Letters to the Editor (Nov. 12)

Honoring our legacy

Editor:

(Last month) was Hispanic Heritage Month. We began the month by honoring the anniversary of seven Latin American countries earning their independence and ending the month on Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Throughout the month, we celebrated the contributions and impact that Hispanic Americans have had on history, culture and life in the United States.

As a Chicana, I was excited to celebrate the leadership that many Hispanic people have made in environmental justice and sustainability. We need to remember that people of Latin American descent (including Afro-Latino and Indigenous people) are among the groups most impacted by climate change and even more so when those people live in rural areas.

I am acutely aware of the environmental impacts that single use plastics, my car, and my electricity can create. We have seen an alarming amount of wildfires and droughts for the last 30 years — that is not a coincidence. We need to make a change, and that has to start with how we generate our energy.

Utility scale renewable energy can make wind and solar accessible to all people, regardless of income, and bring economic growth to the state. It’s time we move toward better solutions for New Mexico, ones that help our climate and protect our traditions.

Most importantly, renewable energy will give our future generations a place to live that’s not devastated by wildfires and droughts. Let’s honor the work of Hispanic generations before us and build on their legacy to move our state forward.

Danielle Garcia

Bosque Farms

Thanks for your help

Editor:

I would like to tell you about an experience I had involving two Valencia County sheriff’s deputies recently.

I was on N.M. 304 at 5 a.m. to assist my child with a flat tire. It was the crack of dawn and we didn’t have a jack to lift the car to change the tire. I left the car on the side of the road and went home until a tire shop was open to assist me.

Next thing I know a deputy is on my doorstep. Apparently, we left the car more in the road than off the road and was a hazard to traffic. The car was to be towed, but instead the deputy who came to my home was very kind to not tow the car and give us time to get it off the road.

Upon arriving at the car, another deputy was behind the car to avoid any possible incident due to my disabled vehicle. The deputy got out of his cruiser and let me know the car had to be moved off the road.

He saw that we brought another tire, so he said he would wait until the new tire was on the car. So not only did he wait, the man got on his hands and knees to help my son get the tire off and assist with the tire change. Wow!

They not only didn’t tow my car but went above and beyond to assist me even though they had no obligation to do so. This made my day!

Thank you, Deputy Melton and Deputy Lujan for being my heroes! I felt with all the media coverage regarding our country’s law enforcement, these actions should be highlighted as well.

Pennie Estrada

Rio Communities