Daily Camera: Letters to the Editor

At the last Planning Board meeting on January 19th, a neighborhood group of one-hundred or more
from southeast Boulder gathered in the City Chambers to voice opposition to a planned annexation and
development of 120+ units. The development is planned for the Hogan-Pancost property just east of
Keewaydin Meadows.

Many of us who have lived in Keewaydin for thirty or forty plus years have opposed similar projects in
the past because of existing groundwater (which created needs for basement sump pumps), flood plain
issues, increased traffic, and environmental impacts; — and, in the past, the City agreed NOT to annex
or support any development because of these potential hazardous conditions and the harm they could
bring to the neighboring communities.

At the January 19th meeting, the Planning Board did approve a Concept Plan submitted by the
Developers for the Hogan-Pancost land which means such plans will advance to a Site Review and could
well be on its’ way for final approval by the City Council. The irony in the Planning Boards actions is that
the conditions today in the Keewaydin area are comparably more risky and unsafe for a development
than they were ten or twenty years ago when development was denied by the City.

More than twenty-five neighbors gave presentations to the Planning Board regarding water problems,
flood threats and obvious traffic problems. Months of research by several presenters revealed flaws and
errors in some of the developer and city-issued documents. Other presenters gave testimony of tens
of thousands of gallons of water a day being discharged from basement sump pumps due to extremely
high water table where the development is to be built (my two sump pumps alone discharged a million
gallons last year!) A Hydrologist speaking on behalf of the Neighborhood confirmed from his research
that a development would indeed exacerbate the groundwater problems in the basements AND also
increase the risk of flood waters spilling into the established Keewaydin area – due to the developments
need to elevate the land where homes will be built.

After about four hours of testimony by concerned homeowners, one Planner said he needed
more “evidence” to convince him that the development should not go forward — makes one wonder if
he was listening to the same meeting the rest of us were!!!!

Ron Craig
Boulder

“Nothing in nature takes more than its share.”   “I Am,”  Tom Shadyac, dir.

Every weekday morning most Americans walk into the jaws of a beast that is consuming our world. They do it willingly or unwillingly, wittingly or unwittingly, helpless not to contribute to an economic engine that drives without a brake. Like cancer it has an endless appetite for growth and like cancer it masquerades as healthy behavior. To those around it, it seems normal, as normal as earning a living. Its grasping energy fixes our attention on money as a scarce and essential commodity and ensures our participation thru the mechanism of debt. We occupy Wall Street and elsewhere to illuminate a diseased condition. This beast of endless consumption is not who we are even tho its life is fed by our lives and its appetite by our own. This relentless cycle is in fact a ponzi scheme that will destroy our world in an endgame of extinction. We occupy to assert our inalienable right as human persons to enjoy a future for ourselves and our children and their children to an untold generation. We occupy to free ourselves from the infection the beast has spawned within us. We occupy to free future generations from indenture to the beast. We occupy in the faith that the human spirit will not rest until freedom and a peace based on justice govern human affairs, will not rest until our world is encircled by a vibrant nature. Spring is coming; we hope at some point you will join us.

Tomas deMers
Longmont

I believe even the current Boulder Public Library Director would agree that Judy Volc is unquestionably a Master of reading stories to young children.  I was at first puzzled  by the library’s unwillingness to allow Judy to read, but then realized that the director must have be worried that if she did, no one would come to the other library Storytimes – a valid concern.  What I do not understand is why, if the library is serious about wanting “to grow more Judys,” it has not offered her a job to train new readers. Judy has practiced and actively honed her craft for over 50 years. It is a craft that is best learned by apprenticeship: observing,  practicing, and receiving feedback from a Master.  If Antonio Stradivari had worked for a director rather than having his own workshop, I don’t think that director would have said, “Antonio, you can’t make violins any more.  We want to grow more Antonios.  From now on, you’ll greet the customers and help them pick out instruments.”

I applaud Barnes and Noble for inviting Judy to read at their store, but find that the actions of the library director send a puzzling message about the priorities of Boulder’s public institutions: why, when the public that the library purports to serve is clamoring for Judy to read, does BPL discard a local treasure and send her to benefit a commercial institution, where books must be purchased by those who can afford to do so, rather than being freely available to all?

Felicity Wong
Boulder

Dear Editor:

February 28 is World Spay Day. If you haven’t yet had your animals sterilized, here are some great reasons to “spay the day!”

Spaying and neutering prevent thousands upon thousands of animals from being born only to starve or be killed by cars on the streets, suffer at the hands of cruel or neglectful people, or be euthanized in shelters.
Animal shelters across the country are overflowing with homeless cats and dogs. Up to 4 million animals must be euthanized for lack of homes every year.
Spaying and neutering eliminate animals’ chances of contracting several cancers that are expensive to treat and often fatal, including uterine, ovarian, and testicular cancer.
Sterilization reduces or eliminates animals’ mating urges, aggression, and excessive territoriality, making sterilized dogs three times less likely to bite.
Sterilized animals are much less likely to “mark their territory” on your favorite armchair or embarrass you by mounting objects—or your guests’ legs.

For the nearest low-cost spay/neuter clinics, call 1-800-248-SPAY. To learn more, visit www.PETA.org.

Sincerely,

Lindsay Pollard-Post
The PETA Foundation
Norfolk, Va.

Dear Editor:

As someone who deals with dozens of cruelty-to-animals cases every week, I applaud those working to establish an online animal abuser registry in Colorado. Exposing and remembering people who hurt animals will better guarantee our communities’ safety.

Mental-health and law-enforcement experts know that the bullies and cowards who abuse animals will often cross species lines. The American Psychiatric Association identifies cruelty to animals as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of animal abuse in analyzing the threat potential of suspected and known criminals. The link between cruelty to animals and interpersonal violence is undeniable.

The public deserves to know if there is a known animal abuser in its midst. To learn more, visit www.PETA.org.

Sincerely,

Martin Mersereau, Director
Emergency Response Team
Cruelty Investigations Department
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
Norfolk, Va.

The drug war is largely a war on marijuana smokers. In 2010, there were
853,839 marijuana arrests in the United States, almost 90 percent for
simple possession. At a time when state and local governments are laying
off police, firefighters and teachers, this country continues to spend
enormous public resources criminalizing Americans who prefer marijuana to
martinis. The end result of this ongoing culture war is not lower rates of
use.

The U.S. has higher rates of marijuana use than the Netherlands, where
marijuana is legally available. Medical marijuana is a step in the right
direction. Taxing and regulating marijuana would render the drug war
obsolete. As long as organized crime controls distribution, marijuana
consumers will come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like
methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. This “gateway” is a direct result of
marijuana prohibition.

Please feel free to edit and publish.  Thank you for your consideration.

United Nations drug stats:

http://www.unodc.org/

Comparative analysis of U.S. vs. Dutch rates of drug use:

http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Netherlands_v_US

Marijuana arrest stats:

http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Marijuana#Total

Sincerely,

Robert Sharpe, MPA
Policy Analyst
Common Sense for Drug Policy
www.csdp.org
Washington, D.C.

Regarding Linda Nelson’s 1/23/12 letter to the editor about irresponsible workers, “Where are the responsible ones?”  Answer:  There aren’t any. Or at least, there aren’t enough of them.  Ever report an irresponsible employee?  Nothing happens.  This behavior is particularly egregious when it comes to health care. Ever report an irresponsible doctor?  Nothing happens.  The incident is treated as if it never happened and the matter is considered “closed.” The patient is bullied into submission and then blamed for the doctor’s irresponsible behavior. Irresponsibility is killing us.

Ellen Smith
Boulder

I’ve really wanted to write a letter to the editor for quite awhile now to comment on this tragicomedy/Republican presidential primary  In fact I’d promised to say nothing until something really substantial occurred, as in when the actual nominee emerged. When this does, in fact happen, I’m sure I’ll certainly have something critical to say in witnessing the whole incredible historic political phenomena. But I’ve noticed something else in the meantime that needs mentioning. And that is, aside from all of the rhetoric on their respective podiums, one should look closely at the blood-thirsty and frightening, Look at the people surrounding them at the podiums/in their audiences and their intense look of absolute irrational fear and visceral hatred/racism in their eyes, voices and tone. Enough to give any Center-Leftist a heart attack. These primarily White or European Americans and a
smattering of ‘interesting’ minorities were out there as well. Way, way out there.
And now along comes Newt Gingrich, ‘fanning the fires’ of that raw racism and hatred, utilizing it for his own political purposes. Well fine then, let those of us who’ve decided to at least try to do things out here together without killing each other go ahead and hope that Newt Gingrich does become the Republican nominee because I don’t believe for a minute that he represents the majority of Americans. I can’t.

Grant D. Cyrus
Boulder

Finally, Mitt and Newt are telling us their ideas. We need the independent columnists to jump on the issues and get some honest public debate going. Mitt says he wants to end estate tax so he can keep all of his millions. Let’s look at this. I came in to the world with no money but I do want to take care of my children. Because I was born an athlete, should I be able to leave $10 million – or how many? Let’s look at Paris Hilton; if I was her dad, I’d want the wealth in a trust that does something positive for society. Let’s get the debate going and maybe we can formalize a policy and tell the candidates that there is some middle of the road. Leaving it all to Paris or Michael Jordan’s children is too much but there is a correct amount. Maybe Oprah has a figure?

Larry Wegrzyn
Broomfield

Editor,

As we begin 2012 with the hope of a better world , it’s important to concentrate on the true priorities for America.

President Obama and Leon Panetta have decided to undertake bringing into line our Defense Department budget.

The recent rescue of hostages in Somalia underscores the wisdom of small, effective forces to handle thugs and religious extremists  and certainly worked better than declaring war(s) .

The budget for the defense Department has nearly tripled since 1998, it only makes sense that we examine why the budget escalated to the point of breaking the proverbial bank.

Since 9/11/2001, Americans were  told that “terrorist activities” need to be treated as a national threat, rather than a criminal problem.  ( As President Clinton did in  the 1993 attack on the WTC.)

In my opinion, calling murderous  thugs ” warriors or terrorists ” gave them undeserved credit as fighters for God.

They are not .

President Bush called for a different approach than President Clinton, and now-President Obama.  We can now assess which approach worked better.

The revelation of  torture, secret prisons ,war-profiteering and unconstitutional as well as violations of International law must be investigated and prosecuted as necessary.

War should only be used as a last resort to “Provide for the Common Defense”, and NEVER be used to enrich anyone…….anytime.

The ill-conceived war in Iraq, and the still ongoing war in Afghanistan must cease. The fact that Blackwater, Halliburton and many other corporations have benefited greatly as a result of the Bush Doctrine, and  that American troops were used as security forces for multi-national oil corporations, while “government contractors” were paid 6-figures to perform essentially the same functions makes no sense….either fiscally or from a moral standpoint.

I can only conclude that Napoleon was correct in his description of war as ” The business of barbarians”, and call on  all Americans to fight for sanity in an otherwise insane world.

Let’s call an end to barbarism-for-profit and do what we should have done in 2001, call murderous thugs exactly that, and treat them accordingly

Americans are supposed to be the good guys, and Osama bin-Laden is still dead. Thank you, President Obama!

Contact your Representatives and voice your concerns…..again and again if necessary.

Tommy Holeman
Niwot

Just a quick reminder…we Christians  do not have an “imaginary friend. The one we love came to earth as a human being. Many facts support that He lived among us, died and rose again from the dead. How cool is that? He created you and  me…not always to be happy but to be in relationship with Him…our best friend. He is certainly not imaginary. Thanks for listening.

Carolyn Kline
Boulder

In response to, “Boulder Atheists buy billboards that read: ‘God is an imaginary friend’
Coexistence is about embracing the diversity within our nation, rather than hiding from it. Therefore, I truly believe that by posting two billboards stating that a specific religion is “imaginary” completely goes against everything that coexistence stands for.
I know it is a lot to ask people to try and accept others for who they are and what they believe, but in no way is plastering all over the metropolitan area how much of a joke the Christian religion is; necessary, true, or respectable in the least bit. Religion is something everyone holds close to their heart, and if the Boulder Atheists want to take stabs at that, then they are no different from the Christian’s running around telling every atheist that they are doomed to Hell.

Chas Harper
Westminster

Re: Boulder Atheists buy billboards that read: ‘God is an imaginary friend’ Jan 24 Boulder County News story.

The Boulder Atheists claim their new ad campaign encourages an open dialogue about the separation of church and state, but the statement used on their billboards fails to effectively communicate this message. Nowhere on their billboard does it state their concerns about this issue. Instead, the billboards display a message many may find hostile.

Open communication about religion can improve our society as a whole by encouraging understanding, but by equating God to a child’s imaginary friend the Boulder Atheists are belittling people whose religion or spirituality is meaningful to them.

In a country where church and state are supposed to be separate and so many different viewpoints are available, a conversation about the inclusion of God on our money and other issues atheists are concerned about is appropriate. However, if an audience feels insulted they will never be open to new points of view, and the Boulder Atheists need to realize this if they really want this serious issue discussed in a public forum.

Julia Story
Boulder

Lest you forget, Newt Gringrich was having an extramarital affair while in the process of impeaching President Clinton for infidelity, and he himself, was disciplined by the House in 1997 for ethics violations.  Gringrich has had numerous affairs throughout his career while in office and on the campaign trail.  Nothing new, but this guy takes the cake.  Two of his marriage proposals came at times when he was still married (different wives).  He began his first illicit affair at the age of 16 with his high school geometry teacher.

Under pressure from his fellow GOP colleagues, he resigned from Congress in 1998.

And this person of great (im)moral character wants to be President of the United States of America?

David Whitsel
Longmont

To the editor:

The January 21 article “Boulder a hotbed for hybrid vehicles” concludes with a potential electric vehicle buyer talking about the carbon reduction from electric vehicles, presumably because the electric car has no tailpipe.  While a noble sentiment, it is worthwhile to do some math:

One gallon of gasoline weighs about six pounds and is about 85 percent carbon.  So a gallon of gasoline contains about five pounds of carbon.

An electric vehicle will go about three times as far as a gasoline vehicle using the same amount of energy.

The EPA uses an energy equivalent of about 34 kWh per gallon of gasoline, so a third of a gallon of gasoline contains about 11 kWh.

A decent rule of thumb is that it takes one pound of coal (basically all carbon) to produce one kWh of electricity.

Half the electricity in the United States comes from burning coal.  Even if all the other sources of electricity produced no carbon (which is not the case), those 11 kWh used by an electric vehicle introduce just as much carbon into the environment (five pounds) as a conventional vehicle using a gallon of gasoline.

It’s worth noting that in Colorado about 80 percent of our electricity comes from coal, meaning that electric vehicles would put even more carbon into the air.  Carbon sequestration and “clean” coal may eventually reduce these numbers a little bit, but the promises of these technologies is far outweighed by the realities at present.

There may be compelling reasons to drive an electric vehicle.  Carbon abatement is not one of them.

Peter Curtiss
Boulder

To the Editor:
A small item in today’s( Jan 26)  Local section informed us that the young woman who reported being assaulted early Sunday by a knife wielding black man made a false report.  Of course this is a relief, not least to the black men of Boulder, who may have been subject to racial profiling and random suspicion by the police for nothing more than being black in Boulder.  This kind of scapegoating of black men is a deep wound in our society, and needs to be acknowledged and challenged by all of us.  While we are very happy that this assault did not occur, this young woman needs to realize that she has caused our community great harm by falsely accusing a black man. I hope this troubled young woman receives the help she needs, and is also made to take responsibility for her crime against racial equity that she has committed.
Truly, our society at large is responsible for perpetuating racial inequality through grossly unequal rates of incarceration for black men.  This strategy has effectively taken the power out of the black community, and rendered it continually reeling and unable to participate fully in educational and career opportunities that are widely available to white people.  If the overarching strategy has been to create an underclass, or to keep people from rising up and demanding their equal rights,   both have been achieved.  It is time for us to demand fair sentencing and an end to the racial bias that runs like poison throughout our judicial system.
A thank you to the Boulder police department for rooting out the truth quickly , and for not making another innocent black man pay for a crime he did not commit.

Isolde Stewart
Boulder

In his State of the Union talk, President Obama focused on reenergizing American manufacturing (jobs and prosperity) and changing the federal tax code to require that EVERYONE be subjected to “the same rules from top to bottom”.  President Obama indicated that he would immediately sign legislation that can accomplish those goals.  This legislation already EXISTS!  It is HR25 (House of Representatives bill) and S13 (Senate bill).  This legislation enacts a national retail sales tax and eliminates corporate taxes, individual income taxes, payroll taxes, capital gains, and estate taxes at the federal level.  It would stimulate the manufacturing economy in this country by eliminating the onerous corporate taxes that are contributing to the exporting of jobs in this country.  This legislation would require EVERYONE to play by the same rules.  The richest of the rich would pay for their glutinous consumption and the undocumented worker would pay his/her fair share, even if the wages were paid in cash without reporting.  Why has this enabling legislation not made it out of the Ways and Means Committee in the House?  Simple—Representatives and Senators “enjoy” the power of tax legislation!  Cronyism, vote buying, favoritism and greed are enabled by our current tax code!  This legislation removes that “tool” from the revenue side of legislation.  We could “watch” our elected officials more closely because their job would now entail only spending legislation!  Wow!  That would be transparency that we have not seen for decades!

If enough people (citizens) demand it, HR25 will get a fair hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee.  For more info on this legislation, go to www.fairtax.org.  Prosperity can return to this great country and April 15th can return to “just another beautiful spring day” instead of the dreaded IRS DEADline for personal income taxes!

Jim Eastman
Longmont

If the city is really interested in creating their own brand of organic beef on open space land, let’s hope that they choose to bring in Piedmontese cattle, a 25,000-year-old breed that produces meet that is tender thanks to a special myostatin enzyme but also is lower in calories and cholesterol than skinless chicken.
As part of my family’s healthy diet, we have switched over entirely to this brand of beef, which is currently raised in Wyoming and Montana, and the pounds have melted away.
Unfortunately, Piedmontese beef isn’t available anywhere locally, forcing me to buy it from sources out of state. Beef that is actually good for you certainly sounds like the special Boulder brand that the city is looking for.

Tom Schantz
Lyons

Forgive me, a (legal) immigrant still trying to understand politics in the United States after being here 40 years, but I believe a Representative represents all the people in his/her district? How, then, is Congressman Doug Lamborn representing the non-Republicans in his district when he declines to attend the State of the Union Address?

Ann Cooper
Boulder

As a lifelong atheist I have to say thank you to the Camera reader who who blessed me. It’s okay, however, you blew the “unhappy people” part. I am a very happy person,  even my name means happy.
So, whoever you are, please try to understand there are many belief’s and many kinds of non-believers. Don’t assume I am unhappy or an unhappy person because I don’t share your immaginary friend, but feel free to come on up and you can meet my real friends.
Peace, love, beads and bells!

Hilary Reynolds Burton
Nederland