Members of the Los Alamos Local Business Coalition speaking and waiting to speak at the public forum held Tuesday evening at SALA Event Center. Coalition members from left, Allan Saenz, Anna Dillane, Kevin Holsapple, Carolyn Cowan and John Courtright. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Local business owners share experiences interacting with County staff during Tuesday evening’s public forum hosted by the Los Alamos Local Business Coalition at SALA Event Center. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

From Los Alamos Local Business Coalition:

Dear Los Alamos County Council, Coalition Members, Press, and Fellow Citizens,

The Los Alamos Local Business Coalition is a newly formed organization of local business owners and stakeholders dedicated to fostering a thriving business environment in Los Alamos and White Rock. We advocate for solution-focused policies, structures, and accountability that support our local businesses and respect the voices of our community.

We are writing to express our strong opposition to the proposed purchase of three properties on Diamond Drive for $9.8 million. This proposal was added to the Nov. 19 County Council agenda with only four days’ notice before a vote and represents a significant misuse of public funds without adequate transparency, justification, or community input.

The County’s actions in this matter have elicited deep frustration and outrage in the community for several compelling reasons:

• Lack of Transparency: The sudden inclusion of this major purchase on the agenda, without prior public discussion or disclosure, undermines the principles of open government. Decisions of this magnitude require full transparency and ample opportunity for public scrutiny.
• Exorbitant Cost: The proposed purchase price far exceeds the assessed value of the properties. There has been no clear justification for this inflated price, which has raised serious concerns about fiscal responsibility, due diligence, and dangerous precedents.
• No Concrete Plan: There is an alarming absence of a strategic or actionable plan for how these properties will benefit the community or support economic development. Investing such a substantial amount without a clear purpose is irresponsible and unacceptable.
• Rushed Decision Process: The alleged requirements of the seller are being prioritized over clear thinking about the impacts on the community, lending to the perception that the county is succumbing to well-known seller tactics, such as “fear of missing out”. Allotting time for due diligence is an essential step of any practical real estate transaction, including soliciting meaningful citizen engagement. Without the property being listed publicly for sale, asserting that the option will expire with no future chance for renegotiation, especially at an offering price significantly above the stated value, is misleading.
  
• Disregard for Public Opinion and Input: Questions, concerns, and suggestions from the community have been largely ignored. The citizens’ voices must be valued, listened to, and respected—not ignored or dismissed.

The community’s response in the compressed timeframe has been unequivocal:

• 12 letters to the editor were published opposing the purchase, with only one in favor.
• During the Nov. 19 Council meeting, 19 public comments were made against this project, with 15 community members waiting until nearly 10:30 p.m. to speak. There was no opportunity for dialogue and no response to most of the concerns raised.
• Numerous social media comments reflect widespread questions, suggestions, opposition, and concerns. A compilation is attached.
• A petition with 147 signatures has been collected opposing this purchase. One of the petitions is attached.
• On Dec. 2, the Los Alamos Local Business Coalition hosted a public forum where 45 people attended in person and 10 via Zoom. Most speakers expressed questions, concerns, or opposition to the project.

You can view the full forum here: https://youtu.be/5XlQbCnJZ4Y

These are not mere statistics—they represent the collective voice of your constituents. Moving forward with this purchase without regard for such overwhelming public concerns and opposition would be a profound disregard for the community you are elected to serve.

We recommend and request that you:

• Halt the Proposed Purchase Immediately: Do not proceed without substantial public support and a clear, justified plan.
• Engage in Transparent Governance: Provide full disclosure of all details related to this proposal, including financial justifications and intended use. Fully address the questions, concerns, and suggestions that have been raised. In the recent community survey, 63% of citizens rated communication and engagement a high priority, and 97% rated it a high or medium priority. Thirty-seven percent rated being open and transparent to the public as poor, and only 62% rated this in the fair to poor range. This needs to improve.
• Respect and Value Citizen Input: Actively listen to and address the community’s concerns. Our input is not only valuable but essential for democratic governance. The question of the adequacy of meaningful public participation should be a key consideration in every major decision that the county considers. The Staff should be held accountable for operating transparently and ensuring opportunities for meaningful public participation. In the recent community survey, 40% of citizens rated confidence in the local government as poor, and 67% put it in the fair to poor range. Thirty-nine percent rated “acting in the best interests of the community” as poor, and 66% put it into the fair to poor range. “Inclusivity and engagement” is among the lowest-rated “facets of livability” identified in the survey. This needs to improve.
• Demonstrate Fiscal Responsibility: Ensure that taxpayer funds are spent wisely and effectively, with full accountability. In the recent community survey, 71% of citizens rated fiscal stewardship as a high priority and 97% rated it a high or medium priority. No question was asked about community opinions about the quality of fiscal stewardship.

This is an opportunity for the County Council to restore trust and demonstrate leadership by embracing and using community input. Ignoring your constituents’ collective inputs and objections is not only dismissive but detrimental to the fabric of our community.

We stand ready to collaborate on solutions that truly benefit Los Alamos. However, collaboration requires mutual respect and a genuine commitment to serving the community’s best interests.

We urge you to take immediate action to address these concerns. The citizens of Los Alamos deserve elected officials who listen, value and respect their voices.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

Sincerely,

The Los Alamos Local Business Coalition

Authors’ Note: The County Council was provided this letter along with the list of questions, concerns, and suggestions gathered from letters to the editor, social media posts and comments, and the forum we held. You can view this list at: https://bit.ly/Diamond-Drive. We also provided a copy of a signed petition mentioned in the letter.

All local businesses and individual citizens interested in improving the local business environment in Los Alamos and White Rock are invited to join our mailing list by completing the form at https://bit.ly/LALBC-sign-up – there is no cost to join, and you can opt out at any time. You will receive occasional email communication from the Coalition and will be invited to express your opinions on future issues affecting the local business environment.

County Manager Anne Laurent speaks at the public forum Tuesday evening hosted by the Los Alamos Local Business Coalition at SALA Event Center. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from the public forum hosted by the Los Alamos Local Business Coalition Tuesday evening at SALA Event Center. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from the public forum hosted by the Los Alamos Local Business Coalition Tuesday evening at SALA Event Center. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com