For over 100 years, the vast majority of people used a road to access the Monticello Box Canyon responsibly. The views in the area are breathtaking, and it's much faster to access the areas near Dusty, NM via Monticello road than going through Winston and Chloride. Some signers have also indicated that this road provides important access to native ancestral sites, which are now blocked.

Rather than send more law enforcement to the area to stop the few who abused the area, the Sierra County Commission chose instead to close the area entirely.

It's still accessible from the other end in Socorro County, but that may soon be closed as well.

This is not only a vital tourism attraction for the area, but it really makes no sense to block the decent people who visit the area.

It is also of questionable legality to close a well-established road because a few landowners want it closed. The users of state and federal lands in the area have been denied their right to have a voice in the decision, and the Unlawful Enclosures Act clearly prohibits denial of access to public lands.

We, the undersigned, request that the commissions responsible for this decision do the right thing and keep the road open. We also request that the governor's office and National Forest Service get involved to help protect the other users of the area from the irresponsible and unlawful actions of the Sierra County Commission.