Letters to the Editor

By RICK NEBEL
Los Alamos

“For every problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong.” –H. L. Mencken

When you mis-diagnose what your problem is, chances are pretty good that you aren’t going to solve it. I doubt that the presence of wildlife in Los Alamos is the result of people feeding wildlife. There are so many other sources of food in Los Alamos (golf course, lawns, gardens, fruit trees, etc.) that it is hard to imagine that feeding wildlife has much of an impact.

The one thing that the increase in wildlife does correlate with is the fires. As noted by the Game and Fish people, there has Read More

By ANNETTE RUSSELL
Los Alamos

I am reaching out to ask for help in creating hope for a very special family. Hope to get through a very difficult time and hope for a successful future.

We are asking for your help in assisting a single mother, of two boys 12 and 6 years old and four foster teens: three girls ages 19, 18 and 17 and a boy age 14.

The teens were living in hotels and in a vehicle, on and off for years before they were abandoned by their mother who left the state. None of the kids had been to school full time in the last two years so fell behind. With some stability, consistency and hope, they are all making Read More

By TERRY GOLDMAN
Los Alamos

I am happy to know that Jody Benson is not anti-semitic (link) and that she is opposed to the terrible destruction and death in Gaza. Please allow me to make three points and recall some history before concluding.

First, let me ask what she would consider an allowed response if 9/11 had resulted in over 40,000 American deaths rather than the reported over 3,000? That (very) roughly corresponds to the death to total population ratio for Israel on October 7, 2023.

Second, I must point out that the term genocide, before its now widespread use, referred to deliberate mass murder Read More

By ANTONIO MAGGIORE
Former County Councilor 

I’m writing a quick note to give my heartfelt thanks and recognition to Councilor (Suzie) Havemann, she exemplified what an elected official should do and be tonight (Dec. 3, 2024, council meeting).

Yes, use your time to speak passionately and eloquently about an item you care deeply about. Then do the really  hard thing and listen to and vote as your constituents ask. I know better than most how hard this can be to do.

Regardless of the long term  outcome, I feel reassured knowing that I have a councilor who understands what government officials should Read More

By CAROL BRONISZ
Los Alamos

County Council proclaims small business support, but small business is impeded.

The proposed purchase of 3 lots across from the high school is anti-business (at 176% of the appraised value). A County purchase would force businesses in the old Ed’s market to lose their space when their leases expire, which will likely mean higher rents plus new space build-out costs.

The County stated it will work with business to develop the lots, but the history of the County working with local business is negative. From KRSN’s multiyear struggle to permit their tower, the lawsuit Read More

By LISA SHIN
Los Alamos

Here are 5 brief points in response to Councilor Suzie Havemann at the last Council meeting on November 19th, 2024.

1. Affordable housing: On May 15, 2024, Bernalillo County commissioners voted to acquire two plots of land in the International District, which the county will put in an affordable housing community land trust and are slated for the construction of affordable housing projects to be planned at a later date. The acquisitions are funded by a $2.5 million New Mexico Department of Finance grant that the County Commission also voted to accept at last night’s (Tuesday)

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By KIMBERLY THOMAS
Los Alamos

Los Alamos County Councilors:

I strongly oppose the proposed purchase of the Diamond Drive property to be discussed at the Dec. 3 Council meeting. My reasoning is fairly simple. Any deal that is presented as “You Must Act Now or Forever Lose Your Chance” is a standard practice of almost every scam artist! But, I’m not accusing the private owner of an attempted scam. S/ he is exercising their business right to determine what the market will bear.

However I am worried that you, our Council, may fall for the pressure tactics. The fact that other private entities haven’t Read More

By ANNA DILLANE
Owner
Boomerang Consignment and Gaia Gifts
Los Alamos Local Business Coalition Member

I am writing to voice my opposition to the County’s proposed purchase of three properties across from the high school on Diamond Drive. There is a petition to this effect at Boomerang available to the public until the hearing on Dec. 3. 

Why am I opposed to the County purchase?

1. The property is priced SIGNIFICANTLY above appraised value. Why would the County pay above appraised value on a shortened time frame (that the seller demanded)? What precedent does this establish for future property owners

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By MARK DEVODER
Los Alamos

I attended the County Council meeting on Nov. 19, 2024. I found the meeting to be very instructive.

People in Los Alamos have been complaining for years about “transparency” related to County Council decisions. After the recent meeting, I see that it is not an issue of transparency but an issue of the constituency failing to understand the development and content of the Los Alamos County Strategic Plan. In most cases, it appears that the County Council votes in accordance with the Strategic Plan.

I watched / listened as one person after another responded to issues during Read More

By RICHARD SKOLNIK
White Rock

I write about Councilor Havemann’s Nov. 21 Op-Ed on the proposed County purchase of property on Diamond Drive.

Ms. Havemann’s op-ed is, in my view, a superb model of flawed logic and bad policy recommendations. I would summarize it as follows:

The County has failed to create a policy environment that attracts private investment in property or business development

So, let’s substitute for that by having the County purchase a property for 76% more than its assessed value

In this light, I must ask Councilor Havemann if she offered her private sector real estate buyers Read More