Letters to the Editor

By DANIEL T. MONTOYA
Brother of Dist. 40 Rep. Roger Montoya
Velarde, N.M.

I have known Roger Montoya his entire life.

I was there when he overcame a stutter in first grade.

I was there when he had an emergency appendectomy at the old Taos Hospital when he was 8.

I was there when he started painting at 12.

I was there when he accepted he was gay at 15 and asked his family to do the same.

I was there when he placed in the top ten in the Colorado State High School Boys Gymnastics meet.

I was there when he gave up gymnastics as he was a much better modern dancer.

I was there when he found out his partner had AIDS and died Read More

By TERRY GOLDMAN
Los Alamos

Fr. Glenn states, “…not only do we live and grow and are animate like all animals, but unlike them, we can think, plan, reflect, discern cause and effect …” (link)

As a religious leader, Fr. Glenn is free to make such a statement. As a scientist, I cannot accept it. Yes, it may be correct, but it is a mostly untested assertion, not the conclusion of careful study and analysis of the precise type Fr. Glenn correctly asserts that we are capable of. We do not know, and admittedly perhaps, cannot know, the mental capabilities of many animals. But we need to try very Read More

By BRETT KETTERING
Los Alamos 

Ms. Hanrahan would do well to remember that one can disagree without being disagreeable.

Attacking a person based on that person’s age, ethnicity, or gender is inappropriate.

I would like to publicly thank Steve Reneau, Jason Halladay, and Reid Priedhorsky for their well done letters to the editor regarding the Stage 3 restrictions in our area. They did not whine. They presented reasoned arguments against blanket policies and proposed alternative solutions with reasoning for them. Such is not the input of a whiner.

I’d like to thank Jason for his Read More

By RICHARD SKOLNIK
Los Alamos

The county’s approaches to fighting fire and fighting COVID reflect a “tale of two counties.” Examining these very different approaches could offer lessons for dealing with a range of local issues in the future.

The county’s response to the fire followed the basic principles of good governance and included:

• Rapid mobilization
• A proactive approach based on the best available evidence
• The involvement of people with high levels of expertise
• Reaching out for a range of help from outside
• A well-coordinated approach across many agencies
• Communications with the affected

Read More

By KEI DAVIS 
Los Alamos 

In response to Lynn Hanrahan’s letter, characterizing Jason Halladay, Reid Priedhorsky and Steven Reneau as “whiney middle-aged white guys,” I guess that makes me one, too. 

I’d also guess my whining is at a lower pitch than a certain someone’s sanctimonious spouting, though.

Certainly the townsite’s inner canyons are a hazard. I know the county has done some thinning and cleanup, but that’s just been the tip of the iceberg. Indeed, very close to my house is a thick stand of dead-standing scrub oak right next to the street at the upper end of such a canyon, Read More

By THOMAS HARRIS
Los Alamos

I take more than a little offense to the letter to the editor (link) submitted by Ms. Lynn Hanrahan. Though this letter might be interpreted as too personal of an attack on the views of Ms. Hanrahan, it is an objective response to her insulting stereotyping of users of county open spaces and her failure to objectively analyze risk.

First, she assumes those taking issue with the overreaction in closing all open spaces within Los Alamos County are middle-aged white guys. Not sure how she knows this to be true but guessing it is just generalization and stereotyping on her part. Read More

By LYNN HANRANHAN 
Los Alamos

Yes, we know, your workout is sacrosanct. 

You are used to being taken quite seriously. Your opinion matters. We should all be willing to accept a greater degree of risk so your life style is in no way compromised by a historic drought worsened by climate change. You, after all, are you.

Please get over yourselves.

Here are 10 things you can do to make our planet a better place while your sneakers gather dust:

• Work to end climate change
• Write a thank you letter to all the Hot Shot crews in the American West
• Donate money to those suffering as a result of evacuations
• Write a letter

Read More

By JASON HALLADAY
Los Alamos

I’m a native New Mexican and resident of Los Alamos for more than 40 years. I choose to live in Los Alamos largely due to its proximity to trails, both county and United States Forest Service (USFS) trails, and rock climbing opportunities.

Sadly, I’ve watched the climate get drier and hotter here and see no end to this warming during my lifetime. While I do what I can to limit my impact on the climate, I realize it’s inevitable the climate will continue to warm and dry.

I have adapted my actions and behaviors to address the warming climate as best I can. I’d like to see local, Read More

By REID PRIEDHORSKY
Los Alamos 

Dear citizens:

I suppose it’s refreshing to hear Fire Chief Hughes state during last Monday’s Council meeting that open space is closed “no matter how good an argument you present to us” (at 17:56) until he decides otherwise, because it says the quiet part out loud: Los Alamos County leadership remains disinterested in non-elite citizens’ concerns or opinions, regardless of their merits.

Even though we’ve been told we will be ignored, I think it’s worth detailing why the total open space ban is a bad policy, and that better, more nuanced policies are available. Read More