Opinion

Stradling: Housing For Los Alamos Workers – For A Healthy County Economy

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By GARY STRADLING
Republican Candidate
Los Alamos County Council

As I campaign, I knock on doors in our community every day. At my opening line: “Hello, I am Gary Stradling, running for County Council. Los Alamos needs housing for the people who work here and would like to live here!” literally every head begins to nod up and down. Everyone agrees.

The people who live here recognize that this is a significant issue of the county’s economic health, and is integrally tied to infrastructure, road/utilities, congestion, and business, and will affect county education.

The high demand for the limited Read More

DeVolder: Freedom From Nuisance Code Enforcement

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By MARK DEVOLDER
Los Alamos

Some years ago, I was standing outside the Los Alamos USPS and a lady remarked to an acquaintance that Los Alamos County (LAC) had the highest per capita income of any county in the USA. Having lived in large and small communities, I was singularly unimpressed with the lady’s statement.

I understand that there are some affluent residents who live in Los Alamos County. A “very small minority” of these affluent folks remind me of plantation owners from the 1860s. Some of the more affluent folks during the American Civil War were excused from military service (that is, some Read More

Devolder: Safety Concerns At Crosswalk On Diamond Drive

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By MARK DEVOLDER
Los Alamos

This letter addresses safety concerns I have about the crosswalk on Diamond near the Pueblo Complex.

Having the crosswalk in the Pueblo Complex area is a very hazardous idea and the crosswalk signs need to be removed.

Crosswalks on Central – There are numerous crosswalks on Central. The speed limit in Los Alamos County is 25 mph unless otherwise posted. However, there is speeding on Central. In addition, pedestrians may or may not use the crosswalks. Pedestrians can pop out from behind a parked car at any time. I avoid driving on Central for this reason.  

Crosswalk Read More

Los Alamos Junior Girl Scouts Discuss Pollution Solution

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By GENEVIEVE MARSHALL and MILLY BONSER
Junior Girl Scouts
Troop 10074

Pollution is getting into our oceans. Pollution can include sewage, chemicals, and fertilizers, but one of the main problems is plastic. Plastic doesn’t decompose. So, if it gets into our ocean, it could stay there forever. Plastic is everywhere, and it can come in different forms. When it gets into the ocean, it does not always float. Sometimes it sinks and while sinking gets jostled around, breaking it into tiny pieces called microplastics. Sea creatures can eat plastics and microplastics, thinking they are food, and Read More

Anderson: Let’s Be Better Neighbors … Stop Vandalizing

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Someone slashed this ‘Ronchetti for Governor’ sign this morning and knocked over a ‘Stradling for Council’ sign in the yard of a residence on Barranca Mesa. Courtesy/Joyce Brinton Anderson

By JOYCE BRINTON ANDERSON
Los Alamos

I’ve lived in Los Alamos for almost 20 years. Fourteen of those years I lived in North Community, and for almost five years I’ve lived on Barranca Mesa, on the main road through the neighborhood.In these 20 years we’ve put signs out for mostly Republicans, for some Libertarians and yes, even the rare Democrat, but never once have had trouble. I’ve loved the fact that my neighbors Read More

Skolnik: Enough Is Enough

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By RICHARD SKOLNIK
Los Alamos

 

Chris Collord’s recent letter about volunteers carrying out maintenance of our trails further highlights the abysmal state of decision making about our recreational activities in Los Alamos. 

Whether we turn to the golf course, biking trails, or hiking trails, the county’s approach appears to be: 

  • Hire consultants and then largely ignore them;
  • Invite public comments, and then largely ignore them;
  • Let the community voluntarily care for high return investments that should be addressed by the county government;
  • Never give the public the information
Read More

Op-Ed: Los Alamos Trails Deserve A Higher Standard

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View of the washed out Perimeter Trail. Courtesy/Chris Collard

View of the washed out Woodland Trail. The trough shape of this trail traps water and forces it to run along the trail bed, cutting deeper and causing more damage with each rain storm. Fixing this kind of damage with hand tools will take many hours and many volunteers. Courtesy/Chris Collard

By CHRIS COLLARD
President
Tuff Riders Mountain Bike Club

I enjoyed Stephanie Nakhleh’s excellent letter on maintaining our trail systems and I wanted to echo her sentiments about the current state of things.

As president of the Tuff Riders Mountain Read More

Op-Ed: Los Alamos Explosion – Housing Development Essential

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Council candidate Gary Stradling campaigning recently at the Trinity ‘Road Diet’. Courtesy/Gary Stradling

By GARY STRADLING
Republican Candidate
Los Alamos County Council

Vision in leadership is essential, because the future holds significant change. We must have leadership that can see into the future and prepare for the events coming at us. 

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) staffing is exploding. For most of my career, LANL staffing was at about 10,000 employees. Housing was tight when I moved here 41 years ago. Our housing supply has remained stagnant. I have known some county

Read More

Devolder: Improved Coordination Needed Between Los Alamos County Departments & Property Owners

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By MARK DEVOLDER
Los Alamos

This letter addresses the need for improved coordination between Los Alamos Residential and Commercial Property Owners and Los Alamos County Community Development, Environmental Services, and Environmental Sustainability efforts.

Recently, there was an interesting letter in the Los Alamos Daily Post about a joint Los Alamos County Environmental Services and Environmental Sustainability effort supporting the donation of clothing to thrift stores and “thrifting” (that is, purchasing used clothing at thrift stores). The effort potentially keeps clothing Read More

Devolder: Safety Concerns Associated With Children’s Toys Left In Yards, Driveways And Sidewalks

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By MARK DEVOLDER
Los Alamos

Some children in Los Alamos County leave their toys scattered around in yards and driveways or on walkways to homes and County sidewalks.

There are some safety issues associated with this practice: 

  1. A motor vehicle operator could back over a child or a toy in a driveway;
  2. Pedestrians (including Federal Express and UPS personnel delivering packages) might have trouble walking around toys left on a sidewalk; and
  3. LAFD personnel attending to a residential fire at night might trip over a toy in the dark. 

There are other issues too. Children may use their toys on streets or Read More