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Thursday, March 27, 2008

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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    Efforts Pay Off On
    Frost Road Project
    DUE TO OUR EFFORTS prior to mid-January, at the recent state legislative session, Rep. Kathy McCoy and Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort were able to appropriate $310K for Frost Road Multi-Use Trail. It survived the Governor's line item vetoes intact. This amount is in addition to the $250,000 which had already been committed by the county, for a total of $560,000. This is enough to get us started with the first phase of the project. Bernalillo County said they will begin trail survey and design later this year. Congratulations to each and every one of you on this successful effort!
    MIKE MADDEN
    Sandia Park
    Edgewood Tax
    Lower Than Most
    IN THE MARCH 20, 2008, EDITION OF THE TELEGRAPH, Chuck Ring provided some interesting information on gross receipts tax in Edgewood. There are some additional factors, however that should be considered. It is important to note that, according to the current tax table provided by NM Taxation and Revenue (http://www.tax.state.nm.us/pubs/GRTSJAN2008.pdf), Edgewood's gross receipts tax rate is consistent with, and in many cases lower than, other small-to-medium sized communities in New Mexico. Edgewood's tax rate is also the lowest of any non-reservation incorporated entity in Santa Fe County. Further, it is not necessarily valid to compare Edgewood's tax rate with Albuquerque's; Albuquerque has other sources of tax revenue, including property taxes, and there are economies of scale to consider when comparing a small town to the largest city in the state.
    If, as Mr. Ring states, $100 worth of goods purchased in Albuquerque costs $0.75 less than the same purchase in Edgewood, we should consider the impact of the cost of gasoline needed to make a shopping trip into Albuquerque. Assuming a 40-mile round-trip drive, 20 miles per gallon gas mileage, and $3 per gallon, one would need to purchase $800 in goods and services just to break even. I suspect that this may be a little above the scale of the types of purchases for which a tax reduction would be intended as a means of competing with Albuquerque. I shop often in Edgewood, and I don't feel particularly burdened by the tax rate there. The Town of Edgewood should do what it thinks best for its citizens, but for my part, I do not believe that Albuquerque's lower tax rate represents much of a factor in most purchasing decisions— it certainly does not affect mine.
    JOHN E. WECKERLE
    Edgewood
    Community Made
    Bingo Night a Hit
    THE STUDENTS AND SPONSORS of the Moriarty-Edgewood Senior Class 2008 Bingo night would like to send a thank you to everyone who made the night a grand success. These kids will be experiencing a wonderful trip that they will remember all their lives. To the Lions Club for the building and help running the evening, thank you.
    Thank you to Moriarty Concrete Products, East Mountain Flooring, Larry's Automotive for the raffle prizes. Thank you to B & R for the generous money donation. There are so many businesses and individuals who made a difference. To everyone who gave generous donations and prizes, which made the raffle and bingo night outstanding, thank you.
    A big thanks to everyone in the community who attended and enjoyed a night of fun. The community support we received for this event is just one example of the excellent community we have the privilege to live in.
    Thank you!
    MRS. APODACA AND MRS. HOWARD
    MHS Senior Sponsors
    Support Fight
    Against Abuse
    APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH in New Mexico and across the nation. It is time to focus on ways to not only protect children from abusive environments, but more importantly to prevent abuse from ever occurring.
    Unfortunately, child abuse and neglect exists in our community and state and will not go away by simply ignoring it. It's up to each of us to arm ourselves with the facts, learn the warning signs and watch out for our most innocent New Mexicans. It's up to all of us to prevent a child from becoming another heartbreaking statistic.
    The Blue Ribbon Child Abuse Prevention Campaign had its early beginnings following the death of a very young child. In spring 1989, Bonnie Finney, a Virginia grandmother received the devastating news that her beloved grandson had died of injuries inflicted by his parents. In an expression of her grief and outrage, this grandmother did something that has given us a symbol, around which we rally for the cause of child abuse prevention.
    She tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her van as a way to remember "the bruised and battered body of her grandson" and to alert her community to the tragedy of child abuse. In Bonnie's own words, "The Blue Ribbon serves as a constant reminder to fight for protection of our children. Please wear a blue ribbon. Put one on your car, give one to your friends, tell them what it means, you may save a child's life!"
    Her simple idea, to wear or display a blue ribbon to show support for her child abuse prevention was picked up by grassroots organizations across the country. The act of one grandmother thousands of miles away leads us to this day. Just think what could happen if each one of us helped to spread the word to a few of the people we come in contact with each day. Maybe one day our communities will be safe for children.
    During April, we ask that you wear a blue ribbon to show your support of child abuse prevention.
    Children are helpless against child abuse and neglect, but you are not. I encourage you to join in our efforts today. You can make a difference in the lives of our children.
    If you are interested in volunteering as a CASA (court appointed special advocate) for a child or a board member, please contact me at 832-4217.
    AUDREY HENRY
    Rio Grande Valley CASA