; detectors can reduce that fear. We need metal detectors in our schools today.

GREG ANDERSON Rio Rancho

From a student of history, a warning

THE LEADER of a major political party orchestrates an insurrection against a democratically elected government. This same leader continuously perpetuates outrageous, easily disprovable lies which are disseminated by propagandist right-wing media outlets. The same leader propagates racist, nationalist memes and allies himself with armed white supremacist anti-Semitic militias and individuals who threaten and perpetrate violence against opposing political figures and minority groups. This same leader seems to admire and support fascistic authoritarian leaders around the world and eschew cooperation with former allied democratic governments.

The party led by this supposed leader politically supports their leader. This could be attributed either due to a lack of courage to confront the leader out of fear of retribution or to seemingly further their own political ambition and power. Their political actions apparently seek to accomplish complete democratic dysfunction to punish the opposing party rather than to seek constructive democratic compromises and outcomes.

What country and period of history am I describing?

Not 1932 Germany, although the political dysfunction and political dynamics and memes are very similar, but the United States in 2023. ...

Will we reject this type of politics, will the people recognize we must return to the democratic, constitutional and pluralistic principles and traditions of our country’s founding, or will we back racist, authoritarian, nationalistic politics and embark on a path that in the past has led to untold disaster and calamity? We are now at that hinge point in history.

JACK HICKS Santa Fe

Residents critical of village center project

THE (JUNE 11 guest column) failed to mention all the opposition, and all the pending lawsuits filed by concerned Los Ranchos villagers, against this unwanted, unneeded development. Or all the regulations, and/or zoning restrictions that have been violated, ignored or challenged by an out-of-state, big money developer in an effort to cram this $125 million project down our unwilling throats.

There’s a lot of money to be made by someone — but, not us, the residents of Los Ranchos.

We’ll be saddled with the aftermath of uncontrollable growth and a near-sighted vision for the future. Los Ranchos voters have lost faith in village government.

Campaigning against reelection of all elected officials has begun.

JENNIFER HODGE Los Ranchos