CUPITMUSIC

Pedestrian walkway at Capitol too pricey

Re: “First images show pedestrian walkway,” May 23 news story

A proposed pedestrian walkway/bridge is under consideration to run through Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park as a celebration of Colorado’s 150th birthday in 2026. This walkway is to run from Broadway, through the Memorial Park, up and over Lincoln Street, and then up to the Capitol. Really?

Seriously, do we really need to spend money on this? Can’t we just put up a plaque somewhere saying Colorado is 150 years old?

This thing is estimated to cost between $18 million and $20 million. Some of the funds are supposedly coming from private donations. Surely, in these days of cuts to so many vital services, the money can be better spent elsewhere.

Paulette Wray, Denver

Air traffic control crumbles, warnings ignored

The current “mess” in the United States air traffic control system should not and is not a partisan issue. The safety of all Americans is a fundamental duty of our elected officials. They have failed miserably. I am so disgusted that so many of our issues are handled in a reactive mode instead of being proactive. The air traffic control system has been outdated for many years in both Republican and Democratic Congresses. Is it going to take a preventable air disaster where hundreds of lives are needlessly lost? The warning signs are on display on a daily basis.

In the same vein, the credit of the United States has just been downgraded. The blame lies in all of our politicians. However, I am afraid that it is too late to act proactively, and the reactive solution may not be enough.

Allen Vean, Denver

Pay back the workers: Billionaires’ donation should go to Social Security

I just saw an article online that said that many of America’s billionaires were planning or pledging to “give” away $600 billion to various charities. Well, I’d like to make a suggestion to these people: donate a few billion dollars to the nation’s Social Security account. After all, it is the everyday working class that has helped make you people extremely wealthy, and as we all know, our government seems reluctant to put money back into the fund that they have raided over and over.

The one thing the billionaires have to do if they donate to Social Security is to get a written guarantee from the government that the money only goes to it, or else forfeit the money. I’m specifically pointing to the “Oracle of Omaha” [Warren Buffett] because he has previously stated he was not leaving his wealth to his children, and God knows that the future of Social Security is in trouble. The current legislatures keep looking for ways to make cuts in it and calling it some kind of giveaway. That is pure bull! We have paid into it for most of our lives and, in some cases, depend on it.

Peter Beckley, Aurora

Let the president’s Sharpie lead the way

Re: “States, cities fear disaster season full of unknowns amid federal cuts,” May 25 news story

I don’t know why people are afraid of cuts to NOAA. After all, the president can just map out the trajectory of a hurricane using a Sharpie.

Shirley Ruth Stafford, Aurora

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Mayor Johnston’s work to veto the Municipal Court Fairness bill will harm Denver’s most vulnerable

Re: “Polis threatens to veto bill addressing sentencing disparities between Colorado’s state and municipal courts,” April 9 online news story

This legislative session, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston inserted himself in Capitol politics to the detriment of Denver’s most vulnerable. Johnston’s platform for addressing homelessness includes micro-communities, wraparound services, and ordinance enforcement to channel folks into services. Notably, it does not include year-long jail sentences for poverty offenses, which are costly, harmful, counterproductive and forbidden in state courts. Yet, Johnston fought hard to preserve municipalities’ power to send unhoused people to jail for nearly a year for poverty “offenses” like camping, more than 30 times the jail sentence allowed in state court for similar offenses. Johnston’s team actively and, by many accounts, effectively lobbied Gov. Jared Polis to veto House Bill 1147, Fairness & Transparency in Municipal Court, a bill supported by the majority of the Denver City Council that would have ended these disparate and extreme sentences.

Mayor Johnston could not have misunderstood the harm of the veto he advocated for.

Damning reporting by The Denver Post revealed how disparate municipal court sentencing, too often meted out without access to legal counsel, was creating a two-tiered system of justice at the expense of unhoused people. As Denver Post’s Editorial Board recognized when it urged Polis to sign the bill, HB 1147 is common sense legislation that would have fixed these irrational disparities by guaranteeing the most basic of legal rights to people prosecuted in Colorado’s municipal courts: a lawyer when jail is on the line, a courtroom open to public observation, and a jail sentence that complies with state sentencing laws. When city courts are allowed to use poverty “offenses” to disappear homeless people for nearly a year in jail, our entire community suffers and no one is safer. But that’s exactly the result Johnston fought for.

Rebecca Wallace, Denver

Editor’s note: Wallace is the policy director at Colorado Freedom Fund.

Thankful for the preservation of history at Blair-Caldwell library

Re: ” ‘This has our history’,” May 28 news story

A city like Denver isn’t simply a gathering of thousands of people. In it nestle pockets of local history, neighborhoods that shelter hundreds of ideas for improvement and change, tantalizing glimpses of people who make a difference.

The Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library in Five Points is a prime example. Recently, some displays and items in the library were removed. Perhaps to update the displays? Perhaps to curate the items? Or perhaps someone thought the public was disinterested? The response of the people in the community, including Wellington and Wilma Webb (former mayor and state representative, respectively), soon cleared that issue up. I was relieved and reassured that the library is using the incident to improve its collections and service, not erase them.

It doesn’t take much observation to see in these times especially we must be ever-vigilant not to lose these types of resources, which come close to defining our collective soul. Thanks to those in attendance at a recent community meeting at Blair-Caldwell for being vigilant and dedicated to the preservation of our collective stories.

Bonnie McCune, Denver

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Let Biden live out his days in peace

Re: “Democratic leaders must reckon with the Biden coverup,” May 25 commentary

I am angry at Doug Friednash and furious at Jake Tapper. Joe Biden is no longer president and has now been diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer. Do we need to beat a dead horse? I recently asked a friend, “What purpose is Jake Tapper’s tell-all book about Biden except to enrich his own wallet and time in the spotlight?”

I will not read his book, and it is terrible to demean and ridicule a man who served in the public spotlight for five decades, who lost a wife and daughter in a terrible car crash, and one of two sons to brain cancer, and now will be fighting a deadly disease. Can he just be left alone to die in peace?

The piling on to Biden is even more mystifying when Trump has been impeached twice, found liable for sexual abuse, knowingly prompted an attack on the U.S. Capitol while his supporters chanted “Hang Mike Pence,” and then pardoned these insurrectionists and other convicted criminals to go back out into the streets (see Bannon, Stone, etc.)

Friednash has “jumped on the bandwagon” of blame. Does it matter now? The results of the 2024 election (Trump) will be harmful to 90% of the U.S. population as the effects unfold, and history will be not be kind to this administration. They are unqualified hucksters, with a lawyer overseeing all medical decisions of trained doctors, and a Director of Homeland Security that has only the vaguest knowledge about the Constitution and U.S. laws. The attorney general is a puppet who spouts verbatim the same nonsense that Karoline Leavitt does, verbiage that has nothing to do with actual facts.

Looking backward accomplishes nothing at this point. Let the man die in peace. He served his country well, perhaps waning in his last years. No one talks about Trump’s decline, which is also evident to all, and is also being covered up by every single sycophant in his administration and the GOP Congress. It’s obvious in the exact same way Biden’s was.

Wendy Hall, Buena Vista

Was President Joe Biden’s physical and mental condition “concealed” from us? Most likely. Although not justified, this would not be the first time a president’s condition while in office was hidden from the public.

Woodrow Wilson was partially paralyzed, and his wife secretly acted as president. Dwight Eisenhower had a heart attack after golfing in Colorado and Crohn’s disease. George H. W. Bush had Graves’ disease. Chester A. Arthur had a sever kidney disease. Ronald Reagan had Alzheimer’s disease and many speculate he had his first symptoms while in office. Grover Cleveland had jaw cancer.

None of these, including the issue of Biden’s health are criminal or illicit. But the cover-ups of Donald J. Trump are. After the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, Trump labelled it a “Day of Love”, even though more than 140 police officers were injured, four committed suicide within a year, and there was over $2.7 million in damages. Since then, he pardoned 1,500 of the rioters who already pleaded guilty or were convicted and serving jail time. False facts to obscure and shroud that January 6, 2021, was an insurrection.

In the summer of 2023, he tried to delete Mar-a-Lago surveillance footage to obstruct the Justice Department’s investigation into his removing classified, “Top Secret” documents from the White House. In early 2024, Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts because he covered up crimes in his business records. Two more cover-ups.

Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

Ronald Fischer, Lakewood

Re: Sunday cartoon, May 25

The political cartoon depicts three Democratic donkeys mimicking the three monkeys: “See no evil,” “hear no evil” and “say no evil.” They sit on the head of former President Joseph Biden. I have no issue with this cartoon because I feel it’s true. However, in all fairness, the same cartoon could be redrawn today, subbing in three elephants on the head of our current president. This issue is usually ignored by the mainstream press.

Mariann Storck, Wheat Ridge

Tax cuts for the rich cost the poorest among us

Re: “What to watch as bill moves to Senate,” May 25 news story

The article from the Associated Press about sticking points for Senators considering President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” mentions the lack of savings, cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, questions about making the tax cuts permanent, and the extension of the debt limit.

Left out of the discussion is the fact that each of the top earners, whose wealth is counted in millions, if not billions, of dollars, will receive about $390,000. This is enough for one individual to repay almost 400 of the lowest earners for the money they will, in effect, be giving to the highest earner.

These lowest earners will have an income loss of about $1,000, considering the losses of medical care and food on the table projected under this bill, in addition to the increased costs due to tariffs.

Also not mentioned is the even more dangerous so-called “poison pill,” a late addition that would protect officials retroactively from punishment for contempt of court, effectively freeing the administration from any obligation to follow court orders. This is the perfect recipe for full autocracy in a formerly democratic United States of America.

David Schroeder, Arvada

Listen to the professional investors

Re: “Economy: Trump ignores warning signs,” May 25 news story

The article has a valid point, but what about you and me? Are we also ignoring warning signs? Yes, we are. President Donald Trump has been involved in major bankruptcy cases and two recent significant legal cases in New York: falsifying business records and misrepresenting his wealth and property value. He is known to be very loose with the truth, and his ethics are in need of improvement.

Thousands of men and women around the world are professional investors who seriously study the economy. They are not playing the political game. When a solid plurality finds Trump’s economic policy suspect, the opinion should be respected.

Why do millions of Americans consider Trump a financial genius and ignore the wisdom of the professionals? We are ignoring the obvious and sowing the wind. We will reap the whirlwind.

Paul Bonnifield, Yampa

What happened to grassroots politics?

Before COVID, I attended a vibrant Denver Political Action Day at Civic Center Park. While I didn’t agree with every booth or viewpoint represented, I valued the open exchange of ideas and the people who were willing to speak their minds. That same week, I went to a community event at the Blush & Blu bar, supporting a local LGBTQ candidate. The energy in the room was electric — people were hopeful, engaged and excited to build something new.

Since then, Denver’s politics have felt more disconnected. While major issues are still front and center, the visible presence of grassroots groups, especially ones rooted in working-class communities, has noticeably declined. In the absence of consistent grassroots organizing, I see a growing dominance of voices backed by out-of-state interests or polished through institutional filters. Many individuals trying to engage by speaking at city council meetings, forming advocacy groups, or running for office seem to experience increasing difficulty in breaking through or gaining meaningful opportunities to pursue important issues.

I’ve started to wonder: Are today’s political alliances and endorsements built on local relationships and mutual struggle, or are they increasingly tied to out-of-state or corporate influences?

A healthy civic culture needs community engagement, strong identity networks and stability in order to foster shared action. Without a vibrant grassroots presence, we risk allowing others — who don’t necessarily reflect the values of many across Denver’s diverse spectrum — to dominate public discourse.

How can we rebuild that vital connection between everyday people and political power?

Rodney Baker, Denver

Examine the law that established public broadcast

Re: “Pros and cons of PBS content,” May 25 open forum regarding “Make public broadcasting great again by shaking it up,” May 18 commentary

Respectfully, the issue is President Donald Trump’s May 1 executive order “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media.” The reality is there will be less “to be taken by the lapels and shaken” at PBS and NPR when one’s existence is made more difficult because a revenue stream has been shut down in violation of our First Amendment.

Not agreeing with the narrative is not a legitimate basis for Trump to engage in censorship. The amount of free speech otherwise available will be significantly reduced.

Freedom of speech and the press are what allow leaders to be held accountable by freely questioning and sharing observations and concerns respecting gaps between said leaders’ assertions and reality.

Further, history shows that our 1967 Congress was well ahead of its time. On November 7, 1967, Congress passed the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, which created the nonprofit Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

That led to the creation of PBS and NPR. And one of the six congressional declarations of this 1967 law’s policy states “that it furthers the general welfare to encourage noncommercial educational radio and television broadcast programing which will be responsive to the interests of people both in particular localities and throughout the United States, and which will constitute an expression of diversity and excellence.”

Therefore, censoring such legendary and noteworthy nonprofit institutions in such a tyrannical manner is part and parcel with authoritarianism.

Lou Horwitz, St. Louis, Mo.

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Updated June 3, 2025 at 11:25 a.m. Due to a letter writer’s error, an earlier version of the Open Forum falsely said that President Donald Trump was convicted of sexual assault. Trump was found liable for sexual abuse in a New York court.

The community of Boulder has once again suffered a horrific attack. On Sunday, a terrorist fueled by antisemitism attempted to burn people alive who had gathered on the Pearl Street Mall to walk in solidarity with Israeli hostages still held captive by Hamas.

We pray fervently for the eight victims to survive this horror and fully recover from their injuries, and for their families’ strength and resilience during this difficult time. In the aftermath of the King Soopers shooting in 2021, Boulder rallied around victims, their families, and law enforcement, and the community will rise again to support those injured Sunday.

The opportunity to support Colorado’s Jewish community will come quickly; Sunday, June 8, is the 30th Boulder Jewish Festival. The annual celebration of Jewish culture is held on the Pearl Street Mall, the site of the attack. Coloradans should come out in mass to support our Jewish community and send a message that terrorism will not succeed.

We are relieved that a suspect has been detained. But until the scourge of antisemitism is wiped from America, we fear the Jewish community will never attain peace in this country. Two Israeli Embassy staffers were assassinated in Washington, D.C., last month as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. Yaron Lischinsky had purchased an engagement ring for Sarah Milgrim, but never got the chance to propose before they were shot and killed.

The FBI’s regional spokesperson reported that the suspect in the Boulder attack yelled “Free Palestine” as he threw gas and flames on the crowd. The suspect’s social media posts indicate he wanted to “end Zionists.” The Denver Post reported that he is an Egyptian citizen who came to America on a tourist visa but that it had expired. We cannot prevent every terrorist attack, but local, state and federal law enforcement should review this case to make certain signs weren’t missed along the way. Perhaps the next attack could be thwarted if lessons are learned.

This terror has existed long before Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023, sparked a protracted war with Israel. Hamas still holds 58 hostages somewhere in Gaza who were captured during the attack that left 1,500 civilians dead. During a recent ceasefire, several hostages were released who recounted torture and rape, and the bodies of some who Hamas killed during captivity were also released.

The war has raged for almost two years, and Israel’s bombing campaign, combined with its control of food, water and electricity to the occupied territory, are creating a humanitarian crisis that has killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians (a number that will never be known precisely as independent journalists have been kept out of Gaza). As the war drags on in the Middle East, we call for peace, understanding, and love to reign here.

America should be a safe haven from antisemitism and terrorism, a place where our communities can come together, if not in agreement, then at least in a shared coexistence that celebrates our freedom in this country.

The assault on Sunday not only shattered lives and terrified a community, but this senseless violence tears at the foundation of America, and makes us all less safe. Whether compelled to exercise your free speech in a Boulder march calling for the release of Israeli hostages, or to join a protest on the University of Boulder’s campus calling for an end to Israel’s campaign in Gaza, or the many who would march in both, Americans should feel safe that their words, beliefs, and advocacy won’t get them killed.

We have a long way to go before we find such peace, but in the wake of a tragedy is the time to remind everyone of our idealistic hopes for America, something we can all unite behind as international conflicts divide us.

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Air Force Academy graduation chance to rethink cuts

Re: “Bauernfeind wants warriors from the Air Force Academy, so he’s cutting ‘education,‘” May 25 guest commentary

The academic heart of the U.S. Air Force Academy is under threat.

On Thursday, we honor the USAFA graduating class of 2025. U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink will be giving the keynote address, and the situation warrants his intervention to reverse the damage being done.

The ongoing, indiscriminate cuts of USAFA’s experienced (and cost-effective) Ph.D. faculty are putting the academy’s academic excellence — and its mission to forge leaders who think critically — at risk. These cuts are not strategic; they are politically motivated and overtly based on “anti-woke” notions that jeopardize the core of what makes USAFA a world-class educational institution, without increasing lethality.

The academy is not merely a military training camp with classrooms. Rather, it is a premier university where future Air and Space Force officers learn to think critically, act ethically, and lead decisively on complex problems in a rapidly changing, increasingly autonomous battlespace. Decimating academic departments by cutting 30% of their veteran faculty demoralizes both faculty and cadets, threatens even basic accreditations (not to mention academic excellence), and sends the wrong message about the kind of leaders we value.

There must be a reasoned reassessment, discussed openly by USAFA’s many stakeholders, that protects the Academy’s academic and research core, not as an afterthought, but as a central pillar of officer development.

If we lose USAFA’s academic strength, America loses a key part of its war-fighting and peace-keeping edge.

Thomas Bewley, Colorado Springs

Excellence of Air Force Academy’s educational programs at risk if civilian faculty cuts continue (Opinion)

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$23 trillion new debt, not $3 trillion

Re: “Economy: Trump ignores warning signs,” May 25 news story

For some reason, everyone is concerned about the $3 trillion being added to the national debt over ten years by the House bill.  Left unmentioned is the fact that the current $2 trillion annual budget deficit is projected to continue throughout that decade, adding more than $20 trillion to the national debt.  The $3 trillion is just icing on the cake.  (A trillion here and a trillion there and pretty soon we’re talking about real money.)

Bond investors will soon conclude that the U.S. is too stupid to be relied upon and interest rates will skyrocket. (Bond markets are stable until they aren’t.)

Buckle up, everyone. I hope you’re protected.

Robert Kihm, Centennial

Governor should veto the kratom bill

Re: “Will Polis veto kratom bill?” May 23 news story

Gov. Jared Polis should veto Senate Bill 72. It puts patients like me at risk and fails to do what regulation should: make things clearer and safer. I live with chronic pain. After trying countless treatments, I found relief with a kratom derivative called 7-OH. It’s plant-based, affordable, and has worked without the need for dangerous opioids.

SB 72 threatens that access. The bill, rushed through at the end of the session, sets a hard cap on the active compound 7-OH but gives no clear direction on what happens to products that go over the limit. Without clarity, patients and businesses are left guessing, and the risks of misinterpretation or overreach grow.

Safe, regulated access matters. When rules are vague and confusing, people might turn to an unregulated black market or to opioids. Lawmakers could have passed thoughtful, evidence-based regulation. Instead, they rushed a bill that creates confusion and instability. I hope Gov. Polis will veto SB 72 and bring patients and experts to the table in 2026 because we deserve better.

Suzanne Whitney, Golden

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Track your grocery prices at checkout

Re: “‘Secret shoppers’ challenge pricing,” May 16 news story

Even in ancient Rome, the advice to shoppers was caveat emptor (let the buyer beware). It does not matter whether the overcharging of customers at King Soopers is the result of understaffing — which does not allow the store to post accurate prices — or a deliberate policy to try to increase profits; the result is the same. Just as it was 2,000 years ago, it is up to the customer to make sure that they are receiving the advertised price.

When shopping at King Soopers, I make a habit of using my smartphone to take an image of the shelf price of “specials.” Then I use the self-checkout line to ensure that the amount charged matches the shelf price. If it doesn’t, I ask for assistance. The staff at King Soopers has always adjusted the price when they see the image on my smartphone.

Some may say that this should not be necessary. In an ideal world they would be correct. But bear in mind that your local grocery stocks tens of thousands of items. Even the best system will produce errors. It is up to you to catch them. It’s your money, so be careful with it.

Guy Wroble, Denver

Transgender troops expensive to recruit (and dismiss)

Re: “Recruitment: Military spent $6 billion in 3 years,” May 26 news story and “Removal of transgender troops: How the military is dealing with Hegseth’s order,” May 11 news story

Apparently, the military has spent a truly significant amount of money recently recruiting and training troops. So why would they want to get rid of 1,000 members? Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth announced that they will immediately begin removing approximately 1,000 transgender and transexual service members. Demonstrating an embarrassing lack of understanding, he proclaimed, “No more dudes in dresses. We are done with that (expletive).”

Men in dresses are not transgender or transsexual. Transsexuals are people who have gone through a long, arduous process of: counseling, hormone therapy, and operations. And one of their essential goals, from what I have been told, is to look like they fit in with their new sex. That is why it will only be at their yearly physical exam that their history will be used to identify them. So if transitioned people want to serve their country, and if recruiting and training costs between $50,000 and $100,000 per candidate, that translates to $50 million to $100 million dollars down the drain in the interest of prejudice and ignorance, not to mention the emotional toll of being fired simply for being who you are.

T. John Hughes, Denver

Air traffic control crumbles, warnings ignored

The current “mess” in the United States air traffic control system should not and is not a partisan issue. The safety of all Americans is a fundamental duty of our elected officials. They have failed miserably. I am so disgusted that so many of our issues are handled in a reactive mode instead of being proactive. The air traffic control system has been outdated for many years in both Republican and Democratic Congresses. Is it going to take a preventable air disaster where hundreds of lives are needlessly lost? The warning signs are on display on a daily basis.

In the same vein, the credit of the United States has just been downgraded. The blame lies in all of our politicians. However, I am afraid that it is too late to act proactively, and the reactive solution may not be enough.

Allen Vean, Denver

Opposed to the Boulder suit? How about a carbon tax?

Re: “Lawsuit would punish handful of companies for generations of global emissions,” May 7 commentary

The author, a lawyer writing on behalf of the National Association of Manufacturers, argues against lawsuits seeking damages from energy companies for outcomes linked to climate change. He states, “deciding how to pay for climate adaptation is a policy, not a liability, issue.” So who will pay these costs? If companies have to pay these costs, things will be more expensive, says he, and “this is the last thing people can afford right now.”  Better to just go along with the status quo: let industry do its best at cutting emissions. But that course of action has produced our warming world.

How do we move payment into the policy arena? The carrot-not-stick Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress and signed by Biden in 2022, now under piecemeal attack by the Trump administration, is our best attempt thus far. A tax on carbon has been proposed for years in the U.S. Congress, referred to as “revenue neutral” when introduced with a tax rebate to offset the higher consumptive costs. Support for a carbon tax has been voiced in the past by ExxonMobil, now one of the defendants in the Colorado case, although they never went to bat for it. In a written brief for the Colorado case, the Chamber of Commerce argued for a “uniform approach” to greenhouse gas emissions. A carbon tax would fulfil their desire for uniformity. A carbon tax could also provide funds for loss and damage.

The primary cause of warming and its consequences are with us now. We must get better at cutting emissions and coping with damages. Let’s get started on a nationwide carbon tax.

Phil Nelson, Golden

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Beware the all-or-nothing mentality in our schools

Re: “Valor Christian isn’t the only Colorado high school lost to ‘gladiator culture’,” May 15 editorial

I do not follow high school athletics, but I did teach adolescents, so I read the editorial about school sports with interest.

If we want to understand the toxic nature of competition in our schools, we only need to look in the mirror. Holding fame and fortune as the primary focus for student effort has always been present, but it has gotten out of hand. The bell curve reminds us that only a small percentage of our students will achieve measurable fame and fortune, but the majority of them should be able to achieve, with the support of parents, teachers and the community, a level of personal satisfaction and empowerment.

I personally witnessed the crippling effect on students who were otherwise “pretty darn good” when the adults around them implied that being the best was the only acceptable outcome. Success is not going to college or making over $200k a year. Happiness is not having more money and power than your neighbors. It is not the job of schools or colleges to provide a culling vehicle for professional sports or any competitive business environment.

As adults, our job is to help children find and improve their strengths and learn from their mistakes. They will encounter plenty of toxicity without us adding to it. We are reading about the increased number of young people who are mentally “dropping out.” We have made it clear to them that they will never be “the best.” They are the collateral damage of our gladiator culture.

A. Lynn Buschhoff, Denver

Can no longer recommend Naval Academy path

Re: “Naval Academy removes nearly 400 books from library,” April 3 news story

Recent actions by the U.S. Naval Academy – my alma mater – and the service academies at West Point and Colorado Springs have serious ramifications for the education, training, and commissioning of junior officers. Books removed from library shelves, classes censored or dropped, speakers disinvited, all to comply with both the letter and spirit of executive orders issued by a protofascist – these have all the hallmarks of cowardice in the face of creeping authoritarianism.

While the military leadership at the academies may be in a tough position – balancing their oaths to the Constitution with their commitment to provide well-rounded, educated, and principled graduates to American forces at home and abroad – there is a reason the superintendents of these schools tend to be in their final tour of duty. They should be able to speak their minds, stand their ground, and take stands against illiteracy and bigotry.

For more than 10 years I served as a “Blue and Gold Officer” for the Naval Academy. In that capacity, I’ve spoken with hundreds of Colorado high schoolers from the Western Slope to Yuma, interviewed dozens of interested applicants, and recommended the top academic, athletic, and patriotic young men and women to the Admissions Board in Annapolis, Md. As of this year, I’ve resigned from that position and cannot in good conscience tell a Colorado student that they should pursue a spot at any of the academies, not until the leadership there explains their actions, inactions, and silence.

Travis Klempan, Morrison

Appreciating the Dolores and efforts to keep it preserved

Dear Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper,

In early June of 2023 the water was high and we rafted the Dolores from Bradfield Park all the way to Dewey Bridge on the Colorado River. It was 184 miles in nine days, and eight nights camping out. It was some of the most spectacular scenery, wildlife and challenging rapids I’ve encountered in 35 years of rafting.

The Dolores watershed is truly a gem that should be preserved and restored for future generations.

Thank you for your efforts in this regard.

Joe Mollica, Glenwood Springs

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Cuts to national parks would be “the worst idea we ever had”

In 1983, author and historian Wallace Stegner wrote, “National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.”

Efforts are currently underway in our government to destroy our system of national parks. This is the worst idea imaginable.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is proposing a reduction in the park operating budget of $900 million. Current funding for the National Park Service stands at $3.1 billion. The effects of such a reduction would be catastrophic.

To address the effect of such a reduction, the secretary is proposing some parks be categorized and managed as state parks.

Staffing reductions have already been made. Some 1,700 of the over 20,000 employees have already been removed with some 1,500 more possibly to be cut under the provisions of a reduction in force expected to be announced later this month.

Congress almost sold off 500,000 acres of Western public lands. What could that mean for Colorado?

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Such actions cannot be absorbed by the National Park Service without a dramatic effect. The National Park Service, as we know it now, will be decimated.

Over 300 million people visited the national parks in 2024. Visitor spending in communities near national parks provides a benefit of over $55 billion to the nation’s economy and supports over 415,000 jobs. Why destroy an agency that provides such a benefit to our economy, to say nothing of the value it brings in preserving our nation’s heritage?

We cannot let America’s best idea be replaced with America’s worst idea!

Donald Falvey, Lakewood

Editor’s note: Falvey has served as the superintendent of Zion and Badlands National Parks and in various positions at the Denver Service Center in Lakewood for several years, beginning in 1972.

Public lands sell-off would set the stage for sweetheart deals

Re: “GOP pushes to sell off public land,” May 8 news story, and “Congress almost sold off 500,000 acres of western public land,” May 23 news story

In the late of night, Republican corporate cronies in the U.S. House of Representatives added a public lands giveaway provision to their sweeping tax cut package for the rich. It would have mandated the sale of thousands of acres of our public lands to big business. Make no mistake; this would just have set the stage for future mass sweetheart deals to sell off huge tracts of our national forests, wildlife refuges, and national monuments to mining, drilling, logging and wealthy land developers.

Donald Trump and his cowardly cronies in Congress are doing all they can to hand over our public lands with little oversight. These lands belong to all of us and should not be given away to pad corporate bottom lines.

This scheme follows up on Trump’s recent horrendous order to eliminate environmental safeguards on more than half of the nation’s national forests, opening up 59% of our forests for clear-cutting and logging.

Maga Republicans proclaim they are conservatives. Conservative of what?  Certainly not our environment, public lands, wildlife and clean air, and water. They are clearly more concerned about conserving huge profits for greedy corporations and the wealthy.

Jessica Talbot, Arvada

Track your grocery prices at checkout

Re: “‘Secret shoppers’ challenge pricing,” May 16 news story

Even in ancient Rome, the advice to shoppers was caveat emptor (let the buyer beware). It does not matter whether the overcharging of customers at King Soopers is the result of understaffing — which does not allow the store to post accurate prices — or a deliberate policy to try to increase profits; the result is the same.  Just as it was 2,000 years ago, it is up to the customer to make sure that they are receiving the advertised price.

When shopping at King Soopers, I make a habit of using my smartphone to take an image of the shelf price of “specials.” Then I use the self-checkout line to ensure that the amount charged matches the shelf price. If it doesn’t, I ask for assistance. The staff at King Soopers has always adjusted the price when they see the image on my smartphone.

Some may say that this should not be necessary. In an ideal world they would be correct. But bear in mind that your local grocery stocks tens of thousands of items. Even the best system will produce errors. It is up to you to catch them. It’s your money, so be careful with it.

Guy Wroble, Denver

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The pros and cons of PBS content

Re: “Make public broadcasting great again by shaking it up,” May 18 commentary

I agree with Adam Clayton Powell III, quoted by Llewellyn King, that “some of the old rigor about [PBS and NPR] being even-handed may have ‘fallen away,’”

Full disclosure: I raised my kids on Mr. Rogers, am a nightly watcher of “NewsHour,” and love British drama. My Friday nights are devoted to PBS; the car radio tunes in NPR.

However, I am also a Democrat for Life — a position I see as seeking middle ground in the abortion tug-of-wars. While I’d love to see NewsHour present a more centrist position, they continue in their all-or-nothing pro-abortion stance. Lately, this includes digs at Catholic hospitals.

That said, I can’t help but also notice their increasing concern to zero in on humiliating aspects of the Catholic Church. While the “CBS Evening News” with John Dickerson showed actual enthusiasm for the historic election of Pope Leo XIV, the NewsHour Team was quick to direct interview questions to priestly sexual abuse — serious, yes, but hardly appropriate to bring out at a time of celebration.

There is guilt and innocence on both sides among the many groups making up our population, and so, no need to demonize some at the expense of others.

While King makes a good point suggesting more original creative material from public broadcasting, our present material could be made fairer and more attractive by presenting a greater range of our population in a more sympathetic light, thus drawing back previously alienated viewers, whose support could enable new programming.

Frances Rossi, Denver

Surely, I will not be the only person writing about Mr. King’s commentary on PBS needing to be shaken by its lapels.

Yes, most of the wonderful scripted dramas come from the BBC or ITV. However, what about “NewsHour,” “Frontline,” and “Nature?” Plus, PBS airs “NOVA,” “Antiques Roadshow,” all of Ken Burns’ specials, “Finding Your Roots,” and “The American Experience.” The list goes on.

I would rest my case, except all organizations can get better. So a little lapel shaking can’t hurt, but to compete with the big guys like Prime and Netflix to produce wonderful scripted dramas is probably asking for more shaking than PBS could tolerate. Sometimes, it is best to stay in one’s own lane, especially when it is done so well.

Judith Pettibone, Denver 

Remembering the good ol’ GOP days

Congress is debating the budget bill, and some Congress members are unhappy with the bill. It is tax cuts and increased spending. Negotiations seem to be adding more to the debt — a Republican bill that is adding to the debt, and Moody’s has already downgraded our standing.

Does anyone remember when Republicans would always try to pass a balanced budget amendment? It appears we no longer can call a Republican conservative; they are now the big spenders.

Written by an R. who still likes to balance a budget.

Norma Anderson, Lakewood

Editor’s note: Anderson is a former state senator.

Don’t saddle immigrants with ‘blatant distortions’

Re: “Blame sanctuary policies or immigration policies?” May 18 letter to the editor

Ross Kaminsky misses the whole reason for sanctuary cities. In our government, there has been little to rectify our lack of clear laws by either of the parties over the years. Immigration comes up when they want to use it as a football to blame each other while real humans seek a better life.

The reason for sanctuary cities is protection! Protection from the games, lies, and harassment while they go through the inefficient process we use as a path to citizenship. Some take more than 10 years. We all know this country depends on immigrant labor. It’s not a political punchline; it’s reality. The fact that President Donald Trump’s main argument against sanctuary cities is that we are harboring criminals doesn’t bear out in real numbers. Fear sells. Masked ICE agents kidnap people off the streets without transparency, due process, or proof that they need to be deported.

Strong-arming innocent people isn’t a strong American value. After the first four years of his administration, Trump used the tried and true repetition method of convincing his followers using blatant distortions, racism and outright lies. Trump cannot point to crime stats; in fact, they would prove the opposite to his immigrant-crime claims.

Both Kaminsky and Trump lack credible crime statistics that prove all the drama and torture people are going through. I’ve seen Trump sidestep that, and his believers will post their gullible opinions again, without proof. Come on, if you have good evidence of criminality, post the proof!

Sue Cole, Centennial

Denver needs to finish what it has started

Re: “Soccer stadium, Park Hill open space move forward,” May 13 news story

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s announcements about a women’s soccer stadium and the Park Hill Golf Course acquisition are exciting developments. But while the city celebrates these high-profile and high-priced projects — with Park Hill alone projected to cost up to $300 million — it continues to neglect long-standing commitments to other neighborhoods.

At a time of tightening budgets, Denver will be asking voters to approve another general obligation bond, even as projects from the 2017 and 2021 bonds remain incomplete. Communities like the parkless University Hills North have waited for years for a simple 1.9-acre park. These residents, who lack a political spotlight, have been consistently overlooked.

Equally troubling is the disrepair of the historic Wellshire Golf Course clubhouse. With its 100th anniversary approaching in 2026, it deserves restoration, not neglect. These are not optional improvements; they are long overdue and must be honored.

City leadership cannot continue to shift focus to flashy new developments while sidelining past commitments. Denver’s strength lies in all its communities, not just the ones with media buzz or political capital.

I urge the mayor and City Council to prioritize equity, accountability, and follow-through. Deliver on what’s been promised. Reinforce public trust. Finish what’s already been started before launching the next big thing.

Kendra Black, Denver

Editor’s note: Black is a former Denver City Council Member for District 4.

Review Polis’ credentials as he focuses on his next run

Re: “Polis’ vetoes hit and miss in a session marked by compromise,” May 18 editorial

In vetoing newly passed union-friendly legislation, Jared Polis’ fat-cat libertarian roots are showing. Upon leaving state government, his ambitions for political life are national, most likely a 2026 run for Michael Bennett’s Senate seat as Bennett seeks to be the next governor, or perhaps a bid for the Democratic nomination for president in 2028. Colorado Democrats need to view his credentials for either closely.

Robet Porath, Boulder

Cheers to protecting and restoring our forests

Re: “Bill aims to mitigate wildfires,” May 19 news story

What could trade wars and wildfires have in common?

There’s been a movement in Canada to buy less American-made whiskey. But there’s another threat to the whiskey industry, and that’s the depletion of white oak, which is a key component of the barrels from which a good ol’ draw of Bourbon comes.

Enter the Fix our Forests Act. While it won’t stop any trade wars, it can at least lay the foundation for saving our beloved white oaks. Of course, future-proofing America’s bourbon industry isn’t the sole purpose of the act. The act lays plans for the reforestation of our aging (and frequently burning) forests and performing prescribed burns as well as establishing firesheds to assess risk areas.

Our forests currently offset about 12% of our pollution, but that’s likely to decline as our forests age and/or get caught in the latest blaze. This bill would cut the red tape around protecting our forests, enabling a more robust and fire-resilient green belt to protect the communities we live in.

Our very own Sen. John Hickenlooper is already co-sponsoring the bill, but more support is needed if we’re going to protect our aging forests.

With careful planning and stewardship, we could secure future generations of beautiful trees of all types, including the white oak. I say cheers to that!

Bridger Cummings, Aurora

Expectation of honesty from all White House press secretaries

Re: ” ‘Did she say that with a straight face?’,” May 18 commentary

Interesting and amusing is Kevin Manahan’s article charging White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt with telling lies, lies and more lies. I don’t remember him writing an article about Karine Jean-Pierre and her many lies about former President Joe Biden’s mental acuity, inability to lead and other age issues. Everyone in the world saw it — except for the media and naive people. Those protecting Biden and surrounding him had to have known — especially when the world knew. It was very embarrassing and even cruel.

Kay Robbins, Denver

In case Kevin Manahan’s commentary was missed, I hope readers will look it up and read the truth of what is happening instead of thinking they are hearing the truth from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. She is either deceived herself or is deliberately deceiving the public regarding the actions of Donald Trump, whose visit to the Middle East was fraught with blatant corruption.

Carol Carpenter, Denver

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