Politics

Reporters Without Borders Releases 2017 World Press Freedom Index

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RSF News:
 
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has released its 2017 World Press Freedom Index. 
 
The 2017 World Press Freedom Index compiled by RSF reflects a world in which attacks on the media have become commonplace and strongmen are on the rise … an age of post-truth, propaganda and suppression of freedoms – especially in democracies.
 
RSF’s latest World Press Freedom Index highlights the danger of a tipping point in the state of media freedom in many countries. Media freedom has retreated wherever the authoritarian strongman model has triumphed. The
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Letter To The Editor: Let’s Split The Pot

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By GERALD M. ANTOS
Los Alamos
 
Having grown up here in Los Alamos, I hold the local golf course as my second home and if there is anything that it needs (real need and not a want) it is a revamped watering system.
 
And I would vote yes for doing that but since it is coupled with a bunch of non needs (also known as greeds), I’m going to have to vote NO on the bond issue.
 
Now if our wonderful county leadership would have split the pot and made each alleged need or want a separate issue to be voted on separately then the whole pot would not have to die on the vine!
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Rec Bond Opposition Launches ‘A Better Way For LA’

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Planting Rec Bond opposition signs recently, Lisa Brenner of ‘A Better Way For LA’, her son Patrick Brenner, Dr. Lisa Shin and James Whitehead are the group setting up a Political Action Committee to rally voters against the Rec Bond.  Courtesy/Facebook photo
 
 
By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post

Organized opposition to the Los Alamos County $20 million recreation bond has surfaced with the placing of five large signs in Los Alamos and White Rock. Slogans on the signs state, “Vote No Rec Bond”, and, “Splash your cash. Just Say No. Vote No Rec Bond”. The signs are on Trinity Read More

Letter To The Editor: Support For Rec Bond

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By REBECCA HOWARD
Los Alamos
 
I support the upcoming Rec Bond. Among many positives offered by living in Los Alamos is a safe community at the foot of the beautiful Jemez Mountains.
 
While I agree that there are many opportunities for recreation, I noticed last summer when my young granddaughters were visiting that the lack of a “toddler friendly” public swimming pool was a disappointment.
 
The proposed improvements to our public swimming pool and the addition of a Splash Park in White Rock will provide fun, easy to enjoy recreational opportunities
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Gibson: Recreation Bond Is Not Justified

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By ROBERT GIBSON
Former County Councilor

Like any tax increase, the “Recreation Bond” deserves careful scrutiny. A tax should be for a legitimate valuable public purpose. There should be reasonable expectation the funds will be well used. And there should be no other reasonable alternative to further burdening citizen taxpayers. The Public School and UNM-LA mill levies in January were among the rare tax proposals that satisfy these three criteria (link). This one does not.

“More recreation facilities” sounds good.  What we really need is a different mix of recreational venues. We Read More

Pinon Park Pool Association Questions Need For White Rock Splash Pad

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Pinon Park Pool Association members at site of proposed White Rock Splash Pad. Courtesy photo
 
PPPA News:
 
Board members of Pinon Park Pool Association have questioned the need for a Splash Pad in White Rock, proposed as part of the Los Alamos County 2017 Recreational Bond.
 
Pinon Park Pool is a private outdoor pool that has been a part of the White Rock community for over 50 years. Located on Bryce Avenue, just east of Rover Boulevard, Pinon Park Pool is less than a mile from the proposed Splash Pad site at Rocket Park.
 
Quote from Leilani Christensen,
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Letter To The Editor: Do We Need Or Want A Bicycle Flow Trail?

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By BRUCE WARREN
Los Alamos

If you didn’t see the announcement for the Parks and Recreation Board meeting April 13 regarding a proposal for a “Bicycle Flow Trail”, or if you saw it and thought it wasn’t important to you because you aren’t a bicyclist, or you are a bicyclist and thought any bike trail is a good trail, I’m here to tell you that you should pay attention to this proposal. It will affect the entire community and has some ramifications that may raise some alarm in your mind.

There was another County meeting regarding the bicycle flow trail April 26, at Fuller Lodge. Read More

GOP Hosts Senate Candidate Mick Rich Thursday

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U.S. Senatorial candidate Mick Rich. Photo by James Robinson

GOP News:

The Republican Party of Los Alamos is hosting a presentation by U.S. Senatorial candidate Mick Rich of Taos.

Rich is running for the seat held by Democratic U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich.

The local GOP meeting begins at 6 p.m., Thursday in the Jeannette Wallace Lecture Hall at UNM-Los Alamos. Read More

Letter To The Editor: Reply To Reply To Sen. Heinrich

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By KHALIL J. SPENCER
Los Alamos

 

I read James Griffin’s reply to Sen. Martin Heinrich in utter disbelief (letter). Sure, a 42,000 gallon spill is a drop in the proverbial oceanic bucket.
 
But as far as the risks of drilling offshore, and especially in the harsh waters of the Arctic, it’s not the often but small disasters that will kill you. Like Fukushima, it’s the big ones.
 
I will utter two phrases and let readers judge for themselves:
 
1. Exxon Valdez shipwreck.
 
2. Deepwater Horizion Oil Spill.
 
 
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Letter To The Editor: Reply To Senator Heinrich

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By JAMES GRIFFIN
Los Alamos

Sen. Martin Heinrich predicts doom if drilling in the arctic for oil is permitted (link). He uses amazing statistics from the Department of Interior to back up this claim.

Evidently there is a 75 percent chance of a 42,000-gallon spill. Let’s pretend to be rational. Assume this to be true. How large is the arctic?

Will 42,000 gallons have any impact! No!

US underwater drilling for oil began in 1891, approximately 126 years ago. Notice that the oceans are devastated. Notice that there are no fish left, no living things can exist in that black tarry mess that used to

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