One ostensible purpose of land use regulations is to establish objective, legally binding standards thus — theoretically — precluding corruption. Instead they encourage it….
Category: Opinion/Letters
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…
HMPRESENTLY: This Dust-Up in Pagosa Springs
I was reading, last week, “How to Get Fired From a Volunteer Job,” Bill Hudson’s articles about the “hastily organized” Town Planning Commission meeting…
LETTER: Racial Disparities
During the COVID-19 pandemic minority communities are less likely to have testing sites, protective medical supplies and have been refused tests even when symptomatic…
EDITORIAL: Legislators, Looking for More Money, Part Two
“Oh, dear!” said The Cat. “You did not like our game… Oh, dear. What a same! What a shame! What a shame!”
EDITORIAL: How to Get Fired From a Volunteer Job, Part Two
As far as I can tell, every subdivision built within the Town limits over the past couple of decades has successfully aligned itself with those just-mentioned LUDC sections…