Thanks to all

Editor:

The Enchanted Hills Homeowners Association wishes to thank Gary Herron and the Rio Rancho Observer for their coverage and reporting of our fifth annual Fall BBQ which was held on Sept. 27. We also thank all of the sponsors whose support contributed to this successful event: Albertsons; Bad Ass Coffee Company; Cable One; Cassandra Dennis of Coldwell Banker Legacy; City of Vision and Sandoval County Civitan Clubs; El Rincon Pet Hospital; Enchanted Hills Apartments; Enchanted Vista Apartments; FBI ERT Team; Gabriel Ortega of State Farm Insurance Agency; Jacquie Barragan of New York Life; Karen Sluga of Gold Canyon; Mariposa Child Development Center; Mountain View Church; Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue Department; New Mexico National Guard; Rio Rancho Police Department; Sue Duncan of Stewart Title; Tanva Oliva of TNT Entertainment; Todd Hathorne of Foundation Financial; ultiMED Urgent Medical Care; Usborne Books; and Wayne Luco, DDS.

Cynthia Jacques

Board member-at-large & Publicity Committee, Enchanted Hills Homeowner’s Association, Neighborhood Association, Inc.

Consider alternatives

Editor:

Not long ago, Rio Rancho’s mayor made the pronouncement that with new management at the Santa Ana Star Center, the facility would soon be a successful, self-supporting venue. Now, Mayor Tom Swisstack has warned the citizens of Rio Rancho it will take years, not months, to turn the Star Center financial situation around. In the meantime, the City of Rio Rancho is budgeting $200,000 per month to cover the debt service on the $36 million in bonds that the city sold to build this albatross.

Ask yourself what essential projects the city could accomplish if it didn’t have to set aside that $200,000 per month. I could think of a few — hire additional police and fire personnel, pay them their negotiated pay raise, better equip and provide more training for these personnel, accelerate road repair projects, allocate more money to repair and upgrade the city’s water and sewer infrastructure, create additional recreational and cultural activities for youths through senior citizens. These are just a few of dozens of projects that would directly benefit citizens if the Star Center debt load would go away.

It’s time that the mayor, City Council and city manager look at all options to free or reduce this debt burden on the people. Nothing should be sacred and everything considered, including the possibility of selling or leasing the Center to a third party. 

The old saying goes, “Build it and they will come.” In the case of the Star Center the saying is, “Build it and maybe they will come.”

Harry Gordon

Rio Rancho

Breeders’ choice

Editor:

Are people aware that many of the “animal rights organizations” that oppose hobby breeders are classified by the U.S. government as terrorist organizations? That along with hobby breeders, the U.S.A. also now has a lack of research scientists because too many have been terrorized in the past? That decisions are being passed in high courts striking down laws passed by animal rights fanatics as fast as they can crank them out?

For example, on Oct. 3, this press release came out: “The federal judge finally issued his decision in the case of Louisville, Ky. Kennel Club, et al vs. Metro Government: Judge Simpson found that the determination between altered and unaltered dogs is without merit and therefore the requirement of inspection of enclosures for unaltered dogs by Animal Control is unconstitutional.”

No one has ever said, “People will be unable to find pets because of neighbors’ objections to nearby breeding facilities.” What was said is that if breeding of purebreds is taken over by Big Brother, wiped out, or made too difficult, people will not be able to find pets of their choice.

Do we really want our residents getting ripped off by opportunists in Nigeria in their frantic quest for purebreds, as happened in Albuquerque after HEART passed?

So some people pray for when we have a shortage of animals and hobby breeders? I pray for the day there will be a shortage of people like that.

Cynthia Sinclair

Rio Rancho



Driveway problems

Editor:

The paving of Gazelle Road began about month ago. Many of the driveways required connections to the street but the manner in which these connections are being made is unfair to some residences.

Construction crews have completed whole driveways at some residences compared to simple aprons at others. In my case, a two-and-half-foot skate board ramp was constructed at my drive; if left this way, it would require me to incur an expense above and beyond any reasonable paving construction. The engineering and implementation of this road demonstrates total incompetence and total disregard for some residences.

The mayor and others have been contacted regarding this but no one wants to be responsible enough to have the issue fixed.

Melvin Carraway

Rio Rancho