Talk about irony

Editor:

When I and a host of other citizens wrote in to Rio Rancho’s other newspaper “Letters” column to oppose various bond issues and tax increase proposals, which have substantially raised citizens’ taxes — almost without exception that paper published editorials supporting these tax increase measures. Now, Rio Rancho’s city manager is proposing to raise fines for people who break the law, specifically speeders, and to impose fees for mandated fire inspections on businesses. And what does this other newspaper’s editorial say? “Proposed Hikes Come At a Bad Time for City.”

When the other newspaper published support for the tax increases on citizens and individual property owners, people were already reeling from the hardships of the current economic recession. Those hardships continue and are literally tearing families apart. Now comes an effort by the city administration to increase fines for lawbreakers and fees charged for fire inspections on businesses, to offset some of the cost of this program, and the other newspaper publishes an editorial asking, “Why in these difficult times?” Why does it appear that every time there is an effort to raise taxes on ordinary citizens the other newspaper supports it, but when it comes to raising taxes on businesses, it’s a no-no?

Talk about irony.

Harry Gordon

Rio Rancho

Thanks from Bikes for Books

Editor:

The Masonic families of Rio Rancho wish to thank Mr. Ryan Donnell, the store manager at the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 460 NM 528, and the employees for their thoughtfulness and generosity in helping support our Bikes for Books program.

With your support, we were able to provide all of Rio Rancho’s elementary school libraries, Rio Rancho public libraries and Star Heights Community Center with bicycles/books for their Bikes for Books programs. This program supports and encourages our young children in improving their reading skills.

The following individuals went out of their way in assisting us in obtaining this donation from Wal-Mart and obtaining and assembling the bicycles: Ryan Donnell, store manager; Helen and Jennifer and other members of the community involvement committee; and Roger, who assembled all the bikes.

Thank you again for your outstanding support for our Bikes for Books program and supporting Rio Rancho and the surrounding community.

Jesse Hernandez, Worshipful Master

Sandoval Lodge 76

Changes are needed

Editor:

Where are our rights? When did we, the taxpayers, become second-class citizens? When did our city council become a dictatorship with no right for us to question them?

Recently, our neighborhood of Vista Entrada went through a second round of rezoning requests. Why we bothered to show up at the hearing is beyond me. The council had decided the matter prior to any of us walking in the door. The council, as always, sides with the developer.

The Development Services Depart-ment got 15 minutes to make their point. The developer, through his attorney, got 15 minutes to make his point. We had the right to comment for three minutes each. The council did not ask us questions. The council refused to answer any of our questions. So what are we paying for, a group of people who sit in judgment of our rights and have absolutely no accountability to us?

How do we fix this? We stop and take the time to vote. We don’t vote for the same old people. We get rid of any possibility of double-dipping. We bring in new people who are willing to answer our questions. We change the protocol to make the city council answer our questions. We require our city councilors to meet with their constituents to respond to our inquiries regularly. After all, we are entitled to the answers.

Helene Apper

Rio Rancho