Opinion

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.

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.

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.

Let’s be clear on one point: Just because a company is trying to advance a renewable energy source doesn’t give it a free ride over the government process of oversight. That’s not how this nation should move forward with a new energy policy.

Unfortunately, however, deference seems to be a big reason why Invenergy is getting state support to construct up to 50 massive wind turbines in western San Miguel County, while protesting neighbors are being discounted as anti-progress.

The first time I felt the impact of big bucks was in my youth, while window shopping at the old J.C. Penney store in Las Vegas, exactly where Beall’s operates now.

I had been selling newspapers downtown and ran in to a fifth-grade classmate who I thought to be the richest kid in town. We began talking about finances. I’d been proud of having opened my own passbook-savings account, at the First National Bank, and, solely through sales of Optics, I’d built up a nest egg of about $7.

Recently, the Las Vegas Police Department closed its rifle range to the public. That’s after officers discovered yet another rash of damage to the facility, including vandalism, illegal dumping and shooting at structures not intended as targets.

The police made the right decision. Now, officers are drafting a new policy for use of the range, and they say they hope to involve the public.

SANTA FE — New Mexico’s three new Democratic U.S. House members won election by solid margins. But can they all survive?

The representatives from congressional districts 1 and 2 took over seats that Democrats have not held in over 25 years. The 3rd Congressional District looks plenty safe for Rep. Ben Ray Lujan.

His most likely competition would likely come from another Democrat and that isn’t probable as long as his father remains a power in state politics.

Mil Gracias

On behalf of the staff and students at West Las Vegas Middle School, I thank the District Attorney’s office for the interesting and educational presentations on domestic violence they shared with our sixth, seventh, and eighth graders last month. Twice a month, the middle school schedules presentations to help the students become aware and informed of real issues in their lives.

The recent attempt by city officials, former housing directors, former mayor Henry Sanchez, hired consultants and the media, to blame Floyd Duran, Housing and Urban Development representative for the federal government for the city housing situation, is a copout. The only thing I have heard out of their mouth is innuendo, “mitote” and a let’s blame someone else except ourselves attitude. Haven’t they read the HUD reports? Where have they been these last three years?