Letters to the Editor (Jan. 16, 2025)

Thank you, Councilor Cruz Munoz

Editor:

I am writing to thank Los Lunas Village Councilor Cruz Munoz, District 3, for his quick response to address my concerns regarding specific neighborhood issues.

Mr. Munoz contacted every person who could accomplish what needed to be done without hesitation. Everyone committed to help within their department parameters.

I would like to publicly appreciate village of Los Lunas staff Alex Ochoa, community development director; Mary Askew, code enforcement supervisor; LLPD Chief Frank Lucero, and Harold Najar, streets superintendent.

Without exception, staff emails were goal specific and respectful. I would also like to acknowledge Los Lunas Councilor Gino Romero, District 2, for his initial direction.

Our community is fortunate to have leaders and professionals working hard and often out of sight. They each deserve our acknowledgment and appreciation.

Gary Kuidis

Los Lunas

The Carter presidency

Editor:

It is one of the most exclusive clubs in the world — former U.S. presidents. Take into account that eight presidents died in office, Grover Cleveland was president twice and we have only 36 ex-presidents.

When one of those 36 ex-Presidents dies, it is a notable event – which we had on December 29 with the death of our 39th President, Jimmy Carter.

How will we remember President Jimmy Carter? It is the fate of presidents to be liked by some and not by others.

Will history remember President Carter? One of our greatest presidents? Average? A failure?

However, history ultimately remembers President Jimmy Carter, one of the best things we can do as we remember President Jimmy Carter is to remember that most of us do not remember Jimmy Carter. Let me explain.

Jimmy Carter’s presidency ended in 1981. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2023 the U.S. median age was 38.9 years. That means over half of us — myself included — were born after Jimmy Carter was president. Over half of us don’t remember the Jimmy Carter presidency.

We don’t remember the 1978 Camp David accords where President Carter facilitated between Israel and Egypt.

We don’t remember the oil shock after the Shah of Iran was deposed.

We don’t remember a federal government without the two DOEs — Department of Education and Department of Energy — created during Carter’s presidency.

Jimmy Carter was president in a different world more than 40 years ago when the Soviet Union still existed and social media was unknown. Yet, that world is part of the story of the world we have today.

If you remember the world of Jimmy Carter’s presidency, help us understand today’s world by telling us what that world was like. And the rest of us? Let’s listen.

Jonathan Gardner

Los Lunas