As a member of the Santa Fe County Health Policy and Planning Commission, I am familiar with the county health needs. I am disappointed that Reps. Jim Trujillo and Carl Trujillo, D-Santa Fe, voted to table House Bill 212, a measure proposing a local-option liquor excise tax. The tax would help fund alcohol- and substance-abuse prevention and treatment. Rep. Jim Trujillo defended his vote by noting that the bill would put an “undue burden” on liquor distributors.

What is worse — a minor burden on liquor distributors or the major burden that alcohol abuse poses to New Mexicans? Trujillo proposes instead to divert less of the current revenues from the statewide liquor excise tax to the general fund. This punishes other needy programs and is no solution to the serious alcohol problem we face. Why not do both — divert less excise tax to the general fund and apply an additional tax on alcohol sales?

James A. Bond, Ph.D., DABT

Santa Fe

Animal disgrace

Approximately three weeks ago, poor and working-class neighborhoods were tagged by the Santa Fe animal shelter, threatening action if dogs and cats were not current on rabies vaccine and licenses. I asked the animal shelter if they had also tagged the “better” and wealthy neighborhoods and how they intended to access homes in gated communities.

They had no answer. I have inquired of people I know in the upscale neighborhoods, and they still have not been tagged. It seems the city is raising funds on the backs of those least able to afford it. I request this newspaper look into this matter, as it is a disgrace to the community.

Nancy Corwin

Santa Fe

Two wishes

If granted two wishes, the first would be: In the Silver Linings Playbook, audiences enjoyed and learned something about the daily struggle all endure dealing with mental illness.

My hope is that the audience became aware of the continuous struggle to regain mental health as depicted in the film and in real life. In addition to the poignant storytelling, there were comedic moments, but they hardly render the film a comedy.

Second wish: The two legislators from Farmington would return there and deal with the problem of homelessness (“Farmington police battle homelessness,” Feb. 3). We do not appreciate additional burdening of our citizens with legislation to add the much despised food tax. They would better serve their constituents by working to resolve problems that already exist.

Hopefully, the people of Farmington will take notice and respond appropriately in the next election. We can only hope.

Elaine Del Valle

Santa Fe

A new fight

It’s be been said repeatedly that fighting terrorism is a new kind of war. Remember how we fought the old kind? We bombed cities into oblivion, killing innocent civilians by the hundreds of thousands (doubtless many expatriate Americans).

That was then, when the enemies were countries with defined borders. This is now, when the enemies are jihadists scattered throughout the world. Now we can’t use the old weapons, such as bombers, but are designing new ones, such as drones.

With drones, we are at least killing the innocent by the dozens (including a couple of Americans) instead of by the hundreds of thousands. We may wish we could do better, but the alternative of giving up the fight is not acceptable. Of course, the countries we attack don’t like us for it, but would they rather we come in full force, as in Afghanistan?

Bill Maxon

Santa Fe