The Santa Fe New Mexican, July 9, 2014

Page 1

Your guide to the International Folk Art Market Inside today

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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

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Democrats hold fundraising edge in 2 key state House races

State sued over alleged sex assault

Garcia Richard’s $70K dwarfs GOP opponent

VA trims wait list

By Steve Terrell The New Mexican

In two hotly contested state House races in the Santa Fe area, the Democratic candidates are outraising their Republican rivals, the latest campaign finance reports show. Stephanie Garcia Richard, a Los

Alamos Democrat who is completing her first term in the Legislature representing House District 43, reported having more than $70,000 in the bank. Meanwhile, her Republican opponent, Geoffrey Rodgers, had only $6,446, according to his report filed last week with the Secretary of State’s Office. Republican Vickie Perea of Belen, who was appointed to represent District 50 by Gov. Susana Martinez, had more than $34,000 cash on hand.

PNM plan draws fire for use of nuclear, coal power

Her Democratic opponent, Matthew McQueen of Galisteo, had nearly $49,000. These two districts are among 10 statewide that both parties are watching closely. Republicans are making an effort to gain control of the House for the first time in more than 60 years. Democrats control the House by a shaky 37-33 margin. District 43, which includes Los

Please see EDGE, Page A-6

Woman says she was attacked and neglected while a patient at the state mental hospital. PAGE B-1

Israel strikes Gaza

Cup hopes crushed

Air assault kills 25 Palestinians as Israel begins an offensive aimed at halting rocket attacks. PAGE A-3

Germany hands host Brazil a brutal, record-setting 7-1 loss in the World Cup semifinal. SPORTS, B-5

Kit Carson Park returns — for now

A Taos park is once again named for Kit Carson, pictured in 1864, but a community group will consider other names. PALACE OF THE GOVERNORS PHOTO ARCHIVES (NMHM/ DCA), #7151

By Staci Matlock The New Mexican

Please see PNM, Page A-6

Pasapick www.pasatiempomagazine.com

Tres Visiones Photographs by Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Manuel Carrillo, and Luis González Palma, reception and book signing by Stuart Ashman 4-6 p.m., Scheinbaum & Russek, 812 Camino Acoma, 988-5116.

Genaro Naranjo, 87, El Guique, July 6 Charles Pacheco, Santa Fe, July 4 Theresa Jeanne Sanchez-Renner, 55, June 28 Alfonso “Guero” Vigil, 77, July 7 PAGE B-2

Today Chance of thunderstorms. High 84, low 59. PAGE A-8

Index

Calendar A-2

Classifieds C-3

IMMIGRATION

Obama asks for $3.7B to handle surge Request could face opposition in Congress from both parties By Michael D. Shear and Jeremy W. Peters The New York Times

Taos Pueblo member Ian J. Chisholm, left, and Taos Pueblo Gov. Clyde M. Romero Sr. speak Tuesday at a meeting of the Taos Town Council on the renaming of Kit Carson Park. TINA LARKIN/THE TAOS NEWS

Taos council restores former name, but group will explore alternatives By Milan Simonich The New Mexican

TAOS — Kit Carson Park has new life. The controversial name was resurrected Tuesday by the Taos Town Council after an emotional three-hour meeting. Council members voted 3-1 to rescind the downtown park’s new name of Red Willow and to form a community group that will explore alternative names. But for now at least, the park again is officially named for the noted frontiersman. Supporters of Carson, who died in 1868, came away with a longterm victory because council members decided that the cemetery where Carson is buried adjoining the park will bear his name. Council member Fritz Hahn cast

the lone vote against scrapping Red Willow as the park’s name and the related decision to name the cemetery for Carson. Barely a month ago, the council ignited widespread debate when it approved a resolution to remove Carson’s name from the park. The measure stripping Carson’s name from the park also included the cemetery. But various Taos-area residents said they were blindsided and shocked that history would be obliterated by the council. “It was a political correctness move,” said Arsenio Cordova, who lives near Taos and has taught history at a number of New Mexico colleges and universities. Cordova was among more than

100 people who packed the council chambers to testify about whether Carson — a soldier, scout and explorer — was an important figure or a man guilty of carnage of Navajos. People opposed to Carson’s name gracing a town park persuaded a majority of the council to change it during a meeting in June. Others complained that the original decision was hasty and excluded many from the debate, though the proposal was listed on the council’s public agenda. Mayor Dan Barrone said Tuesday he expected a decision on a new name for the park to be made within 60 days. It still could end up being Red Willow, though certain

Please see PARK, Page A-6

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama urged Congress on Tuesday to quickly provide almost $4 billion to confront a surge of young migrants from Central America crossing the border into Texas, calling it “an urgent humanitarian situation.” But the request immediately became entangled in the fierce political debate over immigration: Republicans said they were wary of Obama’s request and could not immediately support it, given what they called his administration’s failure to secure the Mexican border after years of illegal crossings. Obama could face resistance from members of his own party as well. The president said he needed the money to set up new detention facilities, conduct more aerial surveillance and hire immigration judges and Border Patrol agents to respond to the flood of 52,000 children. Their sudden mass migration has overwhelmed local resources and touched off protests from residents angry about the impact on the local economy. In a

Please see SURGE, Page A-6

INSIDE u Local nonprofit to send aid. PAGE B-1

In Mexico, lopsided gunbattles raise suspicions In recent incidents, soldiers kill dozens with few casualties

Obituaries

On food tours, visitors get a taste of area restaurants along with a little history. TASTE, C-1

The latest audit shows 482 veterans awaiting care, down from 1,040 a month ago. PAGE B-1

Critics: Proposal short on renewable energy Public Service Company of New Mexico’s latest plan for providing power to half a million customers over the next two decades is drawing fire from renewable energy and environmental advocates over a proposal to add more coal and nuclear power. The plan by PNM, the state’s largest electric utility, includes a proposal to replace power from two units at the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station with a mixture of sources including coal, natural gas, nuclear power and solar energy. The plan was filed last week with the state Public Regulation Commission. Eventually, the cost of any plan approved by the state regulators will affect ratepayers’ monthly bills. PNM’s plan “is the result of more than a year of rigorous, scientific analysis and significant and ongoing input from the public,” said Pat O’Connell, PNM’s director of planning and resources, in a statement. O’Connell said the plan “responsibly balances the need for a robust power supply for our customers with our commitment to protect the environment and keep electricity affordable.”

Sampling Santa Fe

By Mark Stevenson The Associated Press

SAN PEDRO LIMON, Mexico — Bullet marks and blood spatters on the walls inside a grain storage warehouse deep in the mountains of southern Mexico tell a grim story of death involving soldiers and alleged criminals. It may not be the same story officials tell, however. Mexico’s Defense Department says soldiers were patrolling in one of the most violent, lawless corners of the country on June 30 when they came under fire from a warehouse where a gang of 21 men and one woman were hiding. One soldier was wounded, but all of the suspects were killed.

Comics C-8

Main office: 983-3303 Late paper: 986-3010 News tips: 983-3035

Crosswords C-4, C-7

Lotteries A-2

The shootout was the most dramatic in a string of battles in which the army says criminals fired first at soldiers who then killed them all, while suffering few or no losses. There have been so many such incidents that human rights groups and analysts have begun to doubt the military’s version. “It raises suspicion, the simple fact that there were 22 dead on one side and one wounded on the other side,” said security analyst Alejandro Hope, a former official in Mexico’s domestic intelligence service. In San Pedro Limon, pools of blood and bullet marks observed by Associated Press journalists three days after the shooting raise questions about whether all the suspects died in the gunbattle, or after it was over. The warehouse where many bodies were found showed

Please see MEXICO, Page A-6

Opinion A-7

Sports B-5

Time Out C-7

State authorities use crime scene tape to seal off the site of a shootout between Mexican soldiers and alleged criminals near San Pedro Limon in Mexico State. One soldier was wounded, and 22 suspects were killed. REBECCA BLACKWELL/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Travel C-2

BREAKING NEWS AT WWW.SANTAFENEWMEXICAN.COM

Three sections, 24 pages 165th year, No. 190 Publication No. 596-440


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The Santa Fe New Mexican, July 9, 2014 by The New Mexican - Issuu