By MARK DEVOLDER
Los Alamos

Reference: McCollough, David. John Adams. New York: Simon & Shuster.  2001. p.136.

Given the choices made by Los Alamos County voters, did they get what they wanted?  

On the negative side, voters received wildfires, traffic congestion, rampant construction, loss of open space, shuttered businesses, crumbling infrastructure, and overreach by municipal government in the form of inept/regressive building construction practices as well as the Nuisance Code. 

Added to this are some incompetent, distracted, and substance abuse-affected drivers in Los Alamos County. It would appear that many County residents own dogs, some of which are poorly trained, unruly and noisy.

On the bright side, residents have a relatively nice downtown area to visit and a variety of recreational areas to visit. There are a variety of activities, which may be selected for entertainment (for example, skiing, bicycle riding, horseback riding, hiking, etc.). The infrastructure is better than can be found in a variety of other cities/towns in New Mexico. With respect to some issues, the LAPD Chief of Police wrote to me that things are worse elsewhere. I believe his assessment is correct.

There is a variety of animal life in Los Alamos County. Some animal life is welcome, and some is not welcome.

Per the reference, Thomas Jefferson wrote the following in the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” (Note: I will not address the issue of slavery or the omission of women. History addressed these issues with passage of time.)

Due to the negative manner in which I am governed in Los Alamos County, the Nuisance Code in particular, makes the pursuit of happiness impossible. The negative manner in which the Nuisance Code is implemented in Los Alamos County is an “unjust” power. I never “consented” to being governed in such a manner. Therefore, I have the choice of endlessly fighting the Nuisance Code and/or leaving the County. I look forward to doing both.

I know that the Los Alamos realtors are in favor of the Nuisance Code and have made a case for it with the Los Alamos County Council. However, I have to wonder how the continuance of the Nuisance Code or implementation of the Nuisance Code would fare if put to a vote in Los Alamos County.

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