NOTE: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Enchanted Air, Inc. dba KRTN Radio
Letter to the Editor/KRTN
In 2005, I moved to Raton and bought a house. For me at age 49, it was the latest in many moves. As the daughter of an Army officer, I had relocated five times by age 14, when my dad retired. And I kept moving during my first career as a journalist.
Coming to Raton in 2005 marked the launch of my second career as a regional interpretive ranger for New Mexico State Parks. After 17 great years, I retired. And I’m still here, a resident of more than 20 years. The reason? Because of what Raton has to offer now.
I’ve often heard about Raton’s prosperous past, and I understand the yearning to revive that time. Certainly there are too many exhausted folks in town who juggle several jobs to make ends meet for their families. Too many grandparents and great grandparents providing childcare to keep costs down. As a community, we need to find ways to boost our local economy for everyone.
Meantime, I’ve noticed that Raton has been quietly drawing folks from other places, folks who choose to live and spend money in our town. Just within a two-block radius of my home, at least five households have moved here in the last five years from Texas, Arizona, California and Colorado. One couple chose Raton after RVing across many states.
Recently I did a straw poll, asking people Why Raton? One top answer: Climate. “Not too hot, not too cold,” said one man, summing it up for many of us, including myself. I love the climate here, especially the cool summer nights. Texas and Arizona are seeing very hot temperatures. There’s actually a name for people who move to escape this—“heat refugees.”
Other reasons? Peace and quiet. Affordable housing with low real estate taxes. Access to nature.
Nature. Sugarite Canyon became a gorgeous state park in 1985. My base for 17 years, this gem draws thousands to our area each year. In addition, in 2013 a three-mile trail was completed in Climax Canyon. That trail has National Recreation Trail status and is listed on the app AllTrails. We often meet people from outside Raton who stop to walk there.
Our fabulous aquatic center built in 2011 features a water slide and pools for all ages.
Thanks to Raton Mainstreet, downtown First Street got a beautiful makeover with a tree-lined transit center for Amtrak and Greyhound. Several successful downtown ventures now include: a youth center; a coffee shop; a brew pub; a popular pizza place; a health food grocery; a candy store; an ice cream shop; a cool vintage store; an adventure center; and two gyms, the newer one offering yoga, pilates and classes for kids and seniors. On the north end, we have a trendy vintage motel, and on the south end a second coffee shop and a new gas station. Plus two fast-charging stations built in recent years now lure drivers of electric vehicles off I-25 and into town.
Then of course there is the fact we are blessed with a good supply of great water and clean air.
Recently a former resident said in an editorial that Raton cannot afford to pass up the opportunity presented by a brand-new Denver company named Atterix, which is proposing a three-phase, artificial intelligence data center project of up to 50 megawatts. The first phase would be in the old Kmart building, the second at our power substation and the third near the Raton airport.
Concerned about possible higher utility bills, potential water use and non-stop noise, and considering such projects only create a handful of long-term jobs in maintenance and security, we formed Protect Our Resources. Non-partisan POR unites citizens across party lines.
In his opinion piece, the former resident—who left Raton some 47 years ago and lives in Colorado—said our group “is being organized and fronted by people whose résumés were built largely outside of Raton’s economic struggle.” He apparently referred to me, the “retired journalist and former park ranger.” The irony here is that I have lived in Raton for more than 20 years, probably longer than this gentleman, being that he left after high school graduation.
While dubbing members of our group as “sincere,” he encouraged everyone to research the situation. I agree wholeheartedly.
Go ahead. Do your research. Many sources around the country report that data center-type projects often trigger higher utility rates, provide few jobs and take advantage of tax breaks to avoid investing in host communities. They use vast amounts of water or power, and generate noise 24-7—a particular concern for us since Atterix Phases Two and Three would be right in town. Meanwhile, such projects must have backup generators that run on diesel, or natural gas turbines that require much water to operate.
And as this technology changes more and more rapidly, we could find ourselves holding the bag with abandoned buildings containing obsolete equipment potentially leaking nasty chemicals.
I’m glad the city is considering a moratorium on data center development, as well as ordinances on noise and light pollution, etc. However, I worry that in the absence of state or national regulations, it will be hard to ensure that any AI data center type project can be monitored.
As an individual, I support the effort to bring in a casino run by the Picuris people, an effort that could be expanded to include new hotels, restaurants and service stations. I think such development would be a good fit for our community and I’ve told City Manager Neil Segotta I am willing to volunteer time to the city to help make that happen.
Raton, with its priceless riches of a great climate, good water supply, peaceful quality of life and beautiful natural surroundings, will only become more appealing as other parts of the Southwest become hotter and drier.
Let’s be careful to protect what Raton has now.
Patricia (Pat) Walsh
Facilitator, Protect Our Resources
New Mexico State Parks Interpretive Ranger (retired)
Raton, New Mexico
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