Gallup Sun

Saturday, May 04th

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Viewpoints

Bureau of Land Management’s Acting Director William Perry Pendley reinstated yet again

Friday, 26 June 2020 07:41 By Anna Peterson, Executive Director The Mountain Pact

Now? Indefinitely

DURANGO, Colo. — In response to the fifth reinstatement, and now apparent indefinite appointment of William Perry Pendley as Acting Director of the Bureau of Land Management, without Congressional approval, Anna Peterson, the Executive Director of The Mountain Pact, issued this statement:

“The continued re-appointment of William Perry Pendley as the Acting Director of the Bureau of Land Management, in defiance of Congressional oversight and approval, threatens our public lands. And now, indefinitely?

“Simply put, in direct opposition to what nearly three quarters of Americans say that the agency should do, Mr. Pendley prioritizes increasing oil and natural gas...

Social sea change only comes when demanded

Friday, 19 June 2020 01:21 By Kenneth J. Martinez, Psy.D. New Mexico Voices for Children

There is a video circulating on social media of a beautiful little girl in a tee-shirt trimmed in white eyelet lace, her smiling face aglow in pride, proclaiming “Daddy changed the world.” It is both sweetly uplifting and painfully heart breaking. The little girl, seated on the shoulders of a family friend, is at one of the protests that have become commonplace since her father’s murder at the hands of police officers.

George Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter Gianna has a child’s limited understanding not only of the pent-up anger unleashed by her father’s murder, but also of the finality of death. She has not experienced all the repercussions of having lost a parent so early in...

Gov. Lujan Grisham’s ‘Council for Racial Justice’ shows how leadership may unite us in the face of racism

Friday, 19 June 2020 01:20 By Howie Morales NM Lieutenant Governor

The national outpouring of anger and frustration triggered by the killing of George Floyd by police reveals an urgent need today: we need many more leaders who will bring people together. President Donald Trump’s brutal, racist words and actions in response to the resulting protests have tried to divide people even further than they already are, American against American. I commend Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s efforts now, in welcome contrast, to begin a state-wide community conversation about new policies to improve racial justice here in New Mexico. That’s how we make progress as the human race.

As the horrifying video showed, George Floyd’s life was taken from his...

FOG files Open Meetings Act complaint against PERA Board

Friday, 12 June 2020 06:55 Staff Reports

ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government filed a complaint June 2 claiming the Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico Board of Trustees violated the state’s Open Meetings Act at their meeting May 29.

The meeting agenda for May 29 lists an item about the discussion and termination of withholding of Retire Public Employees of New Mexico membership dues from PERA retirement benefits. However, during the meeting, an amendment was voted on and approved by the PERA Board that an additional group, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, would also have their dues terminated.

“The PERA Board’s decision to act on an issue not...

Plan a garden party

Friday, 12 June 2020 06:53 By Melissa Martin For the Sun

According to news outlets, people are planting. Why? Humans want to become more self-sufficient because of the pandemic. Having available food at the backdoor is comforting. Picking your own produce is pleasant. Spending time outdoors is refreshing.

The 50th anniversary of Earth Day in 2020 coincided with the coronavirus outbreak, which may have factored into the seed-buying craze. Whatever the reason, growing vegetables is a good thing. By the way, tomatoes are classified as a fruit.

“The victory garden movement began during World War I and called on Americans to grow food in whatever spaces they could — rooftops, fire escapes, empty lots, backyards. It maintained that there...