My Biscuits are Burning!!!

That's the polite way to say what kind of emotion I am feeling at the moment regarding the op-ed piece by Jack and Colleen Hanlon in Sunday's Monitor. It really bothers me when people misinterpret the letter of the law in order to serve their own selfish ends. This Skate Park is for the youth of the county and the design and location are in no way going to decrease property values in Los Alamos or the areas surrounding the Library.

Here is a link to their piece Hanlon Rant

Here is my response:

I feel that Mr. Hanlon speaks on behalf of a minority of people in this town. It's time we stop being selfish as he is and realize that there is a common good to be served here. Also Mr. Hanlon needs to know that if property values decrease in the area because of this Skate Park he needs to justify how that will happen? He also needs to be aware of the fact that lower property values means lower property taxes and my assumption is Mr. Hanlon is one of those people who doesn't like his tax dollars to be spent on anything that doesn't benefit him. He also needs to be aware that in the unlikely event that property values in the area did decrease the chances of selling a home on Bathtub Row or in the community he lives in or Los Alamos County as a whole are slim to begin with. Also Mr. Hanlon needs to re-read the following from the Municipal Code:

Sec. 8-201. Purpose.
The county council has determined that the coordinated, comprehensive, orderly, and harmonious physical development of the county in both the short and long term will be best served through the establishment of a planning and zoning commission. Pursuant to NMSA 1978, § 4-57-1, the county council will appoint a planning and zoning commission for making advisory recommendations to the county council regarding planning and zoning for the county and for promoting the general welfare of the citizens of the county.

Notice the Advisory part Mr. Hanlon and Mr. Damiani.
And finally any and all monies for the defense of a lawsuit against the County or the County Council will be paid by our tax dollars. I can think of more constructive and useful ways for my tax dollars to be spent besides defending frivolous lawsuits.

Mr Hanlon is suggesting that his backers go to the meeting and raise a stink about the whole thing. Greg thinks that all supporters of the Skate Park meet at the Library at 5:00PM Wednesday and walk over to Council Chambers as a group to show our support. I strongly support this idea and think we should not only do this but get an extremely large group of supporters and fill the chambers, and lobby and spill out into the patio. Now is the time to stand up for what you want and show the people who have been trying to keep it from you that you will not tolerate such things.

We deserve Better

It's time to make some big changes in the way Los Alamos County is Run. I believe that the taxpayers deserve better than they get and the only way they are gonig to get it, is to make their voice heard in every way possible. They can do it via email to the council or county administrator, they can write letters to the editor. But to me the most important way to get their point across is at the polls. Let this council and the old guard know that they haven't done it right and it's time to get new blood in there running the show and moving Los Alamos forward. It's time to shake off 60 years of delusion and realize that the days of DOE and LANL fixing things is over. It's time for the people of Los Alamos and its local government to make things happen that will improve the quality of life in this town. This county has so much potential but it has been stifled by people who are afraid of change and growth. There are too many NIMBY's and nay sayers in this town. We need to stifle them and move this town forward in a positive and smart direction. We need to quit wasting taxpayer time and money on studying things to death and not taking action. We need to ensure that we act smartly in all that we do but we do not need to beat a dead horse at the same time. We need to keep the community actively involved in the projects and decisions for those projects but they lose interest or become apathetic because council either moves to slow or downright ignores the will of the people and caters to the will of a few select individuals or an organization. We need to look out for all the youth in the county not just the ones who want to become leaders. We also need programs in place that stress prevention for all youth instead of just programs that deal with them once they get into trouble. If we want change we have to make that change. We have to get up and speak out and vote and let our voices be heard. I can't guarantee that I will be able to effect large amounts of change in a short time but I promise you all this. I will make every effort to speak up for the people who elect me and I will speak my mind and vote my conscience on issues that affect my constituents. I will not allow myself to be influenced by special interests and will never ever hold my tongue for fear of retaliation by any institution or organization.