Letters to the Editor

COVER STORY, OCT. 30:
"BLACK IN SANTA FE"

WHITE LIES

Another race-obsessed article from our race-obsessed tabloid.

Who knew blacks walked down the street saying hello to other people of their same race?  We all know by now that black parents give their adolescent kids "the talk" about how evil white people are; but, still.  Remember when we were younger and thought people were equal? Ha! Now, I walk to the Plaza and an acquaintance says, "There are too many white people here!" But self-described progressives continue to believe that only rednecks are bigots.

And, your inability to call things as they are! (Wasn't that one of the hallmarks of the race industry?) A "race-conscious" writer? Why not just a racist writer? Now, when I walk down the street and see a black, I'll have to ask myself if this is one who thinks I'm one of those evil whites, one who gave her kids "the talk." Or, since I'm not "one of them," wouldn't respond anyway?  I better not say hello! Besides, they might think I'm profiling them because, well, you know...err, who knows?

The only thing grosser than this article was your last annual review of evil whites, and, undoubtedly, your next one.

MARCUS T
SANTA FE, NM

SCHOOL RE-FORMED, OCT. 30:
"WHAT WORD?"

ON LOCK DOWN

As a former public school teacher and homeschooling mother of two children, I was not at all surprised to hear that teachers in Santa Fe are being forced to use lock-step, dumbed-down teaching materials [School Re-formed, Oct. 30: "What Word?"].

The current climate in public schools is one of extreme fear and anxiety, fed by reformers who mistrust children's innate ability to learn about the world around them through exploration of their own curiosities and interests. Educators like the one profiled by Seth Biderman who throw out the script—not behind a closed door —but in the light of day, run the risk of reprimand and job termination.

Until communities band together to reject absurdities such as the Common Core [State Standards] and standardized testing, our quasi-totalitarian approach to education will maintain its chokehold on American youth. Our children and their teachers deserve much better than that.

AMY POWELL FAESKORN
SWAMPSCOTT, MA

NEWS, OCT. 30:
"BOON OR BUST?"

SHOCKED!

In the words of Captain Louis Renault, I'm shocked, shocked (!) to find that a political action committee was spending money on opposition research.

But seriously, one should keep in mind that Jon Hendry was in fact largely responsible for getting New Mexico's ground breaking tax-incentive programs for film and television production enacted, and our state subsequently being uniquely positioned to reap the rewards of being seen as an industry leader, not only nationally, but internationally. Breaking Bad, which began shooting here in 2007, spent $70 million on goods, services and wages for crew members in New Mexico, (we now have the largest crew base outside of NYC and LA) that amount doesn't include wages paid to actors, writers and directors. This production was only one of many that have taken place in NM since the adoption of the incentives program, but it alone employed a cast and crew of 120 people (90 percent of whom were New Mexico residents) and dumped around $1 million per episode into the local economy, which provided a much needed economic boon to many local companies that supplied goods and services, as well as those who benefited from the increased tourism and other opportunities the show's popularity generated.

JIMMY 
SFREPORTER.COM

WHO BENEFITS?

As the ancient Romans used to ask, cui bono? ("who benefits?"). This one's a twofer; a kick in the nuts for organized labor in NM, (a mainstay of the Democratic party), and another cheap shot at the state's highly successful film and TV production incentives, i.e: Giving away money to "Hollywood". No fingerprints on any of this of course, but before Jay McCleskey became the chief political strategist to the govenor, he cut his teeth at Lincoln Strategies, where crafting disinformation for projects like their infamous Swift Boat campaign was an art. Kudos also to those pesky billionaires and masters of deception, Charles and David Koch, who coincidentally just had a shadowy private meeting with the governor. Nothing to look at here citizen, move along.

MIKESFREPORTER.COM Mail letters to Letters, SFR, PO Box 2306, Santa Fe, NM 87504, bring to 132 E Marcy St., fax to 988-5348 or email to editor@sfreporter.com SFR welcomes original, signed letters to the editor. Letters (200 words or less) should refer to specific articles in the Reporter.

They may be edited for clarity and space. Include address and phone number for verification purposes; these will not be published.

Santa Fe Reporter