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Opinion

  • LETTER: City doesn’t seem...

    In regards to the Optic’s editorial of Nov. 18 on the Milliken water wells, it would seem to be our best bet now to avoid further water rationing.

    I agree that all possibilities — the hydro dam, the dam to capture all Las Vegas run-off, the pipeline from North Dakota should be explored, but the Milliken ranch wells seems to be the best bet to  stave off  water rationing right now.

    The city can lease one or more of the wells conditionally that it would not have a negative effect on the neighbors.

  • EDITOIRAL: Gratitude -- lingering...

    On this day after Thanksgiving, instead of our usual thumbs, we are serving up some leftover thoughts on what we’re grateful for as this year slowly comes to a close. We’re thankful for ...

    MOM-AND-POP BUSINESSES: Las Vegas may not be the richest place on earth (at least not monetarily), but we do have some things that enrich our quality of life, including small, independently owned shops with plenty of character and quality merchandise. So don’t forget them this holiday season.

  • COLUMN: The new welfare queens

    The big news is that there is a push on in Washington, D.C. to bail out the “Big Three,” that is to say General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Chrysler, with billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money. ($25 billion is the figure currently touted, but don’t be surprised if it goes up.)

    The reason that the “Big Three” are in trouble is presumably that we Americans are not buying enough cars.

  • COLUMN: New Mexico's float...

    New Mexico’s 2009 Rose Parade entry will be as much fun as this year’s float was and maybe a little less controversial than the space aliens that inhabited the 2008 prize winner.

    The idea of depicting our state as spacey didn’t appeal to some New Mexicans or to the tourism heads of our larger cities. But the alien float attracted much attention in Southern California, along with the Grand Marshal’s Award, one of the top three most prestigious.

  • EDITORIAL: Purging perks a good idea

    These are tight economic times, and the city will almost certainly have to find places to trim the budget. Fortunately, officials are already working toward this goal.

    If unmanaged, perks such as take-home cars and cell phones can become excessive. And that appears to have been the case with city government.

  • Mil Gracias

    The West Las Vegas Athletic Department would like to thank the following sponsors for their donations toward homecoming and the Vegas Bowl:

    Bank of Las Vegas, Community First Bank, Charlie’s Diesel, Alta Vista Regional Hospital, and Sun Loan Company.

    Thank you for your support for West Las Vegas Home of the Dons and Lady Dons.

    Jose Medina

    Las Vegas

  • LETTER: Thanks to all who helped

    My name is Amalia Gallegos and I am licensed state and national massage and bodywork therapist in the state of New Mexico. I am writing this letter to thank the following people for helping me build my practice here in San Miguel County and the surrounding area.

    First, Jody and Peter Stege for allowing me to build my business, Melissa Gold at the Small Business Development Center, Sharon Vander Meer at the Economic Development Corporation, Diane Ortiz at the Chamber of Commerce, and Joseph Baca at KFUN for all their help and support in the community.

  • EDITORIAL: Making it fair

    The San Miguel County Commission last week passed an ordinance allowing the county to file liens on properties in which owners don’t pay their solid waste bills.

    This decision comes a few months after the county put a bunch of accounts on inactive status after it became apparent that they were uncollectible.

    The commissioners said they felt it was unfair that some people always pay their bills, while others don’t and essentially get away with it.

    This new ordinance will eliminate this inherent inequity.

  • LETTER: Congratulations to HU'...

    Congratulations to Highlands University for not only being financially sound but for once again being a stable force in Northern New Mexico. It has been nearly two years since James Fries took the reins to my alma mater and I want to thank him and the regents for having the vision to move forward. I remember not too long ago when Highlands was an at-risk university.

  • EDITORIAL: Lawmakers are lobbyists

    A few weeks ago, state Rep. Richard Vigil, D-Ribera, suggested the Las Vegas City Council hire a lobbyist to help the community get money for needed projects.

    In making the recommendation, Vigil had good intentions for Las Vegas. But we disagree with his advice. Hiring a lobbyist would be a poor use of city money.

  • COLUMN: Strength in numbers

    Yes, it’s a cliche, but there is strength in numbers. Those with more power know this rule better than anybody else.

    Last week, a city advisory task force told the City Council that film companies negotiate individually with local merchants who are affected by their productions.

    That leads to some businesses getting better compensation than others. Those with weaker negotiating skills jump at the first offer.

  • COLUMN: Police Misconduct

     What remedies do people have if they are mistreated by law enforcement officers? Last week an interim legislative committee considered the question and heard evidence that there isn’t much that can be done under present law.

    Testimony indicated that complaints to local officials seldom result in any action. Albuquerque has some police oversight mechanisms but no one present recommended them as being models others should use.

  • EDITORIAL: Obama must let sunshine...

    Despite problems and crises at every turn, right now President-elect Barack Obama has the goodwill of the majority on his side. He will enter the Oval Office in a strong position to affect significant change, in part because of the honeymoon he’s on with the public as well as the media.

    But as soon as he takes office, he could strengthen his position even more — by opening up some federal doors that the Bush administration has tightly shut.

  • LETTER: We are all special

    “Concepts.” I think it was addressed to people who are “spiritual” or in the experiment of if the Bible was true. I thought the letter was to emphasize precautions needed after you found only way to be saved referring to changing most of your beliefs were incorrectly aligned with lies to not be violent toward people who do this. If we have purity, Jesus notes, songs, worship, it shouldn’t matter the source, who is better, because the newcomers are in sin (though sin is “burnt” separation)!

  • LETTER: Mil Gracias

    We, the Jackie R. Tapia family, wish to express our deep gratitude and appreciation for your love, understanding and assistance, to the following professionals who cared for and assisted him during his illness:  All doctors, nurses and staff at the Centro de Salud, Dr. Michael Lopez and staff, the technicians of the Las Vegas Emergency Ambulance Services, Rocky Mountain Ambulance Services, and the many helpful and caring staff at the Alta Vista Regional Hospital.

  • Thumbs

    UP thumb ... FISCALLY SOUND. Highlands University regents were told last week that, despite the expectations of budget cuts coming with an economic slowdown, the school is “fiscally strong in all respects.” And that’s on top of findings in a recent study that Highlands’ tuition and fees for undergraduate New Mexico residents are the lowest in the West (an 11-state region).

  • Marriage as a right

    It isn’t likely that Proposition 8 will be the final word in the debate over same-sex marriages in California. And it shouldn’t be.

    The initiative passed by 52 percent of California voters alters that state’s constitution to read, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” Its passage overrules a court decision last May allowing same-sex marriage, but opponents have already filed legal challenges, contending that it should be invalidated.

  • LETTER: Why this election matters...

    No one would deny that the United States established a significant historical milestone on Nov. 4. The question now presented to us as a nation and as a society is: How is this significant?

    One answer is to place it into America’s historic time line:

    232 years ago the Congress of the 13 colonies declared their independence from British rule, stating, in terms that we all know so well: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal”

  • LETTER: Scenic Corridor not an...

    Scenic Corridor not an industrial zone

    The proposed facility will be located also on state land. It will consist of 47  390-feet tall 1.5 MW turbines and miles of power lines going down the mesa to the grid northward. These enormous wind towers will be easily seen from Interstate 25 between Tecolote and South San Isidro (as far as mile marker 312) and from the north end of Route 3.

  • LETTER: Why we won't win the...

    This is in response to [article about] Patricia Anderson on Oct. 24:

    Ms. Patricia Anderson’s story is proof we will never win the so-called War on Terror because we are often steered from our instincts, refused access to relevant information, and mired in bureaucratic procedure — all of which leaves us vulnerable.

Copyright © 2013

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