Action Needed to Save Albuquerque Petroglyphs
10/10/96
*******************************
RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Topic: ACTION NEEDED TO SAVE ALBUQUERQUE PETROGLYPHS
Written 12:58 AM Oct 10, 1996 by swop in cdp:en.alerts
PETROGLYPH NATIONAL MONUMENT IN NEW MEXICO
IMPERILED BY ROAD PLANS
October 10, 1996
The Petroglyph National Monument comprises more than 7,200 acres
along Albuquerque's scenic West Mesa Escarpment and was established
by Congress in 1990. The Monument is home to more than 15,000
documented works of rock art, known as Petroglyphs, the largest known
unexcavated pueblo in the region, and more than three hundred other
archeological sites. The Monument also contains numerous unique
natural and geological features, including five volcanoes which frame
Albuquerque's western skyline.
Visitors from around the globe flock to New Mexico to experience and
learn about the ways of its native peoples who first settled the
region - the Pueblo Indian and Hispano peoples who continue to
maintain their spiritual and cultural traditions. The Monument and
its resources are of substantial spiritual and cultural importance to
the native peoples.
The Monument's resources are threatened by uncontrolled, sprawl
development of one of the nation's most rapidly growing urban areas.
Congress recognized this threat and created the Monument for the
purpose of protecting the area's nationally significant cultural and
natural resources from the threats posed by urbanization and
vandalism.
The Monument is now threatened by the City of Albuquerque's plans to
construct two commuter highways through the Monument - six lane Paseo
del Norte and four lane Unser Boulevard. The roads are being pushed
by Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez. Mayor Chavez was elected in 1994
by the narrowest of margins, thanks to hefty campaign contributions
from developers and landowners who now stand to benefit from the
proposed roads. Chavez has taken on the construction project as a
personal crusade. Chavez has vowed that the roads will be built and
has predicted that there will be movement on the issue within weeks
of the upcoming November election.
It is widely acknowledged that construction of Paseo del Norte would
violate applicable federal laws. For this reason Chavez is pushing
for a Congressional fix - an amendment to the Act which created the
monument which would authorize construction of the road. We need you
help in preventing such an atrocity, which will result in desecration
of a sacred area, set a dangerous precedent by allowing construction
of commuter highways through a unit of the National Park System, and
degrade the area's cultural, archeological, scientific and natural
values.
- Please write Mayor Chavez to let him know that you oppose his
plans for the roads. A sample letter follows.
- Please send a copy of your letter to the Albuquerque Petroglyph
Coalition c/o SouthWest Organizing Project / 211 10th Street, SW /
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
Thanks for your support!
Mayor Martin J. Chavez
City of Albuquerque
1 Civic Plaza
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
Dear Mayor Chavez:
I am writing to let you know that I strongly oppose your plans to
build two commuter highways through Petroglyph National Monument.
The Monument is a national treasure. It is a unit of the National
Park System. Its resources should not be degraded for commuter
highways. It is Albuquerque's responsibility to work with the Park
Service to ensure that the Monument receives the protection it
deserves. Surely you and your staff should be able to find
alternatives for roads which would adequately serve Albuquerque's
transportation needs.
Albuquerque is fortunate that Congress has graced it with a National
Monument on its western border. With the possible exception of a few
special interests, the entire Albuquerque community benefits
enormously from the Monument. The City should make the Monument a
showcase for its residents and visitors.
While the Albuquerque area is attractive in many ways, the City is
fast acquiring the reputation of being a place of uncontrolled,
sprawl development, and a City which does not do a good job of
protecting its special places. It will not look good for Albuquerque
if the City sacrifices a unit of the National Park Service to sprawl
development.
Please abandon your plans to build Paseo del Norte and Unser
Boulevard through Petroglyph National Monument.
Sincerely,