OPINION

Mail letters to PO Box 4910, Santa Fe, NM 87502; or email them to editor@sfreporter.com. Letters (no more than 200 words) should refer to specific articles in the Reporter. Letters will be edited for space and clarity.

COVER, JAN. 11:

“IS THIS WORKING?”

ZERO SENSE

Thank you for your well-written and thoughtful article. It’s nice to read something that doesn’t appear to serve a political agenda. I’d also like to point out that it costs the state zero additional dollars for me to work from home, regardless of the cost to lease the office space I don’t use when teleworking. I have also never had a public-facing job in the 22-plus years I’ve worked in IT for DOH so the “customer service” aspect doesn’t really apply to my job duties. BRIAN REMPEL SANTA FE

NEWS, JAN. 4:

“BALLS TO THE WALL”

LEADING TO LOSS

The story illuminates how Mayor [Alan] Webber already is welcoming a professional indoor soccer team to the Chavez Center’s ice arena without an agreement. With play starting in less than a year, it seems the city’s deal with David Fresquez, the team’s owner, isn’t far enough along to release details to the public.

Financially it doesn’t make sense to pour possibly more than $300,000 into building a removable soccer field for some six to 12 games a season; to recoup that investment, the field will have to be used more often. Turning the arena into a year-round soccer field was first floated during the city’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget discussions. This recent “collaboration” (likely never discussed at City Council meetings) is just a first step towards eliminating the only indoor ice arena between here and Rio Rancho and Albuquerque. For 23 years the arena has been the community’s sole indoor venue (public or private) for recreational skating, ice hockey and figure skating; these activities ultimately will be lost if “the collaboration” goes forward. The community’s loss of on-ice opportunities should be more important than civic pride.

And while wishing Mr. Fresquez well, public monies shouldn’t be spent on a private entertainment enterprise. DICK GOLDSMITH SANTA FE

SFR will correct factual errors online and in print. Please let us know if we make a mistake: editor@sfreporter.com or 988-7530.

SANTA FE EAVESDROPPER

“I have a Scorpio moon, which symbolizes death and rebirth, which I feel like I do a couple of times a month.”

—Overheard at Tajine Moroccan Restaurant

“We can’t go in there, they only speak Spanish. This is New Mexico.”

—Overheard outside La Lecheria

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BLOOD, WHAT BLOOD?

BLOOD BANKS IN SANTA FE, NATIONWIDE SEE SHORTAGES, NEED DONORS

Has anyone questioned Dracula?

FILM COMPANY SUES INSURANCE COMPANY AFTER $60 MILLION JURY AWARD FOR INJURED WORKER

Black Label Media and No Exit Film say insurers should’ve settled for $9 million; how about don’t force the guy into a dangerous situation in the first place?

2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION KICKS OFF

Our legislators may not be paid, but nothing stops them from taking Ziploc bags to the dinners lobbyists host for them.

CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULES SPECIAL MEETING FOR SATURDAY TO DISCUSS OLD PECOS TRAIL DEVELOPMENT

Now people who have jobs can show up and talk about it.

SANTA FE DATA PLATFORM SAYS NEED FOR BILINGUAL EDUCATION IS RISING

Well, duh.

BOXCAR RESTAURANT AND NIGHTCLUB AT ODDS WITH LANDLORD

If there’s one thing Santa Fe doesn’t need, it’s fewer options for things to do at night.

H-E-M-A-T-O-L-O-G-Y

SANTA FE PREP STUDENT WINS COUNTY SPELLING BEE

Just don’t get too caught up in the glory of the bee, kid.

READ IT ON SFREPORTER.COM

NOT SO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The deep-pocketed arts company posted a fun FAQ; we respond with some pointier inquiries.

WE ARE WAY MORE THAN WEDNESDAY HERE ARE A COUPLE OF ONLINE EXCLUSIVES:

PODCAST PREMIERES

Catch the first episode of the new Leaf Brief Podcast hosted by Andy Lyman.