.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....

Today's Opinions

  • Invisible voters

     Independent voters are coming together in New Mexico to play a role in the mid-term elections, but it’s not the role we are usually cast in by the media as “swing voters.” Instead, on primary day June 3 we’ll be working to be visible at a time when we are most invisible.
    Primary elections are a critical juncture in the democratic process. They are often the most competitive. But in New Mexico, independents are not allowed to participate. It is one of 18 states in the country to do so. Other states have put in place restrictions forcing independents to join a party in order to receive a ballot.
    As taxpayers, independents help pay for the primaries, which only benefits those members of the two major political parties and in which voter turnout is usually low. (An issue to consider is that if the two political parties ran and paid for their own elections and conducted them by mail, the turnout might be higher.)
    A recent Gallup poll shows 42 percent of Americans identify as independent (19 percent in New Mexico and more than 25 percent in Bernalillo County), making the issue all the more urgent as a large and growing segment of the electorate is marginalized in its voting powers by partisan primary systems.

    Click here to read more...
  • Golf apologies

    With reference to the letter I wrote that was published on April 29 about the golf course renovations, I received a lot of positive feedback and comments in support of encouraging the Los Alamos County Council to cancel, or change, the proposed modifications to our current golf course.
    However, there are a couple of items that I need to address. One is the statement that the number of players are “highly inflated” by golf course staff. That was the wrong thing to say and I apologize to the golf course staff for that accusation.
    What I was trying to convey is that the numbers of actual golfers using our current facility don’t substantiate building and redesigning a new golf course. Our current course is more than adequate and can be brought back to its former pristine condition at a far less expense than that proposed.
    Secondly, when I said that the county could use the extra money to hire “a new more qualified and better superintendent,” that statement was poorly written and just plain wrong and for that I sincerely apologize.
    Richard Matteson was a great superintendent and had a lot of great ideas to improve the golf course, but lack of staff and this horrible drought we are suffering really impeded much of the progress he could have made and he will be dearly missed.

    Click here to read more...
  • Threat to the school?

    I have been saddened by the two front-page stories about a high school boy the paper claims is a threat to the school.
    He may be 18, but that does not mean you have to publish his name to everyone in town.
    He obviously was very depressed when he sent the text to his friend about hurting himself and others. I am glad there was an intervention by police to make sure he was OK. There were no plans or weapons ready according to the article.
    Haven’t we all said we are so mad we want to punch someone?
    That doesn’t mean we are going to do it. I wish the paper would cut this kid some slack and let him get the help he needs, without making things worse.
    Lynne Higdon
    Los Alamos
     

    Click here to read more...
  • Small business, branch offices, tumbleweeds

    Recent national news about New Mexico starts with the radiation leak at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad. Then tumbleweeds bury a home in Clovis.
    The non-status of our economy generates doublespeak and dredging in the memory. A senior administration official observed recently that there is “no growth in the labor market.”
    In fact, jobs are disappearing.
    Memory dredging began with wondering what was the last truly massively transformative economic event. The best answer seems the appearance during and just after World War II of what became the national laboratories (Los Alamos and Sandia) and White Sands Missile Range. The labs remain here, whining about government dependence notwithstanding.
    Skiing positively affected many communities starting around 1950, but in a low-key manner.
    Another answer might be the uranium boom in the Grants Uranium Belt starting with Paddy Martinez’s discovery in 1950. That long since went away and Grants went back to sleep. Or the Intel plant, just in Albuquerque.
    Today a real transformation builds around energy in Lea and Eddy Counties. We have a beginning transformation in Santa Teresa in southern Doña Ana County.

    Click here to read more...
  • Mora County’s drilling ban is scientifically sound

     

    In the May 4 editorial “Mora County’s drilling ban, moral high ground or moronic?” the author is rightfully concerned about Mora County property owner’s rights to be able to have a legitimate say in how they might use their land to derive income. 

    Additionally and unquestionably New Mexico and the United States/rest of the world’s energy suppliers and distributors require energy-resources and distribution capabilities to enable them to a) earn a reasonable and fair profit and b) supply their customers with enough energy to support their food production/manufacturing/transportation/social and personal needs too.

    Click here to read more...
  • Letters to the Editor 05-11-14

     Spring arts and crafts fair a success

    The hard work of many dedicated volunteers resulted in a successful Northern New Mexico Spring Arts and Crafts Fair. It was a fantastic day with perfect weather, giving people the opportunity to visit with friends and mingle among the booths. In addition to the Los Alamos Arts Council, the fair benefited from the efforts of RSVP members who posted flyers around Los Alamos before the fair. 

    We also wish to thank LA County Parks Dept. for mowing and trimming the grounds around Fuller Lodge, as well as cleaning up trash during the fair. Many people commented about how nice the area looked for the fair. It truly was beautiful. 

    Click here to read more...
  • A playful community

    Is Los Alamos a playful community? In my 28 years here, I’ve seen we are. Not just in the participation in outdoor and indoor recreation of all kinds by people of all ages, nor in the huge volunteer support of programs from PEEC to robotics competitions to youth and teen activities, but in the very science and engineering that is practiced at the lab.
    Most of those R&D 100 awards for significant scientific inventions that Lab researchers earn every year come from workers taking extra time to apply the methods and ideas used for the Lab’s national security work, to new applications: creative and productive play. That playful spirit is one of the things that I’ve found makes this town such an attractive place to live.
    The branding study that County Council just accepted was an attempt to identify how Los Alamos is perceived by ourselves and those around us: what do we think we are and would like to be; how well do we communicate that, and how can we communicate it better?

    Click here to read more...
  • Boy Scouts to take food donations

    The Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Venture Scouts of Los Alamos County are geared up to help the Letter Carriers (NALC-4112) and LA Cares to collect, sort and store your donations of food and supplies during the Community Food Drive Saturday.
    Surprisingly, even in our well-off community there are tens of families, many with young children and elderly, who need help to combat the relentless scourge of hunger. So what can you do to help?
    Go to your pantry and fill a bag or box with non-perishable food stuffs and supplies. Leave by your front door and then on Saturday morning place it by your mailbox. Soon your letter carrier, Boy Scout, or adult leader will pick it up and take it to be sorted, stored and distributed by LA Cares.
    Is your cupboard as bare as Old Mother Hubbard’s? Then visit your local Smith’s Food and Drug Center in Los Alamos or White Rock and a Cub Scout will be waiting to accept your donations on Saturday only. If you will be out of town for the Food Drive, then you can leave donations year-round at the Aquatic Center and Los Alamos County Social Services at 1505 15th Street during regular business hours.

    Click here to read more...