What’s your take on the looming Chile War between Colorado and New Mexico? It all stems (pardon the pun) from a bill in the Colorado Legislature to put “Pueblo Chiles” on a custom license plate. – Sign me as, Scoville Unit
There’s always been a friendly competition between aficionados of Pueblo’s piquant peppers and those hatched in Hatch, New Mexico.
But the chile rivalry really heated up earlier this year with the introduction of Colorado House Bill 1012, a measure seeking to create a Pueblo chiles license plate.
It has New Mexico seeing red (and green).
The kerfuffle began when Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, sponsored the legislation at the request of the Pueblo Chile Growers Association. The growers believe a commemorative plate would elevate the profile of their crop.
Not that Pueblo chiles aren’t famous.
The proof in the pudding (or in the salsa) is Pueblo’s renowned Chile and Frijoles Festival, held on the third weekend after Labor Day.
It’s the Snowdown of chile, in which Pueblo welcomes 100,000 people a day over the three-day celebration.
Naturally, a specialty license plate represents a big leap for Pueblo chile marketing.
But that’s a step over the line for some folks in New Mexico, where detractors insist Colorado is “stealing” the state’s symbol.
Which is ironic, considering that New Mexico “permanently borrowed” its red Zia sun symbol from the Zia Pueblo.
In 1925, the Zia icon became the artwork for the New Mexico state flag, and thus, the state’s de facto logo, despite the fact it was someone else’s symbol and a sacred one at that.
And where to you see the Zia symbol the most? By golly, it’s on the license plates from the Land of Enchantment. Apparently, “enchantment” means “dropping the ball.”
A couple of years ago, New Mexico lawmakers entertained a proposal to feature chiles, along with other images, on a series of “heritage license plates.”
The measure died in committee.
No big deal – until Pueblo chiles were put on Colorado’s 2017 legislative menu.
House Bill 1012 is being fast-tracked in Denver. Meanwhile, Pueblo chiles are causing some indigestion in Santa Fe.
So allow Action Line to make a suggestion.
New Mexico could create a special license plate featuring columbines and a mountain backdrop to avenge Colorado’s perceived Pueblo low blow.
After all, New Mexico has mountains with columbines.
Colorado could escalate the conflict by offering a “famous potatoes” license plate to promote San Luis Valley spuds.
Then Idaho could promote homegrown honey with the tagline “the Beehive State” on its plates. The list could go on and on.
Of course, this is taking great poetic license. In the bigger picture, the Pueblo chiles plates won’t have much of a burn south of the border.
According to Legislative Council researchers, 80 percent of Colorado drivers use the standard green mountain-silhouette plate.
That means the other 20 percent choose among 46 (soon to be 47) different special designs, including a pioneer plate, a breast cancer awareness plate, and even a Fort Lewis College plate.
So let’s top it off with Pueblo chiles. After all, variety is the spice of life.
HHH
Last week’s column about street cracks brought out the inner art critic in two loyal readers, both of whom questioned the resemblance of asphalt repairs to Franz Kline’s abstract expressionist paintings.
For Haeryon Kim, the bold black lines evoked a different artist: “They resemble Robert Motherwell’s paintings,” she said.
“Franz Kline my butt!” added Eric Sibelius. “Look at the picture. It is so obvious that it is a masters-level hopscotch court. Perhaps Durango will be hosting the world championships soon.”
Email questions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. You can request anonymity if your preferred chile variety is ‘Durango Diner.’
