If you’re looking for something to be grateful for, put the North Central Solid Waste Authority on your list. The organization can’t catch a break.
It’s continually caught in the chicken versus egg cycle as it tries to dig out of debt, repair archaic trucks and are unable to purchase new ones.
They’re an easy target for customers and editorial writers who are angry about irregular pickup, high rates and for being an overall poorly run public entity.
At the same time the Authority is raising rates 11.25 percent, trash collections are unpredictable and sometimes require phone calls to prompt a pick up.
However, as frustrating as it is to deal with the Authority, where would we be without it? The organization performs a crucial job in Northern New Mexico. If you’re not on board with that statement recall video footage of New York City streets a few years ago when the trash union went on strike. It doesn’t take long for trash to pile up, especially outside a high rise apartment building.
It may take a little longer in rural Rio Arriba County but between the trash piles and the hordes of loose, uncared for dogs, Rio Arribans tend to love “owning,” we’d have plenty of trash scattered to the four winds in no time.
Yes, we have a lot of issues with the Authority, especially now that Peter Fuller has left, but they are what stands between us and the beginning of the downfall of civilization.
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We have a few non-profits in our area that do great work daily and they’re all getting on the Giving Tuesday band wagon. That’s Nov. 30 this year.
Moving Arts Española continues to astound everyone associated with it. They’ve just come off a successful fundraiser but are always deserving of financial support. The many youth they serve and lives they save in the Valley are worthy of our attention and funding.
Rio Arriba Adult Learning Program stepped in decades ago to fill a desperate need in the Valley, teaching adults who can’t read. Most of us take that learned skill for granted as we go through our daily lives, reading signs, food labels and correspondence of any type.
It’s difficult to imagine life without that skill. But many people in our area either can’t read or read at a very low level. That diminishes opportunities for them in every facet of their lives.
The San Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen operates all year providing lunches not only at their location in Apple Valley but they also deliver to those unable to get out. During the holidays they double and triple their efforts and provide not just hot meals but groceries to needy families.
The Pathways Shelter is the only organization trying to provide shelter for homeless people. The organization has space for about 20 people, including two families. They have toiletries, a change of clothes and a hot shower for visitors who don’t want to stay.
Food Depot provides a large majority of the food distributed through other Rio Arriba County non-profits. They perform magic, turning a dollar into eight when it comes to buying power and volunteer labor.
There are also several small church groups and volunteers who rotate through the Shelter providing hot meals.
We must mention two state organizations making a huge difference in state government. Think New Mexico is a non-partisan think tank that takes on issues affecting New Mexicans every year during the legislature and fights our fights.
The other is the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government. Every year politicians try to make it more difficult for citizens to find out how their government works and spends our money. FOG is always there to fight for us. It has a small staff and a lot of the lobbying for citizens is done by people on the volunteer board.
The list of good, deserving non-profits in the Valley is long and we can’t list them all here but can’t end without plugging the Española Valley Humane Society.
We have a huge problem with overpopulation of cats and dogs. It is inherent in the north that you don’t spay or neuter your pets and many people don’t give them even basic food and water. All of our shortcomings fall upon the shelter in the form of abused and neglected animals collected by animal control officers and abandoned or collected litters of puppies and kittens.
We’ve written many times in this space that our shelter is primarily supported by people from Santa Fe and Los Alamos, both by volunteers and donations. We must do better.
When you’re thinking about who should get your hard-earned dollars on Giving Tuesday, don’t forget our furry friends who cannot fend for themselves.
Have a good long weekend of thanks and shopping and remember to consider others less fortunate.