Mail letters to Letters, Santa Fe Reporter, PO Box 2306, Santa Fe NM 87504, deliver them to 132 E. Marcy St., fax them to 988-5348, e-mail them to editor@sfreporter.com, or use our online form.
REVIEW REVIEW
In response to Zane's World [July 19:
] I shudder at his curt and judgemental rhetoric aimed at the Historic Design Review Board. Zane, are you an architect, designer, historian, historic preservationist? Have you studied Santa Fe's Historic Ordinance or can you tell me the differences between each of the five historic districts? The HDRB works hard (volunteers) two to three Tuesdays a month from 6 pm until midnight, deliberating cases in an effort to keep our city different. Not to mention all the work put in by our city staff. And why do you think our decisions are based on "politics, favoritism and class and race?" No person on the HDRB is tied to any of this; each decision is considered carefully and thoughtfully despite what the media hype may proclaim. We are not bought, coerced or forced by any applicant's agenda. We have been given a mission to adhere to and to carry out the Historic Design Ordinance. Have you been to our meetings? Are you really interested in preserving our architectural heritage? And how can you insinuate that we have some influence on structures outside the districts? If you studied the ordinance, you would see that our purview does not extend to the lack of "cobblestones on Galisteo Street" or repaving Alameda adding generic medians and paint, or to Wal-Mart-please speak to City Hall. We would love to look at harmony among all aspects of our environment-buildings, roads, rivers, cultures, landscaping, traffic signals, etc.
The truth is, we are constantly being pressured, the fine line being money and investment to make projects bigger and more elaborate, the "if we do not build it this way we will not make enough money on it" mentality. There are so many opinions on this, but I would like to challenge the architects and designers to be more creative, stop giving us these cookie cutter, cuteze, faux historic, "Scottsdalish," Disneyland-with-a-little-Santa-Fe-thrown-in designs. What is Santa Fe design? Old, new, John Gaw Meem? You need to read the ordinance carefully and not listen to all the media hype and opinions from all those who haven't. Draw your own conclusions. Come to our meetings-in case you didn't know, they are public meetings held every other Tuesday and we love public comment. See you there.
Debbie Shapiro
Member, HDRB
Santa Fe
ANTE UP
In a small New Mexican town, a high-stakes poker game is taking place [Outtakes, July 12:
]. The mayor plays his hand close to the vest, then puts up the Demand Your Resignation Chip, and the commissioners put in their Not So Fast Chip and then call. The mayor shows his Wal-Mart card and gets up and says, "Don't gamble if you can't afford to lose. I lost." The chorus in the Council chambers sings in unison…
You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.
The rules of governing take on new meaning.
Ted Itagaki
Santa Fe
WHAT'S THE DIFF?
This letter is in response to all the silliness surrounding the "different-ness" of this small town [Letters, July 12:
].
Santa Fe is the town of nasty glares, speed bumps, om nama tofu mantras, rent that exceeds what you earn, service that makes you want to just stay home and people trying so hard to be different that, in the end, they have no identity, only something to follow.
There is nothing "different" in having a gay community. Every state in the union has a town where the gay community feels safe.
There is nothing "different" in having a community that is primarily under the poverty level. Where the working class are forced into crappy housing on the south side, where their children are guaranteed a horrible education and language barriers in their own country.
There is nothing "different" in not feeling safe on your own streets after the street lights come on.
My point is, why write so many letters about how different we are? Is it not like enlightenment? If you really are different, you would not have to point it out.
Megan Grey
Santa Fe
JUST GRIDDING
Wendy Flick is obviously correct that anything nuclear is a disaster in the making [Letters, July 19:
]. Her endorsement of solar power is also correct, but wind power and the power grid concept need a closer look. Wind power generators have many moving parts and will need plenty of maintenance. Windmills usually are placed in wind corridors for optimal harvesting, causing the death of many migratory birds. General Electric is a big part of PNM's wind program; should we reward the maker of weapons of mass destruction with more money?
The problem with any power, made from any source, is putting the grid under the present control of sociopathic corporations. With local solar and, possibly, more appropriate wind power, we could have "mini" local plants with more independence. This would potentially lower costs and huge power failures or brownouts would be very rare. Power to the people.
M A Burger
Tijeras, NM
SNOUT OUTS
Thanks to the Reporter's June 28 story [Outtakes, June 28:
], many people have read about the pig struck by a car on Cerrillos Road June 11, Hattie, named by her rescuer and my dear friend, Christopher Willett.
There are thanks to so many people directly or indirectly supporting the future of Hattie: Christopher, who took her to the Emergency Veterinary Clinic, and their wonderful staff. Dr. Bob Gruda, who with his skill, repaired Hattie's broken leg, and to his dedicated staff at Gruda's Animal Hospital, who oversaw Hattie's initial recovery.
Thank you to Duane Adams, director of the Santa Fe Animal Shelter, who put Christopher in touch with Cheryl Naumann, director of the Arizona Humane Society in Phoenix. Their education and compassion program for all animals is now Hattie's home where she will live in dignity, safety, love and caring. She is truly in "hog heaven!"
Our world is better for people like these. As a member of PETA and the human race, I am blessed to know them…with special thanks and love to Hattie!
To the Reporter: Thank you for taking interest in stories, as you do, of positive actions and positive endings, made by people who care in our town.
Jeannie Bell
Santa Fe
CORRECTION:
John Nardine, general manager of Upper Crust Pizza, was incorrectly identified as the business' owner [Cover story, July 26:
]. Upper Crust Pizza is owned by Dean Alexis. SFR regrets the error.
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. Please include address and phone number for verification purposes; these will not be published.
