Editor:
I read the article on housing tenants being evicted for unpaid bills. Everyone does need to be responsible for payment of bills. That is a lesson all should learn from within the family.
Housing for lower income earners is subsidized by local, state and federal governments so those receiving this low rent housing should be setting aside rent, utility and food expenses before other expenses.
I realize this doesn’t happen in some families and it would be unfair for anyone to characterize this as irresponsibility, without knowing the individual circumstances.
However, local governments must work out payment plans for these families who are delinquent. They should immediately meet with those families who first become delinquent so that huge bills don’t pile up and so families don’t have to worry about eviction.
I not that the Rio Grande SUN publishes a two-page spread of delinquent utility (water, trash, sewage) bills every year. On this list are businesses and non-low income residents. In some cases those delinquent bills are in the thousands of dollars.
Do these people receive eviction notices? Do these businesses get shut down for not paying their utility bills? Is a payment plan worked out for this list of people so that they do not face eviction?
The city of Española would run more efficiently if all people met their responsibilities.
Janet Ortiz
Pojoaque