THIS LETTER TO THE EDITOR WAS PUBLISHED IN THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN ON DEC 2, 2008:

Third World County[sic]

A reference was made to New Mexicans "living in a Third World Country" by a visitor to my dance class. I was quite insulted! Then last night, I heard gunshots twice. After the second blast, I called the sheriff's office. Today we heard three gunshots in rapid sequence. Again we called the sheriff.
It's happened before, and we always report it....

We moved to Santa Fe because the real estate information we were given stated that this was a community of "tolerance, inclusiveness, multiculturalism, enchantment, magic, sustainability, etc." Since moving into our neighborhood where home prices begin at $300,000.00 we have experienced an ongoing escalation of violent crime, frequent nearby gunfire from passing autos in the night of the like we have never known. We live near a private nursery school where children play outside on a daily...