Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, February 2022 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Jean Roberts, ESCA Board of Directors

ESCA is continuing to pursue protection from gravel mining for the Buffalo Tract and other Placitas area parcels of land. As of this writing, ESCA President George Franzen, ESCA representative Mary-Rose de Valladares, and representatives from the Las Placitas Association and the Santa Ana Pueblo are planning to meet with key officials from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in late January to urge protection of these lands while the Buffalo Protection Act is moving through Congress. The legislation provides protection only where mining rights have not yet been established, so BLM administrative action is critical during the lengthy legislative process.

ESCA would also like to extend a big thank you to the staff of the Sandoval Regional Medical Center (SRMC) for their hard work during the pandemic. The ESCA representative who attends periodic SRMC Community Advisory Committee meetings reported that as of mid-December, SRMC had to cancel over 100 surgeries because of the overwhelming number of Covid-19 patients. SRMC representatives said that 99 percent of patients on one floor and 75 percent on a second floor were diagnosed with Covid-19. More than 90 percent of these patients were unvaccinated, and 70 percent were under the age of 40.

Care for the large number of Covid-19 cases instead of performing the canceled surgeries affects SRMC’s revenues. Moreover, the hospital has had to beef up its staff by using 50 traveling nurses, usually from out of state. Temporary use of non-staff nurses is very costly for the organization.

We deeply appreciate that the SRMC staff is taking care of our community under such trying circumstances. Thank you!

ESCA also welcomes a new member to the board, Virginia Jordan. Virginia hails from Beaumont, Texas, where she served on the City Council after a career in the refining industry. She was involved in city beautification and animal rescue efforts there. Since moving to Placitas, she is a volunteer at Casa Rosa Food Pantry and Watermelon Ranch Animal Rescue. Virginia will be an At-Large Director, while Tony Hull will move to the District 4 Director position.

John McNerney is leaving the board. We appreciate his long service to the board and wish him well in his future endeavors.

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, January 2022 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Jean Roberts, ESCA Board of Directors

ESCA volunteers recently completed our biannual cleanup of Highway 165. Through the Adopt-a-Highway Program, ESCA is responsible for removing trash from the first mile of the “main street” of Placitas so that it is clean and beautiful as residents and visitors enter our area. The ESCA Board of Directors would like to thank the 17 volunteers who helped out this time, and in particular, we thank Irene Gale for her many years of organizing this effort for ESCA.

Phil Messuri will organize our next cleanup in the spring, tentatively set for April 23 at 9am. The more volunteers, the faster we’ll finish, so please consider helping out.

Also, please remember to renew your ESCA membership if you haven’t done so, or join us if you’re not yet a member. You can find information on our website, www.es-ca.org.

The ESCA Board of Directors wishes happy holidays and a healthy and fruitful 2022 to all!

EASTERN SANDOVAL CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
Virtual Board Meeting Agenda

December 13, 2021
4:00 PM
By a Zoom invitation

IF ANY ESCA MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE ZOOM MEETING SEND YOUR REQUEST TO president@es-ca.org THE PRESIDENT OF ESCA WILL SEND YOU AN INVITATION VIA EMAIL

1. Call to order

2. Roll Call

3. Acceptance of minutes

4. Introduction of Guests

Placitas Bike Path Project – Sarah

5. MONTHLY REPORT

1. 1. Treasurer’s Report – Wayne
   2. IT Report – Jim
   3. LPT Report – George

6. OLD BUSINESS

2022 Annual Budget – Board

7. NEW BUSINESS

A. Meetings in Person for 2022 – Board
B. Develop a presence on “Next Door” – Board

8. OPEN DISCUSSION

Items from Tony Hull email of Nov 29, 2021 – Board (See page two)
Article for January 2022 Signpost – Board

9. Adjournment

Next meeting January 10, 2022 Virtual zoom meeting, AT 4:00PM

For Open Discussion from Tony Hull

On new business, two things.  Might we think of a community meeting in the Spring, probably at the library…  The intent would be to widen membership and community engagement.

Some meeting agenda ideas…

• What ES-CA sees as present issues challenging Placitas and status
  o Mines
  o Buffalo Parcel disposition
  o Pipelines
  o Road erosion (at least on west side)
  o Water use, permits and development
  o Taxes and Levies
  o Etc.
• What ESCA does… ESCA processes
  • o Engagement with elected officials
  • o Monitoring County meetings
  • o Support the County with Placitas perspective
• Open the floor to hear concerns

It would be nice to aim at a 50% increase in membership!

Another idea would be to have a monthly 1/2-hour spot on Placitas Radio… talk about the present and future here. Invite all to join!

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, December 2021 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Jean Roberts, ESCA Board of Directors

The Buffalo Tract Protection Act is finally working its way through Congress. On November 5, US Representative for New Mexico’s 1st District Melanie Stansbury introduced the legislation in the House as HR 5805. Teresa Leger Fernandez, 3rd District Representative, co-sponsored the bill. Earlier in the year, Senator Martin Heinrich introduced the bill in the Senate, co-sponsored by Senator Ben Ray Lujan.

ESCA President George Franzen and Las Placitas Association President Sandy Johnson issued a joint statement applauding Rep. Stansbury’s introduction of the bill in the House. They pledged continued support for the legislation, which will protect public health, air and water resources, wildlife, our cultural heritage, and recreational opportunities.

Several months ago, all four legislators also sent a letter to the Department of the Interior (DOI), expressing their opposition to gravel mining on the Buffalo Tract. The letter cited the proximity to Placitas, air and water pollution caused by existing mines, and the need to maintain outdoor recreational opportunities that the Buffalo Tract provides.

In October, a DOI Deputy Assistant Secretary testified in support of the Senate bill before a subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He noted that the Senate bill would withdraw four tracts of land from mining, including the Buffalo Tract, the Crest of Montezuma, and two smaller parcels of land in the Placitas area.

ESCA will continue to push for passage of the legislation as it moves through Congress. Please help us keep the pressure on by writing or emailing your representatives in Congress to express your support. Also remember to renew your ESCA membership if you haven’t done so, or join us if you’re not yet a member. You can find information on our website, www.es-ca.org.

The results of ESCA’s recent election are in. All four board members who were up for re-election were unanimously approved by the membership. The board members are Peter Adang, Jean Roberts, Jim Harre, and John McNerney.

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, November 2021 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Jean Roberts, ESCA Board of Directors

ESCA, Las Placitas Association, and the Pueblo of Santa Ana recently joined forces to request a meeting with Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland to discuss the possibility of administrative action in support of the Buffalo Tract Protection Act, proposed legislation that would withdraw the Buffalo Tract from eligibility for gravel mining. Administrative action could place the Buffalo Tract off-limits to gravel mining while the bill is pending in Congress. This week the community organizations were informed that a meeting with (DOI) officials is expected to be scheduled in the near future.

Meanwhile, ESCA is pleased to welcome a new member to our board, Tony Hull. Tony has a long history with Placitas and is well versed in the needs of the community. He has owned property in Placitas since 2005, and he has lived here full time for the past 12 years. Tony was a founding member of ESCA and served several years on the board, helping to address issues such as water use, gravel mining, pipeline risks, and other quality of life concerns for residents of Placitas.

Tony is an Adjunct Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of New Mexico, and he consults extensively on space telescopes in the US and Europe. Not surprisingly, he has expressed an interest in maintaining New Mexico’s dark skies so that we can all enjoy the stars at night. He has also immersed himself in projects related to the history of Placitas, animal rescue, and archeology.

Tony says that he believes that ESCA’s mission is “absolutely essential to our community.” We’re excited that he will join us on the board.

At the same time, the board reluctantly bids farewell to Jim Wiesner as he prepares to move out of state. We wish him well in his next adventures.

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, October 2021 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Jean Roberts, ESCA Board of Directors

ESCA is pleased to welcome a new member to our board, Tony Hull. Tony has a long history with Placitas and is well versed in the needs of the community. He has owned property in Placitas since 2005, and he has lived here full time for the past 12 years. Tony was a founding member of ESCA and served several years on the board, helping to address issues such as water use, gravel mining, pipeline risks, and other quality of life concerns for residents of Placitas.

Tony is an Adjunct Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of New Mexico, and he consults extensively on space telescopes in the US and Europe. Not surprisingly, he has expressed an interest in maintaining New Mexico’s dark skies so that we can all enjoy the stars at night. He has also immersed himself in projects related to the history of Placitas, animal rescue, and archeology.

Tony says that he believes that ESCA’s mission is “absolutely essential to our community.” We’re excited that he will join us on the board.

At the same time, the board is sorry to bid farewell to Jim Wiesner as he prepares to move out of state. We wish him well in his next adventures.

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, September 2021 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Jean Roberts, ESCA Board of Directors

Are you interested in helping ESCA serve our community? ESCA is looking for a new board member to fill an upcoming vacancy. Our mission is to maintain the quality of life in our community, which runs from I-25—including Algodones—to the eastern border of Sandoval County. ESCA is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, and we are not linked to any political party.

The board position will become available shortly as Jim Wiesner prepares to move out of state. We deeply appreciate Jim’s service to ESCA, and we wish him well in his next endeavors.

If you would like to volunteer for the board position, you just need to be a member of ESCA and have a strong interest in the quality of life in our community. Contact ESCA President George Franzen at President@ES-CA.org or talk to any board member.

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, August 2021 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Jean Roberts, ESCA Board of Directors

ESCA and the Las Placitas Association recently sent a joint letter to Melanie Stansbury, the new representative of District 1 in the US House of Representatives, requesting that she reintroduce the Buffalo Tract Protection Act. The goal of the legislation is to prohibit gravel mining in the Buffalo Tract, which is immediately adjacent to the northern border of Placitas neighborhoods. Senator Martin Heinrich has already reintroduced the bill in the Senate.

We are also contacting new management of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which oversees the Buffalo Tract. The Rio Puerco Resource Management Plan that includes the Buffalo Tract remains in draft form and not yet available for public comment.

During the past month, the ESCA board asked our membership to approval a revision to ESCA bylaws and articles of incorporation. The vote passed, with nearly 92 percent of voters in favor of the change. The revision will allow the board the flexibility to donate to charities within the ESCA corporation area that need extra help for special purposes, consistent with our mission to maintain our quality of life in our community.

As New Mexico opens up after our long battle with COVID, we urge everyone to stay safe this summer and to get your COVID vaccination.

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, July 2021 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Jean Roberts, ESCA Board of Directors

ESCA congratulates Melanie Stansbury, who will represent Congressional District 1 in the US House of Representatives. She won the seat in the June 1 special election, replacing Deb Haaland, who is our nation’s new Secretary of the Interior.

ESCA board members plan to meet with Representative Stansbury to request that she reintroduce the Buffalo Tract Protection Act for consideration during the current session of the House. Senator Martin Heinrich has already reintroduced the bill in the Senate. The goal of the legislation is to prohibit gravel mining in the Buffalo Tract, which is immediately adjacent to the northern border of Placitas neighborhoods.

The tract is part of the Bureau of Land Management’s Rio Puerco Resource Management Plan (RMP). The long-awaited RMP remains in draft form. The Buffalo Tract Protection Act would provide the necessary legislation to protect the area from gravel mining.

In other news, the ESCA board plans to contact the membership to request approval of the board’s recent decision to revise our bylaws and articles of incorporation. The revision would provide the board with the flexibility to support charities within the ESCA corporation area that need extra help for special purposes, consistent with our mission to maintain our quality of life in our community. Any donation would require the unanimous support of all board members.

ESCA’s corporation area is from I-25—including Algodones—to the eastern border of Sandoval County. A ballot will be sent to each ESCA member for their vote.

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, June 2021 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Jean Roberts, ESCA Board of Directors

New Mexico has received national recognition as one most successful states in the country in responding to the COVID pandemic. We’re on the cusp of returning to normal, but we’re not there yet. The New Mexico Department of Health continues to detect cases of community spread, meaning that some residents have contracted the virus despite no known exposure. ESCA urges everyone to get vaccinated and stay safe, and the Department of Health supports businesses and workplaces that may continue to require masks for employees and/or customers, regardless of vaccination status. If we each do our part—for ourselves and for those around us—New Mexico residents and businesses can look forward to a healthier future. For details and updates, the New Mexico Department of Health website, www.nmhealth.org, offers a wealth of information.

ESCA also urges everyone in Congressional District 1 to vote in the special election on June 1.

This is your opportunity to select your representative to the US House of Representatives, replacing Deb Haaland, who was selected to serve as our nation’s Secretary of the Interior.

ESCA urges you to visit the New Mexico Secretary of State website, www.sos.state.nm.us, where you will find an array of election resources. Click on Voting and Elections to bring up instructions for registering to vote and finding a voting location near you.

ESCA and the Land Protection Trust are working to secure a meeting with Secretary Haaland to discuss a ban on gravel mining on the BLM land adjacent to Placitas. We have completed forms to provide details to support this action.