By JAN BARNES
Los Alamos

I guess I’ve been out-of-touch. When did they decide to “develop” the old Fema-ville area? What makes them think that it needs development? That area is currently the hunting grounds for at least one red-tail hawk, the home of many native-species plants, insects and animals, and one of the few “natural” areas left in town.

It is surrounded by a dog park, horse stables, a county garden, a rodeo arena, a dressage arena, a kiddy park, a BMX track, tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball fields and a walking trail. Have people completely lost the ability to amuse themselves? What else do people think they need?

This may be a relatively small area, but in a world where global warming, rapidly decreasing populations of wildlife, a dearth of pollinators, and congested populations of humans are the norm, it is a welcome respite and every little bit of natural area is important to our continued survival as a species.

People move here for the views, the wildlife, and the outdoors and then proceed to destroy it. What is the matter with us?

Please reconsider and leave the development of Fema-ville to nature.