Letters

“Fracking” is shoptalk for hydraulic fracturing. The technology uses mixtures of fluids and sand under pressure to crack rocks underground and prop open the cracks.
In the right rocks, the technique frees natural gas trapped in mini-pockets and adds greatly to the nation’s supply of the popular fuel.
It works too for extracting oil. The industry proudly promotes fracking. A persistent TV ad shows a lady riding a see-through elevator deep into the Earth to highlight the value of fracking while suggesting no risks.
But everything has risks. The chance of error and unknowns lurks on every side.
The policy questions are what are the risks, who bears the risks and how can the total risk be cut.

I’m sure everyone is glad to see the end of construction on Diamond Drive and personally I’m glad to see the continuous bike lanes.  However, I have to express some displeasure with how they have been executed.  
In particular, turning the right turn lanes at Canyon Road and Sandia into bike lanes.  
This situation forces cars to turn across the bike lane, possibly in front of an oncoming cyclist and increases the chance for a very bad interaction.  
A good example is northbound Diamond Drive at Canyon Road. A large number of cars turn right onto Canyon and drivers are often not alert to the chance for vehicles (bicycles) approaching on their right.  

Education has made a big difference in the lives of many of us in Los Alamos. Funding reductions have forced our school district to make serious cuts in their operational budget, the portion that pays teachers’ salaries and other day to day costs.  
State law does not allow us to tax ourselves to fund operational costs.  
Over the past few years the amount available for professional development has shrunk by over $150,000.  Our teachers have not had a pay raise for four years.  
These cuts will affect our children’s education and their future and the ability of Los Alamos National Laboratory to attract the best and brightest.

I was very happy to learn that Ms. Coffin, a victim of an accident on  Trinity Drive, is able to walk and get around again.  
We should look at options to prevent such accidents now, and not wait for grandiose plans that may never materialize, and cost many millions of dollars.
For example, we could adjust the current signals so that if a pedestrian pushes a button to cross the street, all lights would go red.
Additionally, the county should install the HAWK (High Intensity Activated Crosswalk) system that has resulted in a 29 percent reduction in total crashes and a 69 percent reduction in pedestrian crashes on Tucson highways.  
It is cheap, and can be implemented without significant delay.