I assume the five Council members who voted to appoint me already knew who I was. I assume they already knew, from my 16 years of editorials in the Daily Post, that I was not afraid to ask questions…
Category: Opinion/Letters
LETTER: Stop the Insanity
Do you know what hurts the immune system? Fear, isolation, hopelessness, depression, dousing ourselves and kids in disinfectant, making healthy people wear masks, social distancing, no hugs, no smiles…
OPINION: Where Education Goes From Here
Our state has often led the country in some of the most challenging moments, in part because very few of our lives line up neatly along any set of oversimplified ideological lines…
EDITORIAL: How to Get Fired From a Volunteer Job, Part Nine
Political power is addictive, and it can sometimes lead to disrespectful behavior. It can sometimes lead to corruption. We all know this…
A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW: ‘Playing Favorites’ with the Land Use Code
One ostensible purpose of land use regulations is to establish objective, legally binding standards thus — theoretically — precluding corruption. Instead they encourage it….
LETTER: Vote for June E. Marquez
When June considered running for Archuleta County Commissioner I told her “do it!” Although she has never run for public office before I have no doubt she will do an outstanding job…
EDITORIAL: How to Get Fired From a Volunteer Job, Part Eight
During 16 years of writing about Pagosa governments, I have developed great respect for certain departments at Town Hall. The police department for one. The Town Clerk’s department….
HMPRESENTLY: Fragile Optics… Handle With Care
Building and maintaining a positive perception of almost anything is like planting and maintaining a garden. It requires constant effort, a strong commitment, and lots of care…
EDITORIAL: How to Get Fired From a Volunteer Job, Part Seven
“I do understand that argument. But from a citizen’s perspective, the optics look like we’re railroading Bill. We’re handing him a perfect PR victory…”
EDITORIAL: How to Get Fired From a Volunteer Job, Part Six
“The applicant would like to propose that the subdivision [street] is dedicated to the Town. This eliminates any concerns regarding a gated community….”
OPINION: Tiny Houses, By the Numbers
A tiny house on wheels is actually considered an RV, which means that the revenue collected by licensing it goes to the state’s DOT…
EDITORIAL: How to Get Fired From a Volunteer Job, Part Five
Even the answer to the simplest question — do we have a parking problem in downtown? — has not yet been agreed upon by the Commission…
OPINION: Let Them Eat Weapons
Against a backdrop of economic and social collapse, plus potential global destruction, the obvious thing to do is to pull out of this immensely costly and bizarre arms race…
EDITORIAL: How to Get Fired From a Volunteer Job, Part Four
Our Town Council has consistently expressed a desire to make Pagosa Springs less ‘car-dependent’ and more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly…
EDITORIAL: Former Mayor Ross Aragon Considers ‘Urban Renewal’
“That property is not blighted. And one of the issues that comes up — I could never understand why the Council went with that…”
HMPRESENTLY: I Just Don’t Understand
“Well you say that you need me like an ocean needs sand, but the way you deceive me I just don’t understand…”
EDITORIAL: How to Get Fired From a Volunteer Job, Part Three
Especially, it’s not the job of the Planning Commission to ignore sections of the LUDC, to make things more convenient or profitable for a certain developer….
LETTER: A Planning Commission Debacle
What was observed on Wednesday afternoon was anything but kindness. In fact it was a railroad job, similar to what has been going on in our country’s capital of railroading…