OP/ED

Espinoza: Leadership Means Showing Up, Not Hiding Behind Spokespeople

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By VALERIE ESPINOZA
Former Santa Fe County Clerk

Imagine a CEO of a publicly traded company delivering polished remarks on an earnings call and then refusing to take a single question. Investors would not call that discipline—they would call it a red flag. They would wonder what was being hidden and whether leadership could withstand real scrutiny.

Now imagine a nominee for the United States Supreme Court submitting a flawless résumé and polished written statements, then refusing to appear for a confirmation hearing. No questions. No real-time examination. Just a request to be approved based Read More

Op-Ed: Flag Etiquette At NO KINGS

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By NEILL GOLTZ
Los Alamos

I am a recent immigrant to the Los Alamos community, but here long enough to have participated 3 times with the local “Indivisible” chapter at the “NO KINGS” rallies at Ashley Pond and along Trinity Drive and Central Avenue.

At a recent chapter meeting, I learned that a number of people in the community were upset with the upside-down display of two or three American flags.

I represent that this expression of my feelings is entirely my own, and in no way is the policy or advocacy of the “Indivisible” organization, or any of its other participants.

“NO KINGS” rally participants Read More

Gessing: SPEED Act Would Be A Left/Right Win

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By PAUL J. GESSING
President
Rio Grande Foundation 

Federal legislation known as the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED Act) would make needed improvements to America’s antiquated federal permitting system for energy projects. While Sen. Heinrich and the Rio Grande Foundation may not agree on exactly what types of projects need to be improved, we all agree that current laws make it overly difficult to unleash America’s considerable energy resources of all kinds.

This bipartisan bill, HB 4776, passed the US House back in December. Permitting reform presents Read More

Where Words Take Root—Inside UNM‑LA’s Writing Club

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By JEF BATEMAN, M.A., GCDF
Sr. Student Success Specialist
UNM-Los Alamos

Our little writing club meets at 2 p.m., every Thursday, in room B-20, which is downstairs from the library. We have a different writing challenge every week, but we also find time to share selections from the longer projects we are working on.

The club does not have a formal membership process, and writers of all abilities are welcome. These are the projects of some of the most consistent participants:

Jim O’Donnell: Jim is a literary stylist with an ear for dialogue. His current project is a short novel about Juan and his nephew Read More

Op-Ed: Democrats – What Is Your Platform?

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By TJ TAUB
Los Alamos

Signs, some incredibly clever, crisply accurate, funny – are fine.

But another critical message is: Democrats – What Is Your Platform? “We’re Not Them” is NOT a platform!

Our politics have degenerated and warped into two views.

          • “Republican” bottom line is ‘Dems are evil, we’re here to save you’.
          • “Democrat” bottom line is ‘We’re not them, send money’.

Dem communications must change from five words to describing how policies/practices got us here, and fundamental actions required to survive this nightmare and rebuild our democracy.

If you fail to see how Dems Read More

Dermody: Rooftop Solar Remains Pragmatic Solution For Rising Energy Costs

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By CONNOR DERMODY
Clean Earth Consultants

As Spring begins, this is one of the more prominent times of the year where I experience an uptick in consultations for photovoltaic (PV) designs. Since I started working with homeowners in Los Alamos County four years ago, I have experienced quite a bit of change, from available incentives to how clients will be compensated for energy shared with the utility grid. Despite the ebbs and flows, I remain confident that the conscientious switch to rooftop solar is a sound solution for your current and ongoing energy needs.

Here are a few reasons why I believe Read More

Op-Ed: Rooftop Solar Remains a Pragmatic Solution for Rising Energy Costs

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By CONNOR DERMODY

As Spring begins, this is one of the more prominent times of the year where I experience an uptick in consultations for photovoltaic (PV) designs. Since I started working with homeowners in Los Alamos County four years ago, I have experienced quite a bit of change, from available incentives to how clients will be compensated for energy shared with the utility grid. Despite the ebbs and flows, I remain confident that the conscientious switch to rooftop solar is a sound solution for your current & ongoing energy needs. Here are a few reasons why I believe you should consider Read More

Op-Ed: The Constitutional Promise … Why The Right To Counsel And A Day In Court Define Our Justice System

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By CYNTHIA FRY
Retired Judge
New Mexico Court of Appeals

Deb Haaland’s campaign for Governor has chosen a troubling line of attack, often used against lawyers, criticizing Sam Bregman for representing people accused of crimes. It may be convenient politics, but it is fundamentally at odds with our Constitution and with the very principles that define our justice system. Our system accepts that both the government and the accused have attorneys. They battle it out in a courtroom and a jury decides guilt or innocence. This system protects all of us from government abuse.

At the core of this system Read More

Beck: Fixing CYFD Should Be Incoming Governor’s #1 Issue

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Maralyn Beck is a former volunteer foster parent, and the Founder and Executive Director of New Mexico Child First Network. She is an Aspen Institute Civil Society Fellow, and a member of the AEI Child Welfare Innovation Working Group.

Since the NMAG’s recent investigation into CYFD failures, the idea of removing CYFD from the governor’s authority has been gaining traction. I know in theory that “removing political influence” from CYFD sounds good—I caution you that this short-sighted, knee-jerk response could prove problematic.

If you seek to isolate CYFD away from “political influence” Read More

Op-Ed: Criticizing Government For Not Having More Small Businesses Is Totally Misguided

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By BILL ENLOE
Santa Fe

I read the letter written by Lisa Shin (link) criticizing the current County Council for not addressing the wishes of the community for more local businesses and a more vibrant downtown. It is not a surprise that Los Alamos residents would like to see those things happen. Criticism of the local government for not having them is totally misguided. I don’t believe government should or can successfully subsidize private businesses. Which ones do they pick to support? How long will the government continue to support the businesses? What about the local businesses we currently Read More