Letters to the Editor

Heavy Petting, April 19: “Wild Kittens”

Shut your trap

Jack Hagerman’s advertorials in SFR continue to spread misinformation about feline needs. In “Wild Kittens,” Jack wrote that “unweaned kittens under 8 weeks old need bottle feeding every few hours around the clock.” Anyone who has cared for neonates recognizes this as a gross exaggeration. Orphaned kittens can be weaned at 3-4 weeks; overnight feeding can often end at 2 weeks. Many foster parents are willing and able to raise 3-week-old kittens through adoption. Any well-run shelter should be capable of saving 3+ week-old unweaned kittens.

Furthermore, Jack wrote that “SFAS has a trap-neuter-return (aka TNR) program...If you need to borrow a trap, give us a call.” Loaning out traps and charging for spay/neuter is not even close to a TNR program. Gatos de Santa Fe—Santa Fe’s previously successful TNR program—has been discontinued. Pregnant strays and orphaned kittens must now be trapped by good Samaritans, working alone or with a rescue like Felines & Friends which will help set traps, shelter captured cats, and foot the bill for spay/neuter.

Finally, let’s stop the spin. Prematurely removing an otherwise safe kitten from its mom is unwise, but leaving an orphan to starve or freeze or be eaten by predators is inhumane. So is releasing a 2-month-old spayed/neutered kitten to face the same. Kittens under 6 months (arguably older) deserve readily-accessible housing, food, medical care and adoption services. While these services may be costly and sometimes difficult to deliver, “shelter” is what our community should demand from SFAS.

Lisa Phifer, Santa Fe

Christine Dugan, Lamy

Cover, April 26: “Life with Less Water”

Beefing with farmers

New Mexico loves our farmers. Who doesn’t love farmers? But...To use round numbers, all the people and businesses in New Mexico use about 9% of the state’s water. Nine percent. Agriculture uses about 80%. And about 80% of that 80% is used to grow animals (alfalfa, clover, etc). It takes between 750 and 5,000 gallons of water (depending on who you ask) to produce a single pound of beef.

It pains me to say this, but to put it simply, we can solve all our water issues, probably in perpetuity, if we just stop raising so many cows/livestock. Let the states where it rains grow the vast majority of cows (we can still grow a limited number). And New Mexico can grow corn (for humans), chiles, beans, squash, nuts, etc. Obviously, this will take some adjustment, and our farmers should be compensated. But it really is just about this straightforward to solve our water issues.

Bill Salopek, Santa Fe

Dog gone?

Everyone who attended the Prairie Dog Day proclamation read by Mayor Alan Webber at Frenchy’s Field on April 24 also witnessed the ribbon cutting for a beautiful new parks sign dedicated to prairie dogs at the entrance to the park. The mayor and city officials present are to be commended for their recognition of the importance of prairie dogs and their iconic presence in our city. Despite the mayor’s efforts, however, prairie dogs in Santa Fe are at a dangerous crossroads for survival. Whole colonies have been flattened and paved over at the Midtown campus behind and across from the Screen theater and elsewhere, despite years of advance planning and despite our obligation to humanely relocate them in advance. Across town along Airport Road, prairie dog colonies are disappearing before relocation can take place. Poisoning has been observed.

“Whereas, the future is bleak for the Prairie Dog unless they can be protected, relocated and supported…Whereas, the City of Santa Fe urges citizens to get more involved with this important work…”As Abigail Adams might have said to our city officials—”remember the prairie dogs.”

Patricia Carlton, President, People for Native Ecosystems

Food, April 26: “Z is for Zounds!”

Prune prudes

I must take issue with a portion of Alex De Vore’s review. It was his mention of dates as an “old-person fruit that exists for digestive purposes and little else” that got my ire up. First, way to go dissing old people. Must be an easy target for you. Also, dates have been enjoyed in cuisines for thousands of years, for example, in Middle Eastern countries. It’s not really a new thing. The “old person” dried fruit you were probably trying to think of is prunes. Prunes, by the way, have their own long and storied history, originating as wild plums in China. So if you should ever become old and, God forbid, constipated, just remember the noble prune. You can also make a great cake or clafoutis with them!

David Fleming, Santa Fe

7 Days, April 26:

A little lemon aid

I like reading the Santa Fe Reporter. “7 Days” is not representative. I’m sure there are many events going on that could be included. One event that I thought should have been included is “Don Lemon fired from CNN after divisive morning show run.” He was there for 17 years and was also quite controversial. This could have been included in the same sentence as the controversial Tucker Carlson.

Susan Rossi, Santa Fe

Morning word, April 24: “City Takes County to Court over Annexation”

Annexation nation

City annexation is all about money: which includes city gross receipts tax, property taxes, city utilities, municipal campaigns, city home business licenses and taxes etc. The people who live in the communities and areas should be able to band together and fight for what they want and what suits their needs as home and property owners. Government overreach has gotten out of hand.

Brenda Marie Sandoval, Santa Fe

News, March 14: “Obelisk Plan will be Withdrawn”

Peace pole for plaza hole

Agreed, it is a “good move to step back;” however, I doubt that temperatures will drop regarding the issue of what to do about the scar in the center of the Plaza. Perhaps the new Office of Equity and Inclusion should resolve the obelisk debate with a commitment to acknowledge there will always be controversy, and the only path forward is one which looks ahead while still honoring the past. With an aim towards a “resolution of the two most favored options,” why not restore the Soldiers Monument as a Peace Pole? “May Peace Prevail on Earth” to be the intention and main message. Other signage and additional language at the base could include the history of the obelisk itself as an entity representing the City Different.

Patricia Baldwin, Santa Fe