Anson Stevens-Bollen
Cover, Oct. 19: “Full Inheritance”
We can all benefit
The Oct. 19 issue is an all-time great edition of the Santa Fe Reporter. We’ll be keeping and framing the terrific cover art by Anson Stevens-Bollen. The grandpa and child watering the earth tree with the continents in the leaves could not be more perfect for this article. Larry Rasmussen’s interview was fascinating reading —challenging, thoughtful and thought-provoking. Thank you, Dr. Rasmussen. We can all benefit by reading this book, reconsidering our habits, and incorporating better environmental practices in our lives.
Nancy Witter, Santa Fe
Movies, Oct. 19: “SFIFF”
No-mascot movement
Appreciation to Julie Ann Grimm for such a lovely review of Imaging the Indian. I was delighted with her shout-out to my work on this issue. How I wish I could be back in Santa Fe (for any reason at any time) for this screening at the Santa Fe International Film Festival, but I am not able to travel at this time, alas. My dear friend, Artist Mateo Romero (Cochiti Pueblo), a recent New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs “treasure,” joined the panel discussing the film at CCA. He was one of my co-plaintiffs in what became a quarter-century of litigation against the vile former name of the Washington [football] team. We, collectively, in the no-mascot movement of Native Peoples and Allies, changed a majority of the “Indian” names, images, symbols, mascots and behaviors in over 2,000 educational and professional American sports. We have a long way to go, but we’ve already achieved the societal sea change, and the next half will not take the 60+ years that the first half did.
Suzan Shown Harjo, Washington, DC
News, Oct. 19: “Housing Agenda”
Violation of trust
If Mike Loftin wanted to really address the housing crisis and wanted a quick resolution he would have just considered a piece of property for his development instead of an area designated as open space. This development has been delayed because there was a violation of public trust in selling this property that was purchased by the taxpayer. [Homewise] has not taken into consideration all the opposition to sacrificing this precious open space. Loftin claims to think about the community but does not listen to the feedback of the current residents. Save the open space! There are so many other pieces of property in this area to develop. It is a housing crisis not a property crisis.
KBL Brening, via Facebook
Morning Word, Oct. 18: “SFPD Deploys Additional Officers to Cerrillos Road Corridor”
Welcome Patrols
I was so glad to read about increased patrolling on Cerrillos Road. I live in that area behind Jackalope and the homeless shelter is a major contributor to issues in our area. Thank you SFPD!! We look forward to seeing you patrolling our neighborhood! We appreciate you!
Deborah DeWitt @debrakdewitt, via Twitter
News, Oct. 19: “Re-ordinance”
Complicated issue
I am a [short term rental] owner-operator here in Madrid. I am also an artist and have a gallery that sells my work, my partner’s work and friends’ work. I have lived here for 22 years. [We] have watched and participated in our village doing better and better through the years. We have gone from being renters to owners. Our town has been drawing more visitors and creating more jobs in town so people don’t have to drive to Santa Fe and Albuquerque to make a living. Many people eventually become self employed in some form or another by patchworking together income. STRs have definitely played a role in having more local economy. When tourists stay overnight, they eat more meals, stay for more music and buy more art and handmade goods over the course of a few days instead of only a day trip like in the past. We are a town that depends on tourism. It is our only significant economy...Our 10-15 STRs in the village do not cause the affordable housing crisis. And while I do believe in regulation I don’t think vilification of STR owners is right. We are major contributors to our communities, at least here in Madrid. The issue is too complex to address here but I sincerely hope that all of the tax dollars collected by the county be earmarked for affordable housing and how to do that creatively in our small communities. I would love to help.
People that have to use hyperbolic untruths to make a point usually don’t have the facts on their side to make an argument. A veteran was not “turned out on the street by people who claim to care about their communities” nor “evicted” entirely for starting an Airbnb...This kind of thing is very divisive. I would rather our communities come up with ways to address affordable housing without demonizing their community members...I hope your paper will recognize that those of us in the county are not “investors,” while the city of Santa Fe is a different story. STR owners I know are artists, cooks, waitresses, retirees and folks trying to patch together a living in a rural area, which is not the easiest of tasks.
Kathleen Casey, Madrid
Dream home
We have huge concerns about what is going on with the commissioners and the STR ordinance that they are currently considering. We purchased our future retirement home after my husband and I were both diagnosed with illness last year. Buying the property gave us hope and happiness knowing that we could help pay for the home until we can live there if the property was used as an STR. Our dream is to retire in Santa Fe, but we have three more years until we can make this happen as full-time working, tax-paying individuals. We love our property, and have a property manager that helps us maintain it from a distance...The ordinance brought on by the Santa Fe County commissioners is a huge burden for owners of property. This ordinance is government interference by persons that have no idea who even owns STRs. We are wondering if the hotel industry has their hand in this, and is feeling threatened by STR owners, and is twisting the arms of these commissioners.
The county plans on using an un-tested compliance company called Host Compliance by Granicus to invade our privacy, surveil our activities, and provide unverifiable data from questionable sources and/or by questionable methods...The people that stay in our property love it, and are families with young children or grandparents. They marvel over the beauty of the land, and respect the property immensely. They are not partiers or people that are going to destroy the neighborhood because there is no neighborhood, only forest. They come to hike, bike, and snowshoe, play card games, eat/shop in local businesses and cook meals together. It takes them back to a simpler time where communal family get-togethers were commonplace. It gives families an experience that is unique, and that they can’t find in a hotel...We are sad that it seems the commissioners are not listening to the stories of those us that have an STR.
Melanie Stroud, Menlo Park, California
Condition unmet
My property is surrounded on three sides by four illegal short-term rentals in violation of the Madrid Landowners Association where “properties may be used…with use as residence of owner,” a condition unmet by any...Fire easement encroachment, inadequate on-site parking, illegal overflow parking, aggressive barking dogs or wailing when abandoned by guests, increased septic alarms all night and septic pumping noise/smells, daily slamming car doors by guests/cleaning staff, car alarms, car locking horn beeps, and use of antique wood stoves without internal baffles or spark arrestors are REAL problems. The “residence of owner” is necessary so that issues could be experienced directly by the owner to correct any problems. It’s the corporate model: privatize the profits to owners and externalize the (intangible) costs to the public.
Mark Bremer, Madrid
What travelers prefer
I am a 20-year resident of Santa Fe and the Madrid area. As a struggling entrepreneur who turned to Airbnb during Covid to survive and continues to use it to provide all of my income, I would like to inform people of the regulations that threaten my livelihood. The county commissioners (of whom the most vocal represent areas like the privileged water-wasting Las Campanas) are trying to place punitive restrictions on people who rely on short-term rentals for their livelihood.
The hotels in Santa Fe (all owned by large corporations) are a wealthy lobby, pushing the county to effectively put us out of business for their own benefit. I understand the concerns about housing shortages in our town and county and in the country in general. But short-term rentals are only one element of a complicated problem. Shutting them down and putting people out of jobs is not a solution. As an Airbnb host, we are required to pay lodging taxes to the county, providing millions of dollars in revenue (some of which is supposed to go to affordable housing, but none does). The county cannot even account for how this money is spent.
Today’s travelers often prefer short-term rentals because they are more affordable, often allow pets and provide more value (and because of Covid-safety) than a hotel. Blocks of Santa Fe were bought up by hotels and corporations to be run as Airbnbs (see Las Palomas) and nothing was done. Santa Fe STR owners are not even required to live in the city. Rural Santa Fe residents should not be subjected to a random, rushed ordinance...The meetings have been filled with lies and emotional feelings about some evil villain ruining the world with vacation rentals that simply are not true.
We are hard-working people just like you who are trying to maximize our ability to be self-sustaining, responsible humans and live the best life we can. We are collectively fine with some regulations and our lodging taxes have been and always will be taken out by Airbnb. And we pay a lot of income tax. We also bring in massive amounts of tourism from people who cannot afford the expense of a high-priced Santa Fe hotel room. Let’s find some common ground on this issue. We are your friends and neighbors.
Trey Corkern, Santa Fe
Failed to address
Is racism, classism or jealousy? What the heck is going on with short-term rentals in Santa Fe County and the Board of County Commissioners? Have you watched or attended the recent meetings on short term-rental regulation in the county? I have.
I heard story after story of county residents from all ethnic and economic backgrounds, from all areas of the county testify about how much short term rentals have saved their lives—literally. From paying for major health care needs, saving their homes while unemployed during the pandemic, being able to keep a family home after the loss of a spouse, being able to send their child to college, to young people being able to stay near their families and raise their own families here in Santa Fe County. I gotta tell you, some of those stories had me in tears. The desperation I heard in people’s voices. The sense of loss of control over their own lives and prosperity was visceral.
Then I heard what the county commissioners and staff were saying about STRs in Santa Fe County. Their main claim is that STRs take affordable housing from the county and all our resources and therefore must be heavily regulated. Now this may hold true for urban areas, maybe even the City of Santa Fe, but it is not supported by any data for rural communities throughout the country. So why spread this lie? Is it to deflect from the truth? The truth being that the county has failed, just like the City of Santa Fe and the state of New Mexico for that matter, to address and ensure affordable housing exists for those living and working in Santa Fe County, including the city?
Elizabeth Emmens, Santa Fe County
Editor’s Note: Santa Fe County’s hearing on the proposed ordinance was just beginning at press time. Read the outcome here.
