Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Voting Yes Or No On Revision Of Charter Article V, Utilities Question Of Relative Risk

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By PAUL D. SMITH
Former member, Los Alamos County Board of Public Utilities

Voting yes or no on revision of Charter Article V, Utilities is a question of relative risk.

Advocates for the revision, which substantially increases political control by the County Council over the Board of Public Utilities, cite legal opinions that Los Alamos County and its taxpayers are ultimately liable for acts of malfeasance by both the Board of Public Utilities and the Department of Public Utilities.

Frightening hypothetical situations ranging from default on bonds issued by the Department of Public Utilities Read More

Letter to the Editor: Thank You From Los Alamos Heart Council

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By PHILIP GURSKY
Los Alamos Heart Council

I had the pleasure of being the coordinator of the 29th Annual Los Alamos Heart Council Health Fair, held this last Saturday, Sept. 27. It was a tremendous success, with attendance in the thousands.

It takes a lot of work and generosity to be able to offer free flu shots, reduced price blood tests, all kinds of free health screenings, exhibits from scores of health providers and, of course, free bike helmets.

The Heart Council would like to thank all those who pitch in every year to make the event one of the largest community events in the County. Obviously, Read More

Letter to the Editor: Safety Before Politics

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By GERALD ANTOS
Los Alamos

Wow! … Jaret McDonald supporters … are you serious?! You are putting politics before safety?! 

I saw the postings on Facebook and was appalled by the comments. The Jaret McDonald supporters were criticizing the Los Alamos Daily Post for posting a Safety Alert about a sex offender who recently moved to Los Alamos. This is a SAFETY ALERT not a campaign article.

For those of you who are not on Facebook, the Jaret McDonald supporters were angry with the Los Alamos Daily Post for posting this safety alert. Their comments were asking why the LA Daily Post didn’t just Read More

Letter to the Editor: Time To Get The DNTXT Word Out

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By ROBERT J. ARCHULETA, Director
New Mexico Department of Transportation, Traffic Safety Division

Our mobile devices have become so much a part of our lives that many of us would be lost without them.

In the palms of our hands, we have the power to text, email, tweet or send a selfie to our friends. We instinctively reach for our cell phones when we hear a ring, chirp or feel the vibration. How can we fight back against the urge to reach for our smart phone at the wrong time?

It’s time to get the DNTXT word out and work together towards finally ending texting while driving. By sharing DNTXT on your social Read More

Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard Addresses Omaree’s Law And Changes At CYFD

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By REP. STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD
Dist. 43: Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Sandoval, Rio Arriba

I have spent the last four years of my professional career with nine year olds for six hours a day, 180 days out of the year. I spend more time with them during the school year than their families do. So it came as a particular blow to me to hear the tragic news of the death of Omaree Varela. A kid who could have been one of my kids.

Of course we all remember the tragic story of 9-year-old Omaree Varela who died at the hands of an abusive mother, despite the fact that law enforcement officers had just recently intervened in his Read More

Letter to the Editor: Check-And-Balance System

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By RANDO MANLEY
Los Alamos

As an individual trying to determine which way to vote in regards to Charter Amendment Question #2, I keep coming back to the question that seems to be repeatedly asked “can we trust the Council to make the right decision?”

If Question #2 is approved, it’s been stated that the check-and-balance system that the Council and BPU currently have would no longer exist. The Council would have the ultimate say in anything regarding LA County. This would allow the irresponsible actions made by the Council to go unchallenged.

It’s my opinion that regardless Read More

Letter to the Editor: Clarification And Understanding Of First Born Program

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By MARVEL HARRISON, PhD
President, First Born Program
 
At a recent fundraiser in White Rock, candidate Geoff Rodgers expressed concern that the First Born Program was the government telling parents how to parent. For clarification, First Born is a non government health promotion program that has been heavily supported by Governor Martinez through the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department. In Los Alamos the First Born Program is overseen by a Board of Directors of a 501.c.3 not for profit group. Current funding is designated to reach up to 60 families who request services.
Read More

Letter to the Editor: Response To ‘Poorly Thought Out’

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By EDWARD BIRNBAUM
CRC Member
Los Alamos

A letter concerning the proposed amendments to Article V of the County Charter was recently published from a retired Los Alamos utilities department (DPU) manager now residing in Rio Rancho. 

It may be that his absence from the community has contributed to his lack of knowledge about the Charter review process and the substance of the proposed changes, but whatever the reason, I write to correct several important errors contained in his letter.

First, contrary to the writer’s suggestion, the two committees that reviewed Article V (Utilities) Read More

Letter to the Editor: United Way Youth Team Invites Community To ‘Taste the Sky’ Today

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By JENNA ERICKSON and AKANE DUNN
United Way Youth Team

I’m Jenna Erickson, chair of the United Way Youth Team. A few weeks ago, my teammate Emily Hopkins and I sent a letter promoting our first event of this year’s campaign Dinner Over Diamond. We had a wonderful turnout, and we are so very grateful to everyone who came to it. Thank you all.

I am back this time with the announcement of our next exciting event – Taste the Sky – taking place 4-7 p.m. today, Sept. 28 where we will serve dinner at the Los Alamos Airport. My teammates and I are very excited to present this event to the community and Read More

Letter to the Editor: Charter Change Poorly Thought Out

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By ROBERT (BUCK) MONDAY
Rio Rancho

I read with great interest the proposed changes to Article V of the Los Alamos Charter, which rewrites the existing Article V regarding the Department of Public Utilities (DPU).

Of course the initial question is why is something being “fixed” when it’s not broken? Full disclosure. I was the utilities manager in Los Alamos for more than five years from 2003 to 2008 and have been a utilities manager in both Gallup and Las Cruces. Which begs another question. Neither I, nor at least one other past utilities manager were contacted regarding this Charter change. Odd! Read More