Inspired by a recent tour of Rio Rancho, I prepared the following prospectus for an imaginary development somewhere in the Southwest.Rio Nacho Developments NewsletterJuly, 2008Shifting Sands is the next area of Rio Nacho to be developed by Shrdlu Homes. The houses will be three- and four-bedroom, adobe-style residences in close proximity to light industry and schools, e.g., Radium Industries and the soon-to-be completed Nuclear Academy (for grades K-8). The nearby “Strip (Mining) Mall” will provide 24-hour outlets for groceries, as well as Lead-Lined Clothes and an acting school, with other services to follow. Tigerdoor Studios has expressed interest in desert locations and in a site for a post-production facility.A soon-to-be paved road will lead from Shifting Sands to other commercial spaces, including the Howard Huge Event Center and a number of shoe stores. Negotiations are underway for a Wall2Wall Mart with backup plans for a Super Jones Center. The gravel road may soon be extended to Doritos Mid-School and Pepsi High. A large call center for Mumbai Electronics is also in the works.At Flooded Arroyo, still newer, multi-family buildings are taking shape with a variance granted by the Civic Council (introduced by Councilor Dan Montaño-Whitfield) allowing units in excess of 300 meters in height with no restrictions on density. These will be “moderate income” rental apartments with areas up to 400 square feet, occasional utilities and a shuttle to the Wall2Wall Mart for residents (subsidized for W2WM employees).The Council and the RN Chamber of Commerce, with advice from the RN Realtors and Developers Association, are looking forward to another great year with minimal increases in taxes and water rates (for those with H 2 O access). Look for more announcements soon in this newsletter about the highly anticipated Dry Wells community.
Letters Muster The Strength
[Re: Ortiz y Pino, “Can’t Buy Us Hope,” July 10-16] Ortiz y Pino wants to make changes. I agree that "No Child Left Behind" is a failure. But how is that a measure of how the schools are doing in curbing dropout rates? The fix for dropout rates is at home. Time and time again, I hear supposed experts being interviewed who blame everyone but those responsible. The baby is ugly! OK. There, I said it. The only things that are different from when I was in high school 30 years ago are the kids and the parents. The opportunity to learn is available if the student takes advantage of it. If the kids won’t learn because it’s uncool to be smart, there isn’t anything that can be done. The parents have to impart the importance of an education. Teachers can’t be the students’ parents. The parents have to be the parents. And who wants to become a teacher and subject themselves to all the violence and attitude that occurs in schools? That’s why there is a perception of a lack of qualified teachers. When violence occurs, who backs up the teacher? The kid(s) involved may get a good talking to and they’re back in class. The kids learn they can get away with anything without consequences and their classmates give ’em a round of applause, because "they’re tough." Learning is work, and these kids don’t want to work. They’re being taught that life is easy and everything is provided to you. It’s not easy mustering the strength to read the Alibi , but I usually get it done. Although I have to admit that sometimes it wins.
Letters Shrinkage
[Re: Commentary, “Some Inconvenient Facts,” July 10-16] I was reading the article when something really got me thinking. I wasn’t aware that the U.S. dollar was shrinking. I immediately visited some older businesses that had their first dollar transaction displayed on the wall. I compared their dollar against a couple I had in my wallet. They were the same size. Obviously, your sources for the article are incorrect.
Letters Pipe Dreams
[Re: Commentary, “Some Inconvenient Facts,” July 10-16] Although I disagree with her ultimate point (opposition to drilling), Laura Sanchez makes some good points in her article. Indeed, the days of $1 and perhaps even $2 gas may be over in the United States. As she points out, no amount of drilling, whether here in New Mexico, in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or offshore is going to return us to the “good old days” of cheap gas.Freer markets in China and India have raised living standards for literally billions of people. While we should celebrate this, it is also true that China adds 1,000 new cars to its roads every day. Oil is a finite resource. Energy independence is a pipe dream, but if we don’t drill here our economy (most particularly, the poor and low-income for whom filling the tank is a larger portion of their family budget) will suffer and prices will continue to spiral upward. Economic progressives should be especially sensitive to this fact.We also must realize two additional facts: 1) Every source of energy, including politically correct solar and wind, has its drawbacks; 2) Prices will create efficiency and spur innovation.Energy policy, like most factors in a multitrillion-dollar economy, makes a difference on the margins and over time as adjustments are made. High prices will spur conservation; we should not stand in the way of efforts to increase supply as well.
Letters Speak For Yourself!
[Re: Restaurant Review, “The Old House Gastropub,” July 10-16] Please note there are many people who enjoy floppy bacon, my sister and myself included. I have to specifically ask for "medium rare" bacon, which, of course, is not really medium rare, as usually bacon cooked for just a few minutes on each side will yield a wonderful, floppy, fatty piece of delicious meat. Ain’t nothin’ betta …
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