Opinion

Garcia: Mental Health Impacts Of Gun Violence Often Take Back Seat to Regulation

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By ANNA MARIE GARCIA, M. Ed
Vice President of Early Childhood Education
LANL Foundation

New Mexico’s students ended their school year last spring just days after the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. They are returning to school this month shortly after the arrest of a suspect in the shootings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque. Gun violence has risen to the forefront of public consciousness, with much of the conversation understandably focused on regulation. Regrettably, far less thought has been given to the mental health impact on the survivors, especially Read More

Teach Plus New Mexico: National Dearth Of Teachers Does Not Mean Entry Into Profession Should Be Dumbed Down

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By KELLY PEARCE
Teach Plus New Mexico

My journey to teaching was circuitous. Fifteen years ago, I entered the profession via journalism and then the United States Peace Corps. 

Already packing a bachelor’s degree, I added a master’s in education as I settled into a second-grade public school classroom in New Mexico.

My path did not include a traditional teacher preparation program, but my alternative licensure trail was studded with college courses and intensive training about what to teach and how to teach it. 

Back then, entering teaching from another career was more unique than it is now. Read More

Nakhleh: Our Trails Need Love

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View of Kwage Mesa Trail overgrown with ragweed and kochia. Courtesy/Stephanie Nakhleh

Fortified by summer rains, ragweed and kochia are overgrowing Kwage Mesa Trail. Courtesy/Stephanie Nakhleh

By STEPHANIE NAKHLEH
Los Alamos

Our trail network, more than any other recreation amenity in town, is the most popular and serves the most people. Surveys have shown this. What’s curious is that so little effort is put into maintaining this beloved resource. I served on the Parks and Rec Board for several years and remarked on it then, and notice it still: we do not put our budget, or our elbow grease, Read More

Devolder: Handling Of Mixed Waste In Los Alamos County

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By MARK DEVOLDER
Los Alamos

This letter addresses the issue of “mixed” waste items which find their way to the Los Alamos Ecostation as a result of daily waste disposal by Los Alamos County residents and commercial businesses, Community Development-approved demolition / building construction activities, and Community Development-initiated Nuisance Code-related waste disposal.  

A fundamental problem with handling waste items is that people in Los Alamos County do not understand what comprises many commercial products. America has lost a great deal of manufacturing capability and Read More

Stradling: Punitive Water Rates! Thinking Of The Children

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By GARY STRADLING
Republican Candidate
Los Alamos County Council

I appreciate my old friend David Israelevitz’s attempt to legitimize the County’s punitive water rates (Link) in quantitative terms that our math-minded residents can appreciate. 

However, it does not take a rocket scientist to see through his argument. Most of us understand rate increases of 6.3 percent and 27.1 percent per gallon for higher usage levels and find them to be outrageous. 

Any mom or dad in our community would rightly be up in arms if Smiths grocery store increased prices by 27 percent depending on whether we were Read More

Op-Ed: Water Rates, Cost Recovery, And Fairness

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By DAVID IZRAELEVITZ
Los Alamos County Councilor

Over the last few years, most recently last September, a tiered residential water rate was approved by the Board of Public Utilities and subsequently affirmed by the County Council.

There will be upcoming public hearings by the two bodies about revising these rates given increased costs, and the issue of cost recovery vs. financial impact and fairness is a recurring and appropriate concern. Utilities should pay for themselves in some way; if utilities cost X, we should collect a total of X from its user base. The issue of fairness is more difficult Read More

Toersbijns: New Mexico Workforce Participation Challenge

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By BRENDYN TOERSBIJNS
Rio Grande Foundation

One of the most important, yet underreported issues in New Mexico is our State’s poor workforce participation rate.

Currently, New Mexico has plenty of jobs, yet too many New Mexicans remain outside the workforce. Workforce participation in New Mexico first dipped during the global recession of 2008-2009 but it took another big dip during the COVID 19 pandemic and unlike most of our neighboring states, it has not recovered. 

Our Governor’s strict COVID lockdowns played a role in pushing New Mexico’s workforce participation rate downward. In January Read More

Op-Ed: Response To Mr. Warren’s Column

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By JOHN STAM
Secretary
Los Alamos Golf Association Board (LAGA)

I would like to respond to Mr. Warren’s column (link) and perhaps clear up some of the misinformation he has provided the community.

First let me speak about the mysterious and powerful group called the LAGA that Mr.  Warren refers to. As a lifetime member of the LAGA and currently a board member of this group, I feel qualified to do this.

The LAGA is a volunteer group that has no official standing within the County Government. The LAGA has been in existence for all of the 75 years of the golf course. Currently we have 156 members. What we Read More

Devolder: Discrimination In Los Alamos County

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By MARK DEVOLDER
Los Alamos

Los Alamos County is really big on recreational activities and various kinds of “Fests.” 

Personally, my recreational activity or Fest is working on my vehicles. This is particularly the case as automotive shops typically charge $125 per hour for repair work.

The folks in Community Development (that is, Nuisance Code Enforcement) have suggested that automobiles need to be repaired in residential garages.  As has been pointed out previously, not everyone has a garage or even a carport (this applies to apartments, too). Therefore, vehicle owners may resort to repairing Read More

Op-Ed: Why Are Taxpayers Paying For Golfers’ Pleasure?

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By BRUCE WARREN
Los Alamos

Well, the Parks and Recreation Board (PRB) did it again. In their Aug. 11 meeting the PRB voted once more to forward Option A for golf course expansion to the County Council.

Option A is the most destructive to Open Space of the four options provided by the golf course architect consultants (seen at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8mlipqf0addttmi/Golf%20Course%20Proposals%206-22-22.pdf?dl=0, and a summary of safety concerns at:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/obe0787f5l9ad2d/Golf%20Course%20Safety%20Issue%20Options%20summary.pdf?dl=0), requiring Read More