Welcome...

This page was set up to inform residents about situations that are currently affecting our community.  

The first wake-up call was in March 2013 when a small print announcement was made in the Jemez Mountain Cooperative magazine that notified persons living within the San Ildefonso area that their electric rates would increase up to 30% due to the new easement agreement on pueblo lands. The rate increase has not hit your bill yet! Since then a small core of El Rancho residents have been attending meetings and protesting the increase to residents who did not have a voice in the negotiations. In fact, the agreement was signed without the Jemez Coop members (You!) knowing. 

Since this protest, the government of San Ildefonso has begun a series of threats to the community. We have contacted our Congressman, Senators, and even the New Mexico Governor’s office asking for them to talk to us about the living conditions the community has had to endure because the Pueblos are considered sovereign nations. Our question to them, does their sovereignty mean our own rights are null and void?? We need to unite as a community and take a stand against such acts. 

Our intent with this page is to not disrespect any group(s) of people but to inform the El Rancho residents of questionable acts taking place in our community and unite the taxpayers in order to take a stand against harassment and intimidation from San Ildefonso pueblo officials. We all need to come forward with individual examples of these acts (whether they are in writing or verbal) so that we can forward examples to our Representatives we have elected into office. Yes, “we” the voters.

Out of 1223 Jemez Coop members in San Ildefonso/El Rancho area, over 1144 are taxpayers and have been the least supported by our elected officials. Did you know that our Pojoaque community representatives in the Aamodt case have asked Congressman Ben Ray Lujan and Senator Tom Udall to meet with the tax payer community to address concerns and answer questions regarding our water wells and they have refused? Did you know who introduced and supported the Pojoaque Water Basin Act that just passed? Do you know who the top contributors to the Congressman’s and Senator’s 2012 campaigns were? Do you want to find this info out yourself? 

We are power in numbers. We are power in information. We do not have the funds to support candidates because we are too busy paying taxes, pueblo easement fines, high utility bills and legal cost to protect our properties. On top of that, every time the pueblo purchases private land in our area it removes that property from the tax base. What does this mean? We have to pay more property taxes to pay for roads and schools. 

The elderly of our community can no longer fight these issues. The younger generation has to get involved. Power is in numbers and votes. Please respectively join this cause. Inform your parents and neighbors who are not on the internet as information is posted. Please take a stand. Stay tuned.