OPINION

Mail letters to PO Box 4910, Santa Fe, NM 87502; or email them to editor@sfreporter. com. Letters (no more than 200 words) should refer to specific articles in the Reporter. Letters will be edited for space and clarity.

ONLINE, SEPT. 17:

“NO ZONE”

MAKING EVERY EFFORT

The Reporter’s characterization of the city’s zoning verification and regulation process for the newly legalized recreational cannabis industry as obstructionist and unreasonably slow is deeply misleading and inaccurate in several respects. In fact, the city’s process for developing legislation and planning for its implementation has been innovative, thorough and responsible.

The Planning Commission has performed admirable due diligence in researching best practices nationally and balancing various stakeholder points-of-view in formulating recommendations to the governing body. There have been and will be sufficient opportunities for public input.

As the City Land Use Department planning manager who was quoted in the article in question, I wish to clarify for the record that the city is not prohibiting applicants from requesting zoning verification letters for new enterprises. We are, as a customer service, educating and advising them to wait until the governing body votes on new legislation on Sept. 29. The existing regulations would require an applicant to obtain a special use permit to operate as a producer, which is a cumbersome four-month process. It only makes sense to wait until the new regulations are in place to make a costly investment in a new business…The City of Santa Fe is making every effort to facilitate the launch of a new, potentially prosperous industry, and to provide safeguards for preserving the texture of Santa Fe commerce and culture. NOAH BURKE CITY OF SANTA FE LAND USE DEPARTMENT PLANNING MANAGER

COVER, SEPT. 22:

“PRISON RAT”

CORRECTIONS ASSESSMENT

NMCD is in shambles.

KENNETH STALTER VIA TWITTER @STALTERLAW

SFR will correct factual errors online and in print. Please let us know if we make a mistake: editor@sfreporter.com or 988-7530.

SANTA FE EAVESDROPPER

“No, I won’t put the cart away, because I really have to get to work . I am very special and I have a little baby.”

—Overheard at Total Wine

“Sorry. I thought I knew you. The top half of your face looked familiar.”

—Man to masked woman at Cowgirl BBQ

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3909 Academy Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87507 | 473-3001

FREEZE!

PORTALES POLICE MISIDENTIFY SALT AS METH IN HOTEL WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM

Officers all excelled in the training course on jumping to conclusions.

MORE THAN 70% OF NEW MEXICANS FULLY VACCINATED

In your face, Connecticut!

DOCUMENTARY SERIES SANTA FE FOODS TO FEATURE, WELL, SANTA FE FOODS

We’re not sure how many episodes you can get out of cheese, chile and tortillas in various configurations, but word.

MUSEUM OF THE SIXTIES POP-UP HOLDS LAST DAY THURSDAY

Did you know people who were young in the 1960s really liked it?

IATSE FILM UNION MIGHT STRIKE

If we’re not careful, we might have to go weeks without another Marvel movie. HOW AM I TO AFFORD MY 4TH HOUSE?

BIG-WIG GENERALS SAY THEY ADVISED BIDEN TO KEEP TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN

This whole thing has gone so smoothly, right?

SFPD CHIEF ANDREW PADILLA TO RETIRE

No word yet on whether his successor will also prefer secrecy to transparency.

READ IT ON SFREPORTER.COM

MURAL SETTLEMENT

After a years-long back-and-forth, the state’s Department of Cultural Affairs says it will stucco over downtown mural.

WE ARE WAY MORE THAN WEDNESDAY HERE ARE A COUPLE OF ONLINE EXCLUSIVES:

EDUCATION GAP WIDENS

Experts say students lost between 10 and 60 days of instruction during the pandemic.