Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Elections For All But Los Alamos

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Elections For All But Los Alamos

By RICHARD “SKIP” DUNN
Los Alamos Governmental Review Initiative

Ahhh!  Hints of spring are in the air. The Sandhill Cranes are flying north, the days are longer, and communities all over New Mexico are alive and vibrant with talk and debate surrounding the issues and candidates to be voted on in the municipal elections.

In New Mexico, most municipal elections are held on the first Tuesday in March (March 4 this year) including surrounding towns of Santa Fe, Espanola, Jemez Springs and Taos: and in all the farthest reaches Read More

Letter to the Editor: Missing Footnote to R-3-H-40 (Very High Density) Zoning

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By PAUL D. SMITH
Former Member and Chair
Los Alamos County Planning and Zoning Commission

The R-3-H-40 Multiple-Family (Very High Density) zone was established 30 some years ago to accommodate senior citizen housing where the Aspen Ridge Lodge now stands. 

The R-3-H-40 description in the County Development Code was footnoted to the effect that this zone was created for senior housing, many residents of which were presumed not to own motor vehicles. In time, as the Development Code went through reprintings, the footnote was edited out. This oversight offered attractive opportunities Read More

Letter to the Editor: Explaining Position on Pending Rezoning of UNM-LA Apartments

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By CHRIS and GEORGE CHANDLER
Los Alamos

We believe it is appropriate to explain our position on the pending rezoning of the apartments owned by UNM-LA on 9th Street.

There are 64 units in two buildings located on a parcel of land that is 1.88 acres. This land is zoned R3H, which allows for residential housing at a density of 21.8 du per acre, 20 feet front and 15 feet rear setbacks, and a maximum height of 35 feet.  There are more units than allowed in this zone: it was built in 1949 (along with most of the other apartment buildings in the area) and the zone was imposed on it long after the government built Read More

Letter to the Editor: Consider Used Bookstore in New White Rock Library Plan

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By ROBERTA and JOHN MARINUZZI
Los Alamos

We would like to thank everyone involved with Public Forums and Meetings regarding the building of the new White Rock Library.  

The preferred building site on the corner of State 4 and Sherwood Boulevard would seem to be the best location for the Library. We would like to encourage the building committee to consider having a used bookstore included in the White Rock plan similar to the one we have uptown.

There have been some comments made about not having enough volunteers to run such an endeavor. After discussing these comments with a great Read More

Letter to the Editor: Clarification of UNM-LA Rezoning Request and An Invitation to A Community Meeting

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By CEDRIC D. PAGE
Executive Director UNM-LA

UNM-Los Alamos has been working for the last six years (since I became the executive director) on a solution to the challenges of our student housing complex.

All renovation options have been exhausted or too expensive. Our decision to engage a highly qualified developer has been difficult. In fact, the County’s experience in securing a developer for the Trinity site demonstrated just how challenging redevelopment in Los Alamos can be for something so vital to the future of our community.

The UNM-LA redevelopment will address both student housing

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Letter to the Editor: Don’t Just Count The Beans

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By RICK MIRANDA
Los Alamos

Back in the early nineties, before the Los Alamos Mesa Public Library moved over from Central Avenue, next to the Post Office, into its current location one of the big noises being made by people in favor of the move was the lack of space for books in the old spot. The move was made, and two or three years ago thousands of non-fiction books were chucked off of the library’s shelves….. many, many rows worth, about six feet high.

A lot of these were fantastic books. So much for more space! The White Rock branch was similarly diminished. An avid reader, I can’t go into the Mesa Read More

Letter to the Editor: Thank You For Supporting Valentines For Vets Event

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By Roger Anaya, Post Commander
John D Gamble Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8874
Los Alamos

Members of 10 different VFW Posts visited the Albuquerque Veterans Hospital Feb. 16 along with their Ladies Auxiliaries, the Military Order of the Cooties and their Auxiliaries, the Patriot Guard Riders, the Albuquerque Chapter of the American Legion Riders, the Espanola Chapter of the Blue Star Moms, the Bataan Military Academy Cadets, First Fruits Ministry, and Sangre de Cristo Chaplain Services. 

As part of the Valentines for Vets program, we distributed Valentine’s Day Cards, toiletries, Read More

Education 101: The 2015 New Mexico State Budget, After Fight, Benefits K-12 Education

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Education 101:
The 2015 New Mexico State Budget, After Fight, Benefits K-12 Education
By Save Our Schools Los Alamos

The New Mexico State Legislature ended its 30-day legislative session this week, sending its 2015 budget recommendation to Gov. Susana Martinez just a day before the session ended. The Governor has until March 12 to consider it and has the right to a line item veto should she choose to use it. So while the fight over education funding isn’t over yet, it’s looking pretty good for K-12 education.

From our perch in Los Alamos, we think it’s fair to say that so far this year, Read More

Letter to the Editor: Objection to UNM-LA’s Rezoning Waiver Request

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By DAVID L. CLARK
Los Alamos
 
UNM-LA has requested rezoning the two block “student housing” property on 9th Street from “high density” to “very high density” so they can build a four-story apartment building (50 feet tall, two blocks long) from Iris to Myrtle streets. To accomplish this, they are asking Los Alamos County to waive the requirement for the minimum lot size for “very high density” zoning.
 
The new apartments will no longer be for student housing. The building will be built and managed by an out of state company. They will increase the number of units from 60 to 84 one- and two-bedroom
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