Archive for December 2, 2008
Like A Good Neighbor … Time To Belly Up
 by Chuck Ring (GadAbout-BlogAlot ©2008)Â
Quote Freely From the Article — Leave The Pseudonym Alone
On October 7th of this year I posted the following article
Since that time area churches, other non-profits and area businesses have contributed money and other items to assist those losing their jobs through the difficult transition in times that were perilous even before the closing of the call center. Temporary assistance is always welcome by those in need, but more is needed in order to secure another employer or employers to employ those who want to work.
The rumor on the street is that Moriarty has asked for the help of Edgewood to refurbish parts of the building or grounds where a new tenant might locate. I believe this is a fitting proposal for several reasons:
- those who have or will lose their jobs want to work and they need to work
- some employees who lost their jobs live in Edgewood and other points outside of Moriarty
- as a former employee of the connection, I can attest to the fact that a majority of the employees spent a portion of each paycheck at Edgewood businesses
- Edgewood is not in the charity business, but this potential assistance is not charity. It is taking care of our own; no matter the location of their residence
- this assistance would demonstrate Edgewood’s willingness to recognize the assistance given to citizens of this valley and reward that assistance in a meaningful way
- it would be one more illustration of a regional approach to economic development
- it would demonstrate to the legislature and Santa Fe County that our dollars need to stay here to help our own, before sliding to Santa Fe City and Santa Fe County
Torrance County P & Z To Vote On Animal Control Ordinance Today
by John Weckerle
We have received word from Vanessa Vaile and Pauline Dube that the Torrance County Planning and Zoning Committee will meet today (Tuesday, December 2) at 9:30 a.m. to vote on the proposed new animal control ordinance. We have not had the opportunity to review the ordinance, and with only a few hours before the meeting we have no time for research. However Ms. Dube has expressed numerous concerns regarding the ordinance, which she says places unreasonable restrictions on legitimate animal ownership, and she has provided a link to a web site for the East Mountain Animal Interest Alliance that discusses the ordinance and concerns related to animal ownership.
While we have not had sufficient time to educate ourselves on this specific topic, we are inclined to express an opinion on a related issue – that of the scheduling of Torrance County’s P & Z and County Commission meetings. The practice of holding meetings during the day has the effect of seriously limiting the ability of working people to participate in government, whether it be as observers, elected officials, or citizens seeking to offer comment on the decisions being made by their elected officials. Most of the other governing bodies manage to meet in the evening, and there is no reason that the Torrance County Commission cannot do the same – unless, of course, the actual intent of meeting during the day is to limit public involvement and/or public scrutiny.
Former County Commissioner Leroy Candelaria proposed moving the meeting times to the evening several years ago and was voted down. We’d be interested in hearing the other Commissioners’ reasons for opposing this obvious step toward open government in Torrance County. This was not a major issue in the recent election, but perhaps it should be in the next.