Ending column a good call

Editor:

I would like to congratulate you on the decision to end the Rants&Raves column in the Rio Rancho Observer. I believe that if one has an issue to bring before the public, that person should be prepared to accept the credit or criticism for their position. I have long felt that Rants&Raves cheapened the Observer. It is certainly sad that a segment of the population used it to express negative and sometimes poisonous views for which they could not be challenged in a meaningful way.

I hope that holding readers responsible for what they say could elevate the dialog and foster real, sincere exchanges of opinions. Thank you.

Donna Rupp

Rio Rancho

Say it ain’t so

Editor:

A sense of sadness came over me as I read the Rio Rancho Observer publisher’s announcement of the death knell for the Rants&Raves column.

At times, the posted comments were mean-spirited, perhaps crossing society’s line of decency. However, I firmly believe that Rio Rancho’s citizenry should be given such an outlet to express opinions.

Please reinstate the Rants&Raves column so readers are given the opportunity to hear everyone’s thoughts, not just the few who regularly write letters to the editor. After all, the section identified and solidified the Observer as a community publication, as well as helped to differentiate the newspaper from others. We can also agree the paper has the right and duty to edit comments that defy decency standards.

Most public meetings that I have attended allow participants to express their opinions without identifying themselves. Some societal members need a cloak of privacy before they can freely share thoughts. Opinions and perceptions are like noses; everyone has one, and most differ to some degree. Let us embrace our differences, not suppress them.

I again implore you to keep the Rants&Raves column. Do not let the actions of a few misguided individuals ruin it for the rest of us loyal readers.

Jim Blaszkowski

Rio Rancho

How about advertising?

Editor:

In our recent Rio Rancho water bill, we received a flier on “Sesame Street Live” at the Santa Ana Star Center. Why has Global Spectrum not advertised this event in the newspapers in Rio Rancho, Albuquerque and Santa Fe? What about a billboard on I-25? The people of Rio Rancho must have help from the community to fill this facility; we in Rio Rancho cannot sustain the Star Center entirely on our own!

Build it and and advertise it and maybe they will come if they can find it. If it’s something for the little kids, they will go out of their way to come.

Sharon S. Plate

Rio Rancho

Nice work

Editor:

I’ve lived in Rio Rancho over 10 years. During that period the Rio Rancho Observer never really seemed to come close to representing what I saw in the local residents. The Rants&Raves have just been a place for some people to spout their hatred and the Letters to the Observer too often seemed to be just another outlet for a topic which just did not seem to fit.

Big change in the Oct. 25 edition! No more Rants&Raves and four Letters to the Observer which were more to the issues in Rio Rancho and not filled with ranting, raving and questionable accusations.

New subject: I have met Jimmy Currier several times. He is a good representative for your paper. Knowledgeable, professional, willing to answer questions and polite; I wish him the best.

Yet another new subject: I really miss the Don Bullis weekly column “Ellos Pasaron Por Aqui” (they passed by here). But in my unofficial survey, it just was not meant to be ...

Good luck to the Observer!

Rich Sanchez

Rio Rancho

Waiver is normal

Editor:

In response to a letter in the Rio Rancho Observer on Oct. 25 (“Waiver is inexcusable”), many New Mexico schools have such waivers in process.

I would also like to remind the readers that Cleveland High School was built using bond money approved by voters and taxpayers. By law, this money can only be used for funding buildings and not teacher salaries or other programs. In addition, just last year, in November of 2008, Rio Rancho was listed by Business Week as “one of the best places to raise kids in New Mexico for 2009.” The criterion for selecting our beautiful community was largely based on our quality of life to include public safety as well as school performance. Hats off to our school board and its superintendent, Dr. Sue Cleveland, for contributing to our city receiving such an honor.

Instead of complaining about our school district, let’s stand behind the individuals who work so diligently for our community. I challenge the readers to volunteer in your local school, and see first-hand the heart and soul of those whose primary responsibility is the education our children.

Cheryle Lynn Daniels

Rio Rancho

Police in schools

Editor:

If you think the Rio Rancho Department of Public Safety officer(s) in the public school is there to protect your child and enforce the law, think again.

Last year while my stepdaughter was enrolled at the Mid-High, her expensive iPod was stolen. A few days later, after we discovered who had stolen it, I attempted to file a charge, only to be turned away by the “fake” RRDPS officers. Their excuse was that if they enforced the robbery laws they wouldn’t have time to do anything else. They didn’t understand my reasoning that if they did enforce the laws, the problem would more than likely become less pronounced, just like in the real world.

Maybe RRDPS and RRPS could quit lying to the public and save us all a lot of money by firing these useless officers and replace them with hall monitors like we had in the old days.

Charles Arasim

Rio Rancho

Good Halloween manners

Editor:

I would like to brag on the trick-or-treaters at our door on Halloween night. No one left without saying thank you and the “four amigos” in full costume even sang a song. It made our night!

Way to go, kids in Gleneagle addition, and way to go, parents; manners are alive and well ... so refreshing to the soul.

Karen DeWeese

Rio Rancho

Thanks to the police

Editor:

We wanted to thank the Rio Rancho Police Department for keeping our community safe on Halloween night. While trick-or-treating with my family, a police officer pulled over and handed out candy. Thank you for making it known that the neighborhood was being patrolled, and for being so friendly!

Casi Foster

Rio Rancho