“Rio Rancho citizens need to be on high alert for Albuquerque police who live in our city and have a total disregard for our laws. Recently, I had the pleasure of driving behind one of these enforcers of the law on Inca, south of Abrazo, and ate his dust as he drove over 60 mph on this patch of dirt that passes for a road. He then turned on Alcano (also dirt) and continued his Baja race. He was driving so fast and kicking up so much dust that I could not catch him.”

“Along with new Parks & Recreation director come our continued requests for new softball fields, for adult softball leagues. Two current fields are certainly not sufficient for the amount of teams playing and put more stress on league directors. Also, this city desperately needs an adult basketball league. For years, we’ve been told by Parks & Rec that there are no facilities (buildings) for basketball. What can we do to establish this program?”

“Thank you to the city of Rio Rancho for cleaning the brush-filled open lands in North Hills. It looks better than the parks AMREP promised when they developed this area. My personal opinion is that any financial shortfalls in the city’s budget for cleaning up could easily be filled by issuing citations to the lawless speeders and reckless drivers that are boldly overtaking our community.” “I want everyone to know that while academic stipends have been cut, coaches are still getting paid roughly $10,000 per sport, per grade ... so when all schools fail to make Adequate Yearly Progress, at least they will have good teams ... and we will know who to blame (cough) Cleveland (cough). Way to go Rio Rancho Public Schools, you are making an athletics-first district.” (Editor’s note: Bruce Carver, district athletic director, said, “There may be a couple that reach that with their extended days. The biggest stipend is $6,200.”)

“The Burger King by Hot Tamales needs to hire a manager with backbone. A young man who works there, and drives a yellow sports-type car, cut me off and took two parking spots by the door. I had to park down at the end. When I commented about his taking two spots, he retorted (in front of his manager) that he could take three or even four spots if he wanted and then leaned over the counter trying to be intimidating. Needless to say, I left and stated I was going to report that Burger King ...sad.”

“I believe bonds are important for Rio Rancho to become more than what it is today. I am a homeowner. I do not make loads of money nor am I retired, but I do believe in supporting my community with small classroom sizes, flood prevention and hospitals. These are all vital for everyone. Why would anyone but a close-minded, selfish hermit describe this a looting?”

“The city schools here in Rio Rancho are always in need of money. But, it’s OK to fill a position with the school district for day care worker. This position is to care for staff members’ and teachers’ kids, on Wednesdays, from 1 to 4 p.m. What’s wrong with this system? Why can’t the staff hire friends, family or use private day care like the majority of the families here in Rio Rancho. What other unnecessary jobs have been created?”

“We visited the indoor aquatic center last weekend and had a wonderful time. The facility was clean, water warm and life guards attentive. My question is why there’s not a family night swim even one night a week? Elementary schools get out at 4 p.m. Our children walk home and get in the door at 4:20 p.m. The pool is closed by 5 p.m. every day. Why not have one night a week for a family swim? I think families, youth group clubs, scouts and others would use the pool if it were open for swim one night a week. This is a lovely facility that needs to be accessible to the public for times when they can really get there.”

“Potholes, crevices, cracks, erosion and basic maintenance of our streets need to be fixed here in North Hills. Swisstack, Petrullo and Jimenez, come over and take a look. Welcome signs in the front of North Hills don’t disguise the underlying need for street maintenance that has been long overdue.

“To the person who suggested sending Christmas cards to wounded servicemen and women (The Observer, ‘Rants & Raves,’ Nov. 30), I sent off cards last year to this address and they came back, ‘address unknown.’ ”

“It’s wonderful to show appreciation to wounded soldiers but Walter Reed Army Medical Center does not accept or distribute cards, letters or packages addressed to ‘Any Wounded Soldier.’ However, the American Red Cross has a Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign to receive and distribute holiday cards to service members and veterans both in the U.S. and abroad. Cards postmarked no later than Dec. 10, may be sent to Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O. Box 5456, Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456. Additional information is available at the American Red Cross Web site. Other ways to thank our troops can be found at americasupportsyou.com/AmericaSupportsYou/index.aspx and aafes.com.”

“Who was minding the budget that didn’t know what was going on with the money? Seems to me that somewhere, somehow, someone didn’t do his/her job. Come on RRPS, aren’t the students our most valuable asset? So why are you messing with their teachers? And can you legally just place anyone, who is not a teacher, in a classroom to substitute? Sure hope not.”

“The budget crisis certainly is affecting students. As teachers leave our schools, they are not being replaced and students are getting shuffled into bigger and bigger classes. More than 30 students per class is becoming very common at the mid-high and several teachers are leaving at the end of December so class sizes will only get worse then. “

“Did the educators within our school system not sign a contract when they were hired on? So now, they demand more than the original contract? The city should not cave to such demands.”

“Rio Rancho citizens have elected a group of politicians that don’t care for the long-term residents of Rio Rancho, they only care about stuffing their own pockets. Real estate taxes continue to force the retired to cut back until they will either be forced out or forced into poverty. Have no fear, though, we will have a new city hall and plenty of jobs paying $8 an hour so I guess all is good. Rio Rancho has no one to blame but the voters for the situation we find ourselves in.”

“I find it ironic naming a high school after the very superintendent who has managed such a serious budget shortfall. If my house gets foreclosed, can I get the street in front renamed?”

“Great, we are going to have a beautiful building, new roads and tons of money spent on a school that won’t open.”

“Since when has flashing headlights become a ‘prohibited activity while driving?’ (The Observer, ‘Police nab speeders on NM 528,’ Nov. 23). If anything it’s a communication tool to let other drivers know they can move over ... or to warn oncoming traffic of hazards ahead. Yeah, sure that might include warning of speed traps, but isn’t the intent to get drivers to slow down anyhow? Unfortunately, many departments use these traps solely as revenue generators, more than for safety purposes, so who are they trying to fool?”

“The idea that Rio Rancho Public Schools is going to use top-level administrators to substitute in classes is just another example of their fiscal irresponsibility. These individuals make at least two times that of a substitute on a daily wage. Why don’t all the top level administrators take two days without pay to cover the subs? Another bright idea is that support staff will also be required to substitute. Are these individuals going to get the same substitute rate, as some make less than that currently? I’m sure this would be something the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission would love to hear about.”

“I just wonder if all the news about Rio Rancho Public Schools’ four million dollar shortfall and the panic they are trying to instill is just a tactic to get more bonds passed in the upcoming election.”