Focus on causes and prevention of current crime
Re: âHow bad is Colo. crime?â Jan. 23 news story
Violent crime in Colorado has increased substantially since 2015, culminating in a 10% rise in 2020 from 2019. This is a public-policy and policing emergency. The impact is disproportionately heavy in vulnerable poor and minority communities and stigmatizes entire neighborhoods if unchecked.
The tone of The Post article is that things are bad, but they were worse between 1985 and 1995. In 1985, half of the current residents of Colorado either werenât born, or didnât live here, LoDo was only beginning to gentrify from it¶¶Òőap skid row past, and there were open gang wars in Denver relating to the wave of crack cocaine flowing to Denver from the West Coast. I think we can aim a little higher than not as bad as 1985.
The headline should be that we have a problem and the most vulnerable members of our society are paying the price. Can we please recognize that we have a problem and not make excuses but look for solutions?
Kevin E. Woolley, Englewood
The article ended with a professor challenging politicians who make accusations about violent crime reforms to âShow me the data.â I challenge you to show the data that shows how Coloradoâs âcommon-senseâ gun control has done anything to improve public safety.
You wrote that the stateâs violent crime rate âtickedâ upward starting in 2014, which was shortly after the enactment of universal background checks and the high-capacity magazine ban. If you plot the implementation of Coloradoâs gun-control laws over the stateâs gun-homicide numbers, youâll see that such laws have done nothing to protect the public.
Equally troubling, these laws give cover to politicians to signal their commitment to public safety while avoiding the hard work addressing the underlying factors of violent crime such as gangs, drug trafficking, youth violence, criminal justice reform, mental health, and economic disparities.
Mario Acevedo, Denver
The message we send crossing picket lines
Re: âWhy I crossed the King Soopers picket line,â Jan. 23 commentary
I would like to point out that we canât argue a moral case for capitalism and then dissociate from ethics when it is convenient. Claiming overworked and underpaid employees demanding better conditions is ânot her concernâ undermines Krista Kaferâs platform. Capitalism practiced mechanically does not automatically make you ethical any more than someone reciting purely by rote gains any understanding of a subject matter.
The problem is that people think that chanting âcapitalismâ and âmarket forcesâ like some magical incantation is enough. Not so. Every economic system can be used for ill through lack of ethics.
Let us not pretend that âmarket forcesâ ensure all is as it should be, for there are people who make money dishonestly and have power. Capitalism is a great tool that can maximize freedom for the largest number of people. Proper usage requires a moral compass.
Also, please let us stop with the assumption that companies are always right. There are a lot of bad bosses out there.
I am not a union cheerleader — unions have abused their power a great deal. But the very forces at work that you allude to make them inevitable when employers abuse. Capitalism is equal value for value, after all. When people feel exploited, they will seek remedies. This is where it is actually Kaferâs âbusinessâ: The fostering of a market where employers and employees are respected and respectable ultimately benefits everybody. It is a pity Kafer is too caught up in the ritual to understand the principle.
Pablo Romero, Fort Collins
I completely disagree with Krista Kafer; crossing picket lines is personal. Where you spend your money is the one and only way you can influence companies. By crossing a picket line youâre saying, âI support the companyâs position and I donât care about the employees,â plain and simple.
Kroger saw a $2.6 billion of profit in 2020 and has seen increases in 2021. I think they can afford to up the salaries of the workers. Unions and strikes are the reasons we have workersâ rights today, such as overtime, child labor laws, workers compensation and many others. Saying salaries are just based on the market is a fallacy, with history showing what happens when workers donât bind together; companies take full advantage. So, next time you cross a picket line, remember what that dollar youâre spending is saying: âI donât care about you.â
And not caring about people is personal.
John Erfman, Aurora
I rarely agree with Krista Kafer, but her commentary was excellent. Too many people these days feel they are owed something. Make your own opportunities. Her examples from her fatherâs life and her life are excellent. Bravo Krista!
Deb Curlee, Golden
Laws that curtail voterâs voices? Gerrymandering
Re: âLaws protecting or harming elections?â Jan. 23 letter to the editor
In answer to one letter writerâs question about how proposed laws will suppress voting results, several states are proposing bills that would directly empower partisan officials to reject or overturn election results. Talk about shades of fascism.
Thereâs a saying, it¶¶Òőap not the people that vote who count; it¶¶Òőap the people who count the votes.
There is also no significant example of voter fraud (as many judges have ruled) that would have changed the 2020 election, for the âBig Lieâ being used to justify these restrictive laws (and which led to the seditious attack on our Capitol).
And, of course, there is the extreme partisan Gerrymandering of state congressional Representative districts so that Republicans have more seats than is representative of the number of Republican voters in a state. For example, Ohio is about 53% Republican, but it has 12 Republican Representatives and 4 Democratic Representatives.
So the voice of Democratic voters is being seriously unrepresented in the House due to Gerrymandering.
The Senate was set up for the voice of the states so that¶¶Òőap roughly representative of the number of Democratic and Republican states.
That gives disproportionate control to states with small populations, but that¶¶Òőap what our founders intended.
Our founders set up the House to be the voice of the people in this country but, due to extreme Gerrymandering, it¶¶Òőap not.
Carl Rutschow, Aurora
Kardashian used to deflect from sentencing reform
Re: âThe Kim Kardashian scandal is not going to fade,â Jan. 23 commentary
I read with frustration another George Brauchler — undeclared gubernatorial candidate â stump speech. It was his usual name-calling, obfuscation-filled diatribe. This round was directed at Gov. Jared Polis. He accused Polis of succumbing to the wiles of Kim Kardashian when he reduced the ridiculous 110-year sentence of truck driver Rogel Aguilera-Mederos.
News flash George, there was already widespread outrage over the âmandatoryâ sentence imposed due to poor legislation. But you knew that. You saw the Kardashian urging as a lazy way of finding fault in Polisâ actions. Debate the reduced sentence if you will. But spare us the sanctimonious nonsense about some sort of celebrity influence. You need to find some substance for your opinions. Youâre a supposed litigator; we expect more.
Michael Hart, Arvada
Reduce filibuster to 55 votes
Re: âReform the U.S. Senate filibuster,â Jan. 23 editorial
Iâve read arguments on both sides of the filibuster debate, and both sides make some valid points. A compromise is in order that reflects todayâs reality.
In the âold days,â we had three television networks that presented the news; most American households subscribed to a daily newspaper and there was no such thing as social media. Sharing the same information, getting 60% of people to agree on something was a reasonable goal. Thus the 60 vote filibuster rule seemed reasonable. However, in todayâs world, there are many more times the sources of ânews/informationâ and a significant drop in the number of households who receive a newspaper. Social media readers can access the news they would like to hear that reinforces their own beliefs. The result: in todayâs world getting 60% of Americans to agree on anything is almost impossible. Thus the 60-person filibuster rule is way out of date.
The solution: Maintain the filibuster, but reduce it to 55 votes and eliminate the cloture rule that allows senators to block from having to vote on a bill. If a simple majority votes to pass a bill, but doesnât have the needed 55 votes, the bill comes up for a vote. If 55 senators vote against the bill, so be it — it is defeated, but the senators are on record.
Curt Anderson, Broomfield
NFL needs a logical OT
It is the continuation of the same game. So, why is there a coin flip at the end of an NFL game that ends in a tie? It is unnecessary, unfair, and illogical.
The game should continue from the spot where it ended, as it would at the end of the first and third quarters. The game could then be played to sudden death.
A coin flip at the beginning of the game is necessary because one team has to start the game with the ball. The fact that the team that does not get the ball at the gameâs beginning does receive the ball to start the second half balances this arbitrary coin toss. There is no such balance in a coin flip for overtime.
If the game ends with Team A scoring on the final play, then Team B should receive the kickoff to start overtime. Why should Team A be given the ball after just scoring? If the game ends after both teams have been tied for several minutes, the team currently holding the ball would continue from the same spot on the field. Why should the team holding the ball at the end of 60 minutes be forced to relinquish it? Do away with the coin flip!
D. Gruber, Denver
Tax-cut rhetoric harmful
Re: âDemocrats look to trim feesâ and âHow a rural charter school got lunch,â Jan. 23 news stories
It¶¶Òőap so important for Coloradans to be given a blatant example of how much need is out there before we gleefully reduce monies from the state coffers with TABOR refunds and the elimination of fees. Needing federal COVID money to feed children should startle all of us.
We need to assist counties throughout the state with housing for the struggling working class, address possible future medical supply chain needs, and anticipate pay increases for all state employees to make basic living expenses.
And each disaster necessitates a bold and spontaneous response. Sending a relatively small amount of money to each family but significantly reducing the total amount of potential government support makes no sense. And if we really want to address the growing crime rates? That will take serious funding in a variety of ways.
When should we stop the âVote for Me, Iâll Cut Your Taxesâ rhetoric and start helping Coloradans understand the challenges we face? I think now would be a perfect time.
Mark Zaitz, Denver
âAffordableâ doesnât add up
Re: âFinding aïŹordable housing,â Jan. 27 news story
If a person works 40 hours a week at $15 an hour, they will make $600 a week. That means they will make a little over $2,400 a month before taxes.
If the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Denver is $1,470 a month, that leaves less than $1,000 a month for all other expenses. How much does it cost to have internet and phone service, necessities for finding and keeping most jobs? How about car payments or insurance? A monthly RTD pass costs $114.
Now, if you have a working roommate, that¶¶Òőap all manageable. But if you and your roommate have children, and you need a two-bedroom apartment, that will raise your rent to a median of $1,800. If you need child care while both of you work, that will cost you about $1,200 a month for an infant or about $1,000 for a 4-year-old. Best for one of you not to work, despite the loss of income.
Do the math, employers. Do the math, landlords. Do the math, legislators. Do the math, voters.
Suzanne Welles, Littleton
End trophy hunting
I am thrilled to see the legislature working to protect our wildlife by introducing Senate Bill 31 to ban trophy hunting of our stateâs wild cats. Thank you to sponsors Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, Sen. Joann Ginal, Rep. Monica Duran and Rep. Judy Amabile. Iâve watched for years as Colorado Parks and Wildlife and its commission slowly but surely expand trophy hunting of our stateâs wildlife — particularly mountain lions â despite the vocal opposition of the majority public.
A statewide survey found that most respondents oppose the trophy hunting of mountain lions and bobcats. We value these speciesâ important ecological roles in their ecosystems and their lives are more than a pelt to sell to the highest bidder. Our wildlife is the concern of all Coloradans, and SB 31 will bring the law into greater alignment with our values of ecological stewardship and animal protection while moving us away from unnecessary, greed-driven trophy hunting.
Kudos to these legislators for listening to science, truly representing their constituents and taking a much-needed (and welcome) step towards protecting our native wildlife.
Zoë Sigle, Denver
Expand inquiry into judiciary
Re: âPanel launches newest inquiry,â Sept. 11 news story
We read that judicial leadership (i.e., the Colorado Supreme Court) was attempting to influence the scope of the special counselâs inquiry into sexual discrimination, harassment and corruption in the state judiciary. Well, I think we should expand the scope. Does anyone really believe that sexual bias can be compartmentalized? Nobody fielding these investigations seems to grasp the concept that if a judge, with so many years of education in legal principles and so much experience at the highest levels of jurisprudence, still chooses to harass/abuse the women he works with then his rulings from the bench are likewise suspect and should be revisited. My sympathies to the employees who suffered poor treatment — but also to the women who stood before these men with the expectation of a fair and impartial reading of the law and didnât get it. This is the elephant in the room. This is what the Supreme Court does not want us to look at.
Susan Williams, Lakewood
Strive for self-sufficiency
I have worked in public service for most of my adult life. I worked many years for the state of California as a veterans employment representative. I have worked with veterans and other job seekers from all walks of life and have seen firsthand the power that having a job and the ability to provide for oneself and oneâs family has on a person. The sense of self-worth, purpose and dignity that comes from working and being self-sufficient cannot be minimized or replaced by receiving a government check.
The principles of limited government, low taxes, an empowered private sector, and a strong entrepreneurial spirit have delivered a way of life only dreamed of in much of this world.
For these reasons, I find this fever, this desire by so many in the country for the government to provide for all our daily needs so disheartening. This push for big government, high taxes and central control can only end in disaster. Socialism does not work. Socialism leads to deprivation, destitution and despair.
Daniel McHenry, Pueblo
Help workers, not C-suites
Re: âDonât leave workers behind,â Jan. 21 letter to the editor
While I am generally in support of the letter writerâs sentiments urging The Denver Post and others to keep the story of impending economic decline in fossil-fuel-dependent communities before the nation, it is necessary to frame this story through the following lens: a just transition.
Those social and economic policies that guarantee fossil fuel workers at least five years full salary, and provision of commensurate pensions, in addition to promoting the necessary renewable and sustainable fuels that take the place of coal, oil and natural gas as soon as possible must be enacted.
âA just transitionâ keeps the focus on workers and their communities, not on billionaire owner bailouts and phony, neoliberal, ânet-zeroâ schemes in which major polluters continue business as usual.
Hermon George, Westminster
âComplicitâ in Yemeni crisis
Re: âYemeni rebels say Saudi-led airstrike killed 70,â Jan. 22 news story
News of yet another escalation in the war in Yemen, with âSaudi-ledâ (and U.S.-enabled) airstrikes cutting off that countryâs internet connection and hitting a prison, resulting in many civilians killed and hundreds wounded. One strike, described by the Saudis as part of âaccurate airstrikes to destroy the capabilities of the militia,â killed âat least three children playing on a soccer field,â according to Save the Children.
The U.S. State Department tweeted, âAll parties must urgently renew peace efforts & do more to ensure protection of civilians & humanitarian access.â
But in reality, our government has continued to sell weaponry to the United Arab Emirates and to provide crucial logistic support to the Saudis, making possible their continuing devastating airstrikes. The Associated Press report notes that this civil war âhas turned into the worldâs worst humanitarian crisis.â
We are complicit in this humanitarian crisis. The U.S. needs to move beyond tweeted appeals for peace efforts and halt its continuing maintenance support for Saudi air attacks. It is time for Congress — including Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Rep. Diana DeGette â to take action.
Eric Wright, Denver
We need the BLM movement
Re: âEvents for a single race sow tension and division,â Jan. 27 letter to the editor
Isnât it typical these days to pick a headline and form a whole wrong opinion from it based on your biases? The letter writer, as do many knee-jerk thinkers, heard families of color âonlyâ playground night. While it was an encouragement for families of color to come out and socialize, white families also enjoyed the evening events. We wouldnât be having Black Lives Matter events if Black lives didnât matter for so many years. Thinking the worst is part of our trouble in society. Loosen up, and donât join the negative nellies who want to push their fake outrage.
Sue Cole, Centennial
A moderate approach
Daily letters to The Denver Post show more commonality among traditional Republicans and Democrats than division.
We all want the same things, maybe not to the same extent or in the same way, but most desire civility and compromise for the common good.
Far-right and left-wingers gravitate to fringe radicalism, and while those folks are certainly entitled to their positions absent illegal activity, I donât believe the majority of Americans polarize to that degree of disagreement regardless of political affiliation.
I propose the establishment of a collaborative party composed of politicians who understand the need for reasonable compromise and innovative ideas to move our country away from the current nastiness and divisiveness. There are those candidates out there in both parties and they need our support regardless of label.
Each side recognizes the intractability of âmy way or the highwayâ thinking and gives a little to get a little knowing that is the only path towards progress. We can work together.
Proactive debate must replace incivility. Let radicals on each side establish their own platforms separate from Americans who desire peaceful progress for the nation. I believe there are more of us than them. Vote radicals on either side out.
Get rid of the name-callers and bullies. I believe we can disagree without being disagreeable and achieve compromise and progress with intelligent humanitarianism and reasonable debate centered on sincere nationalism as opposed to split party politics.
The last presidential election showed us that might be possible. The survival of our democracy depends on it.
Richard D. Babcock, Colorado Springs
Events for a single race sow tension and division
Re: âA Denver school has done nothing wrong supporting diversity,â Jan. 26 editorial
Seriously? An elementary school holding a âfamilies of color playground nightâ is not wrong? How would you feel about a âwhite families only playground night?â There is no difference. Such racial division does not create diversity or equity. It creates racial tension and distrust.
Law professor Dave Kopel is right; it directly violates not only the Colorado Constitution, it violates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.âs dream as well. It teaches children that they should be judged, not by the content of their character but by the color of their skin. It stands Dr. Kingâs noble dream on its head.
Of course children should be taught the evils of slavery and segregation; but they should also be taught that more than 250,000 young, mostly white, Union soldiers, died in the Civil War to end slavery — and that more than 50 years ago, a coalition of Republicans and northern Democrats put an end to Jim Crow and segregation. Truth unites us â identity politics divides us.
Richard Stacy, Highlands Ranch
Grateful for our food
The Colorado Farm Show insert reminded me our meals donât just come from our grocery stores but from the Earth and farm familiesâ hard work. Thanks.
David L. Stevenson, Denver
Feeling the need for speed?
Re: âSki area thrives after âRider Invasionâ,â Jan. 22 features story
I get it. Straightlining — flying down a groomed, intermediate run at 20, 30 or more miles per hour â must be exhilarating. I used to enjoy steep mogul runs, trees and deep powder.
Approaching my 80th birthday, Iâm transitioning to broad turns on groomed intermediate runs, runs that I âshareâ with straightliners.
So far Iâve been lucky, just a couple minor collisions and some scary close calls. I fear a real collision that will mark the last day of a sport I love.
Years ago, ski areas developed the green, blue, black ranking that helps skiers avoid runs they canât handle.
More recently they have designated a few âslowâ or âfamily skiingâ zones and terrain parks.
What¶¶Òőap needed now are designated âstraightline alleysâ where straightliners can let it rip and the bulk of intermediate skiers are warned to stay away. Ski areas should act now, before the body count becomes a black mark on the sport.
Reid T. Reynolds, Denver
Norvell is the âimproper fitâ
Re: âDropped by Norvell,â Jan. 20 sports story
New Colorado State football coach Jay Norvell cut several players from the Rams team and took their scholarship offers away because they didnât fit his grand scheme. Unbelievable!
Even more egregious, Norvell replaced the CSU student-athletes with Nevada football players. CSU is not a pro team; it is a college team. Despite all the hoopla around college sports programs, they are adjunct to the primary purpose of institutions of higher learning. Education is the primary reason for colleges and universities to exist. Athletic programs and similar auxiliary programs are like labs where you utilize what is taught and learned in classrooms is put to use. CSU is a land-grant institution, and as such, anyone who wants a college education should have the opportunity to get it. That opportunity was taken from these CSU students by Norvell.
Further, what does this say about CSUâs commitment to stand behind its scholarship offers? How can students, faculty, and the public rely on CSU to keep its word? Norvell is the only âimproper fit.â He should not be part of CSU.
Anne Roux-Lenbergs, Georgetown
Want to trade stocks, lawmakers? Disclose your tax returns.
Re: âCongress canât trade stocks and keep the public trust,â Jan. 24 commentary
Columnist Michelle Cottle says Congress canât trade stocks and keep the public trust. The simple solution? Pass a law that says all 535 members of Congress, the president, and the vice president must disclose their annual federal and state income tax returns!
Jeff Esbenshade, Littleton
Bigger carbon footprints may be easier to trim
Re: âPreparing is better option,â Jan. 13 letter to the editor
I agree with the letter writer; however, I would add instead of trying to change the weather, let¶¶Òőap learn how to live with it. Buying an electric car is not an option for most people. How about billionaires and millionaires reduce their carbon footprint to that of a thousandaire.
Howard Connor, Aurora
Supply, demand, greed
In a perfect world, the one economists dream of, supply and demand would operate simply. The world isnât perfect.
Pharmaceutical companies create drugs for which there is limited demand. Instead of pricing them based on demand, they price them based on what they can get health care plans to pay. The price of gas at the pump jumps the moment the price of oil goes up even though it is days or weeks before that oil is turned into gas, yet it doesnât fall until all the more expensive oil has been turned to gas and sold after the price of oil drops. During the pandemic we have seen ticket prices drop for some airlines, but not others, while there is reduced demand.
Then there is the greed-driven price increases. Investors are buying residential properties in areas where there are not enough homes. They are driving up prices while making it harder for individuals and families to purchase a home. The demand for housing forces people to pay more for less because those with greater liquidity bought properties with the sole purpose of making a short-term profit on selling them or renting them at artificially inflated prices.
The sudden increase of over 1,000 families needing a home has worsened the problem.
It should not surprise anyone if some âinvestorsâ flood the Boulder County communities snatching up properties to make a quick buck, getting out before those 1,000+ properties destroyed in the Marshall Fire are replaced.
Mandell S. Winter Jr., Denver
Community colleges provide great options
Re: âSkills, not schools: Employers looking at new ways to hire,â Jan. 24 commentary
While raising substantive issues regarding higher education, Karin Klein overlooked one of the best-kept secrets in American education: the countryâs community colleges. As a Colorado community college administrator for 30 years, I can tell you these institutions have offered a hybrid in education that provides a blend of technical training and preparation for transfer into baccalaureate programs.
Their programs have prepared students for entry into areas such as automotive service technologies to registered nursing. Collaboration with business and industry underlines many of their programs. Significantly, community colleges have served many underrepresented groups that have not had access to higher education. Accessibility, affordability, and responsiveness to their communities have been their mission for years.
Mark Boyko, Parker
Consider sticking with Lock
Re: âLet Rodgers Speculation Season begin,â Jan. 24 sports commentary
Dear Broncosâ management (and may that include Eric Bieniemy as the future coach!),
You wonât find another Peyton Manning in Aaron Rodgers, but you may just find another John Elway in Drew Lock!
Al and Sandra Hauer, Arvada
The other Griswold lawsuit
Re: âLawsuit would remove Peters from overseeing 2022 election,â Jan. 19 news story
The Denver Post has provided abundant coverage of lawsuits filed by Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold against Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters in connection with alleged election administration misconduct. We now await The Denver Post¶¶Òőap reporting on Secretary Griswoldâs own issues of alleged election administration misconduct. I am referring to the active lawsuit (N. 1:20-cv-02992) filed against her by Judicial Watch for failing to clean up the stateâs voter rolls as required by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
Raoul De Chant, Parker
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.
