Commentary: On Thursday, July 28th, NM Comunidades en Accion y de Fe (CAFé) leaders from Vado will receive over 60 tons of recycled roofing shingle material to begin paving three of their own roads, Cebolla Lane, Tarin Road, and Coleman Road. A local recycling company out of El Paso, TX partnered with the regional EPA office to donate the materials to Vado leaders, who have been tirelessly organizing for the past 9 months to bring much deserved attention to the dangerous lack of infrastructure in their neighborhoods. While the material is being donated, community members will do all of the labor required to lay the material; including raising funds to cover the cost of transporting the materials, grading the heavily damaged roads, and finding all the necessary machinery. In a community where average yearly salary is $22,000 and many families have mixed immigration status, leaders were bale to raise over $2,000. Brenda Zamora, community resident and CAFé leader, is excited for the project. She says, “Even though this is only a temporary solution, it’s exciting to know there are people willing to help our community.”
Vado leaders have invited Board of County Commissioners, State Senators and Representatives, candidates for Congressional District 2, and other county officials to join us on Thursday, July 28th at 4:00 p.m. for a press conference and a meet and greet with community members afterward. Additionally, Vado leaders will provide testimony, affirm their commitment to continue organizing for permanent changefor their entire community and communities alike across Doña Ana County, and give public thanks to all of those involved in helping the project come to life.
Background
On January 14, 2016 NM CAFé Vado leaders took over a community meeting hosted by County Commissioners Billy Garrett and Wayne Hancock to voice their concerns and frustrations with the inaction of the Board of County Commission on addressing the community’s failing infrastructure, especially in communities of color and low income rural communities. In 2013, County Commissioners voted unanimously to suspend Resolution 05-22, which for almost 10 years had allowed the county to accept private roadways as rights of way for county maintenance. With no process in place, community members have been left to deal with the problem on their own. Regional EPA Coordinator, Debra Tellez, contacted Vado leaders after hearing their testimonies at the January meeting and proposed the pilot project.
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WHO: NM CAFé Faith Leaders & Clergy
WHAT: Press Conference - From Roofs to Roads: Vado Leaders Pave their Own Roads with Donated Recycled Materials
WHEN: Thursday, July 28th, 2016 at 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: 120 Cebolla Lane, Vado NM 88072