More scooters or different scooters … keep them off the sidewalks
Re: “Committee again delays vote on scooter provider,” April 3 news story
I’m writing to express growing concern about the number of near misses I’ve had with electric scooters while walking on sidewalks in downtown Denver. Recently, after stepping off the MallRide, I was almost hit from behind by someone on a Lime scooter. Had I leaned even slightly to the right to avoid gum, trash, or oil on the ground, I likely would have ended up on the pavement.
This isn’t a one‑time issue; I’ve had similar close calls many times while walking downtown. Itap becoming increasingly difficult to feel safe as a pedestrian on sidewalks that should be reserved for people on foot.
I’ve never seen any enforcement or even a simple warning given to scooter riders for unsafe behavior. I also understand there was once technology that could disable scooters operating on the 16th Street Mall.
With the recent introduction of a possible new bike and scooter service in Denver, we are at a unique crossroads. While these “new kids on the block” offer great mobility options, they also highlight the urgent need for better-defined safety measures and infrastructure. Itap the perfect time to take proactive steps to improve pedestrian safety throughout the area.
Karen Young, Centennial
Sports writing as a treat
Reading reporter Bennett Durando on the Sports pages is a treat. I think we have another Sports poet now.
Dee Trasen, Denver
Wasting no time piling on the Rockies
Re: “New year, same awful baseball for Rockies fans,” and “Rockies Horror Pitcher Show in home debut,” April 4 sports stories
The headlines on the columns by Sean Keeler and Troy Renck were ugly and out of line, referring to Opening Day at Coors Field by the Rockies. It is their first day of a very long season. Are the players entitled to be not at their best or better selves? They piled on in a continuation of last season’s ugly commentaries on our team.
What if it were their sons playing in their first high school or college game of the season? The Rockies are our team, and we should treat them with respect, the way we would our sons on opening day of any level baseball season. Embarrassing headlines!
Anne Campbell, Denver
Remove the Social Security tax cap on wealthier workers
Re: “$100,000 in Social Security benefits is too much,” April 2 commentary
The author argues that the best way to extend the solvency of the Social Security trust fund, which is expected to run out of money by 2033, is to limit the maximum benefit amount paid to individuals and couples. She argues that social security should be a “safety net” intended for people who have not been able to save additional money for retirement. Her solution to extend the life of the trust fund safety net is to reduce the maximum amount of social security income.
The better way to extend the life of the trust fund is to do exactly what the writer opposes: eliminate the cap on income subject to social security contributions. I suspect that many working people don’t even know that individuals earning more than $184,500 a year do not pay social security taxes on earnings above this amount. They pay less into Social Security as a percentage of their income.
The author rejects this solution because it would result in a “very large tax increase,” which is true. This increase would only affect those individuals who make more than $184,500 a year. High-income earners would pay more into the Social Security system based on all their earned income, just like everyone else. Rather than limit the amount of money received from Social Security, the more equitable and effective way to extend the life of the trust fund is to remove the cap on income subject to contributions.
Having this cap is just another example of how the rich get richer and the rest of us pay for their privilege.
Mark Perbix, Golden
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