BY JAMES WERNICKE
Los Alamos

Following the 2022 election, the outgoing Council enacted significant changes to the nuisance code despite considerable public concerns and reservations expressed by their own Community Development Advisory Board, such as the code’s emphasis on appearance rather than health and safety, vague language, and potentially inequitable impacts. During Council discussions, some councilors posed pointed questions regarding public input, creating a superficial impression of transparency. However, it didn’t address why many public concerns were left unaddressed in the final draft. While the County claimed appearances as necessary for public health and safety, it gave less consideration to the consequences citations could have on residents’ livelihoods. The decision was framed as urgent, with County officials and councilors reassuring the public, “We can always change it later,” despite calls from the public to allow the incoming Council to deliberate further. In a 4-3 vote, outgoing councilors chose to proceed, arguably against public sentiment.

Exactly two years later, the public is facing another rushed decision. With minimal notice, the agenda included approval of $50 million for a municipal broadband network and $10 million for real estate purchases. Public feedback again highlighted concerns about insufficient transparency. “We have to trust Council staff,” a councilor said. However, this trust may be difficult considering past decisions, such as the Women’s Dorm purchase and Marriott deal in 2019, which remain undeveloped, or the handling of a 26-hour county-wide communication outage in 2022.

A councilor argued that “private ownership hasn’t worked,” but this perspective dismisses the value of free enterprise and local entrepreneurial potential. For example, private citizens offering affordable housing solutions, like backyard rental units, face restrictive County regulations. Meanwhile, non-profits and small businesses that provide essential services often demonstrate more transparency, accountability, and effectiveness than government-led initiatives.

Is it wise to invest in additional public ownership when existing County properties remain vacant? Could these funds be better spent empowering local businesses or community organizations? We should hold our policymakers accountable for responsible fiscal stewardship and ensure that decisions genuinely reflect community values and priorities. Let’s hope that incoming councilors will do better.

The author used AI to improve the tone of civility.