Referendums C and D
Re: “Planners eye election aftermath,” Oct. 24 Open Forum.
Thank you for your editorial outlining some of the services that will be slashed if Referendum C fails. Although I have already voted against C, your listing of services on the chopping block confirmed my feeling that it will be a good exercise for our state government to take another look at additional programs that can be cut until revenues rise so we can afford them again.
The sky isn’t going to fall during the next year if we don’t pass C, and it will give our government representatives a year to identify additional reductions and provide a more detailed plan for specific programs that require additional revenue, rather than a blanket increase with general areas in which the funds will be spent. How we deal with the financial issues of our state can then be the major issue for debate during next November’s election.
Tony Hill, Haxtun
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My children’s hero, Rosa Parks, died Monday. She fought against the social insanity of racism and segregation. Her struggle continues today, although the form is different. Today we cannot find honesty in debating $100 a year from each Coloradan to support infrastructure and a safety net for those unable to feast at the table of opportunity.
Referendums C and D, in socially sane times, are a no-brainer. Hurricane Katrina taught us, as did Rosa Parks, that there are no freedoms without payment, no future without investment. Would that we could rid ourselves of those so insane that they believe in no government, no safety net and no opportunity for those pushed to the back of the bus.
Bill J. Fyfe, Denver
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Re: “Budget cuts detailed in a Ref. C defeat,” Oct. 21 news story.
According to The Post’s article, Gov. Bill Owens’ office has announced $255 million in possible budget cuts. That sounds like “serious consequences” until one realizes that it’s a tiny, 1.7 percent cut in the state budget.
The threat of these cuts requires the voters to forget that state spending is higher than ever and will hit another record next year without C and D. Governor, could you send me the check necessary for my budget to take such a “cut”?
The governor’s office wants voters to pass C and D, so they’ve selected the scariest list of cuts they could possibly come up with. It’s like a college student calling home for more money and claiming he needs it for “food, books and tuition” while conveniently forgetting his partying expenditures.
It’s Halloween, all right, but threatened “cuts” in spending increases isn’t scary at all; $3.7 billion more in government spending (and less consumer spending), on the other hand, is frightening.
John R. Pack, Parker
Pay-for-performance plan for Denver teachers
Re: “Vote ‘yes’ on 3A for Denver schools,” Oct. 9 editorial endorsement.
The Post’s endorsement of Question 3A on the Denver ballot is unrealistic. There is nothing “revolutionary” about the ProComp bonus pay program for some Denver Public Schools teachers. It is complex and time-consuming and will not accomplish its grandiose claims. Calculating and documenting for pay bonuses will divert attention away from classroom instruction and student services. DPS’s new “dynamic” superintendent has zero experience in educational operations and is an unqualified political appointment.
The $25 million 3A tax increase places no accountability on DPS board members and administrators. It is a subjective system of preferential treatment for some teachers at the expense of others. Teachers have had to write goals or objectives and self-improvement plans for decades; 3A offers nothing new. The claims that 3A will improve CSAP scores, promote student growth and close the achievement gap are also misleading. When will politicians stop using the plight of poor families, minority groups, and “for the children” statements to manipulate voters? DPS mismanagement, irresponsible parenting and unsupported or undisciplined students are major causes for the achievement gap; 3A addresses none of these!
Denver Public Schools has not been trustworthy with previous mill levies and is undeserving of another $25 million per year. Vote “no” on 3A.
Joseph C’de Baca, Parker
Responding to multiple natural disasters
Has anyone noticed what a dearth of efforts there have been to solicit funds to provide relief to those caught in the devastation of the Pakistan earthquake? When I called our local Red Cross branch, I was shocked to be told that in the two weeks since the earthquake, I was the first person to even inquire about earthquake relief efforts.
Perhaps as a community and a nation, we have tired of donating to disaster relief. After all, haven’t we already given to two major relief efforts in the last year – the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina? Surely that should be enough to say we’ve done our part – right?
Let’s just hope that if we ever are part of a disaster that kills nearly 80,000 people, leaves 3 million homeless and 800,000 still without shelter, it doesn’t come on the heels of other disasters. If so, we may find – like the Pakistanis are finding – that many people’s compassion and pocketbooks are just too thin to help.
If you don’t want to fall into this category, please call your local Red Cross branch or other relief agency of your choice and donate today. Those suffering in Pakistan really need our help.
April Reynolds, Aurora
Colorado Ballet
As has been reported locally and nationally, Colorado Ballet has launched a search for a new artistic director. We want to set the record straight that this decision was not taken lightly. Although some media reports have suggested this was a rash decision, in reality it was made through a long and thoughtful process, taking place over a period of months, whereby the Board of Trustees of Colorado Ballet determined that a transition was required and voted unanimously to make a change. The board decided not make public the specific reasons behind the change out of respect for Martin Fredmann and his 19 years of service to Colorado Ballet.
We hoped Fredmann would accept the role of artistic director emeritus, but he turned down our offer. Despite the fact that Fredmann has decided not to accept the package and title offered him, Colorado Ballet will be paying him for certain choreography and sincerely wishes him all the best.
As any organization must, Colorado Ballet is moving forward and we have already received numerous applications for the artistic director position.
We appreciate the many declarations of support from the dancers of Colorado Ballet, several of our longtime donors and patrons and others in the community. We are excited about the future of Colorado Ballet.
James C. Ruh and Christin Crampton Day, Co-Chairs of the Board of Trustees, Colorado Ballet, Denver
Drilling in Arctic refuge
For the fifth year in a row, the combined forces of the Bush administration and the oil industry are threatening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Ninety-five percent of Alaska’s north slope is available for oil drilling, yet this last protected 5 percent is supposed to solve all of our energy problems. Only Exxon-Mobil, the oil company with one of the worst environmental records, is still attempting to drill with Bush’s blessing.
There are more logical ways to address energy needs. One of the easiest solutions is increasing the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards in our new vehicles. Currently our cars average 20 miles per gallon despite our capacity to produce vehicles with a minimum average of 40 mpg.
We cannot drill our way out of an energy crisis, but we can drive our way out of one with improved CAFE standards.
Renee Saba, Denver
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