Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Reject Los Alamos Charter Amendments

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By Robert A. Pelak
Los Alamos

Like Albuquerque and Santa Fe, the structure of the government of Los Alamos is defined by a charter that was adopted by its citizens.

Also, like Albuquerque and Santa Fe, this charter allows its citizen to directly participate in their government by means of petitions for initiatives (proposing new ordinances), referenda (rejection of newly passed ordinances) and recall (removing elected officials) as well as amendment of the charter.

If a petition gathers enough signatures within the allotted time period, then the subject of the petition is put to a vote of all Read More

Letter to the Editor: I Voted to Pass Torch to New Generation

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By Carl Newton
White Rock

How sad that elections for New Mexico House seats have been tarnished by fictionalizing candidate positions and funded by donors that have no cultural connections with our residents.

I am further saddened when my chosen candidate, Stephanie Garcia Richard, is belittled by her opponent.

Don’t be misled into believing that Stephanie lacks the relevant accomplishments.

As a bilingual third grade teacher, subject to externally applied accountability rules, she is focused on developing “the living messengers to a time we will not see.”

Stephanie is able to be a bridge Read More

Letter to the Editor: Rhetoric Makes Charter Changes Sound Draconian

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By Fran Berting
Los Alamos County Councilor

The rhetoric regarding the Charter ballot questions on initiative, referendum and recall is making the changes sound positively draconian!

Let’s look at what the most widely challenged changes actually do.

For Initiatives

1) No change in the percentage of voters needed (so not noted in the ballot question) but a change in the basis for the number of signatures required for initiatives from 15 percent of voters in the last general election to 15 percent of the number of voters in the arithmetic mean of the past two general elections. (Election Read More

Letter to the Editor: Crossing the Aisle for Kristin Henderson

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By Dr. Michelle and David Carr
Los Alamos

We are conservative Republicans but we are crossing the aisle next Tuesday to vote for Kristin Henderson for County Council.

Her effort on the Trinity Site Committee and a well-run campaign demonstrate her work ethic.

She understands the needs of families with children and is committed to improving the already great quality of life in Los Alamos.

Because she is a realtor, Kristin has a good understanding of the local housing and real estate market, which is the main limiting factor to business expansion in our town.

Kristin is also an attorney, and understands Read More

Letter to the Editor: Attack Ads

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By Khalil J Spencer
Los Alamos

If Citizens United is not overturned or modified, the County is going to have to send us larger recycling and garbage bins at election season to handle the third-party PAC attack ads in our mailboxes.

 
Not to mention, most of us will unplug our phones. Come to think of it, much of this literature smells too badly to be put in our recycling bins.
 
Perhaps, therefore, the solution to Citizens United is these PACs need to be taxed heavily to support our solid waste disposal systems.

In local races, we have to see each other on the street the next morning. PACs, on

Read More

Letter to the Editor: What Are We Voting On Anyway?

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By Joel M. Williams
Los Alamos

One would gather that the voters are voting on a bunch of amendments to the charter so that the revision is final and ratified by us.

Apparently, NOT SO. We have just gotten a new administrator whose input would be valuable, but there seems to be an effort to drive the CRC’s revision through with all haste.

So, why are we now in the throes of MORE amendments by the council while we are voting?

Sounds like the CRC and the council are piecemealing it to us and certainly do NOT have a firm grasp on the total situation/package. So much for a comprehensive review!

Are we to believe Read More

Letter to the Editor: Don’t Let ‘C.A.V.E. People’ Torpedo Future

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By William T. Sellers
Los Alamos

Sometimes one simply has to step outside the immediate “box” of one’s perspective to see the bigger picture of what’s really at stake.  

In his seminal work, Civilisation, the great British historian Kenneth Clark details the vignette of a decaying ancient city perched high above a river valley for protection, one that had long outlived its earlier dynamism, and now was suddenly confronted with the immediate danger of a barbarian horde camped out in the valley below.  

As the indolent citizenry pondered their impending fate with some Read More

Column: Two Reasons Governor Supports Jim Hall

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Two Reasons Gov. Susana Martinez Supports Jim Hall:
Attracting Business and Reforming Education
 
By Mandy Marksteiner

Last Sunday Susana Martinez travelled to Los Alamos to support Jim Hall to be re-elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives.

In her speech she described how Hall worked to reform taxes so that construction and manufacturing companies could recover from the economic recession, and how he supported a “no social promotion bill,” and made sure that the initiative was fully funded.

Reforming the business tax system to allow businesses to thrive in New Mexico

“We’re Read More

Letter to the Editor: Charter Vote is Turning Point in Los Alamos History

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By Ellen Walton
Los Alamos

Protecting citizen home rule in Los Alamos begins with the voter. You have before you four ballot questions for Los Alamos County charter amendments, and a very serious decision to make about your home rule government. 

A vote of “yes” to these amendments will move us towards an impenetrable central government; a vote “no” will preserve the rights that were fiercely fought for by citizens who considered the original charter of 1967. 

That charter was defeated, mostly because the petitioning requirements for referendum, recall, and initiative were considered Read More

Letter to the Editor: Intent Was to Correct Any Short Comings

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By Mike Wheeler

Several years ago I and my fellow councilors passed a non-partisen motion to appoint a citizen committee to review the county charter since several petitions had been brought by citizens but were found to be illegal.

Our intent was to correct any short comings that may impede citizen input to the council. Our appointed committee included several citizens who brought the problem petitions to the council.

Now three years later, Los Alamos can vote on needed amendments that clarify and simplify the county charter.

The proposed amendments should help citizens who wish to petition Read More