Posts in Las Vegas Issues Forum

Jun 21 20:59 UTC

Yes.  The Farmers Market will also be open on Weds from now until Nov.  Time
and place the same:  7am - sell out, University and 6th.

Thx much for noticing that I forgot a day!
jenn

On Sat, Jun 21, 2008 at 10:51 AM, Jack Rowe <<email obscured>> wrote:

> Thanks for the notice, Jeanette,
>
> Will the Farmers' Market be open Wednesdays also?
>
>
> Jack Rowe
> Sapello
> Info about Jack Rowe: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/jackrowe
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/5IjD7JjpXrCB5sgiWwipZd
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> -----------------------------------------
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>
Thanks for the notice, Jeanette,

Will the Farmers' Market be open Wednesdays also?

FYI....Growers/Producers and our local community!
The Tri-County Farmers Market will be Opening this Saturday, June 21st from
7am-sellout.  It will be located in the same place this year at 6th and
University, next to the Semilla.  Please come join us growers/producers and
also come get some great produce!  There should be a good array of early
summer veggies.

For more info contact Dan Hern @ 766-8315

thx and keep growing
jenn hart-mann

Greetings All~

We now have a community garden space! Miguel Angel has generously donated use
of his property for individual plots. (Taos and Church Street, 1 block north of
Hot Springs)

Leonard Ludi has offered to prepare the soil on Tuesday morning at 10 am as
well as serving as the Local Food Matters Adviser and main speaker at Sunday's
LFM meeting.

Leonard has been a successful local grower for a number of years amassing
tremendous skills in water conservation, growing techniques, crop
irrigation...and so much more!

The Local Food Matters Meeting will be this Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 6pm at the
new Community Garden site!~

Bob has been blessed with a variety of locally adapted seeds and will be
sharing with those that attend Sunday's meeting.

We hope you will make every effort to attend, we will be addressing the needs,
questions and overall gardening topics
of ALL local gardeners.

If you have any questions at all feel free to email or call, or I may be
calling you :)

Peace,

Julie
505-421-8936 (after 8pm)
Bob
505-454-9123

I have a bag of Pedigree Puppy food (15 lbs ?) to donate to anyone that is
fostering or caring for one of our homeless
dogs. I picked it up from Santa Fe Free Cycle for this purpose.  Please let me
know if you can use it, it's in my
car and ready to go to the first taker.

Peace,
Julie
575-421-8936 (after 8pm)
cell: 505-515-5365

I'll second that. College students throw cats out when they go home for
the summer.  I call them "college cats".  One moved in with us so we had
it neutered and gave it all its shots.  Its a very friendly cat about 9
months old.  If you want it, or know of some one who wants a young cat
just give us a call, 454-8275.

Milt Deemer

On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:49:37 -0600, "Patricia A. Leahan"
<<email obscured>> said:

> This was in today's online Las Vegas Daily Optic. Please, if you are
> so led to give one of these dogs or cats a home, they need help ASAP.
> Just call the numbers mentioned in the article. Thank you.
>
> pat leahan
> ---------------
> http://www.lasvegasoptic.com/cgi-bin/storyviewx.cgi?080+News.
> 2008611-4953-080-080007.Full+News
> Las Vegas Daily Optic
> 11 June 2008
>
> Coalition uniting animal rescuers
>
> By Birdie Jaworski
>
> A string of large wire cages sits in the open sun next to a deserted
> lot covered in wood scrap and rusted debris. The dogs pace, eyes
> wary, sometimes dipping inside plastic igloos and beneath makeshift
> shelters to hide from Junes relentless solar rays.
>
> Electra, a boxer mix with wiry yellow fur, leans her pug nose through
> a space in the chicken wire. She seems to smile despite the meager
> surroundings.
>
> Shes an incredible dog, explains Maureen OBrien, interim director
> of The Animal Support Center, a no-kill shelter housed on Seventh
> Street for the past several years. Shes one of the lucky ones. Her
> spirit hasnt been damaged by her past or by staying here. Shell
> make a wonderful, gentle companion.
>
> OBrien oversees the dusty island of forgotten dogs and cats. She
> walks from one cage to the next, squatting low to the ground to
> communicate, to extend a steady hand.
>
> Ralph, a shepherd mix with soulful eyes, barks and whines as he
> presses one paw then another against the fence. OBrien consoles him,
> promises a home with room to explore. Della, a mother to seven fat,
> healthy puppies, watches her charges with expert care, as she paces
> the cage in front of their shaded nest. Her coat carries burn-crusted
> scars of torture, but she runs to the cage door to greet OBrien with
> kindness.
>
> TASC is closing after all these years of struggle. Our projected end
> date is June 30. We still have 10 dogs to place and are looking for
> good homes in the community, says OBrien. The dogs we have are shy
> dogs that need a lot of care and love. Nobody is aggressive. We have
> red heelers, shepherd mixes, a Belgian wolfhound, plus several
> mutts. We also have 30 domesticated cats and about 10 kittens who
> need homes. We need the communitys help.
>
> Las Vegas residents often see stray dogs and cats travel the
> overgrown alleyways traversing town, searching for their next meal.
> The only available options concerned citizens could take involved
> calling TASC or the City of Las Vegas to pick up stray animals.
> Neither TASC nor the City and San Miguel County Animal Control
> programs have adequate resources, however, to house and care for the
> growing number of unwanted or feral animals.
>
> At a meeting on Las Vegas animal welfare, held on May 22 at the CCHP
> building, city Community Development Director Elmer Martinez
> expressed his desire to help both the animals and regional animal
> control officers.
>
> The city officers enforce ordinances, but shift into welfare mode to
> care for animals once they are picked up, Martinez said. The staff
> has to constantly shift between caring and enforcing. There is a
> perception that animal control officers are the bad guys, yet they
> contribute a lot to the welfare of these animals. The citys animal
> problem is, in reality, a people problem.
>
> In a move to help allay the growing burden of assisting for unwanted
> pets with the coming close of TASC, concerned citizens and
> representatives of the local population met for four hours to discuss
> the development of a strategic, long-term plan for collaborative
> animal welfare for the City of Las Vegas-San Miguel County area. In
> addition to OBrien and Martinez, participants included Rep. Richard
> Vigil, Lisa Gipe and Gabrielle Amster of the Santa Fe Animal Shelter,
> Las Vegas City Councilman Andrew Feldman, and San Miguel County
> Manager Les Montoya.
>
> Animal control is just one part of animal welfare, said Feldman.
> Citizen perspective is important, too. We need to focus on education
> in order to help minimize services needed, and help develop
> partnerships between the city, county, public organizations, and
> private citizens.
>
> The group made a decision to band forces, and begin working together
> to aid the animals of Las Vegas and surrounding areas. Initial
> decisions included development of an agenda and planning committees
> with the hope that a vision statement and concrete goals can be
> achieved in a reasonable amount of time.
>
> This was a choice we all made together, says OBrien, the TASC
> Board of Directors, concerned citizens for animal welfare, the City
> of Las Vegas, San Miguel County officials, and the Santa Fe Animal
> Shelter. Well continue to have ongoing meetings with the hope that
> we can bring about a much larger facility and a shelter that can
> serve Las Vegas and the surrounding areas, a spay and neuter clinic,
> and a wellness and shot clinic. Everyone is on the same page now,
> working together for the benefit of the animals.
>
> Meanwhile, Electra, Ralph, Della and the others wait. Two puppies,
> just four weeks old, scamper across the hard mud floor of their cage,
> adjusting to captivity after being tossed out of a moving car two
> nights ago. OBrien pours dog kibble into a donated metal pot. As the
> food hits the pan, every pair of canine eyes rises, hopeful, aware.
> We need help. OBrien wipes her hands on her jeans and moves to the
> next cage. We need folks to foster dogs, and a networking system in
> place to help these animals until the new sanctuary is done. We need
> a Web site, volunteers to help walk dogs, and especially new
> permanent home for these loving animals.
>
> She pauses, surveying the sun-bleached pens with a determined
> expression. Out of the ashes of TASC will rise a new beginning with
> new facilities that will be much more pleasant for the dogs of Las
> Vegas.
>
> For more information, or to adopt a dog, call Maureen OBrien at
> 426-8203. For cat adoptions, call Linzy Behrs at 699-6018.
>
> Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved.
> --------------
>
>
>
> Pat Leahan
>
> Info about Pat Leahan: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/patleahan
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4VKtfupaqORFbuirF2ocme
> -----------------------------------------
>   To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
>   To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
>   in subject line and send to: <email obscured>
>
>   More info about Las Vegas Issues Forum:
>   http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/lasvegas-issues
>
>   E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules
> -----------------------------------------
> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net
--
  Milton Deemer
This was in today's online Las Vegas Daily Optic. Please, if you are
so led to give one of these dogs or cats a home, they need help ASAP.
Just call the numbers mentioned in the article. Thank you.

pat leahan

---------------
http://www.lasvegasoptic.com/cgi-bin/storyviewx.cgi?080+News.
2008611-4953-080-080007.Full+News
Las Vegas Daily Optic
11 June 2008

Coalition uniting animal rescuers

By Birdie Jaworski

A string of large wire cages sits in the open sun next to a deserted
lot covered in wood scrap and rusted debris. The dogs pace, eyes
wary, sometimes dipping inside plastic igloos and beneath makeshift
shelters to hide from Junes relentless solar rays.

Electra, a boxer mix with wiry yellow fur, leans her pug nose through
a space in the chicken wire. She seems to smile despite the meager
surroundings.

Shes an incredible dog, explains Maureen OBrien, interim director
of The Animal Support Center, a no-kill shelter housed on Seventh
Street for the past several years. Shes one of the lucky ones. Her
spirit hasnt been damaged by her past or by staying here. Shell
make a wonderful, gentle companion.

OBrien oversees the dusty island of forgotten dogs and cats. She
walks from one cage to the next, squatting low to the ground to
communicate, to extend a steady hand.

Ralph, a shepherd mix with soulful eyes, barks and whines as he
presses one paw then another against the fence. OBrien consoles him,
promises a home with room to explore. Della, a mother to seven fat,
healthy puppies, watches her charges with expert care, as she paces
the cage in front of their shaded nest. Her coat carries burn-crusted
scars of torture, but she runs to the cage door to greet OBrien with
kindness.

TASC is closing after all these years of struggle. Our projected end
date is June 30. We still have 10 dogs to place and are looking for
good homes in the community, says OBrien. The dogs we have are shy
dogs that need a lot of care and love. Nobody is aggressive. We have
red heelers, shepherd mixes, a Belgian wolfhound, plus several
mutts. We also have 30 domesticated cats and about 10 kittens who
need homes. We need the communitys help.

Las Vegas residents often see stray dogs and cats travel the
overgrown alleyways traversing town, searching for their next meal.
The only available options concerned citizens could take involved
calling TASC or the City of Las Vegas to pick up stray animals.
Neither TASC nor the City and San Miguel County Animal Control
programs have adequate resources, however, to house and care for the
growing number of unwanted or feral animals.

At a meeting on Las Vegas animal welfare, held on May 22 at the CCHP
building, city Community Development Director Elmer Martinez
expressed his desire to help both the animals and regional animal
control officers.

The city officers enforce ordinances, but shift into welfare mode to
care for animals once they are picked up, Martinez said. The staff
has to constantly shift between caring and enforcing. There is a
perception that animal control officers are the bad guys, yet they
contribute a lot to the welfare of these animals. The citys animal
problem is, in reality, a people problem.

In a move to help allay the growing burden of assisting for unwanted
pets with the coming close of TASC, concerned citizens and
representatives of the local population met for four hours to discuss
the development of a strategic, long-term plan for collaborative
animal welfare for the City of Las Vegas-San Miguel County area. In
addition to OBrien and Martinez, participants included Rep. Richard
Vigil, Lisa Gipe and Gabrielle Amster of the Santa Fe Animal Shelter,
Las Vegas City Councilman Andrew Feldman, and San Miguel County
Manager Les Montoya.

Animal control is just one part of animal welfare, said Feldman.
Citizen perspective is important, too. We need to focus on education
in order to help minimize services needed, and help develop
partnerships between the city, county, public organizations, and
private citizens.

The group made a decision to band forces, and begin working together
to aid the animals of Las Vegas and surrounding areas. Initial
decisions included development of an agenda and planning committees
with the hope that a vision statement and concrete goals can be
achieved in a reasonable amount of time.

This was a choice we all made together, says OBrien, the TASC
Board of Directors, concerned citizens for animal welfare, the City
of Las Vegas, San Miguel County officials, and the Santa Fe Animal
Shelter. Well continue to have ongoing meetings with the hope that
we can bring about a much larger facility and a shelter that can
serve Las Vegas and the surrounding areas, a spay and neuter clinic,
and a wellness and shot clinic. Everyone is on the same page now,
working together for the benefit of the animals.

Meanwhile, Electra, Ralph, Della and the others wait. Two puppies,
just four weeks old, scamper across the hard mud floor of their cage,
adjusting to captivity after being tossed out of a moving car two
nights ago. OBrien pours dog kibble into a donated metal pot. As the
food hits the pan, every pair of canine eyes rises, hopeful, aware.
We need help. OBrien wipes her hands on her jeans and moves to the
next cage. We need folks to foster dogs, and a networking system in
place to help these animals until the new sanctuary is done. We need
a Web site, volunteers to help walk dogs, and especially new
permanent home for these loving animals.

She pauses, surveying the sun-bleached pens with a determined
expression. Out of the ashes of TASC will rise a new beginning with
new facilities that will be much more pleasant for the dogs of Las
Vegas.

For more information, or to adopt a dog, call Maureen OBrien at
426-8203. For cat adoptions, call Linzy Behrs at 699-6018.

Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved.
--------------
Well there's little certain in this life, but one thing I'm sure of is that we
humans are a goofy bunch, there's just no way around it. I would not personally
trust any human in a position of authority, we're all capable of trashing our
own affairs and need little help.

I still apologize, for breaking my own rule and failing to politely ignore
politics and politicians, as I would attempt to do if a guest's dog pooped on
my rug. Pretty apt analogy, I'm afraid.

We can't get rid of politicians, they have a right to exist also... but if we
could just find a nice little island somewhere...

Plausibility is in the eye of the beholder - and sometimes in the eye of
the koolaid drinker.

I have heard/read Shendo's spin, and spin is what it is. He was
queer-baiting Lujan and that's all it ever was. Tortured arguments about
how it was in the interests of young LGBTs everywhere are disgustingly
dishonest - we know we live in a homophobic society, and attempting to
out one's opponent in the midst of a political race is not progressive,
but rather homophobic, opportunistic or both.

Lee

Jack Rowe wrote:
> Sheesh... Jay Maiorana informs me that Mr. Shendo came to LVPJ Center and
gave a plausible alternate explanation for his comments... If Mr. Shendo was
not gay-baiting, I owe him an apology (as does his opponent, I suppose). I
guess moving from gay-baiting to doing damage by claiming gay-baiting is some
sort of progress? Damifino.
>
> I'm both too naive AND too cynical to even be paying any attention at all to
politics, much less making noise thereabouts.
>

Sheesh... Jay Maiorana informs me that Mr. Shendo came to LVPJ Center and gave
a plausible alternate explanation for his comments... If Mr. Shendo was not
gay-baiting, I owe him an apology (as does his opponent, I suppose). I guess
moving from gay-baiting to doing damage by claiming gay-baiting is some sort of
progress? Damifino.

I'm both too naive AND too cynical to even be paying any attention at all to
politics, much less making noise thereabouts.

One suggestion ... if you know anyone who ran for office who is not on this
forum, extend them a personal invitation.

Unlike anonymous forums that scare the heck out of politicians, our real name
format seems to encourage more useful and effective discussion of local issues.
In most of our communities most elected officials monitor the forums and ~20%
will post when it makes political sense at least once a year.

Steven Clift
E-Democracy.Org

How nice to see absent from this list the name of the 'man' doing the recent
electoral gay-baiting, what a thought to think that perhaps we as a culture are
beginning to tire of racism, sexism, gender-ism and all the other petty,
reality-obscuring -isms that our insecurities have always seemed to need in the
past.

Hurray for being who we are!

KFUN radio just announced some of the unofficial winners of
yesterday's election:

Ben Ray Lujan (District 3 Rep.)
Thomas Garcia (State Rep.)
Richard Vigil (State Rep)
Jerome Block (PRC)
Matt Sandoval (District Judge)
Melanie Rivera (San Miguel County Clerk)

pat leahan

I am listening to KFUN radio (Joseph and Loretta Baca) announce the
unofficial election results for San Miguel County. As of 10:00 PM,
all precincts have reported and absentee ballots have been counted.

So I wrote down the numbers of some of the races as they were being
announced. Please remember these results are UNOFFICIAL, include only
some races, and are for San Miguel County ONLY (for example, Mora
County results will be announced tomorrow, and some of these races
need totals from the surrounding counties before the results are
official).

pat leahan

--------------------
UNOFFICIAL NUMBERS FROM SAN MIGUEL COUNTY ONLY
(recall that some of these races encompass more than one county, and
those other counties' numbers are not yet in):
-------------------
U.S. Senate:
Tom Udall			5,272 votes
-------------
Representative, Congressional District 3:
Ben Ray Lujan, Jr.	3,080
Don Wiviott			1,531
Harry Montoya		783
Benny Shendo, Jr.	294
--------------
Representative, State District 68:
Thomas Garcia		298
Benjie Regensberg	176
--------------
Representative, State District 70:
Richard Vigil			2,015
Naomi Montoya		1,528
Travis Regensberg	1,068
-------------
Public Regulation Commission:
Jerome Block		1,554
Joseph Maestas		1,169
Rodarte				890
Joe Campos			868
Gallegos			801
Bruce Throne		318
--------------
District Judge:
Matt Sandoval		3,098
Gerald Baca			2,748
---------------
County Commission, District 5:
Nicolas Leger		573
Richard Maestas		534
-----------------
San Miguel County Clerk:
Melanie Rivera		4,318
Richard Medina		1,464
-----------------
The Animal Support Center will be closing at the end of June 2008.
 We have many cats that need to be adopted. Some of the cats will make
great pets for loving families.
 We also have feral cats that would be able to live in a safe and
weather appropriate environment.
 All of the cats have been altered and vacinated and will cost $65 each
to adopt.
If you or anyone you know would like to adopt a cat please call Linzy
Behrs @ 425-3450 to make an appointment.

--

Lee

If you would be unloved and forgotten, be reasonable. - Kurt Vonnegut
From Muina, donnachamberlain, you can email to these 2 different
addresses...thanks
                                                your letters would have to be
immediate, at least!!
<email obscured> wrote:  From: <email obscured>
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2008 19:37:27 EDT
Subject: *Urgent Action* Help stop the Execution of Karl Chamberlain
To: <email obscured>, <email obscured>,
<email obscured>,
<email obscured>,
<email obscured>,
<email obscured>, <email obscured>, <email obscured>,
<email obscured>, <email obscured>, <email obscured>,
<email obscured>, <email obscured>,
<email obscured>, <email obscured>,
<email obscured>, <email obscured>, <email obscured>,
<email obscured>, <email obscured>, <email obscured>,
<email obscured>

    Karl Chamberlain is scheduled to be killed by the state of Texas on June
11th. Karl's execution is the second scheduled so far this year in the killing
capital of the world Texas.  It is time to make some noise and let Texas, and
this country know that we DO NOT want them to KILL in our name!!!

  Karl has a many supporters that will be protesting the execution of June
11th.  Please contact Governor Rick Perry and the Board of Pardons and Parole.

    Mailing Address
  Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711-2428

  Delivery Address
  Office of the Governor
State Insurance Building
1100 San Jacinto
Austin, Texas 78701

  Telephone
  Information and Referral Hotline: (800) 843-5789
[for Texas callers]
  Citizen's Opinion Hotline: (800) 252-9600
[for Texas callers]
  Information and Referral and Opinion Hotline: (512) 463-1782
[for Austin, Texas and out-of-state callers]
  Office of the Governor Main Switchboard: (512) 463-2000
[office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST]
  Citizen's Assistance Telecommunications Device
If you are using a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD), call 711 to
reach Relay Texas
  Office of the Governor Fax: (512) 463-1849

  Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
General Counsel's Office
8610 Shoal Creek Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78758
  Phone (512) 406-5852
Fax (512) 467-0945
  Texas Governor Rick Perry - Contact the Governor

  Anyone needing more information please contact Christy at
<email obscured> or 505-203-5870

---------------------------------
  Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on
AOL Food.
As of this post:

Barter Hours Meeting
June 7th, Saturday 6pm
call Cordia or Dianne: 426-1468

Local Food Matters
June 8th, Sunday 6pm - Carnegie Park
call Bob Wallace: 454-9123

Farmers Market Board Meeting
June 13th, Friday - Hillcrest Rest.
Call Daniel Hern: 799-8315

Pastors For Peace Presentation
June 26th, Thursday 7pm to 9pm - Tapetas de Lana
Call Miguel Angel: 454-6771

We had a great Meeting Sunday on the Plaza!  18 folks in attendance~
Outstanding, friends!

I'm in the process of sorting out and typing up the notes from the
meeting...will be posted shortly.

Our next meeting will be Sunday, June 8th, 6pm at Carnegie Park...the day after
the Barter Hours Meeting.

(Carnegie Park is quiet and meeting friendly `

For the record, I feel the need to say that I'm simply Bob's coordinator for
Local Food Matters, wishing to keep our group together and share the
information that's been given to me.

If anyone has any suggestions as to how we might be more efficient, please feel
free to let me know.

Peace,
Julie

575-421-8936  Tecolote

*Spring Song *

*by Edna St Vincent Millay*

I know why the yellow forsythia
Holds its breath and will not bloom,
And the robin thrusts his beak in his wing.
Want me to tell you? Think you can bear it?
Cover your eyes with your hand and hear it.
You know how cold the days are still?
And everybody saying how late the Spring is?
Well -- cover your eyes with your hand -- the thing is,
There isn't going to be any Spring.

*No parking here! No parking here!
They said to Spring: No parking here!*

Spring came on as she always does,
Laid her hand on the yellow forsythia,--
Little boys turned in their sleep and smiled,
Dreaming of marbles, dreaming of agates;
Little girls leapt from their bed to see
Spring come by with her painted wagons,
Coloured wagons creaking with wonder--
Laid her hand on the robin's throat;
When up comes you-know-who, my dear,
You-know-who in a fine blue coat,
And says to Spring: No parking here!

*No parking here!  No parking here!
Move on! Move on! No parking here!*

Come walk with me in the city gardens.
(Better keep an eye out for you-know-who)
Did you ever see such a sickly showing?--
Middle of June, and nothing growing;
The gardeners peer and scratch their heads
And drop their sweat on the tulip-beds,
But not a blade thrusts through.

*Come, move on! Don't you know how to walk?
No parking here! And no back-talk!*

Oh, well, -- hell, it's all for the best.
She certainly made a lot of clutter,
Dropping petals under the trees,
Taking your mind off your bread and butter.
Anyhow, it's nothing to me.
I can remember, and so can you.
(Though we'd better watch out for you-know-who,
When we sit around remembering Spring).
We shall hardly notice in a year or two.
You can get accustomed to anything.

*I would not say that I "recanted" that paragraph, since I believe that
there is ample evidence that the information contained therein is accurate.
I agreed to remove the paragraph because the intent of the letter was to
call Benny Shendo to task for his political stunt and not to embarrass the
Las Vegas Peace & Justice Center. I would still like to hear your response,
Pat, and your delineation of the "significant inaccuracies" and incorrect
facts you claim.*

On Tue, May 27, 2008 at 1:48 PM, Patricia A. Leahan <<email obscured>>
wrote:

> The paragraph about the Peace Center in that letter to the editor
> contained significant inaccuracies -- statements that were factually
> incorrect.
>
> The author of that letter, to his credit, has since recanted that
> paragraph.
>
> pat leahan
> (505) 425-3840
>
> On May 26, 2008, at 10:27 PM, Patricia A. Leahan wrote:
>
> Dear Forum Members,
>
> A significant inaccuracy has been posted to this forum re: the Las
> Vegas Peace & Justice Center. Unfortunately, at the moment, I am
> working on a big project with a deadline, so I do not have time to
> respond in full right now. This inaccurate letter to the editor has
> been posted in a variety of places, and it is difficult for me to
> keep up and attempt to correct it, especially since I'm in the midst
> of more important work at the moment.
>
> Thank you for your patience.
>
> pat leahan
> Las Vegas Peace & Justice Center
> (505) 425-3840
>
> On May 26, 2008, at 1:30 PM, Robert Jones wrote:
>
> F.Y.I. I have written the following letter to the editor about the
> despicable conduct of Benny Shendo in challenging Ben Ray Lujan on his
> sexuality. I am posting it here for your information and comments.
> ============================
>
> *At a recent public forum for candidates to fill the 3rd District
> Congressional seat of Northern New Mexico that was held in
> Farmington, Benny
> Shendo, Jr. took his turn to ask any one of the other candidates a
> question.
> He choose to ask Ben Ray Lujn a question that implied Lujn is gay. "You
> say that you stand up for the people of New Mexico," Shendo said, "and I
> want to know how you can stand up for the people of New Mexico if you
> can't
> stand up to your mom and dad about your lifestyle." Shendo later
> issued a
> written statement saying that it was "common knowledge around the
> capitol
> that Mr. Lujn is gay" and that he was asking why Ben Ray had not told
> his
> parents that he is gay. Ben Ray Lujn has stated previously that he is
> not
> gay.  *
>
> *However, a person's sexual orientation is private and irrelevant to
> public
> life. If someone wishes to keep their sexual orientation a secret, it
> is up
> to them. Period. The issue of homosexuality has nothing to do with
> running
> for public office and the question should never have been asked. To
> ask the
> question at a public forum is simply meant to embarrass one's
> opponent and
> appeal to the hate of the homophobes. *
>
> *And now Benny Shendo has called for a public forum between himself
> and Ben
> Ray Lujn where presumably Ben Ray will be able to present evidence
> that "he
> is not now, nor never has been a member of the homosexual community."
> This
> is just like the McCarthy hearings in the 1950s where public figures
> were
> required to prove that they were not members of the Communist Party. *
>
> *Some folks in Las Vegas are angling to have this forum take place
> here at
> the Las Vegas Peace & Justice (LVP&J) Center on Sixth Street this coming
> Friday at 5PM whether or not Mr. Lujn chooses to attend. Pat Leahan,
> director of the Center, has stated that LVP&J "is a community-based
> grassroots organization that allows groups to meet at the Center as
> long as
> they're not planning or promoting violence or hatred". Well, in my
> opinion
> this forum would promote hatred of the worst kind, and I urge them to
> reconsider their plans to hold this forum here. *
>
> *It is apparently Shendo's position that Ben Ray appearing in public
> with a
> woman is deceit when he has not proved that he is in fact heterosexual.
>  Shendo claims that, ""The question that I was really posing is about
> honesty and point out yet another example of the hypocrisy and
> dishonesty of
> the Lujn political machine." Shendo has yet to show corroboration for
> his
> claim that Lujn is living a closeted homosexual "lifestyle". *
>
> *For this to be brought to the public eye is presenting a smoke
> screen for
> folks to focus on instead of the issues that really matter to the public
> like food, health, education. Just like the race card - why is it even
> brought up? Beyond that, a later written explanation and backtracking by
> Shendo to say that the question "was intended to support young GLBT
> people
> who are struggling with this issue" is doubly disgusting. *
>
> *To quote from KNME-TV Channel 5, interviewer David Alire Garcia, "Who
> appointed [Shendo] the sexual-orientation police in this campaign?" *
>
> Robert Jones
> P O Box 3211
> Las Vegas, NM 87701
> 425-8282
>
> Robert Jones
> Las Vegas
> Info about Robert Jones: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/robertjones2001
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at: http://forums.e-democracy.org/
> r/topic/2uikueaTBG4o61BmBpBfOJ
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> Pat Leahan
>
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