Los Alamos County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Los Alamos County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Homelessness and social services data
Council discussion revealed the county helps 8-12 unhoused residents directly, but estimates 50-60 people lack stable housing. Section 8 waitlists are closed and regional housing staff have been cut, making placements harder.
Police Station Lion Sculpture Progress
The board picked the sphinx-pose lion design and will ask Council to commission artist Daniel Borup for up to $75,000. A radial wall and possible benches are planned behind the sculpture at the memorial site.
Suicide Prevention Training in Los Alamos County
State data show 6.8% of Los Alamos 10th graders report having considered or attempted suicide, just below the 8.4% state average. The state is offering free, evidence-based school programs and an app for teens, and pushing to get prevention training into schools.
Region 1 behavioral health investment (SB3)
Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and Santa Fe counties held their first kickoff meeting on building regional behavioral health services, starting with transportation to facilities like the Espanola CCBHC.
Wildfire Preparedness and Ready Set Go
Councilor Hemez reported on a tabletop exercise at Santo Domingo Pueblo testing tribal community readiness for concurrent wildfire smoke and heat. Gaps included air-quality monitoring and community notification systems. Council members discussed whether Los Alamos should build similar heat/air-quality tracking into its 2027 work plan.
Gas odorant surge and leak response
Stronger odorant in the virtual pipeline gas triggered a wave of leak calls countywide, which ironically uncovered many real gas leaks, including a saturated crawl space and regulator damage from white dust contamination.
Suicide prevention awareness
Los Alamos has trained only 107 people in naloxone use in 18 months versus 8,000+ in Rio Arriba, and distributed just 617 free doses. The state wants to partner locally to break the stigma of asking for help.
Jemez Mountain Fire Protection Phase III
DPU is selling water to support firefighting staged at the airport, and a FEMA procurement rejection on the Jemez Mountain fire protection wire has forced a do-over and temporary overhead power feeds so snowmaking pumps can start in November.
Fire Station No. 4 Replacement
The Council approved issuing up to $35 million in bonds, paid back from gross receipts tax revenue, to fix and improve Fire Station 4 and other fire safety facilities and public buildings. This keeps emergency response infrastructure in the county up to date without raising property taxes.
Automated Speed Enforcement
Five fixed speed cameras are planned for the truck route, Pajarito, NM 4, and Diamond Drive, with council action expected in early June. A two-officer traffic unit has already logged thousands of stops in four months.
Ski Hill FEMA grant and wildfire protection
The council approved a FEMA grant on a 25/75 county split totaling about $3.9 million to bury electric lines on Ski Hill Road, reducing wildfire risk. The grant had been held up for a long time before final re-approval.
Fireworks ban during severe drought
With the whole county in severe drought, fireworks use and sales are restricted for 30 days — covering the Fourth of July — to reduce wildfire risk.
Summer snack food drive for food-insecure kids
After November's SNAP benefits lapse, libraries report kids and teens still asking for food daily. The council backed a quick snack-food drive timed for summer, when free school meals disappear.
Gifted and twice-exceptional youth mental health
Gifted kids who aren't identified can face bullying, anxiety, substance abuse, and worse — and private testing can cost $3,000, making identification a socioeconomic equity issue. The council discussed parent support groups (SENG) and universal testing as fixes.
May 8 townsite power outage
A failed underground cable near the aquatic center plus a protective relay left on wrong settings blacked out the entire townsite for about 90 minutes. Crews fixed four damage points overnight and corrected the relay settings; relays are due for inspection once the new switching station is energized.
Countywide traffic safety and crash trends
Seven years of data show Los Alamos crash rates well below state averages, but eight fatalities and rising pedestrian and bicycle injuries have pushed safety to the top of the agenda. Staff and police laid out engineering, education, and enforcement efforts aimed at reaching zero fatalities.
DWI prevention, treatment and enforcement programs
The council was scheduled to hear updates on the county's DWI prevention, treatment, and law enforcement compliance efforts. These programs shape how DWI funding and services reach residents.