Invading their land, way of life

El VALLE DE ARROYO SECO a ' Jack Paule spent more than 35 years coaxing to life the Bradford ornamental pear trees that line his property.

[Spock in Arroyo Seco]

This is one of the most dangerous highways in the United States.
It is about time the state fixes it.
I bet all these cry babies will be the first ones crying when an accident takes place and they get hurt.
It's time to make way for safety.
By the way that ham radio should be in the garage with the 8 track tape player.
Internet is the future. Faster and better.
Beam me up Scotty.

[Gandalf]

Bradford Pear trees do not live much longer than 35 years. They are at the end of their lives.

[Liquid Stone]

sounds like the state really thought this one out. It's amazing how much talent there is in the planning deptartment.

[Justice Day]

This cannot be called "progress". Akin to "kill the messenger", "c.y.a.", and tresspassing; real honest hardworking contributing humans are being harmed. The constitution is on it's deathbed.

Another day, another victim.

[white bird]

Never underestimate nature and it's interaction with humans ! The trees could live longer than textbook dictates because of the man's care. There is a machine that can transplant them without harm-The tree farm that used to be near where Buffalo Thunder is now had one,it's called a Tree Spade, manufactured by Vermeer.It takes a 400 lb ball and the trees handle the transplant beautifully.

I planted a saucer magnolia tree in my mother's yard 35 years ago, it's still
beautiful. All the books and experts say they wouldn't grow here.

[Claude Hayward]

I feel for Mr. Paule and his trees, living things he nurtured many years to healthy life. What is especially sad is that the Paules will never know the people who lives will have been saved by their sacrifice towards making a deadly highway safer.

Everyone who safely drives past owes these fine folks a small debt of gratitude; the Paules, through no fault of their own, got caught in the path of necessary progress.

I thank them for their sacrifice and hope they can take some small comfort in knowing they have helped make this drive safer for countless anonymous passers by who will not know what others gave for their benefit.

And lets figure out how to save his antenna, too. Amateur radio operators ("ham radio") are a rare breed.

[TruettCollins]

Spock in Arroyo Seco wrote:

This is one of the most dangerous highways in the United States.
It is about time the state fixes it.
I bet all these cry babies will be the first ones crying when an accident takes place and they get hurt.
It's time to make way for safety.
By the way that ham radio should be in the garage with the 8 track tape player.
Internet is the future. Faster and better.
Beam me up Scotty.

Ham opperators across the nation are a resorce used by many of the military to keep in contact with family while deployed in areas where they are not allowed internet access. You my friend need to grow up and not attack things you don't understand. Let us take your property for 1/2 what it is worth and see how you scream.

[Honestly]

TruettCollins wrote:

<quoted text>
Ham opperators across the nation are a resorce used by many of the military to keep in contact with family while deployed in areas where they are not allowed internet access. You my friend need to grow up and not attack things you don't understand. Let us take your property for 1/2 what it is worth and see how you scream.

We need to keep in touch with older technologies, such as reading and writing, and analog communications backbones. These will be our friends when there is a massive digital communications failure, which seems inevitable. Remember about ten years ago when a communications satellite burped and cell phones and email were in the ditch for a day or more! Nostalgia? No, just common sense.

[redlightcamerasb ite]

Spock in Arroyo Seco wrote:

This is one of the most dangerous highways in the United States.
It is about time the state fixes it.
I bet all these cry babies will be the first ones crying when an accident takes place and they get hurt.
It's time to make way for safety.
By the way that ham radio should be in the garage with the 8 track tape player.
Internet is the future. Faster and better.
Beam me up Scotty.

"the needs of the many are greater than the needs of the few" the real spock

[Ambro]

Save the trees. Fire the DOT. I`m sure a compromise can be found. Can they move the trees without killing them? Especially they`re fruit trees. We have to save them.

[PlacitasRoy]

I feel for the residents who are complaining, but $130,000 per acre for raw land sounds like a reasonable eminent domain compensation. Anyone who buys land on a highway always runs the risk of condemnation. Unfortunately it is the price of progress.

[Leo Martinez]

For once, a few intelligent thoughtful comments and not too much name calling....

[ken]

Move the trees to the new front of the property to serve as a wall.

[Move the frontage]

road to the other side of the highway.
Problem solved, for these folks.

[Justice Day]

I guess I am alittle touchy on this subject due to an experience involving some land I own. Really I can see both sides of the arguement but I truly hope landowners are paid far above market price as obviously their land is not replaceable and in demand with no alternative.

I think eminent domain may be redefined a bit as there is a very real possibility that the Supreme Court may be hearing a new case in the future.

And I agree, this thread already has some very intelligent comments and discourse. Great potential....

[fairness is critical]

It is sad when people are forced to make such dramatic changes for Uncle Sam and growth. Not knowing the full details I can not say what is fair but I do know that the state should move the trees if possible or give fair value for them in addition to the value of the land below them. Yes, living on a highway has its potential for eminent domain but one can say that for many other situations also. If safety is the major reasoning of for this rebuild, and the danger of the area is as stated, I support the project but feel for the people living there. If it is not really needed I would rather it not happen. As for the woman's "retirement income from the land, if she is properly compensated, she should be able to buy another comparable piece with similar potential with her proceeds.

[Myles Horton Lives]

The point is not the trees or the fairness of compensation for property, it is the spending of another $70 (we all know it will be much more) for road "improvements" of the type invented in the 1960s, creating a killing zone for wildlife and another soul deadening expanse of asphalt and concrete so the "Pojoaque 500" raceway can be extended to Espanola. Most of the money will probably not go to local workers but to an out of state highway contractor again.

This road could be made more safe for much less by assigning about 5 or 6 state police to this stretch. Ticket all the speeders, drunks, and tailgaters!

[Truth]

I feel bad for the Paule's and the other residents that live in Arroyo Seco because it is their residence. The one that is being a little bitch about things is our not so esteemed Speaker of the House. He got the property for nothing, will make a healthy profit, and lives in Nambe and is not being affected residence wise. I hope that the state can possibly pay the Paule's and the others that do live there, a just compensation for their sacrifice in making this corridor safer for their friends and neighbors. It would be great if the state could help figure out a way to transplant these trees for Mr. & Mrs. Paule as this is an individuals years of hard work and passion in beautifying his yard. Change is inevitable, but, the state has to have some compassion for the drastic change that a project this size brings to these individuals lives. First these people had to deal with the Javier Gonzales fly by night cell tower that he and his greedy family put there illegally and now this. Talk about being tested. Good luck with everything Mr. and Mrs. Paule.

[Rusty Bumper Jack]

Boo Hoo

[Peter G Ogden]

A small taste of NMex future as the Albuquerque-Santa Fe metroplex evolves thanks to big East Coast Establishment real estate and investment firms. Very sad.