Letters to the editor: On financial abuse – Las Cruces Sun-News

A woman signs a check at a restaurant in New Orleans. Nearly 70% of millennial women have experienced financial abuse by a romantic partner. That means, for every 10 women you know in that age group, odds are that seven of them have had a partner use money to control or manipulate them, according to a 2017 survey of 2,000 people ages 18-35 by CentSai, a financial wellness website.(Photo: Jenny Kane, AP)

These letters were published in the Dec. 8 print edition of the Las Cruces Sun-News.

Among the different ways people in relationships are abused, financial abuse is one form that is rarely spoken of. Financial abuse occurs in 99% of domestic violence cases. While it varies in each case, financial abuse can present itself through limiting daily spending, sabotaging employment or education, causing debt, preventing financial account access, or simply stealing money. These tactics are used to control and intimidate a partner into staying in the relationship. Although it is commonly seen in cases of domestic violence, it can also occur alone. Research shows financial abuse is one of the reasons victims are not able to leave abusive relationships. There are people who think it is simple to walk away, however, there are several underlying things such as these that prevent victims from doing so.

Further, financial abuse can have an impact that lasts for years depending on legal issues and prevent financial independence, or long-term security for the victim. That being said, more people should be knowledgeable of this control tactic in relationships. Knowing the signs of financial abuse can help allies give support to victims through emotional support, but also to direct them to available resources, both local and/or national. Finally, understanding the different forms of abuse can help voters this season make informed decisions on using legislation to help support survivors once out of abusive relationships, such as VAWA4ALL.

Rebecca Villanueva, Las Cruces

Recently, our TV screens have been bombarded with negative political ads demanding that Xochitl Torres Small vote against impeachment so that the president can get back to "working for you;"one would assume that means working for ordinary Americans. Two out-of-state PACs are funding these ads: the American Action Network and the Presidential Coalition. Both are "dark money" organizations, which means their donors can remain anonymous. Moreover, each was formed soon after the landmark Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court decision allowed unlimited election spending by corporations .

The nefariousness of the Presidential Coalition is best left for a separate letter; suffice it to say that in May of this year, even the Trump organization suggested the Coalition be investigated (Swan, Jonathan. "Trump campaign wants David Bossie's organization investigated." AXIOS, May 8, 2019). Let us instead focus our attention on AAN.

The watchdog organization Issue One has unearthed many of American Action Network's principal donors. Millions have been given to AAN by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and Aetna Insurance. Hundreds of thousands have been give by Crossroads GPS (founded by Karl Rove, who wrote the book on reaping political benefit from fostering divisiveness), and additional hundreds of thousands have been given by the American Petroleum Institute and Boeing.

Big Pharma, Big Insurance, Big Oil do these anti-impeachment Trump supporters sound like your friends and neighbors? Should we support the man who is obviously being supported by them? Before we are all seduced by these slick ads, it is wise to "follow the money."

Robert Wilson, Silver City

I was truly amazed by the latest column by Madeline Sanchez. She is listed as a nurse, but clearly, as this column shows, she must be a theoretical physicist of extraordinary ability. How else can one explain the alternative universe she lives in other than by proving the existence of parallel universes?

In her universe, Donald Trump is a disrupter and that is the reason he was elected and also the reason he is hated and reviled among those (sic) want to retain the status quo. In my universe, he is reviled because he is a serial liar with a narcissistic personality disorder who has destroyed years of careful diplomacy with no clear replacement for this destruction other than nationalistic hogwash. He is hated because he is the hater in chief who attacks without evidence or merit anyone who speaks again him. In my universe, most terror attacks of late have been by right wing adherents spouting support for Trumps policy of hate, notthe antifa groups roaming the streets who populate Ms Sanchez universe.

Finally, Ms Sanchez asks that we focus our attention on the true meaning of Christmas love for one another, indeed even our enemies.I agree. Perhaps Ms Sanchez can find the will to cross the boundary from her alternative universe into the here and now, recognize the hate and sheer incompetence flowing from the White House, call it for what it is, and truly recognize the message of Christmas Peace on earth, good will to men.

Steve McLary, Las Cruces

One of the biggest problems we face in the US is plastic pollution. 9.1 US tons of plastic has been produced since the 1950s. 100 billion bags are used by Americans every year. Because of plastic bags, New Mexico's rivers and national monuments have been polluted. This affects not only the environment but the community of New Mexico since our state attractions are one of the biggest sources of income. The economy gets 6.6 billion of its money from tourism alone.

My solution to the problem is to expand New Mexico's plastic ban to the whole state instead of only Sante Fe. Paper bags will still be available for the tourists who aren't able to use reusable bags but the paper bags will have 5- to 7-cent tax when purchasing them in any store. The tax will apply to all customers using paper except those who have benefits such as SNAP, WIC, etc. In these cases the tax will be covered.

I would also like to expand the program that Santa Fe has where they offer free reusable bags for anyone. Places will be located in cities of New Mexico where people can go to to get the bags so they don't have to buy them out of pocket, this will be possible from the funds we receive from the tax on paper bags.

The ban has been in motion for fove years now and according to an article from NM News Port written by Hayley Estrada and Steven DeAnda, retailers from Sante Fe mention how there has been a significant change to people using reusable bags. More reusable bags will lead to less pollution in our environment, protecting our income, our wildlife, and our environment.

Adrianna Melon-Lujan, Las Cruces

Recently, the El Paso Independent School District experienced the loss of a parent and a 7-year-old girl based on unsafe school zones and reckless drivers. Safety precautions need to be thought of very thoroughly and police presence in school zones should be increased immediately so that incidents such as these can be avoided at all costs.

We need to consider the safety precautions that are already in place and evaluate if they are enough to keep the school zone safe. For example, speed reductions need to be made more apparent for any driver on the street to see. This can include an increase in appropriate signage to alert drivers and also appropriate traffic lights.

I urge the community to begin alerting the local planning and zoning commission of these safety concerns and have legal action done to enforce traffic changes that would make school zones safer for parents and children. Another added benefit to school zones would be to implement properly trained crosswalk guards. The development of a training course for hired cross guards would allow for more qualified guards and therefore a safer school zone. These are the things the city of Las Cruces should consider to makes school zones safer for parents, children, and drivers.

Kaitlyn Jurgens, Rio Rancho

Diane Greenholdt's anger (Letters to the Editor, 4 Dec.) is understandable How long will the Republican Party keep changing diapers in the crib now called the White House?(Yet USA Today should not be blamed;reporting is their duty.By doing so, journalists are exposing the human stupidity.)

Ken Kawata, Las Cruces

Kudos to the mayor and council for approving money to start the process for a new mental health hospital!! Mental illness will be considered the number 1 disability worldwide in 2020 according to Clubhouse International!

Pamela Field, Las Cruces

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Letters to the editor: On financial abuse - Las Cruces Sun-News