JOIN THE CONVERSATION! WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Write or send us an e-mail at news@rrobserver.com, or call us at 343-2175.

“Our family immensely enjoyed the free concert given by the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra at the Rio Rancho High School on April 16. The fifth grade school band also performed. We were sorry and embarrassed to see such a small crowd for such an event. The conductor, Roger Malone, was very gracious and the orchestra performed with perfection. There are plans for more free concerts in the future. Perhaps an announcement in The Observer, Journal or other venues would be a good idea.” “I’m calling about the rant about Miss Ganch and her supporters and I agree with the comment that was put in there. I just hope we don’t see Miss Ganch and her supporters at the council meeting now complaining their homeowners’ insurance was canceled because the FEMA maps are out and it shows they’re in the flood plane and they can’t sell their homes. I hope that puts an end to all the SAD issues for her and hope she won’t be sad over it.”

“The Memorial Day parade, I ask on behalf of all veterans that all politicians refrain from campaigning during this event, which is to honor our buddies that didn’t come back, to honor those who gave their all with some dignity. It’s a time to honor and not campaign.”

“I’m calling regarding the rant a young man made concerning discrimination in Sandoval County and Rio Rancho. I totally disagree. I’ve been here eight years. I’m a gay American and this is the one place after having lived all over North America, I have found to be totally accepting of everyone. This is where I tell everyone to come if they don’t want to feel prejudices or hate. I think this young person needs to pay attention n this is a wonderful state in our union and there are no prejudices … and I love it.”

“I had an unpleasant experience when I was signing up for membership at Meadowlark Senior Center. A staff member and city employee who I had never met before started bullying me because she didn’t want me to join. At another time I tried to join one of the activities that was listed and was told that it was a private club. Meadowlark should put up a sign like Goodwill does, ‘We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.’”

“If you want to know what Steve Pearce thinks about the environment, go to Hobbs. It stinks so bad, I couldn’t stay in a hotel there. The leaders of southeastern New Mexico have destroyed their water and the air with the crude oil.

“So Mayor Swisstack is giving a speech on May 19 titled ‘The state of the city’ to the New Mexico chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties. Unfortunately, it’s being held at the Albuquerque Marriott. Mr. Mayor, if you won’t spend locally, why should we?”

(Editor’s comment: NAICOP luncheon meetings are held so that New Mexicans can find out what other cities are doing in the state. It is a good opportunity for Mayor Tom Swisstack to inform others about what Rio Rancho is doing n the challenges, hopes and aspirations. There will be a full report in The Observer after the event).

“This is for the person that just moved to Rio Rancho. What? A hate school? Are you kidding me? I haven’t met anyone in Rio Rancho who comes off as racist. I have lived here for four years and have been coming up here for different reasons for 20 years. Maybe you are being a little too sensitive.”

“As a resident of the proposed 7B Sad project, which was defeated at the last council meeting, we were appalled to have a resident come to the door with a petition to have that proposal reinstated. Yes, his property is located west of us and did have flood damage. We did not. We have all the upgrades: city sewer, city water, paved street and no need for any flood control. So our having to pay the same amount as him would be taking the “good neighbor” policy a wee bit too far. In essence, we would be subsidizing the cost of upgrading his property. That isn’t fair. Requesting a “cup of sugar” is one thing, asking us to contribute financially for something we would not benefit at all from is asking too much.”

“I understand the ranter’s anger over Miley Cyrus and Vanity Fair. I don’t believe her parents are to blame for this. Vanity Fair is a trash magazine, although they do not look it. They are designed to look mains tream. Miley Cyrus is a 15-year-old girl, and Vanity Fair definitely is exploiting a young girl. I don’t get pleasure at all looking at a teenager exposing herself in big name magazines, even if it’s not child porn.”

“Why doesn’t a city of 100,000 have a bus system? Every morning I see people walking up and down NM 528 to work, probably from the train shuttle to the businesses at Southern and beyond. A bus system is needed now to get the people to work in Rio Rancho, to reduce the horrendous car traffic, and to assist car-less people (seniors, youth, and hard-working Americans) to get groceries, child care, and everyday business taken care of. I propose a bus system based on a .25 percent sales tax that will support a bus that goes around Bernalillo, Unser, CNM, NM 550, and 528 many times a day, including weekends.

The cost can then be low, and will benefit everyone.Right now, you’ve got to have a car in order to get to everything in this county, and that’s not right. Walking is good for you, but not if City Hall is 18 miles round-trip. For a good example of a bus system supported by and for the people who need it by a minimal sales tax look at the LINK Bus service of Chelan, Wash. and learn how to make it work. Please.”