LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
OPINION: Talk of the Town
Why I am fighting for parental rights and transparency in schools
With a new school year underway, parents should be armed with information.
The most important thing parents can do is stay connected to their children. Ask what they learned at school, who they spent time with and whether anything at school made them uncomfortable. Those conversations matter. That鈥檚 how I discovered that my daughter was being forced to share a bathroom with a biological boy. She came home feeling uncomfortable and confused, and in that moment, I realized I couldn鈥檛 rely on the school to keep me informed.
Children鈥檚 first advocates are their parents. This school year, let鈥檚 stay engaged, ask questions and demand transparency in our schools. Our children deserve it, and parents deserve a meaningful voice in their education. I learned the hard way that parents aren鈥檛 always told what is going on in their children鈥檚 classrooms 鈥� and we shouldn鈥檛 accept being left in the dark.
If you agree, sign the supporting transparency and parental rights in New Mexico schools.
Kristy Ojinaga
Santa Fe
Maintaining mutual respect is key in acquisition conversation
Recently, the community gathered for a forum regarding the acquisition of TXNM Energy by Blackstone Infrastructure held by the Public Regulation Commission. A forum where many union members attended and spoke in support of the acquisition. In forums such as this, there are practices regarding decorum, just as we see at meetings held by various governmental agencies. Regardless of what side one might be on, a critical piece of this decorum includes mutual respect.
Another integral part of advocacy is demonstrating, including raising our voices and more so the community hears the importance of the issue through that demonstration.
However, a forum is not the place for this. It bears reminding that individuals engaged in jeering during public comment given by union members were respected during their respective public comment. Union members sat quietly, respectfully, did not interrupt, cheer, heckle or boo. To all those who did not reciprocate this, President Obama said it best: 鈥淒on鈥檛 boo. Vote!鈥�
It is important to reflect on the union members who were disrespected in this forum due to the failure of the PRC chair to maintain decorum. The greatest disappointment, though, is that by insulting the labor union members, by extension, disregards the people who build this community. These attacks are directed toward those who pour foundations, frame and paint walls and install plumbing, ductwork and electrical wiring. Thanks to workers like these, we have electricity, cooling, heating, running water. Things that make advocacy work more expansive.
Thanks is not necessary; basic respect is.
To candidates on the ballot who have engaged in this issue 鈥� remember 鈥� engage with all constituents, including union members building our community. The workers, we are watching, and I assure you that rather than booing, we will be voting too.
Ashley Long
Albuquerque
Oil profits should go to solar and wind power development
Thank you for publishing Gail Evans鈥� column on New Mexico鈥檚 energy policies. She is absolutely right. New Mexico and the gas and oil companies are making billions in profits from New Mexico鈥檚 gas and oil reserves. The state is raking in money in taxes, but the people of New Mexico are paying through the nose because the carbon produced by oil and gas extraction is ruining our climate and our health. Global warming has never been more evident than this summer, not only in New Mexico, but around the country and around the world. This is the first time in more than 40 years in New Mexico that I have seen the Rio Grande and our irrigation ditches completely dry.
We should not be subsidizing the oil companies. Our governor鈥檚 $250 proposed payback to the people of New Mexico is an insult. We are paying a lot for gas for our cars, our homes and our electricity. We should be putting oil company profits into building solar and wind power and stop killing ourselves and all other living things by encouraging increased fossil fuel extraction. And we should be charging oil and gas companies for the cost of the ecological disasters they are causing.
Linnea Hendrickson
Albuquerque
Priest should work to heal, not inflame, tensions
The recent actions of Fr. Vincent Ch谩vez should alarm every member of our community. This is not a minor misunderstanding 鈥� it is a pattern of behavior that has created public scandal, division and embarrassment for both the church and the neighborhood.
When a local resident opposed the construction of the mosque, Fr. Ch谩vez didn鈥檛 respond with pastoral care or basic Christian humility. Instead, he put her name on the church marquee, publicly singling her out. When KOAT-TV asked him why, he said he wanted her to know he had 鈥渢he ability to challenge her.鈥� That is not spiritual leadership. It is intimidation.
The situation then escalated into an arrest after her boyfriend allegedly confronted church officials 鈥� an entirely avoidable conflict made worse by a priest who chose provocation over peace.
Our community deserves better. We need leaders who heal, not those who inflame tensions and create public spectacle. Silence only guarantees more harm.
Janice Jacobs
Albuquerque
