Do we need more ways to legally abuse drugs?
Re: āJust like with pot, Denver is leading the way for legal psilocybin,ā April 24 commentary
Doug Friednashās commentary in The Sunday Post was irresponsible. He is advocating the legalization of magic mushrooms and psilocybins and telling us they are less dangerous than fentanyl and heroin.
He says he was initially against making it legal because it could affect tourism! Huh, how about affecting our kids and parents?
Friednash tells us these drugs arenāt deadly, so it¶¶Ņõap all good. Oh sure, maybe more people will be driving under the influence, more parents getting high while their kids work on homework, etc., but hey, these drugs arenāt deadly.
The problem is Friednash and other true progressives see things through rose-colored glasses. He sees responsible people using drugs at home during the weekend and leading normal lives. He doesnāt see the people in the inner city using and abusing drugs — yes, even marijuana.
Here is a suggestion: Instead of going home to Cherry Hills or Greenwood Village, try spending time at a busy local pot store. What do you see? I see people whose interest in life is getting high. They have little interest in working a career or spending evenings helping their kids with school work.
Yes, there are responsible users, but what are you telling our kids? Hey, it isnāt deadly, so it¶¶Ņõap all good? May I suggest that Friednash and his colleagues consider spending time volunteering at inner-city schools or even taking inner-city police ride-alongs to get a true perspective of how the other half lives and the impact of even non-deadly drugs?
Michael Scanlan, Arvada
County workers deserve collective bargaining
Re: āCounties not ready for new unions,ā April 24 editorial
Iām a child welfare worker for Pueblo County. On Sunday the editorial board called me and my co-workers āessential employees who save lives.ā Yet, just a few sentences above this statement, they say that we āessential employeesā shouldnāt get the most basic labor right: The right to a voice at work.
To be clear, the collective bargaining bill introduced in the Colorado Senate on Monday would not create new unions, automatically raise wages, or force counties to spend money they donāt have (the bill explicitly outlines that counties will retain full control over their budgets). What this bill actually does is protect county workers from employer retaliation if they come together and speak up about unsafe or unfair working conditions.
It¶¶Ņõap the same right that nearly every private sector and state worker in Colorado currently enjoys. The only requirement for counties is that they negotiate with workers in good faith. That¶¶Ņõap it.
So, instead of repeating the āsky is fallingā claims from conservative county commissioners about this bill, maybe the editorial board should have actually asked some āessential county employeesā what they thought about it? If they did, they would have learned that we just want a seat at the table with management, where we can partner with them to solve shared workplace issues. That costs nothing — but continuing to ignore county workersā concerns costs a lot.
Josette Jaramillo, Pueblo
Chiefs of police tell us that they cannot get rid of bad cops because of union rules. Yet our legislature wants to unionize even more government employees. Am I the only person that is puzzled by this seeming contradiction?
Wayne Patton, Salida
Homestead piece should address original inhabitants
Re: āHistorical Society invites public to travel to the past with map,ā April 24 news story
I was flabbergasted to read the article extolling the Homestead Mapping Project of the Summit County Historical Society, which lists the names of 300 original homesteaders āwho traveled to Summit County to build ranches, mine for gold and live peacefully among the mountains.ā
How could anyone explore that history without mentioning the brutal displacement of native people and the disastrous environmental impact of gold and silver mining?
Although the research into the history of the original homesteaders is valuable, it must include all the negative consequences of that event.
Mary Jo Sobocinski, Lakewood
Soule fitting for a mountain name
Re: āAn unsung hero,ā April 24 commentary
The opinion written by Simon Maghakyan about Silas Soule and his heroism hit the nail on the head. Instead of renaming Mount Evans some touristy, meaningless name, give the mountain a name that matters. Rename it Mount Silas Soule.
Honor a hero and rename the mountain after a man who stood for something.
Robert Ward, Highlands Ranch
Superintendent Wise was on the right path
Re: āLawsuit from ousted DougCo superintendent is laughable,ā April 24 commentary
Regarding Krista Kaferās commentary, I trust that any āwhite, heterosexual, cisgender, physically able manā can file a lawsuit or, in my case, have an opinion. Conservatives seem to love labels.
The heart of Kaferās complaint centers on the Corey Wise discrimination lawsuit, which alleges that he was unfairly dismissed because of his support of āmaskingā and the ādistrict¶¶Ņõap equity policy.ā Kafer goes full conservative describing such support as serving āleftist education fads.ā She is critical of the Colorado-based Gemini Groupās Douglas County training in systemic racism, implicit bias, intersectionality, oppression and micro-aggression. Such training is apparently suspect ā āall bywords for Critical Race Theory.ā
Kafer aligns with the legion of right-wingers politicizing our public school boards across America. Their confrontations mirror McCarthy era hysterics, making it difficult for civic-minded citizens interested in public education. In truth no single group of true believers in whatever interest should control our libraries or schools.
It is long overdue that equity makes an appearance in public schools. Defending the rights of LGBTQ and racial minorities offers our children an education about the larger world, a world enriched by Nicole Hannah-Jonesā seminal work, the 1619 Project.
Bill Fyfe, Denver
And, what about the Democrat¶¶Ņõap extremists?
Re: āWhoās to blame for the GOPās ballot of extremists?ā April 23 commentary
This editorial contains the usual Democrat talking points: GOP āextremistsā and āThe Big Lie.ā Perhaps a little balance would generate some Post credibility by pointing out the Democrat āextremistsā and big mediaās Hunter Biden-laptop-coverup that undoubtedly swung the 2020 election to Joe Biden.
Democrat extremists have created inflation by enacting tax and spend policies, they destroyed our energy independence on day one, they have done nothing to resolve the massive border crisis they created, and they have crippled law enforcement in many cities. Let¶¶Ņõap not even get into the Afghan and mask/nomask debacles. Silverii, is the nation better off with a mentally challenged socialist Biden or a personality-challenged conservative Donald Trump?
It is time for The Denver Post to be objective and not be politically partisan.
Jim Lloyd, Lakewood
Finding careers and purpose from Pickens Technical College
As I walked through the doors of Aurora Public Schools Technical Center more than 40 years ago, I could have never imagined the road it would take me on. To learn a skill is one thing; to gain purpose and direction is even better.
As a struggling high school student, I knew college wasnāt in the cards. The opportunity to go to a trade school and learn hands-on was going to be my best fit. While there I excelled and my academic classes became less daunting. I felt like I had found my path; I had purpose.
After I graduated from high school and received my certificate from the technical center, I started working in my trade: carpentry. I worked remodeling for a few years, then I started building new construction. In time I became partners with the company and I became somewhat of the trainer. I served on the advisory committee for the carpentry program at the school and then became an instructor.
One reason I left the trade and became an instructor was that I wanted to give back to the program that did so much for me. Thirty years as an instructor brought me back full circle; I wanted to give my students a purpose. I wanted them to be the best at what they did, whatever they did in life. I wanted them to believe in themselves.
Aurora Public Schools Technical Center, T.H. Pickens Technical Center, Pickens Tech, Pickens Technical College. Whatever name you remember it by, know that it changes lives and has been for 50 years.
Greg Shamburg, Aurora
Tax credits for homeless services
Homeless service providers are eagerly anticipating some additional help from the state of Colorado for donors and stakeholders in the form of a state wide tax credit (House Bill 1083).
Coloradans should be proud of the many nonprofits throughout the state who intervene when times get tough and improve the course of peopleās lives who have lost everything. Coloradans who are especially proud of these interventions, put their āmoney where their mouth isā and provide financial and in-kind (including volunteering) support for this vital work.
Let¶¶Ņõap incentivize this private support and allow generosity to be rewarded. After all, homelessness is a community wide concern. The private and public sector working in concert will impact homelessness. Let¶¶Ņõap get our citizensā support and tax credits are the key.
Tom Luehrs, Denver
End cruel deportations
Title 42 deports asylum applicants out of fear that they will transmit COVID-19. It does not stop the spread of COVID-19. Medical experts across the country have rebutted this policy, stating it has no impact on controlling the spread of COVID-19.
This mistaken policy politicizes COVID-related emergency public health designations, putting health related programs and funding in jeopardy.
As people around the world watch the generosity with which Ukrainian refugees are being welcomed by European neighboring countries, our cruel Title 42 policy, which violates national and international law, provides a stark and shocking contrast.
Human rights organizations have documented more than ten thousand instances of people being kidnapped, tortured, sexually assaulted, and murdered as a result of Title 42, including families with small children and vulnerable people fleeing violence and persecution.
Its past time to end this irrational and unkind policy.
Evelyn Hutt, Denver
Ukraine is not winning
We have recently heard or read about Ukraine āwinningā its war with Russia in the media. Ukraine has certainly surprised the world with its bravery and tenacity displayed in its struggle to maintain independence.
Iām sure that almost all people — at least here in the United States ā wish them well.
While āwinningā has a nice ring to it, it seems prudent, and I would say critically necessary, to step back and collectively answer this question: Do we really think that Vladimir Putin will ever accept that he has been defeated without first using Russiaās nuclear weapons?
Will Kulp, Greeley
Support while facing wildfires
Re: āWhat to expect in wildļ¬re season,ā April 22 news story
Thanks to Conrad Swanson and The Denver Post for this enlightening article on the year-round wildfire danger in Colorado.
I live between Monument and Palmer Lake, right up against the Pike National Forest, and we have a Firewise wildfire mitigation team that helps us protect our property from wildfire danger. Since we live in a so-called āred zone,ā we need all the help we can get.
Thanks too to Sen. Michael Bennet for proposing the Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act, to provide even more protection against wildfire than the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Iām thinking Earth Day should be renamed Save the Earth Day.
Susan Permut, Monument
Criminalization is not the answer
So why havenāt we yet learned that drug criminalization doesnāt work? It was a total failure for marijuana. All criminalization did was cost lots of money and ruin the lives of many.
The situation is the same for fentanyl.
As a supervisory government employee, I was asked to take annual drug awareness training. During this training, doctors who ran drug rehabilitation clinics told me that 10% of the population will be habituated to drugs during some part of their lives. What those drugs are changes over time, but the 10% number doesnāt.
Unfortunately fentanyl is very dangerous and very easy to make. A double whammy. It is not like benign marijuana. Should it be criminalized or treated as a disease?
Asking this question fails to recognize that criminalization will not get rid of drug abuse — the 10% problem. It does not recognize that fentanyl is so easy to make. Fentanyl will be around whether it is criminalized or not ā just like marijuana. Unfortunately fentanyl kills, unlike marijuana. That makes it even more important to treat its use as a disease, not a criminal act.
For the most part, the police are the wrong people to ask as to how to address the problem. Law enforcement is their job. They fail to recognize the failure of the years and years of the war against drugs. Sometimes criminalization just doesnāt work.
Charles B. Sherwood, Avon
Madhvi an inspiration for us all
Re: āThe ālight inside herā — Meet the 11-year-old Arvada girl fighting to ban forever chemicals in Colorado,ā April 26 news story
Thank you for giving front-page coverage to this marvelous 11-year-old. She gives me hope for the future and serves as a wonderful example of what one individual can do. Thank you, Madhvi, for your efforts on behalf of all of us and on behalf of the environment. To Denver Post readers: May she be an inspiration to all of us to use whatever gifts we have to make the world a better place.
Nancy Litwack-Strong, Lakewood
Bravo, Colorado Ballet
What a treasure we have in the Colorado Ballet.
Yes, I know the ballet isnāt for everyone but our hometown ballet company had something for everyone in its final performances of the season in its Ballet MasterWorks: classical ballet, dare I say avant-garde and wonderful choreography by Jiri Kylian, and a fast-paced and mesmerizing Twyla Tharp āodeā set to Frank Sinatra songs.
Included on Sunday afternoon was an appearance by Chandra Kuykendall with her COVID-delayed retirement performance (after more than 30 years with the company as a student and dancer). It was a controlled, artistic, sensuous and enthralling pas de deux, which resulted in the longest standing ovation Iāve seen at the ballet.
Kudos to all who are involved in producing and performing the Colorado Ballet. Fortunately, our ballet company has a school for all ages, which I am sure will produce years of dancers for Coloradans to enjoy.
Jon Sutterlin, Aurora
Not so fast on that amendment
Re: āKeep politics outside of church,ā April 27 letter to the editor
Contrary to the letter writers, the Constitution is not āpretty explicit in that the two (church and state) remain separateā or that the āseparation of church and state is the foundation of an inclusive republicā according to the First Amendment.
The First Amendment to the Constitution states: āCongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.ā It does not prohibit the people from bringing religion into the public square. There is no āseparation of Church and State.ā
Stanford law professor Michael McConnell writes that the founders instead wanted to protect against government ācontrolā of religion and that they did not object to symbols of faith being present in the public square.
Confusion over this subject likely comes from The Johnson Amendment, which is a provision in the U.S. tax code, introduced by then-Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson in 1954, that prohibits all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates at the risk of losing their tax exempt status. President Donald Trump sought to remove this amendment from the tax code to allow faith into the public square.
So, those who want religious leaders to keep silent would more correctly cite this ban as coming from Lyndon Baines Johnson rather than the Constitution of the United States.
Donna Jorgenson Farrell, Broomfield
No need for ā massiveā project
Re: āItāll be a pain, but 16th Street Mall overhaul is crucial,ā April 16
Regarding the statement āDenver would seem less like Denverā without the mall, get a grip. 1993 is a blip in the cityās history and the entire downtown area was much more vibrant with better retail, restaurants and activities before the mall was built. These massive projects drive people from downtown. When that is added to the other downtown issues that City Council turns a blind eye to, it¶¶Ņõap not surprising that downtown is dying.
Alice Harris, Denver
Keep politics outside of church
Re: āSome church leaders bless challenge to ā20 election,ā April 25 news story
Religious freedom is a cornerstone
of our nation, as is the electoral process. But the Constitution is pretty explicit in that the two remain separate.
This is especially important when we consider that churches are tax-exempt because of the importance of personal freedom.
I have volunteered at assorted 501(c)(3) organizations for more than 40 years. The rules on politics are clear and the consequences for violating them are severe and explicit.
Churches should be subject to them, too.
When church leaders of any denomination decide to intervene in the political process, especially by hosting insurrectionists or traitors, they violate their tax-exempt status by their own choosing.
As such, they and their funds and properties should be taxed in the
same way as any other private organization.
Agust Gudmundsson, Castle Rock
I hope Iām not the only American who believes that when a church allows political proselytizing from the pulpit, it has crossed the line from a religious organization to a political action committee — and in doing so forfeited those protections afforded it by the First Amendment.
The separation of church and state is the foundation of an inclusive republic. The transgressions described in the article are every bit as damaging to our democracy as the Jan. 6 attack on the nationās Capitol.
R. Norman, Wheat Ridge
Fight animal cruelty by passing Goldieās Act
Every day vulnerable animals raised in federally licensed puppy mills are dependent on the government for protection. Yet the agency responsible for fulfilling this mandate — the U.S.
Department of Agricultureā routinely allows extreme cruelty to persist at these facilities.
We must pass Goldieās Act (H.R. 6100) to ensure that the USDA enforces its authority to oversee licensed commercial dog breeders.
This bill is named in memory of Goldie, known only as āGolden Retriever #142ā by the Iowa puppy mill where she lived. She was raised in abhorrent conditions and died after suffering from extreme neglect for months while USDA inspectors turned a blind eye.
Goldieās Act would require USDA to vigorously enforce the Animal Welfare Act and report documented animal abuse to local law enforcement.
This bill will help ensure that no other animals suffer Goldieās awful fate, and I urge Rep. Diana DeGette to cosponsor and pass Goldieās Act to protect vulnerable dogs and puppies.
Elaina Johannsen, Denver
Camping ban not ācompassionateā
Re: āHomeless camping ban to begin in Aurora next month,ā March 30 news story
When Aurora Mayor Pro Tem FranƧoise Bergan called the recent Aurora camping ban ācompassionate,ā I stopped in my tracks. It is reprehensible to pour money into policing and forcibly removing unhoused people as opposed to spending that money on permanent solutions to our housing crisis. This is not
compassion.
According to Denver Homeless Out Loud, 70% of people removed in Denver encampment sweeps end up moving only a block away from where the sweep took place. This is not a sustainable solution and only serves to further disrupt and criminalize the lives of our homeless neighbors.
Of the remaining 30% surveyed, very few ended up in shelters. Many people experiencing homelessness cannot stay in shelters because they work at night and canāt sleep at shelters during the day. Many people donāt feel safe in shelters, including trans people who have faced violence trying to access services that align with their gender.
There are countless reasons why people sleep outside and criminalizing them for doing so does nothing to improve their lives and is absolutely not ācompassionate.ā Iāll be calling my city council members and my state legislators to ask them to address our housing crisis in the long term and overturn the camping bans in Denver and Aurora. I urge everyone to do the same.
Trish Hyde, Denver
After āBig Payout,ā watch out for the big scams
Re: āThe Big Payout: A Denver Post Special Investigation,ā April 17-20 news series on federal pandemic funding
After absorbing the full wallop of Coloradoās pandemic aid jackpot, as documented in The Denver Post¶¶Ņõap series, we can all marvel at the size of the cash downpour but also cringe at the potential for criminal wrongdoing.
The free fall of loans, grants and aid packages is surely a godsend for fund-starved local providers.
But the likelihood that an army of assorted crooks and con men, many of them organized and from overseas, are now busily scheming ways to milk the torrent of monies is a wake-up call for tight surveillance and safeguards.
Dick Woodbury, Denver
Sending Putin-wannabes the wrong message
We are the greatest nation in the world and have reacted with force many times for situations that were much less serious than watching a country commit genocide in front of the whole world on TV without absolutely interrupting the situation with the force of all neighboring counties, NATO or not.
Every authoritarian nation with nuclear capability is looking at our hesitancy to stop Vladimir Putin dead in his tracks with the understanding that they can do the same thing with countries they would like to invade, knowing that is our āAchilles heel.ā
Putin is throwing around nuclear threats to Sweden and Finland, who are looking to join NATO. When does he stop?
What did we accomplish to keep Putin from using nuclear weapons? He can do that at any point, but he also knows that war with all of NATO is not advisable. We need to stop this war with all the power and might of all of the free world who cannot tolerate the disgrace for another minute.
Go in there with no advance notice, take out their ships, their convoys and whatever is out there destroying civilians and whole cities, and then proceed to expose him for the monster he is as an example to anyone else interested in following in his footsteps.
Susan Badrena, Conifer
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