Roundabout Plan A Big Mistake

I READ WITH a certain cynicism the article regarding the roundabout scheduled to be installed in the intersection of Rio Grande and Candalaria. Then in one statement by Councilor Debbie O’Malley, I realized I wasn’t a cynic but a realist. O’Malley’s declaration that there is a “pretty small group” of people who oppose this change, along with the announcement that there will be meetings with “stakeholders,” confirms that our city government is out of touch and there is nothing stopping this colossal mistake. Councilor O’Malley did not attend the July 26 meeting — the first of which many of the real “stakeholders” had heard of this scheme. If she had, O’Malley would have found an overfilled room packed with her constituents who were outraged by her pandering to a small group of individuals who, for personal reasons, want to have a roundabout in front of their homes. For O’Malley, these few homeowners are the “stakeholders” and it is to them she listens.

The rest of us know it is a waste of time and effort to speak to this woman who is so out of touch. As for the meetings that are to be scheduled — it will be interesting to see who will be invited to attend.

Also, I am disappointed in the mayor. Isn’t he the chief executive of this city, or are we broken into fiefdoms that can make disastrous changes despite good sense and the concerns of the majority? MARRON NELSON Albuquerque