OP/ED

In Op-Ed, Carter Heinrich Praises His Father’s ‘Unwavering Commitment To New Mexico’

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Carter Heinrich 

From the Sen. Martin Heinrich Campaign:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich’s eldest son, Carter, penned an op-ed over the weekend that praises his father’s “unwavering commitment to New Mexico.” Carter also criticizes the “childish” political attacks their family faced over their decision to temporarily relocate to Maryland and sets the record straight about moving back to New Mexico several years ago.

“Growing up the son of a senator, I quickly learned that politics can resemble a schoolyard, with name-calling and childish taunts. I’ve seen my dad weather Read More

Conrad: Rebuttal To Robinson Op-Ed On Produced Water

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By STEVE CONRAD
Algodones

The recent op-ed by Sherry Robinson entitled “Step into the future with Produced Water” (link) exhorts us to “trust technology and step into the future.” The problem with her premise is that the oil and gas wastewater treatment technology she suggests that we trust is unproven to be even remotely economically viable. In addition, no specified standards of what constitutes “clean” have been set. The treated water will necessarily have some solutes remaining after treatment. Will the water be safe enough for its intended use? We need unambiguous quantitative cleanup Read More

Op-Ed: New Mexico’s Memorial Day Weekend Made More Expensive By Credit Card Swipe Fees

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By BENNY HODGES
Belen

With Memorial Day weekend right around the corner, many Americans will be packing up their cars for trips to their favorite destinations. However, as folks fill up with fuel or stock the cooler with hot dogs and beverages, Visa and Mastercard will be right alongside every swipe of a credit card taking their cut. That’s because, unbeknownst to many, every time a credit card transaction is processed, merchants are charged on average between 1.5-3.5 percent of the total purchase amount, known as a swipe fee.

While initially charged to merchants, swipe fees are passed on to consumers Read More

Op-Ed: The Ongoing Advantages To Rooftop Solar In Los Alamos County

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By CONNOR DERMODY
connor@cleanearthconsultants.com

For a bit over a month, there’s been a lull, a lapse to the enthusiasm and interest folks in Los Alamos County have with the service that I provide. I work as a residential photovoltaic (PV) consultant, and the majority of my client base is within the County. The reason for the inactivity or radio silence stems from last week’s motion by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) at their May 15 meeting surrounding the changes to Interconnection Rule E-5, specifically the rate at which homes with rooftop solar (RTS) will be credited for energy sent out Read More

Op-Ed: Allen Saenz Clarifies SALA’s Decision To Withdraw LEDA Application

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By Allen Saenz
Owner
SALA Event Center

Initial Thoughts on the County Manager’s Response

After reading the County Manager’s response to SALA’s announcement, I would like to offer further perspective. I am not surprised that the County Manager saw security preferences as the only issue. However, my perception is that the County was unable to respond to the SALA application in a timely manner due to the lack of a solid process and guidelines for handling LEDA applications. The County seemed to make up many rules and “explicit requirements” as we went along. I repeatedly requested objective standards Read More

OpEd: Apartment Scams Alive In Los Alamos & It’s Ugly

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By JOHN COURTRIGHT
Manager 
Courtright Apts. & J&L Self Storage

Apartments or first housing in LA has always cycled with what Administration is in office. As a retired long time landlord, Courtright Apartments or for some old former tenants, Co-Zi Manor apartments, I can state equitably I’ve seen the evolution of the available rentals in LA.

In 1965, the Atomic Energy Commission officially got out of the housing business in LA.

When the town became private, my parents weren’t the only people in town to dive into the real estate game.

Courtright Apts. was one of only a handful of Landlords Read More

Op-Ed: Here We Go Again

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By ALBERT M. SPUNGEN
Los Alamos

I just finished teaching my high school students about the 1960s and the youth movements of the time.  Although the events going on today on college campuses and on some high school campuses resemble those days, they are not at all similar other than youth involvement. The 1960s rebellions, whether you agreed with them or not, were directed against all the ills of the time. They involved opposing a war America was fighting with boys caught in a clearly unfair draft system. They involved forcing the government and society into granting long overdue civil rights to Read More

Mead: Thoughts On The ‘Greening’ Of America (And Los Alamos)

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By WILLIAM C. MEAD
Los Alamos

I read the Op/Ed by Steve Tobin of the BPU with interest. I am glad to see the BPU and DPW thinking about issues and costs of green energy production. I have some observations and questions about specifics and about general societal attempts to reduce CO2 emissions.

I’ll offer a few observations and some questions about Mr. Tobin’s discussion. At face value, Mr. Tobin seems to be calling for a radical change in direction for 1) “green” (solar) electrical production and 2) related personal investments. I will deal separately with these two recommendations.

I certainly Read More

DeVolder: America For Sale – Cheap/Part VIII Cradle To Grave

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By MARK DEVOLDER
Los Alamos

Today I went for a walk and saw a number of children waiting at a bus stop near a residential area on San Ildefonso. For fun, I decided to look around the bus stop for pens and pencils. Sure enough, I found what I expected to find.  As I walked up San Ildefonso, I found a brand-new Bic 0.7mm HB #2 mechanical pencil in a crack between two concrete sidewalk sections. Value: approximately $1.00.

Later in my walk I encountered a child at another bus stop. I asked him, “Why do pens and pencils fall out of carry cases, backpacks, etc.?” He indicated that the backpacks are not closed. Well, Read More

Op/Ed: Los Alamos Lab Culture For Outsiders

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By STEPHEN DEROSIER
Los Alamos

This transplanted guy has had it with Los Alamos.

Scenically, it’s a geological utopia. Honeycombed with breathtaking hiking trails. Indescribably beautiful. A nearly perfect climate. Snow accumulation? New Englanders—as well as northern tier states—would be laughing at us. Coloradans too. Northern New Mexico almost always gets a peck on the cheek while they take the full facial blow, winter after winter.

But. Talk about having effectively rushed a college fraternity row of houses for over seven years…

People on this Hilltop, by and large, are not friendly.  Read More