Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Point Is Moot

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By GERALD ANTOS
Los Alamos

Actually Mr. Birnbaum’s (letter) point is moot because at every gas and electric rate hike hearing for the last (many) years, the Utilities Department head has been quizzed about why the hikes were so high, why aren’t they doing better planning, etc.

Often hikes were returned for further consideration. Apparently this Council believes what they hear rather than delving into the issue. That does not speak well for the County in the future.

My guess is that there’s more to this than meets the eye. There are connections between rates, what utilities Read More

Letter to the Editor: Council Punishing Residents, Including Themselves, Seems Most Improbable

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By EDWARD BIRNBAUM
Los Alamos

It isn’t clear to me what action Gerald Antos (letter) expected Council to take with regard to the electric rates proposed by the Board of Public Utilities.

Council cannot make the projected DPU deficit disappear, so as far as I can see, it would appear that they had little choice but to approve the BPU rate increase designed to eliminate that deficit.
Remanding the rate increase back to the BPU would not solve the problem of paying for the infrastructure and maintenance improvements that BPU felt was necessary to provide more reliable electric service to the Read More

Letter to the Editor: Just A Heads Up To Be Aware

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By JOHN STEPHENSON
Los Alamos
 
Understand that this is speculation. It’s just a heads up to be aware. I thought I should let people know. I had a door to door salesman come by my White Rock home Friday trying to get me to switch from Dish to Direct TV.
 
I listened to him. I asked questions. We got quotes on his smartphone. I never let him inside. He wanted me to make a decision based on his chicken scratching on notebook paper. I gave him a water and went inside to Google the company. CORTZCOM. Very little information. None good. I declined. He became irritated and shaky.
 
All he got
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Letter to the Editor: County Council Is Retaliating

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By GERALD ANTOS
Los Alamos

Ed Birmbaum (letter) is correct in stating that the council has only the authority of accepting or remanding the proposed rate increase from the utility board back to the board.

So if they don’t have control then why didn’t they remand this 20 percent rate increase back to the utilities board?

The reason is that its called control and instead of remanding it back they chose to retaliate against we the people and shoved a 20 percent rate hike down out throats. You can look at it any way you
want but the fact is that the County Council is retaliating against the citizens Read More

Letter to the Editor: Better Question Is Why Utilities Manager/Board Didn’t Recognize Need For Higher Rates Years Ago

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By EDWARD BIRNBAUM
Los Alamos

Gerald Antos (letter) has an interesting take on the recent electric rate increase, i.e., blaming Council for the increase.

Does he recognize that under the current Article V of the Charter that the Board of Public Utilities proposes electric rates to Council, and that Council can only approve or remand those rates back to the BPU for further consideration?

Had the proposed revisions to Article V passed, then Council actually might have the power to deal with utility rates.  As it is now, they have very little control over rates.

The better question he should Read More

Letter to the Editor: Grateful For Community’s Support

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By LEANNE PARSONS
Los Alamos

Dear Los Alamos!

I would like to express my gratitude for your support, trust, and confidence during my first year in business as a Life/Leadership and Relationship Restoration Coach at Legacy Now Lived™. 

I have been so blessed to share my office in the Community Bank Building with many of you. You were here for my grand opening February 2014; you participated in many of my workshops, offered input and feedback. You have trusted me with your personal and business growth, worked hard to achieve your goals, and recommended my coaching process to your friends, families, Read More

Letter to the Editor: Reminder To Motorists To Pay Attention To Task At Hand

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By CHRISTINA HANSON
Los Alamos
 
Last weekend I was out riding my bike on the shoulder out toward the back gate when a car came within a foot of hitting me. The driver was on the phone in the middle of the day, and was clearly not paying attention to the road ahead of them.
 
I would like to take the opportunity to remind the drivers in our community that as the weather gets warmer and people get back out on the road to please watch out for road bikers. A lot of the roads out here (Bandelier, truck route in places, state road 4) have very very narrow shoulders, requiring bikes to ride out in the lane a little.
Read More

Letter to the Editor: Local Realtors® Are Not Withholding Information; They Are Following State Law

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By CINDY HOLLABAUGH, President
Los Alamos Association of REALTORS®

In response to “Won’t Be Held Hostage” –  Los Alamos County is not the only non-disclosure county in the United States.

 

The state of New Mexico and 13 other states are non-disclosure states for real estate. Our local Realtors® are not withholding information from the public; they are following the laws of our state.

 

All of our local Realtors® are the best source of information for property in Los Alamos County. Read More

Letter to the Editor: High Praise For Mountain Elementary Principal Jennifer Guy, Teachers And Staff

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By KAYLINDA CRAWFORD 
Los Alamos
 
The business of educating is an extremely tough one with high expectations at all levels. So when educators find the patience and energy to meet an individual student’s needs, it deserves appreciating.
 
Many thanks to Principal Jennifer Guy for her calm demeanor, for her accessibility, for her appropriately defending a dedicated teacher’s decisions, for respecting and listening to the parents and students … all while managing the chaos spinning around her.
 
There are too many to thank and name as I extend my appreciation
Read More