“With all the sunshine and land in Rio Rancho, we should get a company like Stirling Energy Systems to come in and sell power to all the cities around and make big money for the city. They’re setting up the world’s largest solar system in California next year. They’re based in Arizona and have their test site in New Mexico. Go solar.”

“There’s absolutely no infrastructure, drainage, etc., out in the new City Center area to support these ‘new businesses’ coming to Rio Rancho yet. Sand and mud are regularly washed or blown into the parking lots of City Hall and the Star Center. Who’d want to build amidst all of that? City of Vision? Ha! City of Delusion is more accurate at this point in time.”

“We moved to Rio Rancho eight years ago. We moved back to Albuquerque after one year. Now we are back, for good. We are proud to call Rio Rancho our home.” “Hewlett-Packard is going to create jobs in Rio Rancho that pay $50K to $60K, right? The truth? HP is eliminating jobs that pay $50 to 60K a year by forcing current employees around the country to move to Rio Rancho. Those that refuse to move resign. This process is called ‘sifting.’ Sift out high-priced employees, and hire less expensive ones. You see what kind of loyalty New Mexico is getting with HP? If you folks in Rio Rancho start getting a little uppity, well, heck, Old Mexico is right down the street.”

“We need to respect teachers and educational assistants as professionals and to bargain in good faith. We need to trust and honor our professionals who guide our children to the future with a quality education. We need to have open meetings and open discussions to grapple with the problems confronting our children’s schools in Rio Rancho. We need more than athletics in our schools, important as that is. Talking can solve a lot of the problems the article (‘Union Dues,’ Nov. 23 issue of The Observer) covers if all parties bargain in good faith. My little girl starts kindergarten next September and this really concerns me.”

“This is just an example of why Rio Rancho loses great teachers each year. There is no respect for their employees; badgering teachers in an office is barbaric and disrespectful. To not pay stipends makes me wonder how bad the finances really are, and why? I have not been given the two percent, but the state did give the Rio Rancho district the money. Where did it go, Mrs. Cleveland? To continue to treat employees poorly will reap more chaos and, unfortunately, our children are the recipients of the results of this bad behavior. I thank the union for telling the truth.”

“My husband works for Hewlett-Packard in Colorado Springs and we’re definitely moving to Rio Rancho. Several managers are in Rio Rancho this week for a planning meeting, so I would say the move is still on. We are visiting this weekend, so I hope we like what we see. It’s a hard move from Colorado Springs, not knowing anything about the community.”

“Congratulations, Jonathon (‘Seventh-grader’s creative talent,’ Nov. 23 issue of The Observer). If your cartoons make it to TV land, it will be my excuse to get cable.”

“In response to some of the criticism of Lt. Alexander of the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, please allow me to perhaps play devil’s advocate. The schools in our area obviously have a problem. What have you done? Alexander stepped up to the plate, and frankly, his brunt personality is part of the job. From what I understand he teaches the children about the reality of life instead of the ‘touchy-feely’ approach that has shell-shocked many of our youth once they’re out on their own. Instead of tearing him down, perhaps see why he’s necessary.”

“A great big thank you to all U.S. servicemen and women all over the world this Thanksgiving. We appreciate your sacrifice on our behalf and we wish you could all be home with your families for the holidays. For Christmas, my family is sending Christmas cards to wounded soldiers. If you would like to do that as well, the address is: A Recovering American Soldier c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington,D.C. 20307-5001.”

“This Thanksgiving I am thankful to the thief who stole my iPod out of my truck on Rancher Loop. This scumbag at least had the decency to lock the truck when they were finished. Well, here’s hoping you enjoy it as much as I did.”