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Dear Friend,
Nothing is more important than water. Access to clean, reliable water is something we all depend on and  can’t live without.
As COVID-19 was first hitting New Mexico, we learned about the disproportionate impact the pandemic is having on Native communities—and how access to clean water is a critical impediment. This is especially true for the Village of To’hajiilee, a chapter of the Navajo Nation along the furthermost western boundary of Bernalillo County, and in my district. The wells that supply clean water to To’hajiilee have all but dried up. All clean drinking water for all households, clinics, schools, etc., must be shipped in. There’s no question, this a humanitarian crisis.
The county is trying to help the community of To’hajiilee, but a familiar multi-million dollar development corporation is blocking our way.
BACKGROUND
Two years ago representatives for To’hajiilee asked to meet with the land agents for adjacent landowners, Western Albuquerque Land Holdings, LLC (WAHL), owners of Santolina, to ask for the opportunity to acquire the right of way necessary to deliver water to To’hajiilee, with all costs to be borne by the Navajo Nation.
The landowners’ response: “. . .WAHL is not interested. . .”
It can only be corporate greed on the part of WAHL that is driving their decision to deny this desperate neighbor access to water. How can a person think otherwise, when the state and county have directly and indirectly increased the value of WAHL’s property exponentially over the years through infrastructure improvements, entitlements such as planning, zoning, and Tax Increment Districts, and most recently with my support, $7 million in improvements to Atrisco Vista Boulevard to attract more jobs, such as Amazon. And yet, WAHL will not allow a distribution line along an existing easement to be built to deliver water to a suffering community!?!
Two months ago, I asked the county to move to condemn the right of way as soon as possible in order to provide To’hajiilee’s engineers the opportunity to begin construction of a water distribution line. Thankfully, the County Commission agreed to support the action to condemn if necessary.
Of course, condemnation proceedings can take a long time when To’hajiilee could be benefiting from having drinking water today!
Sadly, the scenario that puts profit over people continues to take place over and over in our poorer communities. Our responsibility as elected officials is to shine light on these inequities, and work to bring systemic change for the benefit of those who have been and continue to be marginalized. I hope you will take up my call to action.
 CALL TO ACTION
The individual investors that make up WAHL should do the right thing, act with decency, and immediately agree to provide the right of way necessary to bring clean water to To’hajiilee.
Please join me and the growing list of elected officials in support of the county’s efforts to bring clean water to the Village of To’hajiilee: Sen. Benny Shendo, Rep. Harry Garcia, Rep. Joy Garratt, Sen. Linda Lopez, Rep. Patrica Roybal Caballero, Rep. Andres Romero, Rep. Javier Martinez, Rep. Joseph Sanchez, Rep. Angelica Rubio, Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez, Sen. Mimi Stewart, and Rep. Debbie Sarinana.
Contact the agents for WAHL, Garrett Development and Asset Management, Jeff Garrett at Jeff@gdc-az.com, and Ted Garrett at ted@ggi-nm.com, or at 480-970-4005, and tell them that WAHL needs to agree to provide the right of way immediately. Time is of the essence.
Thank you,
Debbie O’Malley,
Bernalillo County Commissioner, District 1
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