Sunday morning burn ban?

Editor:

It’s Sunday morning as I write this letter. I slept with the windows open last night because it was warm. So at 8 a.m., I was awakened by the loud banging of one of my neighbors, don’t know which, and the sweet aroma of burning weeds drifting in through my open window. Come on city council. Rio Rancho is no longer some rural development. We are so worried about cigarette smoke, but here I am writing this, nearly choking on the burning weed aroma. I thought we were supposed to check with the fire department before we burned anything. I am sure this person has not had time to do that today, since it’s only 8 a.m. Now I need to close my windows and be uncomfortably warm.

I hope he doesn’t burn the neighborhood down. How about some burn ordinances around here, city council? Enough is enough? I would call my council person, but he never answers e-mails or returns phone calls.

Al Puglisi

Rio Rancho

No bands in my back yard!

Editor:

While I support and commend school band programs and marching bands, whose bright idea was it to let a huge marching band from Arizona practice on the Lincoln Middle School fields in the middle of a business week?

Recently, they showed up and were practicing at night very loudly till 9:15 p.m. Neighbors were yelling and screaming and after a bit I jumped the fence, talked to the drum director and asked them to stop (about the same time many phone calls came in to them complaining). At 8 a.m. the next morning, they were back and practiced till after 5 p.m.

It’s great to have marching bands here but could the local coordinator either A) have them practice anywhere else but in the middle of a residential neighborhood (people work nights here, have babies, etc.) or B) publish your address so we can bring our bands to your back fence and practice for eight hours.

Let’s get real folks, this is the third time this has happened. Would you like a marching band next to your back wall when you are trying to work or sleep? Every time this occurs it disrupts our neighborhood, send them to the soccer fields next time.

R.P.Callahan

Rio Rancho

Thanks for generosity

Editor:

The Knights of Columbus Council 6696 would like to thank the citizens of Rio Rancho, Corrales, Bernalillo and the West Side for their donations during our recently completed 2009 Tootsie Roll Drive for charity. As a result of your outstanding generosity, we recently presented a check for $11,205 to the Rio Rancho Special Olympics.

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal organization for Catholic men dedicated to charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. As part of this dedication we conduct a yearly drive for charity. Our volunteers give away Tootsie Rolls and collect donations at local stores, which allow us to work at their entrances. The Rio Rancho stores participating this year were Smith’s Food and Drug and NM 528 and Southern Boulevard; Walgreen’s at Southern Boulevard and NM 528; Wal-Mart at Cottonwood Corners; Wal-Mart at Unser and Southern Boulevard; and Wal-Mart in the Bernalillo.

Sandia Area Federal Credit Union on NM 528 also participated in this year’s drive with contributions of special services.

This year’s donations will be used by the Special Olympics program for uniforms, equipment and expenses at State competitions. The Rio Rancho Special Olympics includes athletes from Rio Rancho, Corrales and the West Side.

Tom Morrisey

Knights of Columbus, Tootsie Roll Chairman

Council lacking the smarts

Editor:

The saying goes that you cannot put a square peg in a round hole; the city council is living proof in refuting that saying.

Humans (that being us) possess two attributes, one being intelligence, the other wisdom. Intelligence is memory, the better the memory the higher the IQ. Intelligence without wisdom is the hallmark of politics, and the city council is living proof of that statement. Decisions are made based on input from money, and not a lick of wisdom is apparent. Developers run rampant throughout Rio Rancho with the assistance of planning and zoning, city council and the mayor. In this case the runs are made without the benefit of either intelligence or wisdom.

The master plan for Rio Rancho has been re-mastered so many times that the original design has almost disappeared. In the haste to expand Rio Rancho the city politicians have proceeded past their lines of supply, that being water and infrastructure. Tax benefits for commercial buildings are not the product of intelligent thinking, but rather a desperate effort to enforce a vision of progress. Homeowners in Rio Rancho are having less to say about what goes where by being ignored by the very people they thought they could depend on.

As mentioned in the beginning, intelligence without wisdom can have an impact of undesirable consequences. Similar to what is happening now.

Bob Harpley

Rio Rancho

A different approach

Editor:

Now that the Scorpions have sunk another nail into the coffin of Santa Ana Star Center, here’s a modest proposal for Rio Rancho residents: Sell the Santa Ana Star Center.

Before you dismiss the idea, think about its potential benefits. The city floated $42 million in bonds to build the facility. Each month, the city sets aside thousands of your tax dollars — roughly $2 million to date — to pay off the “note.” If the city could sell the arena for even 50 cents on the dollar, that debt would be cut in half and less money would be needed to pay interest on the remaining obligation. Those “savings” could then be used to fund programs that directly improve your quality of life, such as parks improvements, street maintenance and youth, adult, senior, cultural and library activities.

Let’s face it: The arena will probably never show a profit. That’s becoming more apparent every day. Not long ago, Mayor Swisstack declared that with new management and the Scorpions as anchor tenants, the arena was headed for profitability. Now the Scorpions are no more, and if local sports team history repeats itself they won’t be back.

So what do we do: Maintain the status quo, and then complain whenever we hear how many tax dollars are being spent to subsidize the arena? Or do we look at other options? Unless there’s public outcry for change, city leadership will maintain the status quo. Because no politician wants to admit they really screwed up, and their constituents are paying the price. 

Harry Gordon

Rio Rancho

Scorpions will be missed

Editor:

Losing the Scorpions is sad for Rio Rancho and hockey fans everywhere. The team entertained crowds throughout the Southwest, repeatedly making the playoffs. Too bad more Rio Ranchoans didn’t get a chance to see the Scorpions at the Santa Ana Star Center and support their home team.

Thanks team, Coach Murphy, voice of the Scorpions Adam Minnick and owner Dave Ellet.

David Griffith

Rio Rancho

Letter to Naranjo

Editor:

I have a question for Councilor (Larry) Naranjo. You asked the mayor if he was searching for a female rather than the best candidate. Now I’d like know if you voted ‘no’ for Gutierrez because she was a woman?

In your remarks, you mentioned only male names as better choices. How were you able to make this decision without interviewing all the people on the list?

Councilor (Kathy Colley) won her election against (Marilyn Salzman) with no experience versus much experience. I think this proves we do not all want experienced people all the time, just someone with new ideas and no previous agenda.

I want you to know that I agree with the rest of the council and how they voted. I’m also a male voter in district 4 and applaud my councilor for voting yes.

Richard Borelli

Rio Rancho

Buyer be informed

Editor:

I’m writing in reference to the article written by Jimmy Currier (Rio Rancho Observer, June 28) about sugar gliders being available at Critters Pet Store. I’m disturbed this pet store is going to be breeding and selling these animals and I’m also disappointed in the Rio Rancho planning and zoning board for giving their approval. I hope Ms. Miller will take responsibility, educate potential buyers and put the welfare of the sugar gliders above her desire to make money.

Sugar gliders are extremely social but they must be handled constantly and they do not do well alone.

Sugar gliders can suffer from depression and will self mutilate themselves if they are bored or lonely. I have seen several cases of this and the end result is usually euthanasia. They have a special diet that must be met or they can suffer terrible health problems. Sugar gliders must also have lots of room.

I have two sugar gliders of my own and I’ve seen what happens when people get them thinking they are easy pets. My two sugar gliders are rescues I’ve had for three years; they are now five years old. For the first two years of their lives they lived in a tiny cage, were not fed properly and were never handled. It has taken three years but they are starting to trust me.

Sugar gliders are sweet, loving animals. I urge anyone thinking about purchasing sugar gliders to fully educate themselves and make sure they can give them what they need and not buy out of impulse.

Tiffany Nichol