LETTER: 'Old Boys' clubs not necessarily bad

“[Cruz] Roybal said it was unfair to attack the group of people who meet at Hillcrest and unfair to the restaurant itself. He said that people traveling through town may avoid Hillcrest after reading the newspaper, thinking that some type of mafia may be eating there. He said the group consists of retirees.”

I got a chuckle from the quote above by Councilman Roybal.  I believe this is a bunch of older gentlemen (are women allowed?) who spend their mornings enjoying each other’s company.  I have seen these groups at many rural and small town restaurants and travel stops throughout the West and Midwest. Another name for this kind of group, especially considering the attendees at the Hillcrest, are current and “retired” politicians, is an Old Boys Club.

I take issue, though, with Mr. Roybal’s statement that your article is an attack on a bunch of retirees or that people will avoid the Hillcrest after reading the article in your newspaper.  I, for one, would love to hear the strategizing that goes on. It’s not necessarily a bad thing that policy is discussed and decisions made by the local “powers that be.”

John Offersen

Blanchard, N.M.