Appreciation of Denver mountain parks
Re: “Denver’s ‘forgotten’ mountain parks; Open space outside city limits is plagued by a lack of money and support among some officials,” Aug. 13 news story.
I moved to the Denver area from New Orleans about a year ago, after having spent nine months in Memphis post-Katrina. My wife and I are both nurses, and could have moved anywhere. We chose Denver primarily because of the beautiful mountains nearby. I may be wrong, but I feel that when people around the country think of Denver or Colorado, the first thing that comes to their minds is mountains. In the same way that the French Quarter is the “image” of New Orleans, the Rocky Mountains are the “image” of Denver.
My wife and I have been to these mountain parks many times, and in fact much more than any local municipal parks. We love the mountains. Please protect Denver’s investment and interest in these mountain parks. Without the mountains, Denver may just as well be Houston: an endless array of suburban neighborhoods full of strip malls and generic chain businesses. Please protect the very things that make your city unique. It’s important.
Douglas Egan, Golden
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I am absolutely outraged that Denver is considering disposing of the city’s mountain parks. They are the crown jewel of our park system. They are famous all over the U.S. and a big draw for tourists. Many, many people use them. They also are a peaceful place to get away from the big city. Don’t do this!
Virginia Reed, Golden
School-supply lists not what they used to be
I am a grandmother of two little girls, age 5 (starting kindergarten) and 8, and I took them shopping recently for school supplies. After looking at the lists I had to follow, I was absolutely floored as to what these kids have to bring with them:
These were along with, of course, the usual items — folders, pencils, notebook paper, etc.
I have one question: Where are our tax dollars going, and what else, besides desks and chairs, are the schools supplying our children with?
It has been quite a while since my own children attended schools, but I do not ever recall having to send them to school with tissues and soap. What is going on?
Linda Pasternak, Centennial
Region’s finest football?
How can a football game between the University of Colorado and Colorado State University be called the “Rocky Mountain Showdown” when almost every year, including 2006, CSU beats CU and then the Air Force Academy beats CSU? In addition to the AFA, there are other football teams in the Rocky Mountain area, such as the University of Wyoming, University of New Mexico, University of Utah, and Brigham Young University, all of which are more than capable of soundly defeating CU.
Irwin Seidman, Boulder
Recall of China-made toys
Re: “Officials try to defuse toy fears,” Aug. 15 news story.
Mattel has gotten exactly what it deserves. If these toy-manufacturing jobs had been kept in the U.S., where there are stricter safety standards than in China, perhaps the company wouldn’t have this recall problem. I do applaud the justice system of the Chinese, however. If these same standards were applied here, maybe we wouldn’t have crooks like Joe Nacchio, Ken Lay and Bernie Ebbers.
Dave Darling, Aurora
