Fight over television towers in Golden
As a longtime resident of Jefferson County and a graduate of Golden High School, I am appalled at the way the city of Golden is acting these days, particularly toward the Lake Cedar Group and their TV tower proposals. I grew up and still live in what was once the unincorporated area between Lakewood and Golden, and proudly identified myself as being from Golden. Not anymore. I would rather be associated with Lakewood because of the way the city of Golden has been acting. What was once a proud, quiet, small-town community has now become a “little California.”
Removing four towers from Lookout Mountain and replacing them with a consolidated tower should be a win-win situation for everyone involved. As someone who can see the towers on top of the mountain through my back window as I type this, I fail to see how the city of Golden can even begin to say that replacing four towers with one is bad for the view.
And as far as attempting to condemn the land to remove the towers, why doesn’t Golden condemn the hundreds of houses they’ve allowed to be built on what I remember as open space? Or how about the hundreds of homes in what was once the beautiful area of Genesee?
Chris Heismann, Lakewood
Legislature’s special session on immigration
Re: “Immigration pact OK’d; Strongest reform in U.S., both sides say,” July 11 news story.
Given the fact that the governor, Democrats and Republicans have passed the strictest law against immigrants coming to Colorado to find work, I feel it’s imperative that service agencies come together and develop a plan of action to address the needs of the numerous individuals who will fall through the cracks and become victims of the legislation. A summit meeting addressing basic human needs should be called. A delegation of service providers should be formed. That delegation should address the United Nations and ask other nations for assistance in meeting the needs of the unfortunate immigrants who come to Colorado looking for work. We have created a human crisis that needs to be addressed by the international community.
Al Gurule, Pueblo
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Two outstanding leaders reached across a gargantuan political divide and saved this special session. Kudos to Gov. Bill Owens and House Speaker Andrew Romanoff. They made it happen. It was brilliant work.
Richard D. Lamm, Denver
The writer, former governor of Colorado, is co-chair of the Defend Colorado Now citizens’ immigration initiative.
Parental involvement for special-needs kids
Re: “Raising Meekáeel,” July 12 Colorado Voices column.
I appreciated the comments of Colorado Voices writer Taj Ashaheed regarding the challenges and hopes he has in raising his stepson, who is autistic. As he pointed out, the road is a tough one and the educational services and assistance in preparing for a very uncertain future can be tenuous.
While it helps to shed light on the gaps in the web of supports, it would help more to become actively involved in improving the system he maligns. In Denver, there are numerous opportunities for active parental involvement that can make a difference. But the system needs our ideas and motivation.
The Denver Public Schools Special Education Advisory Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 900 Grant Street. If Ashaheed and others want to change the way special education services are delivered in Denver, they should attend a meeting. We need you, your ideas and your energy to help propel a system that is there for our kids but is hindered by scarce resources, low morale, inadequate training and very limited parental involvement.
The successes and challenges faced by Ashaheed’s family are mirrored in families throughout Denver and Colorado, and change is slow but possible. Thanks to him for drawing attention to these opportunities.
Karen Roberts, Parent, Special Education Advisory Council, Denver
Trash in Civic Center
I recently met a friend from New York City in Denver for a concert at Red Rocks. My buddy lives in Manhattan and was convinced that downtown Denver was where he should book accommodations. As we strolled around in the park across from the Capitol, I was shocked. There was garbage everywhere. About 30 to 50 homeless and drug addicts slept on the ground and sat openly consuming. The grass in the park was heavily compacted from foot traffic. One fellow even solicited us to buy drugs. I looked over and saw a group of tourists, and felt a pang of embarassment. I couldn’t believe that the residents of Denver and the government employees and elected officials could turn a blind eye to the filth and human debris that filled the area surrounding our Capitol.
Something needs to be done to clean up this park. Show a little pride, Denver.
Tom Eskew, Durango
Alternative energies
Re: “Greenspan raises red flag on energy,” July 7 news story.
While I agree with Alan Greenspan that we need to develop alternative energy sources in the U.S., I disagree with his statement that we need more nuclear power and to import more natural gas.
We enjoy 300 days of sunshine each year in Colorado, yet only a tiny fraction of a percent of our energy comes from solar. We have the technology and resources to drastically increase our use of photovoltaic panels on homes, businesses and government buildings. One important way to encourage the development of a strong solar economy here in Colorado is to develop state-funded tax incentives and rebates for solar energy. At least 12 other states have such incentives, most of which have less solar potential than we do. Colorado legislators must invest in our solar resources and help ensure our energy independence.
Emily Francis, Denver
Historic trains’ pollution
Re: “Steam trains may have to clean up act,” July 9 news story.
If the air pollution control division of the Colorado Health Department has no more important issues to deal with than to go after a few 100-year-old steam locomotives, it has too much time on its hands and too many taxpayer dollars in its budget. Any exemption for historic locomotives provided by the federal Clean Air Act would pre-empt contrary state law, which would mean division head Margie Perkins and her band of bureaucrats would have to find another cause to justify their salaries.
Neil Shankweiler, Arvada
Legislature’s special session on immigration
Re: “Immigration pact OK’d; Strongest reform in U.S., both sides say,”
July 11 news story.
I have found just about any problem can be solved using a spreadsheet. Let’s run immigration through the calculations. Let’s start with the employers who need the cheap labor. How many hours of low-paid labor are needed? How many hours a day and week can an employer squeeze out of an undocumented worker? How much tax is withheld from these workers and where does this tax end up? To compare, calculate the costs to the same businesses if they hired citizen workers, paid minimum wages and all of the taxes, as well as abided by all of the U.S. employment laws. From this set of calculations, we will learn how much of our economy is subsidized by the continued allowance of this almost slave-labor population.
Now let’s create a costs column. How much does it cost to educate, protect and medicate this population compared to citizens? Would withheld taxes be more available if businesses hired legal citizens, or can the government use the taxes withheld from undocumented immigrants?
If our economy depends on indentured servitude, then we must create a pathway to citizenship for these people’s contribution to our country.
Elisa Cohen, Denver
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