Ray Sandoval has been involved with Burning of Zozobra since he was 6 years old and took over as event chairman for the Santa Fe spectacle in 2012. He’s been involved in a firestorm ahead of the 2025 burning due to the recent removal of 12 Siberian elm trees for safety concerns, an action that has drawn sharp criticism from some members of the community.

Sandoval joined Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón on Wednesday in the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to discuss the reasoning and process behind the removal. He talks about the timeline of events that led up to the felling of the trees and the safety issues that he says necessitated their removal for the large-scale event, which drew an estimated 65,000 people for the 100th burning last year.

Chacón questions Sandoval about the messaging of the need to remove the trees, and what he may have done differently in communicating to the public. Sandoval says that he’ll live with the criticism because he believes the tree removal will make the event safer.

The discussion turns to Zozobra’s budget and the attendance required to have the event make sense financially. Sandoval mentions that an endowment was started last year to help set the event up for the future.

Sandoval also discusses how much longer he plans to serve as event chair, and gives some hints about what to expect for the August 29 burning.

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