Letters to the Editor

By WENDY ANN KREUTZ CLAYTON 
Los Alamos 

As if the COVID restrictions of the past two years weren’t hard enough for our local small businesses to navigate to continue doing business, I’m wondering what the impact will be of the New Mexico Paid Sick Leave (Healthy Workplaces Act), which just became effective July 1.

In short, the act applies to all employees – full-time, part-time, seasonal, temporary, salaried, tipped, or on per-diem as well as employees who are paid on task, piece, or commission basis. Employees will accrue one hour of earned sick leave for every 30 hours worked up to 64 hours, Read More

By DAREN SAVAGE 
Los Alamos

This letter is in response to Sue Y. Conner’s letter to the editor (link).

I would not want to be treated by a HS student if I needed first aid.

While many would be able to pass the course, they seem to be unable to put their phones down; it’s always in one hand or the other.

Also, they would only be able to render 1/2 first aid needed because one eye is always looking at their phones for the next text from their friends. Read More

Read More

By SARA ANN MASON
Los Alamos

Many are concerned about what the recent SCOTUS EPA ruling means for the US’s ability to fight climate change. It’s true that climate change is one of the most urgent global crises that we are facing, and there’s simply no time to spare in implementing solutions. The good news is you can start to be a part of those solutions today.

For starters, the upcoming midterms are the perfect opportunity to begin voting with climate in mind, and asking your friends, family, and fellow community to do the same. To go the extra mile, consider supporting the Environmental Voter Project Read More

By CAMILLE MORRISON 
Los Alamos

I admire Archbishop Wester for doing all he can to settle the more than 375 lawsuits filed by people abused by pedophiles in the Archdiocese.

Fifty years ago some of my friends and I took our children to a Christmas party at the Servants of the Paraclete in Jemez Springs. The priests who lived there were also at the party. Many years later we found out that some of these priests were pedophiles. Many of them were released to parishes in New Mexico where they continued to abuse children.

When Archbishop Wester was appointed to the Archdiocese of Santa he published a list Read More

By ROBERT W. SEIDEL
Formerly of Los Alamos

Apparently the ‘Black Hole’ has absorbed its own history.

Long before Ed Grothus purchased it, it was the home of Mesa Market, which began as a part of the Bond-Willard Store in Espanola, and was purchased by my uncle, John Martins, and remained in business throughout the 1960s.

I was the son of his partner, Wayne Seidel, and worked in the store every summer from 1963 through 1967.  After John Martins bought the Community Center, Keith Kelly took over management and the store was briefly part of the Piggly-Wiggly chain until Grothus bought it in 1973, not Read More

By JENNIFER MCKERLEY
Los Alamos

Thank you for your patriotism. I appreciate your honorable service on the Navy’s combat team.

I would like to challenge kindly your portrayal of the GOP in your Letter to the Editor of June 19, 2022 (link). By “GOP” it seems you are referring to local Republicans as a group. You ascribe offensive and unkind actions to a whole group of people, and I am unaware of when Republicans have committed such deeds as a group.

You wrote that the GOP is “so hateful to those they do not understand.” You wrote that the “GOP believes that EVERYONE needs to fit within their narrow parameters Read More

By CAROL CHAMBERLAND
Albuquerque

For seven weeks this spring, I attended an online course on plastic pollution taught by Judith Enck, former EPA administrator during the Obama years.

Here are some key points:

• Since 1950 nine billion tons of plastic have been produced, half of that in the last 19 years.
• Less than 5 percent has been recycled.
• The United States is the largest generator of plastic solid waste, by mass and per capita.
• 99 percent of plastics are produced from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels.
• Recycling was introduced in the 1970s by the plastics industry to shift responsibility

Read More

By CORTNI NUCKLOS
Sirphey, LLC

Dear Council and Mr. Lynne,

I’d like to address some false statements and suggestions that were made by Ms. Laurent and Mr. Styron under the Manager’s Report at the June 14th Council meeting.

I would further like to renew my objections to the county merely slipping a presentation on this matter into the meeting without any mention on the agenda, not allowing those who wish to be heard on the matter to be heard. The interactions of those present showed that notice had clearly been given to the council and staff, but not to the public all such individuals represent. Read More

By JULIE WALKER
Los Alamos

Love your neighbor as yourself. We are all your neighbor!

In 1983 it was not just taboo for a gay man to raise a child; it was completely unheard of. Thus, when I was born, I was given to a ‘good, god-fearing’ family to raise me. Those “people” tried to raise me to hate gays, people of color, and anything/anyone that was different. 

I didn’t think they were right then, and I certainly do not think they are right today. I am a Christian, but I also believe that some pastors are using their power for evil and turning their flock against people. Aren’t they supposed to be a light in the Read More