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Letters

  • Speaking out on vaccine rights

    In response to recent concerns voiced about vaccine rights, this is a case of the rights of the many vs. the rights of the few.  Vaccines only work to preserve the general population if “herd immunity” is achieved, when vaccines are administered to a high percentage (85 percent).  
    With fewer parents vaccinating their children whether due to personal choice, safety concerns or greater awareness of the health risks to a susceptible child, this high percentage is not being met in some areas and outbreaks have occurred.  Our medical community is rightly concerned and has tightened the circumstances under which a parent may refuse to vaccinate their children.
    Is the information now required too onerous or private for our government to collect?  Good point.  Are so many parents now refusing to give vaccines that the rest of the population is at risk?  And doesn’t that majority have the right to health?  Good point.  Both groups have their rights infringed.  Which group is larger?  Which rights are more important?

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  • Opposing stage at Ashley Pond

    On Oct. 30, I presented 188 signed petitions to the County Council that read, “I am opposed to the proposed location of a permanent stage on the southeast corner of Ashley Pond.  I hereby request that the Los Alamos County Council remove the stage from the scope of the Ashley Pond Park Improvements Project, reduce the project’s budget accordingly, and allow the remaining improvements to proceed without delay.”
    The main objections to the planned “location” of the stage on the southeast corner of the pond are that 1) it will be adjacent to the busiest and most dangerous street in town, Trinity Drive, 2) it will place the concert crowds in a more confined area with no evening shade, and 3) that its placement “on the water” will be a permanent eyesore on this otherwise beautiful pond.
    Of the people I talked to over the five days I circulated my petition, everyone I spoke to agreed that cleaning out the pond is long overdue!  I understand that the plans to renovate the pond have been in the works for over two years but, for whatever reason, the vast majority of people I spoke to still did not know about the stage.   And, more importantly, they don’t want it there!

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  • Save the zoo

    Rio Grande Zoo is having money problems. Please give $1 to them because if the zookeepers don’t have money for the zoo the animals won’t have any food, water or shelter.
    If they don’t have any food, water or shelter, they would pass away or the zoo keepers would have to send them to another zoo and the Rio Grande Zoo will shut down!
    Thank you!
    Sincerely
    Sarah Early
    Age 8
    Barranca Mesa Elementary
    Los Alamos

     

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  • It’s all about integrity

    Richard Skip Dunn is a fine and honorable man and citizen, however, please allow me to contribute a concrete, honest and verible comment regarding his letter to the editor regarding “Clerk mst be neutral, independent.”
    Again, please allow me to state with years of observation and participation in the lives of Sharon Stover and Steve Girrens, their most redeeming character is their unwavering (in all situations and issues) integrity.
    Peggy Pendergast
    Los Alamos

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  • Missing the Otowi Bookstore

    Otowi Station Bookstore and Science Museum Shop closed its doors a few days ago having served Los Alamos/White Rock residents and visitors for almost 20 years. Before that, its parent store, Ojo de Dios Bookstore, served our community many more years.
    Bart and I purchased Ojo de Dios in 1990 from Harold Burnett and expanded it to our brand new Otowi Station site in 1993.
    We owned Otowi until late 2005, when Peggy Durbin and Michele Vochosky took over — encountering a very rough business climate.
    The store is enveloped in memory.  For Bart and me in particular:
    • Wonderful employees — full time, part time, student — who gave time, energy, and support. (You will  always be family.)
    • The old-fashioned courtesy of most of our customers.
     • A smiling Danny Doss bustling in to sign extra copies of his Charlie Moon mysteries.
     • The midnight theme music, outside night lighting, and around the corner customer line of a new Harry Potter book sale.
     • Christmas Eve, when we kept the store open as long as shoppers (usually men) showed up for last minute  emergency purchases.
    • Two giggling little girls copying cookie recipes on a Sunday morning.

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  • A letter of support

    Several ads list Jim Hall’s experiences. It wrongly assumes that a man 31 years older than his opponent would be a better qualified legislator.   In fact, the N.M .Legislature was set up as a citizen’s legislature.  The intent was for people from all walks of life and occupations to represent our diverse population. Stephanie Garcia Richard is intelligent, already respected in the legislature, endorsed by both U.S. Senators, several current legislators, and came within 190 votes of unseating 20-year incumbent Wallace in 2010.
    Following Hall’s logic, we should not hire young teachers, doctors, or scientists because they cannot do the job.  I want someone representing District 43 for 20-30 years as Jeannette Wallace did.  I want someone representing working people.  I want a representative who will use new ideas to help solve our state’s modern issues. I want Stephanie Garcia Richard to represent me.

    Karyl Ann Armbruster
    Los Alamos

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  • Still more on charter amendments

    Laura Walton’s letter Friday night contains several untruths.  Here are the facts:
    The Charter Review Committee has finished its work and made its report to the council.  The council is now considering their recommendations.
    The Charter Review Committee considered making the office of clerk full time but decided to make no recommendation at all.
    The CRC made no recommendation regarding the office of Assessor.
    The CRC recommended changes to the charter that clarify the duties of the sheriff, but did not recommend eliminating the office.
    Los Alamos is an incorporated county, which means it is both a city and county.  Its status as a city having adopted a home rule charter means it has the same home rule privileges as many other cities in new Mexico including Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Silver City.  
    The 1966 Charter provided for 15 percent and 30 days for initiative and referendum petitions, much more stringent than is being proposed by the CRC.  The charter amendments proposed call for the same  numbers that Ms. Walton’s group LAGRI has proposed:  15 percent and 60 days. These requirements are in line with similar provisions in other home rule cities in New Mexico and are very feasible.

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  • Clerk must be neutral, independent

    The Los Alamos County Clerk race has drawn very little attention.  But it should.
    In addition to keeping and providing records, the county clerk is responsible for ensuring fair elections and fair initiative, referendum and recall petition processes.  The county clerk, an elected position, is responsible to the New Mexico Secretary of State, not to the county council.
    As such, the  county clerk must be fair and independent of the Council.
    Sharon Stover, currently chair of the county council, showed a strong council bias in leading a 2009 ruling (that took a judicial matter into their own hands) against a certified citizen petition, citing logrolling (later refuted by the Attorney General’s office).
    Now Chair Stover has led the council in ruling that the four Charter amendment ballot questions, a bundling of 15 clarification ordinances and six substantive change ordinances, were not logrolling, despite the request that the six substantive change ordinances be separated out to be voted upon separately.  Councilor Ron Selvage actually explored the proposal to separate thesix substantive changes, but Chair Stover dismissed it, citing lack of time.
    Political bias in the petitioning process is unfair and has no place in the clerk’s office.

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  • Vote against charter amendments

    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 toward 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 too restrictive. In 1964 New Mexico passed legislation allowing Los Alamos citizens their own home rule charter, meaning that the citizens could govern themselves through a charter just like that of an incorporated city.
    However, Los Alamos is not an incorporated city, it does not have municipal articles of incorporation. What it does have, however, is this special privilege granted by the state to govern itself as a home rule county. This grants us flexibility, allowing for us to create a charter that allows for maximum citizen participation.

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  • Garcia Richard is the better option

    I hope the voters of Los Alamos County are carefully considering their vote in the House District 43 race. As we look to the future, Stephanie Garcia Richard has proven herself to be the better candidate for all of us.
    She has run a positive and ethical campaign. For example, Ms. Richard has never had to apologize to Mr. Hall for anything. Mr. Hall has had to publicly apologize to Ms. Richard for implying he had the endorsement of two Democratic senators when he did not.
    Ms. Richard answers hard questions asked at forums with clear, concise facts. When Mr. Hall was asked if he supports a woman’s right to choose, he states it’s a law and wants parental notification, but he is not clear if he supports women’s choice.
    However, he is endorsed by extremist groups that want to outlaw abortions and he is against Marriage Equality, so he supports putting the “One Woman One Man” question to a state vote. Do you want others to vote on whether you can get married in the future?
    Ms. Richard has been endorsed by our local fire fighters, Senator Bingaman and Senator Udall, and teachers.

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