Letters to the Editor (Nov. 27, 2025)

Feeding families

Editor:

The combined efforts of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) at UNM-Valencia Campus and Let’s Move That Food (LMTF), a local non-profit organization, resulted in 16 families receiving Thanksgiving food baskets this year.

In addition, LMTF was able to donate several turkeys to a local organizations first Turkey Tuesday Bingo Bash.

I would like to thank Moose Lodge 1680, Toby’s Doors, Hub Furniture, Irene Reeder and others too numerous to mention for their contributions to this year’s success.

Louis L. Lusero

Founder of Let’s Move That Food

Valencia County deserves better than what it has

Editor:

A basic, fundamental responsibility of county government is to calculate property taxes correctly. That didn’t happen this year in Valencia County.

According to the Valencia County assessor, an incorrect value was submitted to the state of New Mexico. When the state returned the mill levy rates, the near doubling of the residential mill levy went unnoticed.

The county commission then approved those erroneous levies, and finally, the treasurer sent out the tax bills as if everything were normal.

In a county, with high poverty rates, thousands of retirees on fixed incomes, working families living paycheck to paycheck and homeowners already stretched thin, the result has been financial shock and emotional stress. Many are terrified they won’t be able to cover the bill due Dec. 10. And the response so far — “we are trying to correct it” — does little to undo the damage or restore trust.

We deserve better than “try.”

That brings us back to this essential point: Elections have consequences.

We elect the county assessor, treasurer and commissioners.

They oversee taxes, budget and the systems that determine whether residents remain secure in their homes — or get pushed to the brink by a clerical failure.

This incident can’t be brushed aside as an unfortunate blunder. It should catalyze a demand for:

1. Full transparency about how the error occurred and who signed off at each stage.

2. A public, independent review of internal processes within the assessor’s office, the treasurer’s office and the county commission.

3. Clear, written corrective procedures so that this never happens again.

4. Accountability — not just apologies — from the officials involved.

Valencia County deserves a government that double checks numbers before they hit our wallets. We deserve elected officials who understand “I didn’t catch it” is not an acceptable explanation when thousands of families are harmed.

Summer Ludwig

Belen

Royal visitors to Isleta

Editor:

The Nov. 13, 2025, edition of the Valencia County News-Bulletin included a historical photograph of the visit to Isleta by the King (Albert 1st) and Queen (Elisabeth) of the Belgians.

This occurred on Oct. 26, 1919, as part of a diplomatic tour following World War I. The royals were met by Pablo Abeita, governor of Isleta and the French missionary Anton Docher, nicknamed Isleta’s padre.

Both of these local dignitaries were given the Ordre of Leopold medal and in exchange, Isleta gave Albert 1st a silver cross, lined with turquoise and a silver sword. About 10,000 people witnessed the event, a rare occurrence at the time.

This meeting has been recognized as a significant event as a dialogue between a European sovereign and a native American nation.

Paul Parmentier

Los Lunas