Slow the roll on scooters
Re: “Scooter firms given road map,” June 30 news story
I was deeply disturbed to read that Denver has approved a pilot program to allow motorized scooters to operate on sidewalks. This program is only technically feasible because sidewalks are handicapped accessible. But, this very fact demonstrates that sidewalks often are the only travel option for individuals who use wheelchairs or walkers. Seniors walk both for exercise and out of necessity. Sidewalks are used by parents with small children in hand or pushing strollers. Children use sidewalks going to school or activities. Each day countless people walk dogs on our sidewalks.
Sidewalks belong to pedestrians. That is why it is illegal to ride bicycles on them. To open them to motorized vehicles for the simple convenience of a small segment of the population and a few extra dollars of revenue seems less than judicious. It is just plain dangerous.
Thad Tecza, Denver
Travel ban based on threat
Re: “Trump’s travel ban was about national security not religious bias,” July 1 commentary; and July 1 Adam Zyglis editorial cartoon
Elizabeth Slattery’s careful analysis of the Supreme Court decision on President Donald Trump’s travel ban stands in stark contrast to the ridiculous editorial cartoon depicting the Justices as the “hear, see, and speak no evil” monkeys, upholding Trump’s mythical “complete and total shut down of Muslims entering the U.S.” This cartoon exemplifies the rhetoric being promulgated by those who wish to depict the purpose of the ban as religious-based and not security-based. Slattery skillfully dispels this politically motivated myth by pointing out that the list of countries in the ban had been compiled as being sponsors or havens of terrorism before Trump became president. She also points out that the list contains non-Muslim countries and that many majority-Muslim countries are not on the list. Slattery further underscores intentions of the travel ban by listing some majority-Muslim countries that have been removed from the ban, proving that the list is not static but rather based on evolving conditions and cooperation with the U.S. in fighting terrorist threats.
Karen Libby, Denver
Thoughtful piece on tragedy
Re: “On the death of a wordsmith, words come hard, June 30 commentary
Thank you for publishing Dan Rodricks’ heartfelt commentary on the Annapolis shootings, particularly his individualized descriptions, both of one of the victims and of the surviving staff who had recently been lauded for their great work. His piece affected me more emotionally than other reports of senseless shootings over the last few years because his connection with them “brought them to life,” at least on paper. Or maybe it simply was because journalists provide the reading material that I so dearly love: my daily newspaper. It was a tragic event. We somehow must find a way to prevent, or at least limit, such senseless killings.
As for The Denver Post, keep up the good work.
Frances Lively, Centennial
