Letters

In the past, Senate members used a filibuster as a means of bringing attention to a high-profile bill they disagreed with.  For many, many years it was seldom employed but since the 1970s it has been used repeatedly to stop much of the chamber’s work. Both parties have used the filibuster to alter simple “majority rules” bills to supermajority votes, so this is not a partisan issue.  

Aaron Ortega was a lifelong resident of Las Vegas, a son of Juan and Annabella Ortega, and a victim of a rare enzyme disorder called methylmelonic acidemia. Aaron was a person who loved music and always had the desire to start a heavy metal band called Life & Death. His favorite holiday was  Halloween. For those reasons the Aaron Ortega Life & Death Fest has been held on the weekend nearest Halloween.

San Miguel County’s draft ordinance regarding oil and gas references the “National Environmental Policy Act” and thus rightly includes all aspects of the biotic and abiotic environment, but unlike the law, fails to include “economics.” Unfortunately this is consistent with membership of the county’s oil and gas committee, which also did not have a specific representative for “economic development.”

In Alan Franken’s Nov. 2 letter, he stated he was “scared” — more of the economic devastation than the known realities of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for natural gas here. Despite the mounting scientific evidence documenting the toxic effects on livestock, plants and, of course, people in 33 states, some still believe that the boom in the oil-and-gas industry will be a boon for San Miguel County — and, more dangerous, believe there is no down side.