Fortunately, a key group has come forward to say Christo’s plans to drape fabric over 5.9 miles of the Arkansas River, a project called “Over the River,” is just a tad over the top.
Some government agencies in the area support the project, but the Colorado Wildlife Commission’s nine voting members unanimously oppose it. The commission listened to measures proposed to minimize impacts to wildlife, then drafted a letter to the Bureau of Land Management director stating that it “opposes the Over the River project and any approval or permitting of the project by the BLM or any other jurisdiction,” according to a story in The Denver Post by Scott Willoughby. The Wildlife Commission, Willoughby noted, is charged with protecting, preserving and enhancing our wildlife and wildlife habitat. The BLM last year indicated that there were nine areas that needed additional analysis, including the effects the work would have on wildlife and its habitat.
We know that art is in the eye of the beholder, but we think a lot of people and wildlife habitat would be imposed upon with this project. Christo already has sunk millions into the project, but we hope the BLM rejects it. The Arkansas is beautiful just as it is.
No, Mr. President, we don’t need to see the photos. The number of congressmen lining up to peer at photos of Osama bin Laden’s bullet-riddled face is macabre. Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., pushed the White House to share the photos with the Senate and House intelligence and armed services committees, saying it would add “more credibility” to the process if a second branch of government got a peek. He’s still dead, folks. Even the Taliban admits it.
Congressman Doug Lamborn took one look and wants the photos released to the public, saying it would serve as a lesson to the “bad people who want to kill Americans.” We think the bunker-busters that destroyed mountains in Afghanistan and the 100,000 troops still stationed there sent a pretty strong message, too.
What he meant to say was . . . We can’t tell if Michael Hancock believes in creationism, but we do know he believes in creating hell on Earth for his staff, which has now twice retracted the mayoral candidate’s statements on the topic.
And a tip of our cap to . . . Jim Lehrer, the veteran TV newsman who announced this past week that he’s stepping down as host of the nightly PBS show “NewsHour” after 36 years. Lehrer’s departure ends the longest run of a national anchorman. He’s also the last from the Walter Cronkite era to grace our televisions, and he will be missed.
Short Takes is compiled by Denver Post editorial writers and expresses the view of the newspaper’s editorial board.
