Ivan Valdez: “Once Public Lands Are Gone, They Are Gone. We Won’t Get Them Back”

Public lands are shared and cherished treasures for the American people. They are essential for our connection, survival, enjoyment, and prosperity; however, they face various threats, including recent attempts to sell them off. “They don’t make any more of them… once they’re gone, they’re gone,” warns Ivan Valdez, angler and owner of The Reel Life in Santa Fe, who opposes any efforts to privatize public lands. These lands belong to all of us. As an avid outdoorsman and a small business owner who is part of the recreational economy, he encourages the community to come together and continue advocating for their protection.