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Opinion

  • LETTER: A grassroot stimulus package

    You hear it once in a while in a comment, under one’s breath, in frustration or at an Obama event the other day: “Send the check to my mailbox!” It is not an option that is seriously being discussed — yet. But why not? When former treasury secretary Hank Paulson came running to Congress last fall with his three-page bank bailout plan in hand, Congressman Kucinich, for a brief moment, shone a bright spotlight on the obvious lunacy:

  • LETTER: A guaranteed improvement

    Are you disgusted at the antics of our dysfunctional city government? I’ll offer our city council and mayor a suggestion that’s guaranteed to improve matters:  

    Hire a den mother!

    Bob (Robert K.) Johnston

    Las Vegas

     

  • LETTER: Ready for a new Las Vegas...

    As a relative newcomer to Las Vegas, I was excited to be a part of the elections last year and all the enthusiasm the newly elected mayor brought to the process. Now I think otherwise.  

    Mayor Tony has shown that not only is he incapable of running a city the size of Las Vegas, but he has his own agenda and doesn’t care what citizens want.

  • EDITORIAL: Thumbs

    DOWN thumb ... KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY.  We agree that LeeEtte Quintana is her own person, and we understand that her husband must be considered innocent until proven guilty, but does the City Schools Superintendent Rick Romero really think it’s wise that she replace her husband, Jay Quintana, as the girls’ team golf coach? Team members might be interviewed by investigators looking into allegations that he had sex with a student for years, and her presence may be an inhibiting factor.

  • LETTER: Stories should include...

    OK, so our little town has been getting a lot of attention, most of it is negative. Most of it is coming from the eastern most part of town too. I think that with the negative attention the town is getting from the Robertson football boys and its academic leaders, the issue isn’t only triggering people to say bad things about Las Vegas City school, but West Las Vegas also. I recall going to the New Mexico State Fair parade in Albuquerque in September 2008. Robertson High school band was unfortunately not participating in the parade, but West Las Vegas High was.

  • COLUMN: 'Let's get off...

    Remember the days before caller ID, when we generally had no clue of who was on the other end unless we recognized the voice or the other person introduced him/her/self?

    I can remember a couple of thriller movies based on the idea of a frantic search for the location of the phone booth where a man with a bomb was about to blow up a chunk of the city. Typically, it involved detectives racing through the banks of a phone company building trying to narrow the search to a two-block area.

  • LETTER: Report was insensitive,...

    I am a family member and friend to the deceased Damian Lucero-Ortiz and Stephanie Dimas. I am writing this article on behalf of both Damian’s and Stephanie’s families to again remind the community of the horrific tragedy that occurred more than a year ago on Dec. 20, 2007, which has left both families in deep sorrow.

  • EDITORIAL: Thumbs

    DOWN thumb ... INFORMATION AND POWER GAMES. Information, it has been said, is power. And it’s certainly a potent force in City Hall battles over the past year. Months ago, after Mayor Tony Marquez took over, councilors Morris Madrid and Cruz Roybal charged that they were being kept out of the loop on matters of importance, and now its Councilman Andy Feldman saying essentially the same thing; he says the mayor isn’t providing him with information related to George Du Four’s dismissal at utilities director.

  • LETTER: Support for RHS students

    In just a few months the graduating class of 2009 will join the ranks of a proud and accomplished group of people.

    For decades, Robertson High School graduates have gone on to productive careers in politics, science, media, education and the arts.

    As proud graduates of RHS, we share memories of our years in the halls and classrooms: joking with friends, cheering on each other’s accomplishments, and helping each other through difficult times.

  • LETTER: Shape up or resign

    Open letter to Mayor Marquez and the Las Vegas City Council:

    When you took office 10 months ago, I had the privilege of attending the “strategic planning sessions” you held with the department heads and council members.  Your “State of the City” address was impressive and promised new vision and positive action to move the city forward. Ten months later, what do we have that indicates forward progress?

  • COLUMN: Vices, vicissitudes, values

    It is with great consternation that I undertake this discussion. True to the column heading, I speak of the dulce  y amargo that has surfaced in the local school environment of late.

    I am very ill at ease with the current Robertson and the prior West Las Vegas incidents and their far-reaching effects — on the community, on individuals, especially children, on my beloved, chosen profession.

  • LETTER: Misinformed 300 caused bond...

    Dear 300 (the Pecos Independent Schools District’s bond question was defeated 300-263): We live in a democracy, and as a taxpaying American, I understand and respect the democratic process. That means that the 300 sheep who followed their shepherds and voted against the bond have now labeled Pecos, Ilfeld, Rowe, and San Juan as communities that don’t value education, communities that aren’t willing to invest in their most valuable resource — their children.

  • LETTER: Death was covered...

    Seth Grant was a person, not a patient.  I’m not sure what allowed your paper to identify him as a “patient” residing in a boarding home. There are privacy laws which prohibit  disclosure of a person’s medical history without due process.  I believe your labeling of Seth as a patient was in violation of these laws, or do you lose those protections if you’re dead? I guess that’s a question for the lawyer.

  • EDITORIAL: Jerome Block steps...

    We were certainly no fan of his during the last election, but we might just change our mind about Jerome Block if he keeps up the good work he has started. The newly elected Public Regulation Commission member has stepped forward to address a matter that no one else wanted to claim responsibility for.

  • LETTER: Income tax differences...

    Once again the “Domestic Partnership” legislation will soon be voted on by our New Mexico Legislators, and once again, I am writing to oppose this legislation. Last year, I wrote twice to the Albuquerque Journal opposing the legislation and my letters were never printed by the newspaper. Since three states have legalized such arrangements, it is probably inevitable that New Mexico will follow suit.

  • LETTER: Support Highlands&rsquo...

    It is time that the citizens of Northern New Mexico and especially Las Vegans get behind Highlands University and its drive to acquire the College of Santa Fe. Opportunities like this may never be available to Highlands again. The acquisition will enable HU to become the leader in education for Northern New Mexico without question.

    HU and Western New Mexico University in Silver City were both founded in 1893 as a prerequisite to statehood. I am sure our forefathers had bigger dreams for Highlands (formerly Normal University).

  • COLUMN: Ethics legislation

    Big news. A major barrier in the path to ethics legislation appears to be softening. Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez of Belen says he thinks recent events will contribute to a greater likelihood of passage.

    The Senate has been the graveyard for most ethics legislation in the past. Sanchez himself is not the roadblock. He says he’s speaking for a majority of his members.

  • EDITORIAL: If so, clean up Robertson

    First let us stipulate that we believe in the premise that allegations alone don’t automatically translate to guilt. In criminal court, the accused are considered innocent until proven guilty, and in civil claims, a preponderance of the evidence must be established before someone is held liable for an illegal or damaging action.

  • LETTER: Mil Gracias

    We, the family of J. Richard “Ricky” DeHerrera, would like to express our sincere thanks to all the people for their prayers, cards, food, phone calls, visits, and overall love. We appreciate all you have done for us in our time of need. We would like to thank all of his doctors who helped him in his long fight with diabetes.

  • COLUMN: Voters wanted change

    Did voters send a message that they want change during last week’s school board elections?

    At first glance, one would think that they went with the status quo: Two of the three incumbents running in the East and West districts trounced their opponents.

    Ultimately, however, I still believe that 2009 was a year that voters showed they wanted change.