April 20, 2023
To: KRTN Radio, The World Journal, Hon. Neil Segotta
From: James McMahon
Re: Illegal private party closure of several miles of Historic Old Pass Road
Dear Sir or Madam,
Enough is enough: It’s time to open the Gates of Hayden!
The City of Raton has dithered for some 6-7 years on what to do about an illegal private gate put across the Historic Old Pass Road by Steve L. Hayden, a nearby majority property owner from Texas.
In all this time, the City Commissioners have refused to enforce the laws outlined here.
This Public Nuisance, vigilante act was perpetrated by Mr. Hayden on the pretext of curbing lawlessness in the area a situation tolerated by the City for many decades. What the illegal gate does, in fact, is selfishly deprive the public from enjoying the locally rare access to the mountains, vistas, wildlife and physical history of the Old Pass Road.
Then and now, Mr. Hayden wants the citizens of Raton and Colfax County to foot the bill, by our years of stolen access, for his lack of due diligence before purchasing the bulk of the property east of that part of Old Pass Road.
This gate corruptly benefits the few at the cost of the thousands of citizen owners of this historic road and its right-of-way. Egregiously, the gate directly benefits District 2 Raton City Commissioner Donald Giacomo and his property beyond the gate.
Enough malfeasance is enough! Free Old Pass Road!
Respectfully,
James McMahon
212 South 4th Street
Raton, NM 87740
It’s his land to do as he wishes with. The city did nothing to try and clean up any of that land, or file for any historical preservation. I don’t blame the guy for fencing it off, considering the amount of trash and old furniture dumped around outside of town.
This is absolutely ludicrous and never should have been permitted. It’s time to set things straight.
The property isn’t owned by the public, and the roads are maintained by Mr Hayden himself. It is private land. He can do what he wants with it. Does Ted Turner allow anyone to wander his land? No. Then why should Mr. Hayden?