Letters to the Editor

By ALLAN SAENZ
Los Alamos Network
SALA Los Alamos Event Center
Los Alamos Business Coalition

Dear County Councilors,

I am writing to express a deep frustration that’s been growing for some time—particularly after hearing recent statements made by Dr. Shanna Sasser during council meetings. She has claimed that her department is actively connecting with and supporting all local businesses, but my experience has been quite different.

In fact, just today I met with Anita Barela, and our conversation only confirmed that those claims are not accurate. There is currently no clear effort or concrete Read More

By KEVIN HOLSAPPLE
Los Alamos

I watched the video of the June 17 County Council work session item “Presentation on Council Strategic Goal: Economic Vitality and Quarterly Economic Development Update”, and it leaves me with even less confidence in our County’s approach to this important topic.

I do not doubt that the people involved are good, well-meaning people who want to do their best, but I have no confidence from the presentation and discussion that our County is on the right track with respect to economic development. No measurable improvements in the local business environment were reported, Read More

By CRAIG EBERHART
Los Alamos

Los Alamos County Council, I have known several of you for many years. As you may recall, I was an ES&H professional and R&D manager for much of my career at the Lab. I was a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and a certified Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP).

When I saw the jersey barriers at Ashley Pond Park, I became quite concerned about their location. The primary sidewalk along Trinity is now completely bordered by the Jersey barriers on the park side and a busy road on the other. Using this sidewalk is now more hazardous for pedestrians and other Read More

By ROBERT BOURQUE
Los Alamos

Regarding Frank Banks complaining (link) about losing the Pond view due to the barricades along Trinity.

There have been increasing episodes of nuts driving cars into crowds. This may be, just might be, more important than cutting into your view. 

Kudos to the LAPD for being proactive. Read More

By N. HIDALGO
UNM Adjunct Professor

As an adjunct at UNM since 2020, I write to raise the alarm—not only for myself and my colleagues but for the long-term health of our higher education system and our local economy.

There are currently 939 full-time instructors at UNM and 482 part-time temporary instructors, almost 50% of all teaching is done by part-time, also known as adjunct instructors. At Central New Mexico Community College, the state’s largest community college, 66% of the faculty are part-time. Statewide, 54% of faculty at the state’s colleges and Universities are classified as part-time. Read More

By KRISTINA FISHER
Associate Director
Think New Mexico

As New Mexico enters another summer with below average snowpack and widespread drought conditions, it is heartening that state lawmakers recently enacted Senate Bill 37 to enhance the state’s Strategic Water Reserve.

The Strategic Water Reserve is an innovative water management tool that Think New Mexico crafted and successfully championed two decades ago. The law keeps a little more water in our rivers by allowing the state’s water managers to lease or purchase instream water rights to meet the needs of endangered species and fulfill Read More

By ROBERT BOURQUE
Los Alamos

I see they are adding vegetation to the roundabout in North Mesa. This is a very bad idea. 

It’s a traffic circle, not a Garden of Eden. It’s intended to enhance safety, nothing more. To do that, all drivers must be able to see each other, which is not the case even now. 

So move that mountain lion to Ashley Pond; then scrape, level and pave the thing. Read More

By FRANK BANKS
Los Alamos

Read More

By MITCH CASE
Fort Mill, S.C.

I recently read a column on the public update on the Mari Mac Shopping Plaza (link). The question of using public funding was discussed at public update. Columbus Capital’s Jeffrey Branch reportedly stated that if public funds are asked for and received, it would not cost the taxpayer due to all projected revenue that could be reaped from property taxes, gross receipt taxes and lodger’s taxes.

Who pays property taxes? Property owners. Who pays gross receipts taxes? Business owners. Who pays lodger’s taxes? Lodgers. Property owners, business owners, Read More

By ELLEN WALTON
Los Alamos

In response to “Cerro Grande Rebuttal” by KATHLEENE PARKER of White Rock, I would like to ask her where I, Ellen Walton, asserted that “wildfires are caused by climate change”. 

In my April 23 letter to the editor, I did say that “climate change will ultimately affect all of us”. If I were to give a cause for wildfires, I would say that wildfires are caused by lightening and other man-made ignition sources, such as a spark from a motorcycle, an intentional ignition, or a downed power line sparking. 

Kathleene Parker makes valid arguments Read More