Come back, Mr. President!: Letters to the Editor

Come Back, Mr. President!

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and U.S. Army Undersecretary Gabe Camarillo have visited Castner Range within the last year, giving confidence that El Paso would finally have our own Castner Range National Monument. Where has President Biden been? He visited El Paso without a single reference to the most impactful national monument that can improve public health, especially for Latinos and low-income residents.

President Biden made a mistake by ignoring Castner Range during his El Paso appearance. When White House officials announced his visit, our residents expected a commitment to conserve Castner Range, as he did for the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada. However, when it comes to our precious mountain range: radio silence.

But he can bounce back — El Paso needs a clear commitment from the Biden administration to care about our communities. Access to outdoor spaces, like the beautiful Caster Range, is crucial for our physical and mental well-being. It means more recreational activities, valuable family time outdoors, and becoming stewards of the land. We have been calling for Castner Range to open to the public for over 50 years. Judy Ackerman, a lifelong local advocate for making Castner Range a public health asset, even died before this became a reality. El Paso would warmly receive Biden for his second visit to declare Castner Range National Monument.

Sonia Rangel

East El Paso

Suggestions to lower heating bill

If your natural gas heating bill was unusually high as temperatures dropped, you are not alone.

If you compare the cost of natural gas this year to last year by units of gas purchased in each case, you will see a big difference.As a member of the fixed income population, I would like to suggest ways you can get your bill under control. First, turn down your thermostat that controls when your heater comes on. If you have a programmable thermostat, set the night temperature at about 64, and add some more blankets to your bed. Sheets will make you cold. If it is really cold, sleep between two blankets.

Second, dig out that old ugly Christmas sweater you hid and start wearing it around the house indoors. Third, if you have a pet, invite them to sleep with you. They will probably appreciate it as much as you. Fourth, if you have leaky windows, fill some old tube socks up with sand and set them in the windowsills and overlaps to keep the cold air from getting inside.

If the temperature gets really low, down into the 10s, make a deal with a relative or neighbor to give them a partial payment on their gas bill by letting you sleep at their house, leave your house after setting the thermostat to 50 degrees to keep your plumbing from freezing and your animals from dying.

Good luck. If you have a little money, buy stock in the gas company.

John Justice

Northeast El Paso