OP/ED

Op/Ed: MRA And Tools In The Toolkit

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By KEVIN HOLSAPPLE
Los Alamos

The current MRA discussion about adding another “tool” to the “toolkit” for encouraging development to satisfy community needs and desires and the call for citizen input prompted me to provide input to the County.  Several friends encouraged me to share the input in an Op-Ed in our local media.

Three tools already in the County toolkit are the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA), the Los Alamos Creative District, and the White Rock MRA. All of these provide paths for the County to help projects that will help our community achieve our plans and goals without violation

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Shin: Los Alamos Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Commission Necessary For An Open And Transparent Government  

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By LISA SHIN
Los Alamos Family Eyecare

On May 9, 2024, our County Council voted to approve the boundaries of a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA). Now, it is time for our Council to establish an MRA Commission which complies with the New Mexico Redevelopment Code. This Commission should not include County Councilors or County employees, but rather key members from the community with experience in commercial property development, affordable housing, finances/banking and environmental sustainability. Additionally, there should be representatives from the small business community Read More

Española Mayor: Strength In Unity

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By JOHN RAMON VIGIL
Mayor of Española

There is an old saying, “there is strength in unity, and in unity there is progress…” Nothing can be stated that is more similar to the truth when discussing this in the aspects of our federal, state and local government systems. Most importantly these words should be valued even more so at the local government level where our citizens expect that of our local bodies of jurisdiction.

During my first two years serving as Mayor of Española, the Española City Council was evenly divided and it prevented the adoption of much needed ordinances and general consensus Read More

Op/Ed: Let’s Work Together Mayor

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By Sam LeDoux
City Councilor
Española’s 4th district

When I was campaigning for city council, the thing most often brought up by voters was that they didn’t feel the city was being honest. This is because, to put it kindly, we haven’t been the best at communicating our goals. What most people see is a city that is just trying to figure out how to make it through the day rather than a city that has a bold idea of where it wants to go.

Looking at the City of Española’s master plan, which was written almost 8 years ago, you can tell it was a different world. The current plan was filled with ideas about a city on the Read More

Op/Ed: Response To Mr. Hanson’s Letter Addressing Draft Climate Action Plan

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By SUE BARNS
Los Alamos

I have a few thoughts and clarifications regarding David E. Hanson’s Op/Ed of July 14 which addresses the draft Climate Action Plan (CAP) now open for public comment.

First off, I would like to clear up a misunderstanding of the emissions data that apparently caused Mr. Hanson to feel that the CAP is “misleading”. He states that “in 2022 the US emitted just 6,343 MTCO2”. In fact, US 2022 emissions were 6,343 *million* MTCO2. (MTCO2 stands for metric tons of CO2 [equivalents], not millions) [https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks Read More

Op-Ed: Our Corrupt Corporatocracy

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By JOE D’ANNA
(The elder)
White Rock

The unholy alliance of the Republican Party (once branded The Party of Business), corporate interests, and rich conservatives permeates two branches of our government, many of the country’s institutions, and now it threatens our democracy.

The alliance indoctrinates us daily with information and misinformation from corporate lobbyists, corporate-funded free market/conservative think tanks, over 1,500 conservative radio stations, conservative newspaper chains, and chains of conservative TV stations – plus Fox “News”. At many universities Read More

Hanson: Los Alamos’ Climate Action Plan – What’s Missing, What’s Misleading And What We Must Do

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By DAVID E. HANSON
Los Alamos

On July 9, 2024, the County Sustainability manager and Cascadia Consulting presented the Los Alamos Climate Action Plan (CAP) to the County Council. They are requesting community feedback and plan to present the final version of the plan in Sept. or Oct. for Council approval.

There are a number of vital actions that are missing from the plan and the single thrust that is the overwhelming focus of the plan (reducing our CO2 emissions in Los Alamos County) is misleading in several ways. Except for Councilors (Randall) Ryti and (David) Reagor, who asked some critical Read More

Bartlett: More Access To Lower Bayo And Pueblo Canyons

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By MELISSA BARTLETT
Los Alamos

The current Los Alamos County Parks and Recreation policy for access to the lower part of Bayo and Pueblo canyons is too restrictive and discriminates against those of us who have limited abilities.

Currently, parking is allowed only in the small dirt lot near the gate on the road that leads to the waste water treatment plant. Private vehicles that park anywhere past the gate are subject to ticketing.

This means that to access the many lovely trails of lower Pueblo and Bayo Canyons, the only option is a hike on the paved road and risk the trucks or on a small hot dusty trail Read More

Blair: The Strength Of Our Center

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By DONALD BLAIR
Political Commentator

The 4th of July has an All-American reputation as a communal day of cookouts, parades and fireworks. We view the holiday with a touch of nostalgia for a time when we could all celebrate together with a sense of national unity and shared pride in our country. But its origins may have more in common with our modern fractured time than we think.

The Declaration of Independence was actually controversial within Colonial America. John Adams himself reckoned that only one-third of the population supported independence. Historian Thomas Slaughter from the University Read More

Powell: Let’s Honor Our Ranch School History

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By IRENE POWELL
Concerned Citizens for the Segler Painting
Los Alamos

Several concerned community members attended the Art in Public Places Advisory Board (APPAB) meeting Thursday night to support the County’s acquisition of The Boys of the Pajarito Plateau, a painting by renowned artist Jeff Segler depicting three young men on horseback during the Los Alamos Ranch School (LARSO) era.

Mr. Segler, formerly of Los Alamos, was also in attendance. Six of us spoke during public comment urging the APPAB to vote to advise the County Council to purchase the painting.

After a great deal of discussion, Read More