Neighborhood griping about noise pollution
Re: “Plane noise draws gripes,” May 21 news story.
The Post’s article mentions that during 2006, Centennial Airport received almost 11,000 noise complaints. What was not mentioned was that 52 percent of those complaints were reported by two households. Someone needs to get a life – or move somewhere else. And to complete the picture, five households were the source of 78 percent of the complaints.
Is airport noise a problem? Maybe. But much of the time, the problem is residential neighborhoods springing up next to airports.
Gene McCullough, Denver
. . .
I admire these citizens for making a fuss and taking a stand. My Platt Park neighborhood suffers more than 30 commercial helicopter flights a day, as five TV stations and as many radio stations cover the traffic (sometimes non- existent) on Interstate 25.
When I have sought redress from the city, I have been told that the issue is a federal one and I should contact the Federal Aviation Administration. Not only that, but one city official wrote to me, in response to my concern about the heliport downtown, that helicopters actually produce only 45 seconds of noise and hardly any pollution. Right! He cited the helicopter industry’s statistics.
I am saddened I live in a city which cares so little about the quality of life of our neighborhoods. Kudos to the metro citizens willing to fight for less noise and pollution.
Martha Daley, Denver
U.S. role in United Nations peacekeeping
The U.N. General Assembly has designated today as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. The United States has often been spared great losses in both lives and money because the U.N. has interceded in regional hostilities that would otherwise have wound up on our plate. And often the expense has been much less. An independent study by the Rand Corporation in 2005 cited “the U.N.’s comparatively low cost structure, high success rate, and high degree of international legitimacy.”
Yet in spite of the many demonstrated successes, there are some in Congress who wish to cap the U.S. peacekeeping contributions for transparently political reasons. This can only have the effect of discouraging other nations from contributing their share and making it harder for peacekeeping efforts to succeed. And this, in turn, would undermine our own vital worldwide interests.
We need the cooperation of our friends and allies to tackle global problems like nuclear proliferation and the struggle against terrorists. Supporting the U.N. peacekeeping efforts is not only a moral imperative, but it should be considered an indispensable component of our national security strategy.
James J. Amato, President, Pikes Peak Chapter, United Nations Association of the USA, Woodland Park
Cutting auto emissions
Re: “Bush orders plan to cut vehicles’ emissions,” May 15 news story.
President Bush recently gave the Environmental Protection Agency until 2008 to create a timeline for reducing emissions in the country. It’s about time!
Twelve states, including California, have already passed laws that raise the emissions standard for new cars and, most notably, send a strong message to auto manufacturers. People are tired of buying the dirty cars sold to states lacking tough pollution guidelines.
For Colorado particularly, it is time to raise our own standard of living and require that emissions on new cars and trucks be cut by 25 percent. As already seen in 12 other states, the technology is out there – it is just a matter of resolve. Ultimately, less emissions from automobiles will substantially reduce global warming pollution in the state, paving the way for a cleaner and more vibrant Colorado.
Dan Omasta, Centennial
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