Letters to the Editor

By LISA GONZALES 
Los Alamos

My name is Lisa Gonzales and I retired last year from the Los Alamos Police Department and the Sheriffs Department.  

I worked very closely with Jason Wardlow Herrera while in his role as Deputy Chief of Police with the LAPD. Jason was an exemplary public servant in law enforcement.  

Jason is the best choice for the County Sheriff. He understands the sex offender laws and registration process. He will hold all registrants accountable to follow their requirements as they have been sentenced to.  

Please join me in voting for Jason Wardlow Herrera for Los Alamos County Read More

By GEORGE CHANDLER
Los Alamos

To County Council,

A number of people have complained about the difficulty of using the new bear-proof dumpsters. The lids are heavy and about 5 feet above the ground, so shorter and not-so-strong people have difficulty operating the latches and lifting the lid. In my neighborhood you see a number of these with the lids left open by thoughtful neighbors so such people can deposit their trash, defeating the purpose. But that’s not the real problem. These things pose a serious deadly hazard and need to be retrofitted to remove the hazard.

 A child or dumpster-diving adult Read More

By DAVID HAMPTON
White Rock

There are good candidates for Los Alamos County Council from all the parties, and I would encourage all voters to get to know the candidates personally as best they can.

In this county you have that opportunity. I’ve spoken at length with 6 of 8 and casually with another. The League of Women Voters Candidate Forum was very helpful. The phone numbers, email, and address of all candidates are available on the Secretary of State’s website, or just look them up on the internet. Most can be Facebook PM’d.

At the local level, dealing with local issues, your party affiliation blurs, Read More

By LLOYD BROWN
Los Alamos

This letter is written to introduce my friend Catherine Taylor to the voters of Los Alamos County. 

I have known her for many years, and I hope you can meet her someday. Catherine is running for the position of Magistrate Judge, and she has many attributes that make her an excellent candidate for the position.  

I can always count on Catherine’s integrity and sound judgement. She has consistently provided me good advice and well thought out recommendations on a variety of topics. I like her common-sense approach to life, and I strongly believe both her background and her Read More

By GEORGE CHANDLER
Los Alamos

Recent letters from Gary Stradling and Sharla Dempsey saw fit to highlight that Gary and I share a dim view of certain provisions of the proposed nuisance code. I want to make it clear that is about all we have in common.

At the League of Women Voters Forum, Gary repeated the MAGA Republican canard that the worldwide climate disasters resulting from the catastrophic spike in greenhouse gases are just normal climate fluctuations, dog-whistled in Trumpist code that he has “concerns” about the integrity of the last presidential election, and in a classic display of benightedness Read More

By JAMES RICKMAN
Los Alamos

With the 2022 General Election fast approaching, I’d like to urge everyone to consider taking a little extra time to vet candidates for judicial elections to ensure that the public is well served.

Judicial elections rarely reach the level of excitement and buzz felt in other types of elections. It’s easy to see why. During campaign season, judicial candidates will often defer with a wink and a nod to the New Mexico Code of Judicial Conduct and recite a rote statement of “I will fairly and impartially follow the laws of the State of New Mexico” when asked about judicial philosophy. Read More

By SHARLA DEMPSEY
White Rock 

In our Country, we have a representative Government, an electoral system where citizens vote to elect people to represent their interests and concerns. Those elected meet to debate and make laws on behalf of the whole community or society, instead of the people voting directly on laws and other debates.

Los Alamos elects county councilors that serve for a 4-year term and aim to represent our interests as a community. However, on certain issues our community has an opportunity to vote and provide public comment. These should be regarded as the direction for our Council Read More

By TERRY GOLDMAN
Los Alamos

John Bartlit has done his usual superb work in his column regarding the history of checking facts (link). I applaud his implicit assumption that there are facts that can be checked for veracity.

No ‘alternative’ facts need apply. And as he says, “History shows the surprising rigor necessary to get facts close to right.”

There is an aphorism in this regard that I am particularly fond of: Science is the only known way to ask God a question and have a very good idea of how close you have gotten to understanding the answer correctly.

Unfortunately, not all questions are encompassed Read More

By Donna MacDonald
Los Alamos

It’s hard to believe that in a wealthy and highly educated town like ours, we don’t have a robust and thriving small business community essential for quality of life. Instead, we have a record number of business closures, fewer choices than we had 20 years ago, and young families choosing other places to live because there’s nothing to do here.

I am gravely concerned that Columbus Capital’s purchase of the old Smith’s and Mari Mac Center could be the final nail in the coffin for our local entrepreneurs. We have a hair salon, bookkeeping service, and restaurants Read More