The Reporter welcomes original, signed letters to the editor. Letters (no more than 200 words) should refer to specific articles in the Reporter. They may be edited for clarity and space. Include address and phone number for verification purposes; these will not be published. Mail to Letters, Santa Fe Reporter, PO Box 2306, Santa Fe NM 87504, deliver to 132 E. Marcy St., fax to 505-988-5348 or e-mail (editor@sfreporter.com)
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HOUSE-RAGEOUS
Thank you for your most recent version of 7 Days [Outtakes, July 20]. As part of a family looking to move closer to Santa Fe (from Glorieta), I enjoyed the jabs at the OUTRAGEOUS cost of housing in town. For a few special moments, I was able to laugh through my tears. It's amazing to me that two working adults making decent middle income salaries can't afford the median price of a home in this town. Or even come close, frankly. If it wasn't for close ties with friends and family, I'd be looking to leave Santa Fe. As it is, I scroll the MLS listings online late at night when I can't sleep, hoping some gem will appear that everyone else has overlooked. So far, no dice. And not much sleep either. Recently I read about communities in the Midwest giving away free land and homesites to encourage folks to move there. Wow! Williston, North Dakota never looked so good…
Suzanne Sugrue Santa Fe
PANCHO PROBLEMO
As a true instrument for community service and awareness, The Reporter found the case of the lost pit bull Pancho important enough to be published [Outtakes, July 13:
] and touched on a bunch of disquieting aspects: dog fighting in New Mexico, community response and attitude, police/animal control monitoring such cases, eventual dog "snatching"…Kudos and forever grateful!
Yes, I am Pancho's unconsoled and still hopeful owner.
In my obstinate determination to find my dog, for the past six weeks I looked for all community billboards where to plaster my sad poster…Is this too much to ask, in a town where most of us take pride in our enlightened ways?
Hey, people, there is literally only a handful of businesses allowing us, their paying clients, to post flyers (non-profit, "spiritual," house sharing, etc.) of interest to our community!
The commercially prosperous DeVargas Mall does not (why should they bother?) sport a community billboard. Villa Linda Mall only allows for lost children announcements at their community center.
Home Depot, Office Depot, certain Albertson's branches-all places where the Santa Fe community drops big bucks-do not have a community board, period!
A certain "new-age-y" vitamin shop on Cerrillos only allows ads related to their immediate business.
Another certain dry cleaning store across from Wild Oats cheerfully declined posting my flyer, after ruining my most expensive Italian jacket, and charging me for the…cleaning!
Count me out as a client of those businesses whose corporate policy disregards the very community where they exist.
Laila Ionescu Santa Fe
SHARED CONCERN
The New Mexico Department of Health shares The Reporter's concern about suicide in our communities [Cover story, July 20:
]. We have made youth suicide prevention one of the department's top priorities.
Last year, Gov. Bill Richardson established the goal of doubling the number of school-based health centers in New Mexico. In addition to a range of medical services, the centers will provide students with direct access to mental-health and substance-abuse screenings, referrals and, in some instances, counseling that will identify and intervene when teen clients are considering suicide.
The Governor's Youth Suicide Prevention Taskforce has made recommendations for programs that we are implementing with the help of our community and state partners. These programs will directly address some of the issues mentioned in your story. They include a campaign to eliminate the stigma associated with suicidal behaviors, expanded screening and early intervention programs in community settings and a statewide crisis line to refer individuals to services that can help them and their families.
We extend our sympathy to those who have lost their loved ones to suicide. The Department of Health is committed to providing ongoing support and attention to this critical problem.
Michelle Lujan Grisham Secretary Department of Health
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
In regards to the featured cover girl and the national teen suicide story-it was a piece of portrait art that was very disturbing even though depression can easily challenge and weaken some of the strongest of humans-a crisis that is beyond being bearable.
This particular art misrepresented Jenine Clifford as many readers who did not know her initially thought it was a picture of her as this is their "first impression." Perhaps it was the Reporter's decision to share the darkness of a very distraught person who represents a self-selected "national" poster girl engulfed in a serious situation, but, to me it was a poor choice even if it was not meant to represent Jenine.
I worked on a psychiatric ward off and on for 20 years as an RN. My specialty was working in a system that locked people in a confined environment due to their mental instabilities. Their imprisonment was beyond the walls of an institution so I have compassion and sensitivity for very special people who have had to endure personal challenges.
I guess I am also being sensitive as I am a parent. If this was my son and an article on him was done in association of a mental health crisis, the cover art such as the one portrayed would of caused me more pain. I would have expected another cover illustration to depict this issue. Many people who have slid into this type of fate had their own unique forms of beauty and attractiveness and this girl on the cover was an insult to life itself.
It is already a painful reality "walking" in spirit with those we loved and cared for. In fact, they are now new angels in a new realm and they are still beautiful in our minds and hearts as we knew them.
Ana Gallegos y Reinhard Executive Director Warehouse 21
BEST OF BLUES
Best local musician/band you don't want to miss [Cover story, July 27:
]:
Dreamy good looks? Give me a break. From your readers "choices," seems like Maryol is being groomed (no pun intended) for MTV where looks are focused on first and then the music. There are so many more original bands and musicians around (W21, anyone). I am so tired of the blues vibe here that caters to tourists. Musicianship is one thing, vocal training another, and technique yet another-but give me originality.
Lisa Goldman Santa Fe
CORRECTION: In last week's issue [Cover story, July 27: "Best of Santa Fe"], The Reporter identified the owners of Shohko Café as Tito and Shoko Fukuda. They are actually Hiro and Shohko Fukuda. SFR regrets the error.
