Anti-fracking protesters march in downtown Denver last Monday. (The Denver Post)
Re: “Anti-fracking activists converge in Denver for meetings, protests,” Oct. 6 news story.
A Weld County teacher at last Monday’s oil and gas drilling protest proclaimed that a fracking ban “must” be put on the ballot in 2016. I suggest the teacher take a look at how such a ban would impact her classroom. The oil and gas industry paid almost $265 million in property taxes in Weld County alone in 2013. Schools are supported primarily by property taxes. This industry also supports the jobs of the families in her district.
Fracking is what makes oil and gas development financially feasible. A well drill takes only about 30 days, from start to finish, and then the big rigs that people see are gone. And fracking itself is a process that takes only about three days of that 30. Hydraulic fractures are half the size of a human hair and occur more than a mile underground.
It would be helpful, when writing about this topic, for the reporter to provide some factual background — much more beneficial to Denver Post readers than the wasted space telling us that a Texan was changing her daughter’s diaper during the protest. It was, however, probably a disposable diaper made from petroleum.
Joni Inman, Golden
This letter was published in the Oct. 12 edition.As one of the primary organizers of the Stop the Frack Attack march and rally last Monday, 350 Colorado would like to thank the Denver Police Department for its very professional and courteous service to participants demonstrating against the harmful impacts of fracking. The police respectfully guided protesters of diverse ethnicities, ages and socio-economic groups, as well as our large-scale public art props, along the sidewalk, and ensured our safety from traffic when space demands moved us out to the street.
Denverites should be very proud of the quality service their police provided and of the universally positive comments we received from others involved in the march.
Gina B. Hardin, Denver
The writer is board chair for 350 Colorado.
This letter was published in the Oct. 12 edition.
