Hello Is anyobody listening?!?!!!!!

In today's monitor there is an article about Vincent Chiravalle speaking at the Kiwanis meeting this week. In it he basically lays out his platform about tightening the county's wallet and decreasing the amount of projects the county takes on at one time. Here's a section of the article "The special features he wants to build on and preserve include “the high-powered national laboratory” where important contributions to science and national security are made" Last time I checked the incorporated county of Los Alamos had no power whatsoever to control LANL or LANS or NNSA or DOE!!!

That being said he seems to want to turn Los Alamos into a hiking and nature destination and the science mecca of the world. I don't know what his deal is but to be honest I don't know that he has a clue. He Keeps preaching that: "he has “the energy, the ideas and the determination” for the job" Yet he wants to cap spending that is needed to keep out county functioning and though he isn't opposed to the county cutting down it's share of the property taxes to give some to the schools I bet he'd be the first one to stand up and scream if anyone mentioned possibly raising the actual property taxes we pay which are among the lowest in New Mexico and yet we are one of the wealthiest counties in the country. Doesn't make sense to me. To be honest this young man whether he has a PHD or not is clueless. He comes across as one of those "Entitlement" types who believe the Government (Federal) should give us in Los Alamos everything we need.

What we need is a council that is not afraid of the Laboratory, NNSA or DOE and also not dependent on any of those entities for anything. We are no longer in the 1940's and 50's where Uncle Sam took care of it all. We need to stand up on our own and take care of ourselves because frankly nobody else will and if we continue to foolishly believe that the LAB is going to bounce back like it used to or that LANS will suddenly grow a heart and some compassion then we deserve whatever we end up with.

Los Alamos Deserves better and I think we can do better but it takes everyone in the community working together and not expecting the council to handle it. People need to speak up at the meetings and at the polls. The citizens of Los Alamos have more power than they realize and yet they don't use it. They don't use it because of fear and bullying by the Lab/LANS. There was a letter to the editor today about keeping an eye on the quiet ones who may just go postal someday and start shooting up the town. That is highly possible. You just never know. But the point that has to be made and emphasized is that The Incorporated County of Los Alamos which includes the cities of Los Alamos and White Rock needs to remain an independent entity totally dependent upon itself for all of its needs. That includes self sustainability and bringing in businesses that will increase our tax base and keep our money on the hill.

Mr. Chiravelle talks about energy and enthusiasm which are fine. Rah Rah.. But it takes more than that it takes guts, and excuse the phrase but a huge pair of testicles to stand up for the people of Los Alamos county and do what is right by all of them. It takes the willingness to get egg on your face once in a while and maybe even piss a few people off if necessary. I'll fight tooth and nail like a junkyard dog for the youth and young families of Los Alamos because I believe that they are the true future of this community.

I've served my country in the Military, I've been out in the "real" world and seen all of its corporate ugliness that has come as a shock to most people in this community. I've been laid off with bills to pay I've struggled to make ends meet and I've seen my kids struggle through school. and it is because of all of that that I want to do this. Because I know what it's like to struggle and I know what it's like to ride high on a wave of success. I prefer the middle ground where things are stable and as long as a corporate entity and two misguided government agencies are overseeing our Laboratory we as a community need to find some stability within ourselves. That's what I want to achieve for Los Alamos County and for every living breathing soul that resides or works here.