Letters to the Editor (March 14, 2024)

Acts of kindness 

Editor: 

For many years, I have been impressed by how kind and caring the people of my hometown are. It happened again a week or so ago when I was out walking my dog on the ditchbank along Mesa Road in Belen. 

When we were headed north, I saw several children playing basketball in the side yard of a home. As we came back and passed again, I saw a red truck stop on the street, a man open the driver’s side door, get out and walk a few paces, bend and then walk over to the children to return their errant ball.  

It touched my heart — this man didn’t have to stop and help, but he was making sure none of the kids had to walk into the street for their ball. His action actually brought tears to my eyes. 

And I thought about the very many times that I’ve been out and seen people doing nice things for others with no thought for themselves. People pulling over to ask if they can help when a car is stopped on the side of the freeway. People reaching up to the top shelves for someone in a wheelchair at the grocery store.  

It’s a daily thing here in Valencia County. And I thought I might ask others to also report to the News-Bulletin the random acts of kindness — the little things — they witness in their day-to-day lives.  

Can we come up with 100 kindnesses in 100 days? I wonder … 

Sandy Battin 

Belen 

  

They don’t care 

Editor: 

It’s the saddest thing I’ve ever read. I don’t understand how the village council in Los Lunas could allow Niagara to extract an extra amount of water to sell for their own profit.  

I understand they are paying the village for the water, but this is utterly and dangerously ridiculous. This company falsely purports by its name — Niagara — that the water they are selling comes from Niagara Falls in New York state. At least that’s how I always took it.  

I may be naive regarding corporate finance and business strategies, but I know full well what corporate greed is. This company is “buying” water from a greedy village to bottle and then sell at an inflated rate to make a large profit.  

That’s all well and good (capitalism at its best) but at what cost? If you haven’t realized yet, we live in a desert where water is scarce. We don’t have a lot of what they are selling for a profit.  

I don’t understand why the village is allowing this. Are they increasing the water rates for Niagara for extracting additional water? I don’t think so. Is the village allowing the additional water to be taken to be sold because it’s good business? I don’t think so. 

I realize the New Mexico State Engineer’s office will make the final decision regarding the transfer of water rights from PNM to Niagara, but if the council didn’t approve it, it wouldn’t have gone forward.  

I am extremely disappointed in the village council for this decision. It shows to me they are not listening to their constituents and don’t really care about the future of this valley.      

Charles Garcia 

Los Chavez