Opinion

Letter To The Editor: Paradise Lost? Los Alamos’ Tragedy Of The Commons

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By MICHAEL ALTHERR
Los Alamos

The mountainous environment surrounding the Los Alamos townsite truly makes our community a unique and special place to live. Pajarito Mountain, standing tall and visible from most of the county, is the crown jewel. It would be unusual to find someone who has not wandered the flanks of Pajarito Mountain in summer or winter.

Now that crown jewel is up for sale for the bargain price of $1.25 million. That’s 750 acres at a price of $1,700/acre with the lodge and out buildings, equipment and cellular infrastructure thrown in for free! For comparison, the value that the Read More

Letter To The Editor: Unfathomable That Council Would Even Consider Proceeding With Rec Projects

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By ROBERT PELAK
Los Alamos
 
Dear Councillors:
 
After the bond for the five recreation projects was defeated in the recent election, it seems unfathomable to me that the County Council should consider proceeding with these projects anyway. It is especially galling to attempt to move forward so soon after the election and to use every last bit of available funding.
 
Going forward risks cementing into people’s hearts and minds the belief the Council is deaf to the citizens. It also appears to be fiscally irresponsible as it would leave us with very little funding left for
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Letter To The Editor: Response To Experienced Citizen

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By RICHARD NEBEL
Los Alamos
 
First of all, I agree with Colin Powell’s view of the military. The job of the military is to kill people. If you don’t want a bunch of dead bodies and collateral damage, then you shouldn’t send in the military.
 
The job of law enforcement is very different. Their job is to protect and serve. What may be acceptable in the military, may not be acceptable in law enforcement. 
 
Have you ever watched the lapel camera videos of police shooting suspects coming out of Abq? It isn’t “bang” with maybe a couple of follow-up
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Shin: To Councilors James Chrobocinski And Susan O’Leary: Don’t Splash Our Cash!

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By LISA SHIN, President
A Better Way for LA Political Action Committee  

On August 8, 2017, Councilors Chrobocinski and O’Leary will present “Discussion and Possible Action Relating to Proposed Changes to the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Fund.” There will be recommended action on recreation projects for the bond election which failed on May 23, 2017.

The following are my recommended actions:

I strongly recommend that the $13.4 million of CIP funds be used to improve existing facilities: the golf course and softball fields. The Splash Pad had an estimated cost of $720,000 Read More

Letter To The Editor: County Council Overrides Voters

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By BRADY BURKE
Los Alamos

This week’s County Council meeting may be standing room only!

During the upcoming County Council meeting Tuesday Aug. 8, the County Council is going to propose passing the items of the REC Bond, which were rejected by the County voters in May.

The two Councilors presenting the items for approval, James Chrobocinski and Vice Chair Susan O’Leary, are the subjects of a County investigation into an Ethics violation for their involvement in these items. According to the Los Alamos Daily Post (link), a complaint has been filed stating that both were involved in a Political

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Letter To The Editor: Response To Mr. Nebel’s Logic

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By An Experienced Citizen
Los Alamos
 
I would like to suggest that Mr. Nebel isn’t very clear about things and how they work. While “Down at the farm with Grandma”, I strongly doubt he’s ever been on the receiving end of fire. I have had that “opportunity” in Afghanistan, and would like to highlight some faults in his logic:
 
First of all, they are ‘magazines.’ Not “banana clips.”
 
Second — and against my better judgement of chasing down his rabbit hole — “Slug technology has improved tremendously over the last 30 years. They
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Letter To The Editor: Response To Mr. White

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By RICHARD NEBEL
Los Alamos
 
Response To Mr. White (link).
 
For starters, Tommy Rodella, the former Sheriff of Rio Arriba County, is not hyperbole. 
 
Neither is former Mora County Sheriff Thomas Garza who was convicted of tampering with public records by having deputies (patronage employees) falsify reports. Nor is Sheriff Joe Arpaio down in Phoenix who was just convicted of obstruction of justice.
 
Perhaps I’m just paranoid, but let me explain to you where I’m coming from. I grew up in Springfield, Illinois. In Springfield, there was a saying that
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Letter To The Editor: ‘Youth Helping Refugee Youth’ Drive Underway Through Aug. 11

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By Sarah and Madelyn Crotzer
Lindsey Thalmann and Pippa Fung
Ashley and Anthony Lestone
Jacob and Richard Thompson

A “youth helping refugee youth” initiative to collect a few items for refugee students recently resettled in Albuquerque is taking place right now, and we invite all our community’s youth to participate.

A local church is collecting 40 new solid-color backpacks sized for middle to high school students (no sports team logos or other logos allowed), along with the necessary basic school supplies to fill those backpacks, such as 2-inch binders, loose leaf paper, pencils and pens, Read More

Letter To The Editor: Response To Mr. Nebel

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By GREG WHITE
Los Alamos

I really enjoy debating with people but that requires facts and all Mr. Nebel offers is hyperbole about corrupt police as well as deputies (link).

And he’s apparently oblivious to the fact that New Mexico has been far and away the state leading the nation in violent crime as well as all other crime since long before 1980. Yes, I suppose now you’ll dig up some FBI stats to disprove this – just make sure you adjust for per capita population.

I’m surprised he says he backs our police as he seems to be afraid and distrustful of law enforcement in general. Read More

Letter To The Editor: YMCA 2017 Campaign

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By DR. RICHARD MARTIN
VP Family YMCA Board of Directors
 
I am a Member and volunteer Board Member of The Family YMCA. As such, I contribute time and funds to the Y.
 
I serve the Y and contribute because I have become very aware of the positive impact the Y makes in the lives of many in our community—especially youth.
 
The Y is conducting its 2017 Annual Campaign on behalf of kids and families in North Central New Mexico. The goal of our Campaign is to ensure that everyone can participate in Y programs regardless of their ability to pay. Donations to the Campaign allow hundreds of children
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