Letters to the Editor

Letter To The Editor: Response To Councilor Reagor

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By RICHARD SKOLNIK
Los AlamosI refer to Councilor Reagor’s Letter to the Editor (link) in support of Ms. Garcia’s candidacy, specifically to his comments on HIV drugs.

As someone who has spent a substantial part of his professional life working on HIV in low- and middle-income countries, I wanted to correct an important error in Mr. Reagor’s letter.

Mr. Reagor states in his letter: “These expensive treatments are a boon for pharmaceutical companies, but of no use in the third world.”

In fact, drugs to combat HIV have been used widely in low- and middle-income countries for more than 15 years. I

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Letter To The Editor: Wise Advice From Nickole Aguilar Garcia

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By DAVID REAGOR
Los Alamos County Councilor

In a recent letter to The Los Alamos Daily Post (link), Richard Skolnik criticized a candidate for the school board vacancy.

The candidate is Nickole Aguilar Garcia, who departed from the standard media narratives on COVID and education.

One of her criticisms is of the work of Dr. Fauci, lionized by the media as a hero. There is a very funny video called Fauci vs. Fauci (link), where they show old videos of him taking every side of the COVID mask issue. Masks are useless, masks need to be mandated, “wear two masks”, and then the ultimate “masks for the vaccinated”. Read More

Letter To The Editor: In Support And Defense Of Nickole Garcia

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By JOYCE ANDERSON
Founder, Save Los Alamos
Former teacher & current home educator

I’m writing today in support and defense of Nickole Garcia, who has applied to fill the vacancy on the school board.

In a letter published earlier today, Richard Skolnik accused Ms. Garcia of statements made about Dr. Anthony Fauci in my private Facebook group, Save Los Alamos. Mr. Skolnik failed to provide a link of where those comments were made, or a screen shot of the entire comment thread, so that people could have some context. Mr. Skolnik is also not a member of my group. His information is either second-hand Read More

Letter To The Editor: The School Board Vacancy

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By RICHARD SKOLNIK
Los Alamos

Dear Members of the Los Alamos School Board:

Re: The School Board Vacancy

I write to you as someone who has worked more than 40 years on the health and education of young children.

The mission of the School Board is to enable high quality education in effective, efficient and fair ways. The School Board must also ensure that our children are educated in environments that are safe.

The School Board’s mission has been complicated by the present pandemic. Moreover, the number of infections in the United States is now increasing, partly due to a variant that is more transmissible Read More

Letter To The Editor: Erin Green For School Board

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By ANNA DILLANE
Los Alamos

I wanted to be present to support Erin Green’s candidacy for School Board, but I’m afraid the Community Development Advisory Board meeting conflicted and I serve on that volunteer government board.

I have had the privilege of knowing Erin Green for around eight years now (maybe longer?). In that time, I have witnessed her character, her kindness, her empathy and her dedication. Erin is one of the rare people on this earth who is genuinely GOOD. She is smart, she cares deeply and she will bring humor to every interaction she is involved with.

Since Erin had children she has Read More

Letter To The Editor: Questions Regarding Hiring Of New County Manager

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By BRANDI ENGEMAN
White Rock

Recently the Los Alamos County Council had several closed sessions regarding the three finalists to replace retired County Manager, Harry Burgess.

The published Council agenda packet for July 13, 2021 lists a candidate on the contract for county manager. At that meeting council will be discussing the contract but, presumably, not discussing the selection of a candidate from among those three finalists. The motion indicates that their final selection has been made, presumably in these closed sessions.

At the end of June 2021, I filed an Inspection of Public Records Read More

Letter To The Editor: Greater Use Of Fuller Lodge

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By ROBERT BOURQUE, Ph.D., P.E.
Los Alamos

I suggest making more use of Fuller Lodge. In particular, provide a new venue to replace Unquarked in Central Park Square.

Until their failed attempt to move to the original Blue Window, they had Science, Nature, History and other lectures (the “On Tap” series), dance and art lessons, music – including the excellent Middle and High School jazz bands – and political events.

Those are all sorely missed.

Some were moved to Project Y a couple of doors down. But Fuller Lodge would be a better place.

Sirphey, who owned Unquarked, could provide wine, Read More

Letter To The Editor: Thanks To Pig & Fig Café

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By Betsy Comly and Cas Mason
Los Alamos

All of us in White Rock have noticed and appreciated the new patios at Pig & Fig Café. They are beautiful additions to our town.

What people may not be aware of are the unseen efforts of Pig & Fig to improve the area.

When strong Spring winds caused cardboard from the recycle bin near the Café to be blown into the adjacent arroyo, the Café saw to it that the arroyo was perfectly cleaned up.

The arroyo is now a real asset to the nearby White Rock Community Garden area.

Thank you, Pig & Fig, for being such a positive part of our community. Read More

Letter To The Editor: Make Government And Civics Classes Mandatory

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By J. TAUB
Former longtime Los Alamos resident

Part of the reason we’re enduring the political climate we’re in is because for some unfathomable reason we don’t require our schools to teach our form of government.

Civics must be made mandatory in our school systems. Civics, which explores the rights and duties of citizenship including its theoretical, political and practical aspects, must become a required course in our middle and high schools.

According to the American Federation of Teachers, as of 2018 only nine states and the District of Columbia required one year of U.S. government or civics, Read More