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Hispano Leaders From Across New Mexico Want to Protect the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks Region
Hispano Leaders Call on Congress and the President (Click link to Read Letter)
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Video Letter to President Obama:
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Video Letter to President Obama
Oscar Vasquez Butler
Oscar Vasquez Butler, former Chair of the Doña Ana County Commission |
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Video Letter to President Obama
Sarah Nolan
Sarah Nolan, Executive Director CAFé (Comunidades en Acción y de Fé) |
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Video Letter to President Obama
John Muņoz
John Muñoz, President of the Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces |
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Video Letter to President Obama
Mateo Silva
Mateo Silva |
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Nustra Tierra Leaders Include:
Leaders
Governor Jerry Apodaca (1975-1979)
Attorney General Patricia Madrid (1999-2007)
Land Commissioner and Mayor of Albuquerque Jim Baca (19831986, 19911993), (1997-2001)
House Majority Leader Ken Martinez, Grants
State Auditor Hector Balderas, Wagon Mound
Mayor of Mesilla Nora Barraza, Doņa Ana County
Mesilla Trustee Jesus Caro
Mayor of Las Cruces Ken Miyagishima
State Senator Mary Jane Garcia, Doņa Ana County
Las Cruces City Councilor Olga Pedroza
Las Cruces City Councilor Miguel Silva
Las Cruces Public Schools, Board Member Maria Flores
Albuquerque City Council Vice-President Ray Garduņo
State Representative Antonio Lujan, Doņa Ana County
State Representative Joni Gutierrez, Doņa Ana County
State Representative J Paul Taylor, Doņa Ana County (1987-2005)
Doņa Ana County Commissioner Oscar Vasquez Butler (2002-2010)
Doņa Ana County Commissioner Dolores Saldaņa Caviness
Doņa Ana County Commissioner Leticia Benavidez
State Senator Eric Griego, Albuquerque
Martin Chavez, Mayor of Albuquerque (1993-1997, 2001-2009)
State Representative Miguel P. Garcia (House Labor Committee Chair), Albuquerque
State Representative Rick Miera (House Education Committee Chair), Albuquerque
State Representative Antonio Moe Maestas, Albuquerque
San Miguel County Commissioner John Olivas
State Representative Rudy Martinez, Grant County
New Mexico Wildlife Federation President Ray Trejo, Deming
Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces President John Muņoz
Paul Martinez, Past President of LULAC, New Mexico
Jessica Martinez, Past National President of LULAC Youth
Kent Salazar, National Wildlife Federation Board Member
Organizations
LULAC, New Mexico
LULAC, Las Cruces
Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces
Anthony Womens Intercultural Center
CAFE (Communities of Action and Faith)
Latino Sustainability Institute
Mesquite Community Action Committee
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Press Reports:
KRWG 2-minute video news story about Nuestra Tierra
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxz2rcD_UAg
Public News Service Radio Story
• http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/24290-2
Excellent article in Las Cruces Sun News and Silver City Sun News
• http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_19771848
• http://www.scsun-news.com/silver_city-news/ci_19771872?source=rss
• USA Today
• http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2012/1/19/hispanic_leaders_call_for_protection_of.htm
• http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2012/01/19/abqnewsseeker/n-m-leaders-seek-organ-mts-protections.html
• http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_19773476
• http://www.daily-times.com/nmnews/ci_19773476
• http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/ap/new-mexico/nm-leaders-seek-protections-for-organ-mountains/nGTZT/
• http://www.kvia.com/newmexico/30248730/detail.html
• http://www.artesianews.com/ap-news/new-mexico-ap-news/nm-leaders-seek-protections-for-organ-mountains
• http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/krwg/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1895272/Regional/
NM.Leaders.Seek.Protections.For.Organ.Mountains
* The AP story also ran in several West Texas newspapers and elsewhere.
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Hispanic leaders call for protection of public lands:
By Steve Ramirez
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Former state representative, educator and community leader J. Paul Taylor, left, speaks while standing next to John Muņoz, Hispano Chamber of Commerce president, during a press conference Wednesday at the base of Tortugas Mountain ("A" Mountain). Local and state Hispanic leaders are looking to President Obama and other elected officials for immediate protection of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peak region. (Robin Zielinski/Sun-News) |
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Pat Buls, of Back Country Horsemen of America, rides down the trails of Tortugas Mountain ("A" Mountain) Wednesday on her horse, Gus. The non-profit group builds and maintains trails for public land managers. (Robin Zielinski/Sun-News) |
LAS CRUCES -There was nothing to dispute Wednesday among the 50 or so southern New Mexicans who were at the Monte Vista Day Use Area, immediately east of Tortugas Mountain, also known as "A" Mountain.
The view to the east of the Organ Mountains was breathtaking. For that matter, the vistas in any direction were pretty spectacular.
"AARP has touted this as a special place to live, ...weren't they right," said John Muņoz, president of the Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces. "Where else can you get a suntan in January?"
There was a titter of laughter from the group, and then a collective sigh. Muņoz and the national retirement magazine was right; the views of the Organs and those of the desert landscape in every direction were something to behold. And the people who were gathered Wednesday were there to emphasize that point.
Hispanic leaders from throughout the state have banded together to call for congressional leaders to enact federal legislation to protect public lands in southern New Mexico, such as the Organs; the Robledo Mountains, near Radium Springs; the Potrillo Mountains, and Sierra de las Uvas. Twenty-nine Hispanic leaders, including former governor Jerry Apodaca and former state Attorney General Patricia Madrid - both Las Cruces natives - have signed and sent a letter to Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, New Mexico Democrats, and Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., to support the proposed Doņa Ana County Conservation and Protection Act, introduced into the U.S. Senate last year.
"We are writing to convey our strong support for the protection of the environmentally, culturally, and historically rich landscapes of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks region in Doņa Ana County," said a portion of the open letter to southern New Mexico's congressional delegation. "Hispanic culture and presence in New Mexico is and has always been closely connected to our state's rich public lands. These areas provide our families and communities with recreation, hunting, traditions and so much more. Throughout time, they have also brought travelers and tourists, and with them economic development.
"As such, protecting these national treasures is an important priority to us, and to our future."
The Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce and the group People for Preserving Our Western Heritage have opposed federal wilderness designation for the area, arguing, among other things, that it would hamper the Border Patrol in being able to secure the southern border.
Mesilla Mayor Nora Barraza, among those who signed the letter, said those natural resources within the county are also an integral part of the culture, traditions and values many southern New Mexico Hispanics have.
"I can attest to the efforts of preservation," Barraza said. "If we lose these beautiful landscapes we can never recover them. Isn't this why we call this (state) the Land of Enchantment."
Madrid emphasized the need for federal leaders to take immediate action to protect southern New Mexico's vistas.
"It is up to our generation to protect these incredible lands as both the key to celebrate our history, as well as a birthright of future generations," Madrid said.
Retired state representative J. Paul Taylor, of Mesilla, added there is even family history to one of the county's more notable public lands. The Robledo Mountains, just north of Las Cruces near Radium Springs, are named after Don Pedro Robledo, a descendant of Taylor's family.
He also has a strong affinity for the Organ Mountains.
"Los Organos - the Organs, have been an essential part of Hispanic culture in this valley for hundreds of years," Taylor said. "They were a landmark for travelers on the Camino Real, and a consistent source of food, shelter, and materials for local residents.
"Now, they are more important than ever, as we teach our youth the values of stewardship and care that other generations have learned in their shadow."
There was at least one idea how to drive the point home to federal leaders and convince them to vote for the proposed legislation.
"Let's invite the president, the federal legislators, to come see for themselves, to participate in some of our cultural and traditional ceremonies," Barraza said.
Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452. Also, follow Steve Ramirez on Twitter: @SteveRamirez6.
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Our Land - Our Future:
Hispanic leaders throughout southern New Mexico are calling for federal government leaders to take action to protect the Organ Mountains, Robledo Mountains, Sierra de las Uvas, and Potrillo Mountains.
Most of those lands are proposed for protection through the Doņa Ana County Conservation and Protection Act.
The proposed federal legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate in 2011.
The Act would protect nearly 400,000 acres of public land in Do-a Ana County, by designating 271,050 acres as wilderness and creating a 109,600 acre National Conservation Area around the Organ and Doņa Ana Mountains, and parts of Broad Canyon.
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N.M. Leaders Seek Organ Mts. Protections:
By Associated Press on Thu, Jan 19, 2012
LAS CRUCES (AP) -A coalition of Hispanic leaders is urging President Barack Obama to protect southern New Mexicos Organ Mountains and the Desert Peaks region.
The group sent a letter to the president on Wednesday. Former Gov. Jerry Apodaca, former Land Commissioner Jim Baca, State Auditor Hector Balderas and Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima were among the 24 leaders to sign the letter.
The group pointed to the areas ecological values, its thousands of archaeological sites and its connections to Hispanic residents and historical figures such as Billy the Kid and Geronimo.
U.S. Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, both New Mexico Democrats, are sponsoring legislation that would establish the Organ Mountains-Dona Ana County conservation and wilderness area.
The measure would protect nearly 400,000 acres of public land in the county.
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