Letters to the editor: On general obligation bond
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These letters published in the Sept. 25, 2022 print edition of the Las Cruces Sun-News.
Vote yes on GO bond
Successful cities invest in themselves by building infrastructure that benefits people, quality of life, and the economy. That is what the city’s general obligation bond program is designed to do — provide much needed funding to build capital projects to enhance our city. On Nov. 8, voters will get a chance to approve four city general obligation bond projects. A yes vote will enhance the public safety, health and wellness, and economic well-being of Las Cruces residents by building a new fire station, improving parks and the East Mesa Public Recreation Center, and constructing more housing that is affordable. A yes vote will not increase your property tax rates.
I’ve been thinking a lot about what more affordable and attainable housing could mean for Las Cruces. The median sale price for a home is $285,000. That is unattainable for many working families, single parents, seniors and veterans on fixed income, and millennials. We know homeownership is fundamental to building family wealth. We know a safe, stable and affordable home is a foundation for physical and mental well-being, and success in education and work. We want a community where our children can afford a home to start their own families. We need more entry-level housing now so our community can thrive.
A yes vote for an affordable housing bond will provide $6 million to match funding from private developers and non-profit partners to help us build a community where we all have the opportunity for a better life, starting with a roof over our heads.
Elizabeth Bardwell, Las Cruces
Leaders: Address ways to help those with mental illness
Maybe Mayor Miyagishima should consider running for office in a state to the to the left or the right of New Mexico.
In Sunday’s paper Sept 18, an article exposed the mayor’s actions regarding an allegation that he planted a judge on a bench as a means to keep poor and unhoused people behind bars when accused of nonviolent property crimes. Presiding Municipal Judge Joy Goldbaum alleged also that the judge is unqualified to serve. Information provided by Goldbaum supports what she is saying.
Could this be a way for city and county officials to keep people with a mental illness locked up, many who are homeless?
The article also states” Miyagishima is among several high ranking city officials to have criticized bail reform amid increased concerns from some community members and residents about crime and homelessness.” Rather than address the problems, the mayor and others want to victimize further people who have been neglected by society.
I met with Miyagishima once to talk about the need for a public psychiatric hospital and he spent the entire time talking about a family member in the ER for constipation.
Voters pay attention. We need new leadership on county and city levels who are sincerely interested in addressing problems, many of which have been caused by neglect and indifference on the part of people in power.
Pamela Field, psychiatric nurse, Las Cruces
Kudos to governor for investing in early education
Having served as an in-home child care provider for 21 years, I have witnessed first-hand the power that quality, early education has on improving outcomes for children. Many studies prove this to be the case. In my circumstance, however, it’s personal. Watching these kids grow and flourish over their lifetimes has brought me immense joy.
When New Mexico makes investments in kids, the benefits manifest in the form of safer communities and a more educated and productive workforce. The result is less crime and a stronger economy.
For these reasons, all New Mexicans should recognize the work and policy accomplishments of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Educational challenges have long plagued our state, but during her time in office, Gov. Lujan Grisham has taken steps that have doubled affordable pre-K enrollment. She helped us safely continue operations during the midst of the pandemic. She also worked to identify and mobilize resources to bridge the hunger gap in our communities to meet families’ needs and get children in Las Cruces and across the state the nutritious meals they need to be healthy.
Taxpayers, especially, should be glad to see their hard-earned money invested wisely in New Mexico’s early education system. There’s more we can do. The past four years have shown that Gov. Lujan Grisham is committed to reforming this system in a manner that gets results.
These actions have earned Gov. Lujan Grisham the endorsement of Save the Children Action Network. The organization speaks for child care providers, like me, who want a brighter, better future for all our children. Nothing less than the future vitality of our state is at stake.
Valeria Holloway, Las Cruces
Support home health care funding
As a home health professional, I have seen firsthand how the clinically advanced, cost-effective care we provide helps the homebound members of our community.
That's why I was so disappointed to see that Medicare has proposed cuts to home health once again. The proposal includes a $1.33 billion cut in 2023 alone, and additional cuts of more than $2 billion in 2024 and the years beyond, reaching up to $18 billion over the next decade.
Fortunately, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are taking action to prevent these devastating cuts from hurting home health patients and their providers.
I hope our state's lawmakers will join in support of the Preserving Access to Home Health Act of 2022 to stop these proposed cuts and protect access to care for our most vulnerable neighbors.
Virginia Palacios, Mesquite
Speaking the truth
Last Sunday, an article appeared in the Washington Post that does not bode well for the upcoming election. In a Post survey of candidates in 19 of the most closely watched statewide races in the country, only seven GOP nominees committed to accepting the outcomes in their upcoming contests, while 17 of the Democrats responded that they would accept the outcome. The Post points out that growing mistrust in U.S. elections presents a grave threat to our nation. In my opinion, it is also setting a very bad example to the youth of our nation right now.
I have to wonder what Donald Trump’s behavior is doing to the young people in our country. Are we going to see high school students challenge the results of their elections for homecoming queen and king? Will the losers insist they are really the winners because the tabulation of votes is unreliable? Will there be two class presidents from now on — the student who actually won the most votes, as well as the loser who claims victory because, in his or her opinion, the election was rigged? Will there be two slates of student council representatives contending for the right to represent their constituencies? Absurd, you say? Well… no more preposterous than the behavior of the loser of our last presidential election.
As U.S. Senate contender Joe O’Dea, a Republican in Colorado, recently put it, “We have become a nation of poor sports and cry babies … It’s time for America’s leaders to start acting like adults again.” Like fellow Republican Liz Chaney, he knows it is more important to speak the truth than to perpetuate a lie to protect a fragile ego. Let’s hope candidates grow up before November.
Robert Beymer, Las Cruces
Guarding democracy
Today our politics are polarized so it is often impossible to get consensus or even agreement on some points. Long held norms and policies are ignored or overturned outright. This is a dangerous procedure. However there is a more dangerous and insidious cancer that our democracy must guard against and that is the core right and obligation to vote and have each vote counted as cast. Democracy in any republic cannot stand if this basic right is maligned.
One of the first acts our representative Yvette Harrell did after her election is to go to Washington and object to certifying election results for Biden from Arizona and Pennsylvania. (LC Sun-News 1-19-2022). In other words she wanted to overturn the duly elected electors. And from states she knows nothing about! Here is an elected Republican trying to reverse and subvert the legal and counted votes of citizens! I can understand differences in opinion or point of view but I can’t understand the desire to subvert our democratic government by reversing or negating votes. Please do not vote for this dangerous and anti-democratic person.
Thomas Koller, Las Cruces
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This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Letters to the editor: On general obligation bond
