BY ALAN SAENZ
Owner of SALA Event Center
and LA-Net

This Saturday morning, many of us woke up to some surprising news. Two significant items have suddenly appeared on the agenda for the upcoming County Council meeting, set to be approved with barely any notice. The first is a proposed $9.8 million purchase of three properties on Diamond Drive—a decision that seems to have come out of nowhere.

The second is about the Community Broadband Project, which has been in development for over 20 years and has already consumed millions of taxpayer dollars. Both items are being pushed through with minimal time for public input, and I can’t help but feel deep concern about the lack of transparency and the direction our county is heading.

Part 1: The Diamond Drive Purchase – What’s Going On?

Let’s talk about the first item on the agenda: the sudden proposal to spend nearly $10 million of our taxpayer dollars to purchase properties on Diamond Drive. This move has raised a lot of eyebrows, and for good reason.

• Out of Nowhere: This purchase was added to the agenda late on a Friday night, with the decision set for approval just a few days later on Tuesday. There’s been no real opportunity for public discussion or input. Why the rush? Why the secrecy? Is this just a rubber stamp?

• Where’s the Transparency? Decisions of this magnitude should involve the community, not be made behind closed doors. We deserve to know why this purchase is necessary, how it benefits us, and what the long-term plans are. What is the agenda here?

Questionable Use of Funds

Investing nearly $10 million in properties that exceed their assessed values seems imprudent, especially when these funds could support existing local businesses and economic initiatives. The County’s willingness to allocate such a substantial amount without clear, immediate benefits to the community is concerning.

Impact on Local Businesses

The stated purpose of this purchase is to establish a Social Services Hub with future plans for housing, retail, and restaurant spaces. By becoming a landlord and developing speculative retail and restaurant spaces, the County risks competing directly with existing businesses. The County’s use of public funds for capital improvements could end up favoring larger corporate interests rather than supporting local entrepreneurs. This, combined with the County’s tendency to overspend on real estate, could drive up costs for new tenants.

Questionable Priorities

While the County claims it can’t support individual businesses due to the anti-donation clause, it seems willing to spend $9.8 million on properties that could end up competing against them. How is it ethical to harm existing businesses if it can’t help them? Meanwhile, local businesses like Atomic City Quilts have struggled to get permits, Pi Pizzeria LLC remains in limbo over its business license, and Pet Pangea has been unable to secure adequate space. If the County’s practices are already driving away developers and stifling small businesses, how can we trust it to be a better landlord and developer?

My Experience with the County’s Economic Development Efforts

I can’t help but compare this to my own experience applying for LEDA funding for SALA:

• A Frustrating Process: Despite overwhelming community support—including over 200 signatures and letters from officials—the County made the LEDA process incredibly difficult.
• Cost Difference and Impact: I requested $600,000 ($450,000 grant and $150,000 loan), a small fraction of the $9.8 million proposed for Diamond Drive.
• Clear Community Benefits: SALA’s project was aligned with County goals to boost tourism, enhance the Creative District, and support economic vitality. Yet, after months of effort, I had to withdraw the application, ultimately funding it myself due to bureaucratic hurdles.

Inconsistencies in the County’s Approach

It’s hard not to see a double standard:

• Quick to Spend Millions Without Input: The County is ready to drop $9.8 million on property with little to no public discussion.
• Reluctant to Support Local Business: Meanwhile, they made it nearly impossible for a local business with clear community benefits to get support.
• Economic Development Department in Disarray: With key staff quitting and positions unfilled, who is guiding these decisions? There’s no coherent strategy, and it’s hurting all of us.

A Call to Action

We deserve better. Our community deserves transparency, accountability, and leadership that truly listens to and supports us.

• Attend the Meeting: I urge everyone to participate in the County Council meeting on  Tuesday at 6 p.m. Join via Zoom or submit your e-comments. Let’s make our voices heard.
• Demand Transparency: Ask the tough questions. Why is this purchase being rushed? How will it benefit us? Why aren’t local businesses being supported? What is the long-term vision for these Diamond Drive properties? 
• Postpone the Decision: I call on the County Council to hold off on approving this purchase until there’s been proper community input.
• Join the Conversation: I’m willing to host a public forum at SALA to discuss these issues openly. Let’s come together to share our concerns and ideas. I’ll announce the date soon.
  

It would also be great to hear from the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce and our newly elected County Councilors.

Part 2: A Closer Look at the Broadband Plan

In Part 2, on Tuesday, I’ll address another major agenda item: the Community Broadband Project, something I have long supported—yet another case of the County making significant decisions with minimal transparency and without engaging local businesses like mine that have served Los Alamos for decades.

This project, in the works since the 1990s with millions already spent, still lacks the clarity and local involvement it desperately needs.

I’ll dive into the County’s contractor selection process, its impact on existing providers, and why greater transparency and support for local businesses are essential. Stay tuned.

We need to work together to ensure that Los Alamos remains a vibrant, thriving community. That won’t happen if decisions are made behind closed doors without our input.