The nuclear weapons labs corrupt our polity in many ways.
The Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC) is just one example.
It should be dissolved and its funds returned to local governments, tribes, & the DOE.
updated 25 Aug 2021

LASG letter to Santa Fe City Council, Mar 29, 2021

LASG friends ltr (03/19/21) Once more into the breach: contact the Santa Fe City Council and Taos County Commission urging RCLC withdrawal NOW

LASG friends ltr (03/02/21) Please contact the Santa Fe City Council urging the City to leave the "Regional Coalition of LANL Communities"

It’s been past time to stick a fork in Regional Coalition of LANL Communities, Albuquerque Journal Editorial Board, May 23, 2021
Pull the plug on regional coalition — it’s time, Santa Fe New Mexican Editorial, Sep 8, 2018
LANL Coalition Remains Huge Taxpayer Waste, Rio Grande Sun Editorial, Aug 23, 2018
LANL Coalition is what’s toxic in our governments, Albuquerque Journal Editorial Board, Aug 18, 2018
Time to Pull the Plug on the Regional Coalition, Albuquerque Journal North Editorial Board, Aug 10, 2018
Drinking on the public dime, Santa Fe New Mexican Editorial, Feb 26, 2018

RCLC members: City of Española, Los Alamos County, Ohkay Owingeh, Pueblo of Jemez, Rio Arriba County, Santa Fe County, City of Santa Fe, Taos County, Town of Taos

RCLC founding documents & a few important financial statements

The Use of Grant DE-EM0003780 by the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities, DOE-OIG report, Sep 27, 2019
Allegations Regarding Multiple Department Employees Inappropriately Receiving Gifts, DOE-OIG report, Jul 2, 2019

Adams+Crow Investigative Report of RCLC improper use of public funds, on behalf of Los Alamos County, Aug 8, 2018 (does not include appendices)
Los Alamos County Manager Burgess' response, Aug 28, 2018

State of New Mexico, Special Audit, Regional Coalition of LANL Communities, Aug 7, 2018

In the news

• Santa Fe to exit Regional Coalition of LANL, Santa Fe New Mexican, May 26, 2021
  
  
• Embattled LANL coalition votes to disband, Santa Fe New Mexican, May 24, 2021
  
  
• Regional Coalition Of LANL Communities Board Unanimously Passes Resolution To Dissolve, Los Alamos Reporter, May 21, 2021
  
  
• Regional Coalition of LANL Communities considers folding, Santa Fe New Mexican, May 19, 2021
  
  
• Resolution To Dissolve Regional Coalition Of LANL Communities On Agenda For Friday Meeting, Los Alamos Reporter, May 18, 2021
  
  
• Open Letter To Taos County Commission, Town Council On Membership Of Regional Coalition, Suzie Schwartz, Norteños for Peaceful and Sustainable Futures, Los Alamos Reporter, Apr 7, 2021
  
  
• Santa Fe City Council rejects LANL coalition agreement, Santa Fe New Mexican, Mar 31, 2021
  
  
• Santa Fe City Council To Consider Adopting Amended Regional Coalition Of LANL Communities JPA Today, Los Alamos Reporter, Mar 31, 2021
  
  
• Santa Fe’s benefit from LANL coalition questioned, Santa Fe New Mexican, Mar 17, 2021
  
  
• Santa Fe councilors question LANL coalition membership, Albuquerque Journal, Mar 2, 2021
  
  
• Panel weighs benefits to LANL communities coalition, Santa Fe New Mexican, Mar 1, 2021
  
  
• Embattled coalition up against challenges, Albuquerque Journal North, Feb 21, 2021
  
  
• Regional Coalition Opts To Close Executive Committee Meeting Friday To The Public, Los Alamos Reporter, Feb 13, 2021
  
  
• Friday’s RCLC Meeting Canceled Due To Lack Of Quorum, Los Alamos Reporter, Jan 21, 2021
  
  
• No Response Received By Regional Coalition To Executive Director Services Request For Proposals, Los Alamos Reporter, Jan 19, 2021
  
  
• RCLC Seeks Proposals For Executive Director Services By Jan. 14, 2021, Los Alamos Reporter, Dec 10, 2020
  
  
• Regional Coalition Of LANL Communities to Issue RFP For Executive Director Services, Group Calls For Dissolution, Los Alamos Reporter, Oct 31, 2020
  
  
• Regional Coalition Of LANL Communities Board Seeks To Revamp Goals, Direction, Los Alamos Reporter, Sep 27, 2020
  
  
• Regional Local Government Reps Unhappy With LANL Fiscal Impacts, Procurement Leakage GRT Distribution Noted In UNM Study, Los Alamos Reporter, Aug 28, 2020
  
  
• RCLC takes issue with impact study, Los Alamos Monitor, Aug 17, 2020
  
  
• Los Alamos Community Group Again Needs New Executive Director, Exchange Monitor, Aug 7, 2020
  
  
• Regional Coalition Of LANL Communities Will Be Without Executive Director Services As Of August 27 As Contract With CPLC Ends, Los Alamos Reporter, Aug 5, 2020
  
  
• RCLC Board Postpones And Reschedules Friday Afternoon’s Special Zoom Meeting Within Minutes Of Opening To Public, Los Alamos Reporter, Jul 24, 2020
  
  
• Vasquez: CPLC ‘Winding It Down’ With Regional Coalition Of LANL Communities, Los Alamos Reporter, Jul 21, 2020
  
  
• Regional Coalition Of LANL Communities Board Wants To Dig Deeper Into UNM Study Of LANL’s Regional Impact, Los Alamos Reporter, Jul 21, 2020
  
  
• Santa Fe City councilor questions benefit of belonging to LANL coalition, Santa Fe New Mexican, Jul 3, 2020
  
  
• RCLC Adopts FY21 Budget Amid Continued Uncertainty Over DOE Grant Monies And Future Executive Director Services, Los Alamos Reporter, Jun 23, 2020
  
  
• Burgess Briefs RCLC Board On DP Road During Virtual Meeting, Los Alamos Reporter, Jun 21, 2020
  
  
• Vasquez: Amended RCLC Joint Powers Agreement Moves Focus Away From Los Alamos, Los Alamos Reporter, May 14, 2020
  
  
• Izraelevitz: Very Perilous Time For Regional Coalition Of LANL Communities, Los Alamos Reporter, May 6, 2020
  
  
• DOE Letter Indicates RCLC Not Yet Off The Hook For Up To $300,000 In Grant Monies Received From FY2015-FY2017, Los Alamos Reporter, May 4, 2020
  
  
• RCLC To Ask Former Executive Director For Reimbursement Of $8,000, Los Alamos Reporter, Apr 27, 2020
  
  
• RCLC Board To Hear Legal Review Of 2013-2018 Audits, Discuss Future And Initiatives At Friday Zoom Meeting, Los Alamos Reporter, Apr 23, 2020
  
  
• RCLC Asks Congressional Delegation To Urge DOE-EM To Restore Its $100,000 Grant, "The executive committee of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities meeting by phone Feb. 18, voted to send a letter to the New Mexico congressional delegation to inquire about the status of the DOE grant funding for the RCLC and ask them to urge Department of Energy Environmental Management leadership to fully fund the RCLC." Los Alamos Reporter, Feb 27, 2020
  
  
• County Mulls Establishment Of Fund To Support Regional Capital Project Development, "Los Alamos County Council, meeting Tuesday evening in White Rock, discussed a proposed new initiative to support regional capital project development as part of the Progress Through Partnering Program." Los Alamos Reporter, Feb 19, 2020
  
  
• 2020 RCLC Retreat And Strategic Planning Workshop Slated For Saturday, "Regional Coalition of LANL Communities executive issued an invitation to the Feb, 8 RCLC retreat to be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Feb 8 at the Rio Arriba County Annex in Espanola." Los Alamos Reporter, Feb 3, 2020
  
  
• Status Of DOE-EM Grant To RCLC Remains Unsure, "The status of the Department of Energy – Environmental Management (DOE-EM)annual grant to the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities for this year seems to be undetermined at this time judging from a discussion at the Jan. 24 meeting of the RCLC board in Espanola." Los Alamos Reporter, Feb 3, 2020
  
  
• Hintze Addresses RCLC Board On FY 2019 Legacy Waste Cleanup Accomplishments And FY 2020 Priorities, "Interim measures work has begun on the eastern boundary of the chromium plume at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Department of Energy Environmental Management (EM-LA) Field Office Manager recently told the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities board." Los Alamos Reporter, Dec 2, 2019
  
  
• RCLC Quizzes LANL Deputy Director Of Operations On Future Lab Plans, "Regional Coalition of LANL Communities board members had a chance Nov. 15 to question Los Alamos National Laboratory Deputy Director of Operations Kelly Beierschmitt on issues related to the Lab’s recent disclosure of staffing increases and infrastructure improvement being planned." Los Alamos Reporter, Nov 27, 2019
  
  
• RCLC releases 6 years of audits, "The New Mexico State Auditors Office and the RCLC Friday made public the audits of the last six years of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities’ financial activities." Los Alamos Monitor, Nov 20, 2019
  
  
• Beierschmitt Briefs RCLC On Lab Infrastructure Plans, "Española – It’s no secret Los Alamos National Laboratory has growing pains. Increased budgets and increased staff are a plus, but the extra projects and people have stretched the infrastructure resources at LANL … and the future goals of the Lab will stretch them even more." Los Alamos Daily Post, Nov 19, 2019
  
  
• DOE Inspector General’s Office Recommends RCLC Give Back $300,000 From Grants, "A Department of Energy Inspector General’s Office report on the use of grant money by the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities recommends that the RCLC reimburse DOE with some $300,000 it received in grant funds between Sept. 30, 2015 and June 30, 2018." Los Alamos Reporter, Oct 2, 2019
  
  
• LANL Director Thom Mason Shares Plans For Working With Local Communities During RCLC Board Meeting, "'It’s a scary world out there,' Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Thom Mason told the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities Board during a meeting Friday at Espanola City Hall. Ironically, that’s good news for LANL." Los Alamos Daily Post, Jul 15, 2019
  
  
• LANL Director Talks To RCLC About Jobs, Infrastructure, Safety, External Partnerships, "Los Alamos National Laboratory had some 1,400 open positions as of last Thursday and has been hiring at a rate of about 1,000 people a year for the past couple of years, LANL Director Dr. Thom Mason told members of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities board meeting Friday afternoon in Espanola." Los Alamos Reporter, Jul 13, 2019
  
  
• DOE Inspector General Continues Probe of Grant Money Use by Los Alamos Group, "The Department of Energy inspector general has “potential concerns” about agency oversight of $500,000 in grant money awarded to a regional group that promotes economic development around the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. That is the assessment…" Exchange Monitor, Jul 9, 2019
  
  
• Los Alamos Group Working to Get Fiscal House in Order, "A regional group that promotes communities around the Energy Department’s Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico says it has fixed weaknesses in its travel reimbursement policy and other financial procedures. In a June 24 public meeting, Regional…" Exchange Monitor, Jul 8, 2019
  
  
• DOE clears its workers but still looking at Regional Coalition grant use, "SANTA FE – A U.S. Department of Energy Inspector General’s report has found “no evidence” to that DOE employees inappropriately accepted meals or tickets to a Major League Baseball game purchased by the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities." Albuquerque Journal, Jul 8, 2019
  
  
• Allegations Regarding Multiple Department Employees Inappropriately Receiving Gifts, "The mission of the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (Environmental Management) is to address the Nation’s Cold War environmental legacy resulting from five decades of nuclear weapons production and Government-sponsored nuclear energy research. Within Environmental Management, the Los Alamos Field Office is tasked to safely and efficiently complete the cleanup of legacy contamination and waste resulting from nuclear weapons development and research at Los Alamos National Laboratory. To help accomplish its cleanup mission, Environmental Management issues grants to non-Federal entities." DOE-IG report, Jul 2, 2019
  
  
• RCLC Hears Talk On Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility, "The Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC) Board met Thursday in Española. The meeting included a presentation by Holtec International Program Director Ed Mayer describing the safety features of a proposed storage site in southern New Mexico should the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issue the New Jersey-based company a 40-year license. If that happens, Toltec would build a multibillion-dollar site to temporarily store spent nuclear fuel from commercial reactors around the United States." Los Alamos Daily Post, Jul 1, 2019
  
  
• Vasquez: $100,000 DOE Grant For RCLC Not Requested This Fiscal Year, "Regional Coalition of LANL Communities board members meeting in Espanola Thursday were dismayed to hear from executive director Eric Vasquez that he never submitted the annual request to the Department of Energy for $100,000 grant the Coalition has been receiving for several years." Los Alamos Reporter, Jun 28, 2019
  
  
• RCLC Reboot Underway, "Misspent public funds, reimbursements for $38-a-shot whiskey, tickets to a major league baseball game, a woeful lack of proper financial controls." Los Alamos Daily Post, Jun 27, 2019
  
  
• Feds pulled $100K grant for LANL clean-up coalition, "The U.S. Department of Energy, which has covered half of the annual budget for the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities over the years, cut out any funding for the coalition in the current fiscal year." Albuquerque Journal, Jun 18, 2019
  
  
• No DOE Grant Figured Into RCLC Budget, Audit Behind Schedule, "With less than a month left in the current fiscal year, Regional Coalition of LANL Communities executive director Eric Vasquez presented board members meeting in Espanola June 7 with an updated budget that does not reflect the annual grant of $100,000 from the Department of Energy for this year." Los Alamos Reporter, Jun 16, 2019
  
  
• Santa Fe County commissioners OK stricter financial controls over LANL communities coalition, "Santa Fe County commissioners approved a revised joint powers agreement Tuesday that imposes stricter financial controls over the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities, a public agency that had largely operated under the radar until it was thrust into the spotlight a year ago amid revelations of unauthorized expenses." Santa Fe New Mexican, Apr 30, 2019
  
  
• Feds investigate RCLC grant funds, "The Department of Energy’s Inspector General’s Office is investigating how the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities uses grant funds received yearly from the Department of Energy." Los Alamos Monitor, Apr 22, 2019
  
  
• RCLC grants said to be focus of federal investigation, "The U.S. Department of Energy’s Inspector General’s Office is investigating the handling of DOE grants to the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities, a consortium of nine northern New Mexico communities that advocates for jobs and federal environmental cleanup funding at Los Alamos National Laboratory." Albuquerque Journal, Apr 14, 2019
  
  
• County to seek payback of RCLC funds, "Los Alamos County Council Tuesday directed county staff to recoup all expenses made by county staff and county representatives associated with the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities that weren’t consistent with the county’s travel and reimbursement policy." Los Alamos Monitor, Nov 5, 2018
  
  
• LANL Director Terry Wallace Briefs Regional Coalition, "Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Terry Wallace presented a briefing about the laboratory to the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC) during its meeting Friday in the Los Alamos Municipal Building." Los Alamos Daily Post, Oct 22, 2018
  
  
• Regional coalition makes changes, "The Regional Coalition of LANL Communities made it their first order of business Friday to change how it does business." Los Alamos Monitor, Oct 22, 2018
  
  
• Bids show RCLC contractor was not lowest bidder, "Bids for the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities show the winning bidder originally came in $48,147.96 higher than the lowest bidder, before the coalition board negotiated the costs down." Los Alamos Monitor, Oct 15, 2018
  
  
• Let This Be the Last Time I Write About the RCLC, "The attempts of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC) to justify its existence are laughable. The Coalition is redundant, a waste of taxpayers’ money, and most egregious, a road block activists must break through to focus their energy on the long term goal: mission change at LANL." La Jicarita, Sep 25, 2018
  
  
• RCLC’s new contractor has troubled past, "A new chapter has surfaced in the ongoing saga of the troubled Regional Coalition of LANL Communities. Local and regional representatives of the coalition are discovering more information about the new executive director for the management contractor, Chicanos Por La Causa New Mexico." Los Alamos Monitor, Sep 11, 2018
  
  
• Regional Coalition of LANL Communities: Who Will Hold Los Alamos County Accountable?, By Lisa Shin, Republican Candidate, New Mexico House of Representatives, District 43, "In an upcoming special County Council meeting on Sept. 6, 2018, we can expect Los Alamos County and its elected officials to shift blame and claim innocence. We’ll just ensure that this doesn’t happen again. Hey, let’s celebrate with another 28 shot of Whistlepig!" Los Alamos Monitor, Sep 7, 2018
  
  
• Los Alamos County Council debate on improper spending gets heated, "Los Alamos County elected officials and their top administrator spent close to four hours Thursday night discussing and debating an independent investigation into improper use of public funds by the embattled Regional Coalition of LANL Communities." Santa Fe New Mexican, Sep 6, 2018
  
  
• Los Alamos County expected to revisit fiscal agent role, "Los Alamos County officials may consider ending their money-management responsibilities for the embattled Regional Coalition of LANL Communities, a public agency that was thrust into the limelight after two separate audits and an independent investigation uncovered thousands of dollars in improper reimbursements." Santa Fe New Mexican, Sep 5, 2018
  
  
• Burgess Issues Response To Findings On RCLC, "Los Alamos County Manager Harry Burgess has released his response to the recent investigation by the Adams+Crow (A+C) law firm regarding the alleged improper use of public funds by the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC), dated Aug. 8, 2018." Los Alamos Daily Post, Sep 4, 2018
  
  
• County to consider pulling out of managing troubled coalition, "The Los Alamos County Council will hold a special meeting Thursday to discuss the county’s response to a special investigator’s report criticizing the county’s role in overseeing the expenses of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities." Los Alamos Monitor, Sep 3, 2018
  
  
• RCLC’s ex-director, new manager have another connection, "Another connection between the new manager of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities and Andrea Romero, the embattled former director of the coalition and a candidate for a state House of Representative seat, has emerged." Albuquerque Journal, Sep 1, 2018
  
  
• New group takes over embattled Regional Coalition of LANL Communities, "I think we were in the fourth row from the top,” said Gonzales, who was offered a ticket to the game by Andrea Romero, then the executive director of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC).." Albuquerque Journal, Aug 31, 2018
  
  
• WAKEUP, "Get your city, county, and/or tribe out of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC)." LASG letter to our NM short list, Aug 24, 2018
  
  
• LANL Coalition Remains Huge Taxpayer Waste, "We’ve kept silent regarding the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities and its sorry story of misspending, deceit and exposure. However, with the recent release of an audit and no clear mission, it’s clear the group is nothing more than a slush fund for politicians. Taxpayers must push to stop this mindless spending." Rio Grande Sun editorial, Aug 23, 2018
  
  
• New Mexico State Auditor Questions if RCLC is Lobbying, "The New Mexico State Auditor’s Office has questioned whether the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC) is improperly engaged in lobbying. Most press attention generated by an Aug. 7 report from State Auditor Wayne Johnson has focused on reimbursement of travel and entertainment expenses by the nongovernmental group’s former executive director, Andrea Romero." Exchange Monitor Morning Briefing, Aug 23, 2018
  
  
• RCLC announces new post-audit policies - No more reimbursements > Coalition nixes travel pay for members, "Now that the Office of the State Auditor has released its audit findings on recent activities by the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities, the RCLC is responding with what it considers to be appropriate measures to make sure the improper actions specified in the audit won’t happen again." Los Alamos Monitor, Aug 23, 2018
  
  
• Romero’s comments on Bull Ring tab conflict with previous statements, "The most recent explanation by the former executive director of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities about who picked up a nearly $300 tab for a highly publicized late-evening dinner with drinks at The Bull Ring steakhouse last year conflicts with her previous statements about the charge." Santa Fe New Mexican, Aug 23, 2018
  
  
• LANL Coalition is what’s toxic in our governments, "It’s time for the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities to go away. The organization – with an annual budget of $200,000 – was always something of an odd duck." Albuquerque Journal Editorial Board, Aug 18, 2018
  
  
• LANL coalition cutting down on travel, food reimbursements, "A Northern New Mexico public agency under fire over improper spending will stop routinely making reimbursements for travel, meals and general operating expenses and tighten its policies to try to prevent the type of embarrassing violations that have made it a target of public scorn." Santa Fe New Mexican, Aug 17, 2018
  
  
• LANL coalition vows changes in spending, reimbursement, "The Regional Coalition of LANL Communities will comply with all of the recommendations in a recent state audit that found numerous problems and law violations within the coalition finances, most of them having to do with how it handled reimbursements to its executive director." Albuquerque Journal, Aug 17, 2018
  
  
• Romero looks to move on from audit -- Sharing the blame > Former Regional Coalition director, campaign point to several officials as blame game continues, "Andrea Romero continued to take responsibility Wednesday for her part in improper re-imbursement requests during her time at the helm of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities." Los Alamos Monitor, Aug 17, 2018
  
  
• Bull Ring bill early red flag of unlawful reimbursements, "A nearly $300 tab for three people at the Bull Ring steakhouse in downtown Santa Fe last year was the first sign that something was amiss at the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities, a public agency that largely had operated under the radar since its inception in 2011." Santa Fe New Mexican, Aug 15, 2018
  
  
• Former LANL coalition head said she 'demonstrated poor judgement' in asking for reimbursements, "After an environmental group earlier this week called on the state attorney general to investigate spending habits by officials at the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities, a former executive director says she should have done things differently." KOB-TV, Aug 15, 2018
  
  
• Emails: New Mexico county commissioner OK'd dubious expenses, "Documents show a northern New Mexico county commissioner approved taxpayer-supported reimbursements for food and alcohol that have since come under scrutiny." Associated Press, Aug 15, 2018
  
  
• Egolf urges RCLC, staff to meet with LA officials, "New Mexico House Speaker Brian Egolf is urging all parties involved in actions mentioned by the Adams+Crow law firm in its report into recent activities by the Regional Coalition of Los Alamos Communities to meet immediately with Los Alamos County officials to right any wrongs that have been committed." Los Alamos Monitor, Aug 15, 2018
  
  
• Romero claims spending got OK, "Andrea Romero, the embattled Democratic Party candidate for the District 46 seat in the state House of Representatives and former director of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities, said Monday that almost all of the spending a recent state audit determined to be “improper” was in fact authorized by officials at the coalition." Albuquerque Journal, Aug 14, 2018
  
  
• Former RCLC Executive Director Andrea Romero Issues Statement On Recent Audit And Investigation Results, "Democratic nominee for House Dist. 46 and former executive director of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC) Saturday issued a statement regarding the results of a recent audit by the office of State Auditor Wayne Johnson and an investigative report from the law firm of Adams+Crow, which was commissioned by the Los Alamos County Council." Los Alamos Daily Post, Aug 14, 2018
  
  
• Criminal probe sought on pro-Los Alamos agency over spending, "An environmental group is asking the New Mexico attorney general to launch a criminal investigation into an agency that promotes the Los Alamos National Laboratory." Los Alamos Monitor, Aug 13, 2018
  
  
• Ex-treasurer of coalition’s board says attempted changes ‘felt wrong’, "As soon as Santa Fe County Commissioner Henry Roybal looked at a series of proposed changes to the travel policy of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities earlier this year, he thought something was fishy." Santa Fe New Mexican, Aug 11, 2018
  
  
• Nonprofit asks for criminal probe into coalition reimbursements, "A Northern New Mexico nonprofit focused on social and environmental issues is asking the state attorney general to launch a criminal investigation into the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities after audits found more than $50,000 in improper spending on travel and entertainment and possible efforts to cover up the violations." Santa Fe New Mexican, Aug 11, 2018
  
  
• Independent Investigative Report Released On County Role In Regional Coalition Funds Fiasco, "A 38-page investigative report with hundreds of pages of back-up documentation was released Thursday to Los Alamos County officials by the law firm of Adams + Crow. The law firm was hired by the County in March as a result of an ethics investigation request made by Councilor Susan O’Leary and former Councilor James Chrobocinski." Los Alamos Daily Post, Aug 11, 2018
  
  
• New Mexico House speaker defends candidate hit by audit, "New Mexico's Democratic House speaker is defending a Democratic House candidate criticized in a state audit for improper reimbursements as head of an agency that promotes the Los Alamos National Laboratory." Associated Press, Aug 10, 2018
  
  
• Time to Pull the Plug on the Regional Coalition, "It’s time for the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities to go away. The small organization – with an annual budget of $200,000 – was always something of an odd duck. It is made up of cities, counties and pueblos located near Los Alamos National Laboratory, and says it has two goals. One is to push for promoting local economic development from the lab and the other is to advocate for federal money for cleanup of long-term radioactive and hazardous waste at LANL." Albuquerque Journal North Editorial Board, Aug 10, 2018
  
  
• Scathing audit says after-the-fact changes used to ‘correct’ coalition spending, "Los Alamos County officials and the former executive director of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities who is now poised to become a state legislator made after-the-fact accounting and policy changes to “correct deficiencies” in questionable travel, meal and entertainment reimbursement payments, according to a blistering independent audit released Friday." Albuquerque Journal, Aug 10, 2018
  
  
• LASG friends ltr, Timeless spring; "no significant impact" of key pit facility; end the RCLC, "The problem is not the specifics what RCLC does or does not do. Ask yourself, what is the purpose of this entity, which was set up from the beginning with a highly problematic structure (not strictly government, not strictly nonprofit, not privately corporate), apparently in order to sidestep laws that were designed to avoid the very problems we see. Why was it created like that? What was its original purpose? To lobby, and if so on behalf of what? Certainly that is part of the issue. RCLC lobbies on behalf of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), which is run by private contractors. And that's a big problem: using taxpayer funds to lobby on behalf of private contractors. Will there be an investigation of this at the federal level? We'll see." Aug 10, 2018
  
  
• LANL Coalition: Los Alamos County possibly tried to hide misspending, "An independent investigation of the beleaguered Regional Coalition of LANL Communities found that Los Alamos County tried to revise existing documents in a possible attempt to conceal thousands of dollars in unlawful reimbursements for meals, liquor and other spending." Santa Fe New Mexican, Aug 9, 2018
  
  
• Audit of LANL coalition finds $51,000 in ‘improper’ spending, "A highly anticipated special audit released Tuesday found the Regional Coalition of Los Alamos National Laboratory Communities violated not only the taxpayer-supported group’s own travel policy but state law — an assessment that could loom large over the coalition’s former executive director as she campaigns for a seat in the state House of Representatives before the November general election." Santa Fe New Mexican, Aug 8, 2018
  
  
• Coalition chairman says he’ll push for repayment of improper reimbursements, "The chairman of the Regional Coalition of Los Alamos National Laboratory Communities said Wednesday he will advocate for the refund of more than $51,500 in improper reimbursements identified in a special audit, including nearly $26,900 that was paid to the agency’s former executive director." Santa Fe New Mexican, Aug 8, 2018
  
  
• Audit hits pro-Los Alamos agency on booze, food spending, "The New Mexico state auditor says an agency of New Mexico municipalities surrounding Los Alamos National Laboratory approved improper reimbursement for alcohol and baseball tickets. The audit released Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, hits former Regional Coalition of LANL Communities executive director Andrea Romero over reimbursements as she seeks to win a seat in New Mexico's House of Representatives." Associated Press, Houston Chronicle, Aug 7, 2018
  
  
• The lowdown on who bought that $28 shot of whiskey, "Politicians always promise to be open and honest when questioned about public business. Then many of them turn silent as soon as they are asked about a touchy subject." Santa Fe New Mexican, Aug 7, 2018
  
  
• Guzzlers of whiskey and wine fear special audit, "Several of the region’s politicians and hangers-on have reason to be nervous in what typically is the lull of summer. The special state audit of a controversial public agency — one that misspent your money on whiskey, fine wine and tickets to a Major League Baseball game — might be released as soon as this week." Santa Fe New Mexican, Aug 5, 2018
  
  
• Latino social services group to manage Regional LANL Coalition, "The Regional Coalition of LANL Communities voted unanimously Friday to make CPLCNM New Mexico the next contractor to manage the activities of the coalition, and hired Eric Vasquez as the coalition’s next executive director." Los Alamos Monitor, Jul 22, 2018
  
  
• Attorneys determined to complete RCLC investigation, " Independent attorneys investigating an ethics complaint involving spending practices of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities between 2016-2018 said they would finish the investigation whether or not they get paid." Los Alamos Monitor, Jul 9, 2018
  
  
• Probes into LANL coalition continue post-primary, "While outgoing state Rep. Carl Trujillo was to testify before a legislative panel this week about sexual harassment allegations made against him, the candidate who beat him in a contentious Democratic primary election earlier this month is herself at the center of two ongoing investigations." Albuquerque Journal, Jun 29, 2018
  
  
• Communication Woes Surface During Council Discussion On RCLC Investigation, "A presentation during the June 12 Los Alamos County Council meeting by representatives of the law firm of Adams & Crow resulted in a lengthy and intense discussion among Council members, which appeared to reveal underlying internal struggles with communication."Los Alamos Daily Post, Jun 16, 2018
  
  
• County seeks $20,000 more for Regional LANL Coalition ethics investigation, "Los Alamos County Council was asked to consider spending an additional $20,000 on an ethics investigation into the county’s role in a funding controversy regarding the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities Tuesday." Los Alamos Monitor, Jun 15, 2018
  
  
• LANL coalition to dock former director's pay over improper reimbursements,"The newly configured board of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities decided Friday to deduct about $2,200 from money it owes to its former executive director because of reimbursements for alcohol and other expenses that she received in violation of the public agency’s own travel policy." Santa Fe New Mexican, Mar 16, 2018
  
  
• LANL Coalition: A tool of DOE or a necessary local voice?, "Controversy has followed Northern New Mexico’s Regional Coalition of LANL Communities over the last several weeks." Albuquerque Journal, Mar 16, 2018
  
  
• State Auditor Issues Probe Notice To RCLC Officials, "New Mexico State Auditor Wayne Johnson sent a letter Tuesday to officials with the Regional Coalition of LANL Communites (RCLC) advising them that his office is engaging in a special audit of the orgainzation." Los Alamos Daily Post, Mar 14, 2018
  
  
• Council Approves Ethics Investigation Involving RCLC, "As a result of the discovery of questionable and concerning issues in the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities’ (RCLC) finances, including its travel policy and the request for an ethics investigation filed by Los Alamos County Councilors James Chrobocinski and Susan O’Leary, the County Council approved Monday evening to move forward with an independent investigation." Los Alamos Daily Post, Mar 7, 2018
  
  
• Regional LANL coalition rendered mostly inactive, "The Regional Coalition of LANL Communities has been rendered largely inactive for now, without a staff and with the legal agreements under which it has operated for seven years awaiting revision." Albuquerque Journal, Mar 5, 2018
  
  
• Chrobocinski, O’Leary Call For Ethics Investigation, "Los Alamos County Councilors James Chrobocinski and Susan O’Leary filed a request for an ethics investigation Wednesday with the County Human Resources Department." Los Alamos Daily Post, Mar 1, 2018
  
  
• LANL Coaltion in Disarray after Audit, "... the coalition remains entangled in an organizational mess and seeking legal advice following an internal audit completed earlier this month that uncovered questionable expenditures made by Romero. The internal audit was published by Los Alamos County Feb. 21 was prompted by a complaint by a state group seeking information on travel expenditures." Los Alamos Monitor, Feb 28, 2018
  
  
• LANL coalition facing financial, legal and political questions, "A coalition of northern New Mexico communities that advocates for jobs and federal environmental cleanup funding at Los Alamos National Laboratory finds itself in a financial and legal mess after a citizens group raised questions about expense reimbursements for travel and dining – including alcohol – paid to the coalition’s director." Albuquerque Journal, Feb 26, 2018
  
  
• Drinking on the public dime, "The Regional Coalition of LANL Communities is one of those out-of-sight, out-of-mind public agencies that few realize exist. With little scrutiny, the group goes about its mission — which, unfortunately, seems to include plenty of wining and dining of the region’s public officials." Santa Fe New Mexican, Feb 26, 2018
  
  
• Government coalition’s director in limbo on contract renewal, "The board of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities postponed action Monday on a proposed contract renewal with its embattled executive director amid revelations that it might not have the legal authority to enter into such agreements — a stunning development that leaves the mysterious public agency and its chief executive in limbo." Santa Fe New Mexican, Feb 26, 2018
  
  
• Regional Coalition of LANL Communities’ use of public funds flagged, "A small delegation of city and county officials from Northern New Mexico traveled recently to the nation’s capital on a trip sponsored by the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities, a public agency that has largely operated under the radar since its inception nearly seven years ago." Santa Fe New Mexican, Feb 24, 2018
  
  
• LASG's Bulletin #178: In the steep time, seek real political discourse, "Mayor Coss, despite his initial reservations about participating, now finds himself chairing a coalition of local governments and Indian pueblos called the “Regional Coalition of LANL Communities,” (RCLC), created by Los Alamos County and the contractor that runs Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos National Security (LANS).  LANS is a for-profit partnership of Bechtel, URS, B&W, and the University of California. RCLC’s purpose is to get more money for LANS.  The City of Santa Fe, and all the other RCLC members, help pay for this." Nov 13, 2013
  
  
• Coalition presses D.C. for dollars, "The Regional Coalition of LANL Communities announced today that it is leading a 13-member delegation to Washington, D.C. to push for more cleanup funding for Los Alamos National Laboratory." Los Alamos Monitor, Jun 20, 2013
  
  
• The Royal City of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis of Assisi, "RCLC derives its legitimacy from its non-Los-Alamos local government members.  These governments lobby for Bechtel-led LANS using local government funds. Sweet.  Los Alamos County ponies up more than 90% of the budget, although some of this may be DOE grants.  There was a $100,000 DOE grant to RCLC (through NMED!) in 2012." LASG Bulletin 169 excerpt, May 3, 2013
  
  
• LANL doth protest too much: need for employment reduction exaggerated, and is a result of choices made by Los Alamos and Sandia , "Today the  "Regional Coalition of LANL Communities," a lobbying group composed of local government leaders that was organized by Los Alamos County, is holding a press conference to discuss funding for Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and 'jobs.'" LASG press release, Mar 23, 2012


• DUKE ON THE HILL, Local governments shell out for LANL coalition, "While local governments hope that membership in a new coalition will allow them to participate more in the development of Los Alamos National Laboratory projects, a watchdog group warns that the idea smacks of a feudal system, with the communities paying fealty to their high-tech overlord." Santa Fe Reporter, Dec 8, 2010