Actor Val Kilmer, who said that in his New Mexico town he is "surrounded by drunks" and the people who served in Vietnam are "borderline criminal", went before the San Miguel County Commission in Las Vegas to clarify his comments. However, the residents are not happy because of his underlying motives. "I sincerely apologize for comments that I have made. They have been seen as a negative about our community, about ourselves, about my neighbors because it's just not who I am." Kilmer showed up in front of the commission and issued an apology because he was seeking a permit to rent out guest houses to visitors on a 6,000 acre ranch along the Pecos River. The apology was enough for the commission to grant him a permit. "That apology was the biggest piece of crap I've ever heard", said one resident who attended the meeting.