SANTA FE – The New Mexico legislature opened its 2010 session Tuesday, with solving the state’s budget problems the main agenda.
The state faces a $500 million to $900 million shortfall for the coming year, a problem the special session last fall tried to solve.
In his opening speech, Gov. Bill Richardson called for targeted tax increases – for tobacco and liquor - and spending cuts.
In addition, Richardson said he would push for domestic partnerships; a statewide ban on hand-held cell phones for motorists; a newly created ethics commission; tougher penalties for gang involvement; and stricter domestic violence legislation.
Socorro’s Don Tripp, the 49th District Representative and member of the Legislative Appropriations Committee, told the Mountain Mail Wednesday that he felt the governor was too vague when referring to spending cuts.
“He came forward with all the things he wants to do, but offered us nothing to go on,” Tripp said. “He doesn’t come out and say where he needs to cut. He wants us to do it.”
Tripp said Richardson “is still in denial about the budget,” by not trying to reduce the number of state employees.
“The general thing is to get the overall number of state employees down to the national average,” Tripp said.
“For instance, support personnel for higher institutions is way out of whack, and more than twice or three times those in neighboring states.”
He said major changes to the state payroll would not be immediate, but that the budget crises is a “wake up call, to change a bloated government.”
Tripp said much of the budget shortfall can be made up from cutting one time money.
“The $150 million in extra capitol projects that are stalled can be diverted to help short funding,” he said. “The money in sponge bonds is good for another $100 million.
“With careful decisions like these we make it through with very little impact on the people were there to serve,” Tripp said. “Personal income taxes and capital gains are off the table.”
At the end of Day 2, he said he felt two things would come out of the session.
“What’s going to come down, I feel at this point, is the legislature will institute a surcharge on higher income people, and pass a one-half percent raise to the gross receipts tax to put in the state coffers,” Tripp said. “I get the feeling that’s what going to happen.”
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Tripp: Governor Too Vague On Cuts
Salomon Abeyta
March 18, 1925 - Jan. 13, 2010
Salomon Abeyta, Col., USANG (Ret.) passed away peacefully on January 13, 2010 in Scottsdale, Ariz., surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in Abeytas on Mar. 18, 1925. Col. Abeyta served as a gunnery pilot during World War II and later used the GI bill to complete his education at the University of New Mexico, where he earned first a Bachelor of Arts in Education and later a Masters in Counseling He initially taught civics at Belen High School, later becoming a counselor in the Belen Public School system, and then retiring from the Socorro School system. He was a member of the New Mexico National Guard and served in several capacities, including assignment at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. He received numerous military awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal for his work with developing a program for minorities for the Department of Defense.
Col. Abeyta is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Doris; his children and their spouses, Sharon Abeyta-Levey (Lee) and Randy Abeyta (Brenda), and his beloved grandchildren, Bree, Coree, Walker and Hawk. He is also survived by his sister, Petrita Barela.
Visitation was held at Romero Funeral Home Chapel, January 18, with a rosary recited afterward. A final visitation was held at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, January 19, with a Funeral Mass following. Interment was at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens. Salomon’s online register book can be signed at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, were in charge of arrangements.
Rigoberto Chavez
Nov. 26,1993 - Jan, 17, 2010
Rigoberto Chavez, 16, a resident of Cruzville entered eternal rest on Sunday, January 17, 2010. Rigo was born on Nov. 26, 1993 in Deming, to Melissa Baca.
He was a student at Reserve High School and was also a member of the basketball team. He was a true outdoorsman. His favorite pastimes included hunting, fishing, and looking for horns. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his cousins.
Rigoberto is survived by his mother, Melissa Baca; sisters, Vanessa and Yuri Chavez and Carmen Varela; brothers, Martin and Teto Steen and M.J. Chavez and numerous extended family members.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents.
Visitation was Wednesday, Jan. 20 at the Santo Niño Catholic Church in Aragon, followed by the prayer vigil and rosary recited by Father Jeff King. The funeral service was Thursday, Jan. 21, at Reserve High School, Reserve, with Mr. Loren Cushman officiating. The rite of committal and interment followed at the Aragon Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Henry, Lincoln, Vidal, and Lawrence Baca, Ricky Kelly, Patrick Lucero, and Frankie Chavez. Honorary pallbearers are Patrick Lucero, Jr., Perry McCall, Jason and Henry Chavez, Scott Johnston, Jr., Brandon and Isaac Johnston, and Shelby Lucero.
To send condolences, please login to: www.bacasfuneralchapels.com
Arrangements by Baca’s Funeral Chapels of Silver City.
OBITUARY: Carol Lynne Eager Laney
Oct. 1, 1939 - Jan. 20, 2010
Carol Lynne Eagar Laney, 70, died Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at her home in Eagar. She was born October 1, 1939 in Eagar to Lynn and Larna Eagar.
Carol was a homemaker. She was a resident of Luna. Carol made delicious baked goods and had a caring heart and a giving spirit. She was a friend to everyone she ever met. She was a loving wife and mother.
She is survived by her husband, Joe W. Laney, Eagar; daughters JoLyn Schofield, Eagar; Emily Landrin, Page; Elizabeth Madrid, Springerville; Judith Schneider, Eagar; sons Leslie D. Laney, Washington; Lloyd F. Laney, Phoenix; Andrew L. Laney, Phoenix; mother Larna Eagar, brothers Richard Eagar, Jim Eagar, Tim Eagar, sisters Janice Moss, Etta Hamilton and 29 grandchildren.
Carol was preceded in death by her father Lynn Eagar, brothers Jack Eagar, David Eagar and one son Larry Laney.
A Viewing is scheduled for Sunday, January 24, 2010 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Burnham Mortuary, Eagar, Ariz..
A Funeral Service is scheduled for Monday, January 25, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Luna Chapel, Luna, N.M.
EDITORIAL: A Pledge For More Coverage In The Catron County Area
Editor
RESERVE – I like to keep my eyes on the road but it’s almost impossible not to gaze at the magnificent scenery while driving through Catron County.
Wide-open spaces, spectacular views and magnificent landscape are constants.
It’s amazing I didn’t wreck the car.
It’s been said that longtime Catron County residents do not care much for outsiders.
I know I am one. But that is OK.
My job is to make sure the Mountain Mail remains the No. 1 news source for Catron County residents.
With our fine contributors, we do a good job of covering Catron County.
But I want to make it better.
I want to delve into the issues that Reserve, Glenwood, Pie Town, Datil and Quemado residents deal with everyday.
Our plan each month is to have a Catron County edition on the first week of each month.
On my recent trip to Reserve, I got an earful from residents, saying how much they missed us but they also said we are not doing enough in our coverage of the area.
I agree.
We need to find out what’s happening with the downtown improvements in Reserve.
We need to find out more about the garbage situation and how it’s going to get shipped off to Arizona after a nearby landfill closes down. We need to find out what’s going on in the areas of the county.
But that is where we need your help.
If you have any story or photo ideas, feel free to email me at mountainmaileditor@yahoo.com or call 575 838-5555.
We also can not do all of this without the support of the businesses in Catron County as well. Call the newspaper and we will work with you.
Cheeseburgers and Basketball
A trip to Reserve, though, would not be complete without doing a couple of things.
I had one of those famous green chili cheeseburgers at Ella’s Café on Main Street. It was fabulous.
And on the day I went, it was the first day of the Mountaineer Invitational and it was nice to see both Reserve basketball teams score resounding victories.
The girls team ended up third in the tournament, which meant it picked up two wins on the weekend.
And the boys team improved to 13-1 as it cruised to the championship title.
Condolences
The Mountain Mail offers its condolences to the families of Sam Way and Rigoberto Chavez.
OPINION: Heart Attack In Haiti Absolutely Hurts Us All
By Margaret Wiltshire
When a 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti last week, it went right to the hearts of all Haiti and most of the world.
Death, destruction and collapse in this small, very poor democracy has greatly saddened and challenged humanity everywhere.
It has become a major challenge for the “have” countries to get into this isolated island country with timely help.
We can be proud that we Americans have so much we can give.
Proud that we do.
What moves us though is not pride, but compassion.
Experts in disaster relief are facing the challenges of even getting in, in time, to do the heroic things they know how to do. Organizations already in place to help this country, like the UN and Doctors Without Borders have taken great losses themselves.
They are there, they are on the way, organizing and reorganizing and risking life and limb to help in this overwhelming disaster.
I can’t help but feel in the next 25 to 50 years, we will need as many of these people as can be trained.
I believe this is a very “angry” planet. Some may believe it’s a very angry creator God.
It could be just the turn of time and nature. I am fully aware I may be “projecting” my own disappointments about what the world I’ve lived in is like.
My reality is that the earth has been good to me. My disappointments are with humankind. The paradox, much of my happiness has been because of the goodness of humans.
It is really hard as a human not to be ethnocentric. Thinking the world doesn’t revolve around oneself is a level most of us achieve.
Thinking the earth doesn’t just exist for we humans alone, is another challenge.
Only some of us seem to be able to handle this bit of maturation.
In between thinking the world is mine or the world is ours, there are a lot of other groups working on a hen-pecking order.
Within this hen-pecking system many like to think their group is at the top, or close to it.
Some feel Haiti is at or close to the bottom.
Haiti, discovered on December 5, 1492 by Christopher Columbus, became known as La Isla Espanola, the Spanish Island.
Later it was taken over by the French and in 1791 a revolt began Haiti’s difficult trek to independence. It is a quite a story and well worth looking into.
The news media covering Haiti however has been more than professional, it has been heroic. In history, reporters reported the news; they did not participate. They did not “make” the news.
I have been watching CNN and have only caught a little of other news groups. From what I have seen, they all have been heroic, well beyond competence. They have been involved.
Professionals like Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Anderson Cooper, Ivan Watson, Elizabeth Cohen and many more have not only reported the news fairly, honestly but have made a major difference in saving lives themselves.
They have pin-pointed areas of need and have rolled up their own sleeves to help. They are heroes in any sense of the word.
After many days without food, water and the quality of medical help that is needed, there have been reports of some violence. “Reports” more then actual witnessing.
Time will bring more looting, more violence.
How would you act after five or more days without food, water, housing, family?
Is it looting when in complete destruction people look about debris for what may help them survive?
When it comes to violence, Albuquerque and other mid-sized American cities should be so lucky.
The bigots of our world have crawled out of the mud to sling hate and misunderstanding. It is our job to silence the lies.
These “poorest” people of the world, these Haitians, have proven themselves to be among the best of humanity.
I have “witnessed” what a great people they are.
Let’s help, they ARE family.
Write Margaret Wilshire at wshireoldadobe@yahoo.com. Wilshire’s views do not necessarily reflect those of the Mountain Mail.
OPINION: These Are The Times Of Mixed Emotions In The World
By Doug May
The pictures coming from Haiti showing hundreds of corpses lying in the street in front of the morgue in Port-au-Prince and the women crying for their children buried in collapsed buildings are cause for great anguish and weeping.
Each of us shudder as we think that I could be standing there and my children and spouse could be dead. We pray, “Dear Lord, have mercy.” Death at any age is a horrible thing, a time for weeping.
The young college student killed in an auto accident, a father in his forties struck down by a heart attack, a five-year-old with cancer or a grandmother, all are missed and mourned when death takes them away from us.
Many mourn at this time of year for the nearly 1.2 million infants in this country that die each year by abortion. Jan. 22 is the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade Decision that legalized abortion in the United States. The weeping is done off camera in the quiet of many homes. And many still pray that one day these tiniest of infants will see the light of day and be nurtured by loving fathers and mothers.
There is still more weeping over the most pathetic of all situations. Last year in Wichita, Kansas Scott Roeder shot to death Dr. George Tiller, an abortion doctor in his church. Scott knew that killing tiny infants was wrong, but he was not the one to bring judgment on the offender. His sin was deplorable because he took another person’s life. And by so doing he disgraced the cause of all who those who long for the end of abortion and pray for the safety all infants in and out of the womb. We all weep.
At this very time, many are weeping as they consider the possibility that the new health care bill will treat abortion as an acceptable medical procedure whose costs are covered by health insurance. And to further add to the sorrow is the possibility that medical personnel will be required to participate in abortions even against their conscience. I can not put into words how sad this whole situation has become. We treat endangered species with more respect than our own offspring.
But in spite of all this, there are reasons and seasons for joy and laughter. Who doesn’t rejoice to see the outpouring of donations for the survivors of the earthquake in Haiti?
Millions around the world are praying for them and volunteering to help. We thank God for those who speak French and Creole who can speak words of comfort for those who mourn. We rejoice for the medical and rescue workers who have been putting in unbelievably long hours to find and save the injured.
Just one year ago this month, millions were rejoicing and still rejoice because Captain Sullenberger and his co-pilot landed his powerless plane safely in the Hudson River. All 155 people aboard were rescued from the icy waters by ferry boats and small crafts. Lives were saved and millions rejoiced.
When we do all that is possible to save and enhance lives it lifts the spirits of everyone. But when we talk about limiting care for the elderly it is depressing. People rejoice for life. I have seven children and I got chocked up with joy and gratitude at the birth of each one of them. We celebrate birthdays to express that joy. I know of no one who celebrates the anniversary of an abortion.
I hope all our laws will respect and support human life in every stage of its development.
Finally, we rejoice for those at Birthright here in Socorro who are encouraging and helping women with “problem pregnancies.” Phone 838-2326 or 835-4236 for information.
Doug May is a retired Lutheran pastor and his views do not represent the Mountain Mail.
OPINION: Haiti’s Agonies Are Not Self-Inflicted, Part One
By Dave Wheelock
Haiti. As Americans struggle, most for the first time, to understand how one island nation so close to our own shores could play host to so much tragedy - the storms, coups, and grinding poverty, and now, an apocalyptic earthquake - old attempts at whitewash are again trotted out in popular media: The land is barren and unfit to support a population of eight million. The people are lazy, violent, and incapable of self rule. For some of course, the fact that most Haitians are of black African descent accounts for a lot; what can you expect from the descendants of slaves?
In the view of ultraconservative Christian evangelist Pat Robertson, the people of Haiti bear the curse of crossing his (and by Christian definition, everyone else’s) god: “They were under the heel of the French, you know Napoleon the third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said 'We will serve you if you will get us free from the prince.' The Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since they have been cursed by one thing after another.” Never mind the legend is a fiction, and a damned intolerant one at that.
Whenever rationalizations that trade on a people’s stupidity or unworthiness emerge, thinking people will suspect there’s another story, one that perhaps remains purposefully hidden. And in the case of Haiti, they’d be right. Now, with the spotlight on Haiti, the opportunity presents itself for us to look behind old stereotypes and managed history to see the policies our government has supported, and is likely to continue, in the cover afforded by disaster.
Randall Robinson is an African-American lawyer who campaigned effectively against South African apartheid. A longtime observer of Haitian history, he is the author of An Unbroken Agony: Haiti, from Revolution to the Kidnapping of a President. Says Robinson, “The American people know almost nothing about what happened in 2004, about the abduction of President Aristide, about the destruction of Haiti’s democracy as a result of the efforts of both the United States and the French government.
“And I think that the only way we can move ahead constructively with Haiti is to begin by telling the full story of our relationship with Haiti since 1804, what happened in the nineteenth century and what has happened in the twentieth century, so that Americans will understand at long last that Haiti’s misery is largely not of its own making. They will learn of a Haitian people who are quite different from those who have been described to them.”
Viewed in the light of the history of Haiti, Robinson’s assertions begin to take on the air of truth. Like all histories, Haiti’s is complex, yet the intact thread running throughout is the exploitation of a rich land and its people by outsiders.
First, we must not forget that history is written by the victors, in this case invading ones. Christopher Columbus’s first act upon making landfall on the island of Hispaniola in 1492 was to claim the “tierra nueva” for Spain and the Catholic Church. His second was to begin the systematic enslavement and butchery of the native Taino population, while the debate developed in Spain over whether these savages were human or not. In retrospect, not an auspicious start for the Europeans, and certainly a disastrous turn for the Tainos, who predictably enough disappear from most history books from this point.
France eventually pushed its way onto the island and to be rid of them Spain ceded the western third, to become what’s now known as Haiti. Thousands of slaves were brought to Haiti from Africa in the late 1600s, the second wave of dehumanization brought to her shores by a more advanced civilization.
The first (or is it second?) myth to retire is the poverty of the land itself, which surrendered more riches for her French captors than the 13 colonies in North America produced for Britain. Next on the chopping block is any libel about the spirit, courage, determination, or abilities of this collection of slaves. Drawing from their ranks an array of able leaders, notably Toussaint L'Ouverture, the Haitian slaves overcame forces from Spain, England, and France in an epic revolt between the years 1791 and 1803. In 1804 Haiti became the first republic ruled by African descendants and the only permanently successful rebellion by slaves in our hemisphere.
Which brings us to the Americans, who had good reason to be nervous about developments in Haiti. The Haitian rebellion had not occurred in a vacuum, and every slave state in the world had an unbearable share of their economies to lose if their working capital became emboldened by the success in Haiti. Thus France did not formally recognize Haiti as an independent nation until 1834, and the United States not until 1862.
In the second installment of our inspection of Haiti, we’ll have a look at more recent history, and how things could have gone so awry in paradise.
Dave Wheelock, a member of the Oneida Nation, holds a history degree from the University of New Mexico. Mr. Wheelock's views do not necessarily represent those of the Mountain Mail. Reach him at
davewheelock@yahoo.com.
Storehouse Raises Funds For Haiti Relief
“We hope to be around $1,700 when all of those are received,” Westfall said.
People can still donate to the cause by sending a check to P.O. Box 701, payable to Socorro Storehouse, with "Haiti" on the memo line.
Westfall said: “We were also blessed with $120 in donations specifically earmarked for Socorro Storehouse projects; we will use those funds as 'seed money' for our Community Garden project.”
Westfall said he did not have a final count on the burritos because of several walk-in orders.
“But we do know we went through 40 dozen eggs, which would indicate we sold approximately 240 burritos,” he said. “We received contributions above the price of the burritos from several generous Socorro citizens.”
LETTER: Fur and Feathers Still Needs Vehicle
In the December 17th issue of the Mountain Mail, it was reported that Vince DeMarco of Magdalena submitted two bids for two surplus vehicles from the Marshal's Office. The two vehicles were to be used by Fur and Feather Animal Assistance of Pie Town and Datil.
FFAA knew nothing of this until it was read in the Mountain Mail. DeMarco was contacted three times by us, and it was clear that we were not getting either car. We wonder why DeMarco used our name on the bid and did not follow through.
Needless to say we are very disappointed, as we really do need a vehicle for a "neuter scooter" to transport the many animals we care for, to the vet.
Perhaps in the near future we may be the recipient of a suitable auto or van to continue our efforts to help the critters and the people of Catron and Socorro Counties.
Respectfully,
Jae Senych
Treasurer FFAA
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