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DERELICT DUTY
Regarding Nina Hart vs. the City of Santa Fe [Outtakes, June 28:
] we agree wholeheartedly with the Letters to the Editor [July 12] in support of the City of Santa Fe giving Nina Hart and her neighbor Robert Wilson full compensation for the damages they sustained during a sewer main break in February of this year.
However, the letter sent by City Attorney Frank Katz suggesting that "the one, simple step homeowners can take to protect themselves from the financial consequences of sewage backups" is to "make sure that your homeowner's insurance includes a rider that covers such damage," doesn't mention that home insurance coverage for sewer backup in Santa Fe is typically limited to $5,000-$10,000 coverage, which would do nothing to offset the destruction caused by major sewage flooding. I asked my insurance agent (State Farm) about this and was told that "the city would be held responsible for damages" in the case of a main sewer line break or backup.
Furthermore, Katz speculates [SFR Talk, July 12:
] that: "It's by no means clear that the city caused anything. My understanding is that it might have been vandalism" and he reiterates his false assertion that "We can protect ourselves from some of these kinds of situations with homeowner's insurance that covers a sewage backup." A sewage backup in one toilet, maybe, but NOT A BREAK OR BACKUP IN A SEWAGE MAIN. I suggest Frank Katz (and all elected and appointed city officials) contact their own homeowner insurers for the truth about how little, if anything, such a "rider" would cover.
What is the truth about the cause of the blockage in the sewer on Juan de Dios Road? Costy Kassisieh, director of the city's Wastewater Management Division [in the June 28 Outtake] suggested that someone might have placed rocks in the sewer pipe. The city would know, as a matter of fact, what the cause was since they cleared the blockage. In most cities, any blockage is duly reported, as is the cause of the blockage and the repairs that were made. That information is part of public record and Attorney Katz and SFR should be able to uncover that report, unless no report was written or kept. On the other hand, any vandalism to a city utility is the responsibility of the city, not individual taxpaying citizens.
The truth is that the city has been derelict in its duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens, including that of Nina Hart and Robert Wilson and the many others who have suffered the losses and indignity of a such a horrific "crappy day." It is time for city officials to recognize this problem and deal with it honestly and fairly. Sending out a suggestion (with the water bill) that citizens expand their homeowners' coverage does nothing to solve the problem. The City of Santa Fe itself needs to upgrade its own insurance coverage. These main sewer line backups can occur anywhere at any time with our antiquated system and we are all at risk.
Melody Sumner Carnahan
Michael Sumner
Santa Fe
PTSD-OFF
My main comment to Randall Balmer [SFR Talk, July 5:
] is this: Torture and death are part of the operating procedures for Christianity and, that said, the torture of prisoners is pretty much "business as usual." How else do you think Christianity has been spread across the world?
First, you torture and kill the indigenous religious leaders in public, so that their followers are terrorized and completely incapacitated. Then, second, you take the ones who aren't murdered and give them extra privileges, so that they can become the "lords and ladies" over their communities. All they have to do is to drop their old ways and live a lifestyle that convinces their people to drop them also. The perks they get from such business transactions (and don't dare think it is not a "business"), are called the "blessings of God."
It was done to the European indigenous people many generations ago by the invading Romans, and then their descendents did the very same things to the indigenous peoples in this hemisphere, and now this country, "one nation under God," does it all over the planet through its corporate government policies.
I don't think bitching about the government will do a thing to change the situation, but if individuals will re-evaluate their encultured beliefs about being or not being the "chosen species/race/ethnicity/skin-color/economic bracket of God," then we might experience a real shift away from the wretched heartlessness of what has been called "Christianity," for all these genocidal centuries.
Personally, I feel sure all this has had nothing to do with The Christ, and I do not believe that it has continued so consistently, because humans are sinful. I see it deriving from generations of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which have never been healed. Now that the Veterans from the Vietnam and the Iraqi Wars [Cover story, July 19:
] are telling their stories (another very good lead story!), we have an opportunity to open our eyes and hearts to face the realities of human suffering. I trust it is not to late for our species. Check out
!
Kathairein Magdalena
Santa Fe
FUMING
Much to the collective dismay, undoubtedly, I find myself unable to disregard a letter to you published last week by a Ms. Vigil [Letters, July 19:
], as much I try to refrain from responding to such moronic correspondence. I must, therefore, pose the following questions to the esteemed Ms. Vigil, who clearly demonstrates a remarkable clarity in the issue of smoking in public places. Ms. Vigil, do you even go to WilLee's Bar? Are you offended or compromised by the patrons of that bar smoking outside? What the fuck is it to you where people smoke whilst outside a bar? Please find sanctimony in more useful places, other than under the pretense of social consciousness, and please enlighten us as to how indeed smoking outside presents tangible health hazards to others. Please also, then, in your absolute clarity, explain how the 25-foot rule actually works: Is it a linear 25 feet, or is it radial? What would constitute a legally acceptable barrier or demarcation? And from which entrance? Any open door, or a public door? Primary public access or fire exit? Does this not, then, effectively outlaw smoking on any sidewalk in town, as there is continually an encroachment within 25 feet of any given doorway? Do the businesses that own these doors have to be open, literally, or just for business? Does this mean that if the door is not open, then one can smoke in its proximity?
What if a patio has seating that is 25 feet away from the door? (Again, which door?)
And here's something I'm truly unclear on: Which states are smoke free?
Thank you for your attention.
Emmett Milliner
Santa Fe
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