There’s a narrative device in fiction and non-fiction known as “the observer,” which is a voice authors use to see and describe everything in a story from a neutral perspective. In theory, that’s the same role newspapers are meant to play, which is why so many of them carry the name “Observer” on their mastheads. But the truth is that it’s often more complicated than that, and perhaps especially so at a local newspaper, which strives to tell the stories of a community of which it is also a part.
The stories published in local papers hit closer to home for the staff who produce them, requiring a kind of discipline national or international journalists – who jump in and out of remote enclaves as their assignments dictate – don’t often share. But all journalists are affected by the stories they report, and that’s never clearer than at the end of the year, when we look back on our work and our lives, and how they’ve been influenced by the people, places and ideas that make their way across our desks and onto the pages of the publications we print.
As you’ll be reminded in this edition, Taos County weathered a number of changes in 2024 – road construction plowed a path into the downtown area and the Town of Taos reintroduced paid parking to the historic district. The community halted other big shifts, most notably the proposed Tarleton Ranch Eco Village, whose appeal developers recently withdrew from the courts. Taos Ski Valley continues to evolve under the ownership of a billionaire conservationist. Forest managers are still working to adapt to a less predictable climate. And, along with the rest of the nation, Taos County residents waited anxiously for the results of another contentious presidential election, which saw a second Trump victory pollsters again failed to predict.
Just as this year-end edition gives us a chance to reflect, it also offers an opportunity to look forward, so here is our list of some of our hopes for Taos County in 2025.
Find a good use for the vacant US Bank building on Taos Plaza
It came as a surprise to the public and two councilors who were absent for the decision when the Town of Taos announced the purchase of the shuttered US Bank building in Taos Plaza at the tail end of 2023. The question the town might have answered first was: What to do with it? A community workshop held earlier this month drew no clear consensus, but the town needs to come up with one in 2025 – a smart use for the building that serves both locals and tourists and ideally, brings in money for the town to justify the just over $2 million purchase.
Make the Gorge Bridge safer – finally
To tourists, it’s a majestic site with dizzying views of the Rio Grande rift. To locals and other New Mexicans, it’s a symbol of despair. Dozens of people have lost their lives to suicide at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge since it was built in 1965, owing in part to the bridge’s 4-foot-tall railings and lack of suicide deterrants. Our state representatives and local officials have said they’ve listened to pleas by the public to make the bridge safer, yet little has been done. Raised railings, fencing, netting, or another form of deterrent are long overdue for this site. It’s time to make it happen at the 2025 legislative session.
Repair the Taos Youth and Family Center ice rink
We backed the idea of building a world-class ice arena for Taos County after a fire damaged the rink at the Taos Youth and Family Center this August, but the championship-winning Taos Youth Hockey program can’t wait that long. Since the early 1990s, the team has cultivated athletic talent plus character for kids and provided community for parents. The town should repair the rink in time for the 2025-26 season.
Make paid parking workable for Taos residents, business owners
The Town of Taos’ call to reintroduce paid parking to the downtown area this summer at the same time the NM-68/US-64 road construction project moved into the historic district rankled locals, business owners and tourists alike. While the town has made some concessions since then and said they will “ease into enforcement,” which began earlier this month, it is sure to face an uphill battle in the new year. The town should be prepared to continue to make adjustments if it wants to draw revenue from the new system without deterring the business in the downtown area that fills its coffers with critical gross receipts tax revenues.
Do more to preserve dark skies
Northern New Mexico is one of the few places left in the world where you can see the Milky Way at night, and the Night Sky Protection Act became one of the first laws in the U.S. meant to preserve that view when it was enacted in 1999. Unfortunately, that law and the county and local ordinances meant to support it have little teeth in terms of enforcement. As the state’s communities expand, these laws will have to become more than symbolic, with real penalties for the many violations clearly visible throughout New Mexico, including here in Taos.
Have a robust local election
In recent years, Taos has tracked national trends that show declining political participation, with a poorly contested primary election this past June and lower than expected voter turnout for a general election local party leaders thought would see record votes. Having dropped its independently-run March elections in 2022, the Town of Taos will hold its second-ever November local election in the new year, including races for mayor, two council seats and municipal judge. We’re hoping for robust political participation from old and new faces in the races and that everyone gets out to vote. Local elections matter.
Finish the NM-68/US-64 road construction project
The major state construction project snarling Taos these last four years was initially planned for a late-2021 finish. The New Mexico Department of Transportation now says the new end date is spring or summer 2025. This entry has made our wish list the last three years running. No more delays. Get it done. Taoseños want their downtown put back together again.
(3) comments
How about finally doing something about the wreck of a building filled with dead birds and redlined but otherwise ignored on the Plaza?
If even HALF of this list could get accomplished, it would be a massive step forward.
How about Animal Control? Its a basice tenant of public administration for both the town and county! Don't expect Stray Hearts to solve the governments problem!
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
All comment authors MUST use their real names. Posts that cannot be ascribed to a real person
will not be moderated.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.