Letters to the Editor

Money can’t buy respect

Editor:

I saved money by figuring it out for myself

Were you a fan of HBO’s “The Sopranos”? Some people watched it religiously and also picked up the habit of incorporating the F-word into their everyday conversations because of that show. But I digress.

“The Sopranos” highlighted and glorified criminal activity (and continuous cussing) with double crosses, gory murders, hits on perceived enemies, family betrayals and lots of collateral damage.

The character, Tony, was developed as tough and powerful, but also loveable and sometimes tender — at least when talking with his female therapist. His need to be the strong, silent type conflicted with who he actually was: just a man without a conscience, often irritated by his family’s needs.

I think a lot of people relate to him for that conflict alone as well as his tendency to use the F-word. We watched Tony Soprano deal with his rotten sister, his suspicious wife and his spoiled kids. He subjected and introduced his entire family to ever-escalating corruption and cruelty; ostensibly the price to pay for a lifestyle of wealth and privilege.

Continuous infidelities, extravagant indulgences and throwing money at his kids took the place of role modeling and parenting. The show was an example of what not to do, yet some people aspire to that lifestyle today. Money still can’t buy happiness and absolutely is the root of all evil, wouldn’t you effin’ agree?

Wealth is a poor substitute for healthy living and is like a jealous friend who feeds you lies. I’ve noticed that super wealthy people are hyper transactional so can’t seem to relax or enjoy the simple things. They’ve lost their sense of humor, their humanity and their moral compasses.

They won’t hope or pray for other people. Everything has a price and anything can be bought. People that are transactional fixate on what’s in it for them, how they can use you for their own gain.

Alternatively, people who don’t have money also fixate on it and blame the government for wasting it. I don’t personally know any super wealthy people, but I do know several folks who live in a transactional way and I’m embarrassed for them.

Money cannot buy respect, dignity, health or love and an excellent therapist can’t fix those issues, no matter how much money is spent.

If I had a therapist, I’d maybe explore when this selfish era is going to pass so we can get back to a time of peace, love and understanding — something money will never be able to buy. I’m tired of seeing all the extravagance in the face of cruelty, war and homelessness.

I’m effing mad about the state our country is in, due to an uncaring Tony Soprano wanna-be who won’t bother to get some therapy. He keeps grifting and we do what we do to stay afloat. I don’t know about you, but I’m over this guy. I saved a ton of money on a therapist by figuring this out all by myself.

Michelle Tafoya

Los Lunas

A continuing problem

Editor:

Traffic (I figured that gets your attention).

The good news: completion in a few months of several projects at the N.M. 6/Main Street bridge over I-25. The re-striping of the bridge to six lanes (the bridge will not be widened) will also reduce congestion.

Meanwhile, a growing number of vehicles, including large numbers of heavy trucks, clog N.M. 6 on the west side, trying to access ramps to I-25 or continuing east.

Consider the current and future sources of vehicles on N.M. 6 west of I-25 (not a full list): homes in Sierra Vista, Jubilee and Huning Ranch. Amazon. Meta Data Center (hundreds of construction workers). Sundance Elementary. Pacific Fusion employees driving onto N.M. 6. Walmart shoppers, especially during Christmas shopping season. Water guzzling Niagara Bottling Co. Companies in business parks off of Los Morros Road and Sand Sage Street, including Walmart Distribution Center, and ...

Future jobs in Central Rail Park. Future hospital workers and patients. Future Fairfield Inn traffic. Motorists from homes in the Los Senderos area south of the UNM Valencia training facility with only one road to access N.M. 6. Normal traffic on N.M. 6, including from I-40.

West side residents have to deal with this traffic daily; east side residents (including the mayor and all council members) are less impacted, living east of I-25.

At a Los Lunas P & Z Commission hearing on May 18, 2022, I heard its chairman, Andy Gomez, state, “Growth is king.”

Growth, in and of itself, is not king. But that appears to be a significantly held view by village officials.

Existing and already planned housing, retail and commercial/industrial development on the west side exceed the ability of N.M. 6 and the Main Street bridge bottleneck to handle current traffic. Unbridled growth does not contribute to a higher quality of living.

The village, working with NMDOT, needs to digest the impact of the above projects before entertaining more that will only further congest traffic.

James Rickey

Los Lunas