Opinion

Redmond: Why I’m Running For Magistrate Judge

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Letter to the Editor: ‘Live Exponentially?’ – Council Is Not Listening

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By RAO GARIMELLA
Los Alamos
 
It seems to me that the Los Alamos County Council is not listening.
 
Did it not follow the uproar in the Los Alamos Daily post columns about the absurdity of this slogan and the protest against the money spent in coming up with it? Yet it has gone ahead with contract to develop a brand logo.
 
Mr. Sheehey wisely voted against it because as a scientist he understands that this statement sounds ridiculous to scientists and meaningless to the others. The rest of the council doesn’t seem to get it. I am disappointed at the waste of money and the tone deafness
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Letter to the Editor: Better Living, Exponentially

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By KHALIL SPENCER
Los Alamos

Since Council just approved a contract with Atlas Advertising, LLC to create a strapline “Living Exponentially”, perhaps we should actually live by this slogan. I have two suggestions. These might address the flood of sarcastic letters headed to the Los Alamos Daily Post aimed at this $225,000 expenditure and also may remedy the recent upheaval directed at barking dogs.

Indeed, an exponent can be less than one, so living exponentially doesn’t necessarily mean living extravagantly but can also mean living with less. Radioactive decay, for Read More

Letter to the Editor: Resist Tampering … Vote ‘No’ On Utility Charter Amendments

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By KEVIN HOLSAPPLE
Los Alamos

I’m voting “no” on the charter amendment questions pertaining to proposed changes in governance of the LA County Utilities Department.

I have had long experience as a customer and constituent dealing with both the County government and Council as well as with the Department of Public Utilities. During those many years I represented a private, non-profit organization that was both one of the biggest Read More

Letter to the Editor: A Letter From An Actual Dog

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By Los Alamos Dog

First off, I guess I should apologize for being a dog in Los Alamos. People seem to be getting really annoyed with us lately. But hear me out (I’m not barking right now, just talking), because I have a few things to say.

You humans domesticated us long ago, and we actually thank you for that. We enjoy our lives with you, sleeping indoors on warm beds, always getting fed each day, getting medical care when we need it, and being on the receiving end of lots of love from you. But, no matter how much you may treat us like humans, we are still dogs.

We are territorial by nature, and that means we bark

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Letter to the Editor: Thought We Were Better Than That But Guess I Was Wrong

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By Responsible Dog Owner
Los Alamos

For those open minded enough to listen (and I feel there are only a few of you out there these days), here’s a few comments from a very responsible dog owner in Los Alamos:

I’ve lived in Los Alamos for 26 years because it used to offer the best of both worlds; city amenities and country openness complete with wildlife and green space. But, more and more I find that people are becoming mean, narrow focused and totally unwilling to do what it takes to be a good neighbor. This is noticeable on both sides of every issue. The issue that hits close to home for me these Read More

Letter to the Editor: Responsible Thing To Do Is To Support Proposed Charter Amendments

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By STEVEN P. GIRRENS
County Councilor, CRC-2 Member

Nearly two years ago, the County Council decided that the Utilities section of the Charter required an in-depth review. Because of previous work done by the 2010 Charter Review Committee, the Council understood that there were possible weakness in the Charter that could create oversight and accountability problems for the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). Therefore it created the Charter Review Committee – Utilities (CRC-2). As a CRC-2 member, I realized the work would be challenging. I also realized that I was going need to immerse Read More

Letter to the Editor: Why I Will Vote In Favor Of Charter Question #2

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By MARK JONES
Los Alamos

The central argument in favor of Charter Question #2 is that currently the County has responsibility and liability for actions of the Utilities Board, but essentially no authority over the Board beyond the original appointment of Board members.

The proposed amendment aims to preserve the independence of the Board to the maximum extent possible while still providing the Council the legal authority needed to exercise its responsibility. Included in the amendment are procedures designed to ensure a high degree of public involvement and scrutiny for Council actions Read More

Letter to the Editor: Vote No On Charter Question 2 To Retain Protections Already Provided

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By JOHN ARROWSMITH
Former DPU Manager

Since the recession began in 2008, both the cities of Farmington and Santa Fe have transferred cash reserves from their electric and water funds, respectively, to fund general city operations. 

Such transfers are easy to do in those cities because the utilities are under the jurisdiction of their city councils. When our county was formed in 1968, the citizens worried that future Councils might jeopardize the economic viability of its utilities for political expediency. Utility infrastructure is long lived, and it is too easy for political leadership Read More

Letter to the Editor: Response To ‘Control Or Enforce Nuisance Dog Barking’

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By Los Alamos resident/homeowner

The writer of “Please Address Failure to Control or Enforce Nuisance Dog Barking” (here), asked for corroboration. 
 
Based on my experiences, and those of some of my nearer neighbors, I’d posit that the chronic situation they describe is replicated in dozens of locations in Los Alamos County per year.
 
I’ve lived in the same location in LA for 10 years. I live with three nearby dogs that are only minor nuisances (two of those wake me before sunrise only rarely, one barks at every single passerby, of which there are many
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