D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
July
2008
Economic Developments
Desert Exposure deserves thanks and appreciation for June's article on the recent history of economic development efforts in Grant County ("The $250,000 Question"). You'd be hard-pressed to find another media outlet willing and able to spend so much time on a story, even one so important as the economic future of the county.
But please let me correct one misimpression the article gives: As past executive director of SIGRED, I receive copies of Potential Recruitment Opportunities (PROs) from the New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMED), as do six or seven other folks in Grant County. Contrary to the story, however, I do not forward PROs to the Chamber of Commerce and I do not receive them on the Chamber's behalf. This is because NMED does not (yet) recognize the Chamber of Commerce as the economic development agency for the area — although I hope this will change in the coming days or weeks.
Let me add two other notes:
The June article misses the best news: The insane lack of community coherence on economic development (ED) issues for the past two years may well be ending with the centralization of ED activities under the Chamber/town/county. I happen to agree with the specific choice of the Chamber of Commerce for this role, but it's simply very important in my view that ED land with a public organization that has strong ties to local governments, an elected board of directors, annually audited books, a track record, and meaningful measures and metrics that are shared with the public. I believe the Chamber will provide this and, as a community, we can look to MVEDA, Socorro County, Roosevelt County and others within the state to see this exact Chamber/ED model at work superbly.
The story misses the worst news: Yes, the state's $250,000 did not provide the benefits it should have, and we are right as a community to ask why this is so (and even more fundamentally to ask why the $250,000 was spent outside our community's existing ED framework). But the real bad news in my opinion is that until we get into the game seriously as a community, with meaningful financial economic incentives for development and retention, we will not be effective in our ED efforts. Take a look at any of the successful communities in New Mexico doing ED, including those I mention. What are we missing by comparison? A local-options tax to support economic development is an obvious — although not exclusive — shortcoming.
So, Desert Exposure did a great job with its recap of recent ED events. But residents of Grant County — particularly those interested in seeing economic development succeed in order to stave off the need for property and other tax increases — must both support and critically oversee the economic development efforts going forward. I am sure the Chamber will welcome this support and scrutiny.
Ralph Gauer
Silver City
Pouncing and Project Management
What a lovely painting on the cover of Desert Exposure, I thought as I approached the paper rack — nice composition and beautiful brush work ("Pouncer and the Birds," by Julie Ford Oliver, June). I opened the paper to its full length and my expectations took a turn for the worse. In hope of someday finding a remedy, here we go again: Cats pounce on millions of birds every year, further reducing some bird populations to levels that threaten their continued existence. We are losing many bird species from a variety of factors, including habitat destruction and pollution. All species adapt to natural predation, but added pressure from millions of domestic cats tips the balance significantly. And, as bird numbers sink we lose their miraculous benefit to us — the insect control, pollination and seed dispersal that we depend on. Birds are not icing on the cake; they are an essential part of the system that supports our life. Cats and dogs are wonderful companions, but domesticated animals interfere with our well-being when owners don't take responsibility for them and the damage they do.
Some could live with that lovely painting, but not I. I even tore off the front of the paper and put it in the recycle bin as I thought about the 15-20 tanagers and orioles that visited my yard for weeks and left alive to breed and return next year. Fingers crossed.
Inside that same issue, thank you for the superb reporting and expose on the economic development activities of the last five years. I remember being handed a brochure about the Sirolli folks in front of the Co-op and clearly remember wondering if that kind of investment and unclear connection with a handful of other entities would produce useful results. Looks like it didn't. The analysis David Fryxell supplies is the most valuable result of those five years — excellent help to avoid similar problems in the future.
There is always a risk with any decision to embark on complex relationships with organizations and consultants. However, call them what you may, benchmarks, milestones or goals for results must be delineated at the start, and if those results don't happen, decisions to change direction and to prevent throwing good money after bad must be made. Skilled project managers are essential and must have both the power and the courage to insist that responsibilities and contracts are fulfilled. It's full-time work and expecting people to handle multiple jobs, crossing over in responsibilities from one hat to the other, isn't fair to anyone and doesn't work. We are fortunate to have energetic people in our area who care about our future and, along with valuable lessons, I say onward!
Teri Matelson
Silver City
Outfoxed?
I was interested and heartened to see in Larry Lightner's column this month (Ramblin' Outdoors, June) how many people do not like trapping. And while Mr. Lightner still wants to find a reason to make trapping palatable by using the rabies outbreak as a rationalization, please note that a rabid animal is not going to be attracted to a trap in the way a healthy one is. These animals aren't eating and are behaving so abnormally that the lures and trap set-up only remove the more fit, leaving the sick. Plus, the Gila region is consistently the most heavily trapped part of the state every year. That didn't stop the outbreak, did it?
The notion that because foxes are not trapped in Arizona, the surplus animals created there are carrying rabies by migrating east into New Mexico may be a valid hypothesis. But it can also be argued that if our fox population wasn't constantly being removed by the wildlife-killing sink that trapping represents, the newcomers would be effectively kept out because they wouldn't find open, vacant territory. In fact, in 1973 a National Academy of Sciences subcommittee on rabies concluded, "Persistent trapping or poisoning campaigns as a means to rabies control should be abolished. There is no evidence that these costly and politically attractive programs reduce either wildlife reservoirs or rabies incidence." Rabies is not a justifiable excuse to trap and persecute predators.
Mary Katherine Ray
Winston
In this month's issue, Larry Lightner expected to see a rabid fox, so that is how he interpreted the sighting one night while driving near Ben Lilly. He said it circled in a confused manner and wandered off. I had an almost identical experience years ago, only a couple miles from that spot. But since there was no rabies outbreak, I assumed the fox was confused by my headlights, and probably blinded by them. Turning off my brights didn't help, but as soon as I turned off my lights completely, the fox regained his composure and trotted off in the moonlight.
That fox didn't need to be trapped and killed any more than the one who popped up over the hill eight feet away from where I sat meditating at high noon. He just kept an eye on me and kept on truckin'. We both minded our own business. So much for the signs of rabies in the daytime. I had plenty of time to see that fox was completely healthy. Statistically, foxes may rarely be seen much in the day, but logic does not demand that every fox who is out in the sun at noon is mad. More likely, he was thirsty and knew there was water in my back yard.
It's always good for all of us to check our assumptions.
Trish Heck
Silver City
Ford Pickup Philosophizing
I have lived in New Mexico for over 10 years now and believe I may have read every edition of Desert Exposure I have been "exposed" to. I seldom write to newspapers but this edition requires a comment. The Lightfoot column (Henry Lightcap's Journal, June) is by far one of the best I have had the pleasure of reading over the past 10 years. Intentionally or not, he strikes a chord we all should play in our daily life. WHOOPS, maybe I too am waxing philosophical.
Phil Insko
Deming
Let us hear from you! Write Desert Exposure Letters, PO Box 191, Silver City, NM 88062, fax 534-4134 or email letters@desertexposure.com Letters are subject to editing for style and length. Deadline for the next issue is the 18th of the month.