2A and the untold story

It seems that most of us are in agreement on the funding needed to maintain and improve our city’s road system along with upgrades to underground utility infrastructure.  Burdening our citizens and visitors with an additional ½ cent increase to the current ½ cent Street Tax Fund is not the answer.

The City adopted an ordinance in 1973 establishing a Capital Project Fund (CPF) for the “purchase of lands, building and equipment and the construction of public works, including all costs and expenses incidental thereto”.  The term “public works”, as used in the preceding sentence, was common terminology in the ’70s when referring to underground utility lines. A half-cent sales and use tax was approved in 1975 to be dedicated exclusively for this CPF as a perpetual revenue source.  This CPF could and should be used in lieu of the new additional half-cent proposed in 2A.  It is already available, and it isn’t going to expire.

There hasn’t been a single utility infrastructure project paid for from the CPF in the past 10 years.  The CPF has become a slush fund for virtually everything else.  Most of these costs should be paid for from the General Fund.  The CPF currently collects over $3.5 million in sales and use taxes per year.

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I’m not saying that all the CPF revenues should be used exclusively for utility infrastructure costs, but they should be considered, evaluated and used in a fiscally responsible manner.

I urge City Council to scrap the current 2A Ballot Measure asking for a 1 cent tax rate and come back with a continuation question of the existing half-cent sales and use tax rate in the Street Tax Fund.  We are all in this together as a community, so I ask you to be proactive in utilizing the resources that are currently in place and use the CPF sales and use tax revenues for the primary purpose they were originally intended to be used for.

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Please Vote no on 2A.

Mike Harman, Glenwood Springs

Streets sales tax makes sure tourists put in their share on infrastructure

I serve on the Financial Advisory Board of the City of Glenwood which is comprised of citizens appointed by the City Council, that has studied this issue for years.

The current half-cent sales tax was passed in 2005 and will soon expire. After 20 years it is clear that we need to renew this funding with an increase. The old tax will not generate sufficient funds for streets and deteriorating pipes under streets.

A map of every street has been prepared which details conditions, estimated dates and costs of needed repairs. Construction costs are projected to continue to increase by 15% or more yearly while sales taxes by about 4%.

This would lead to tearing up the repaired streets again to repair broken pipes. Over half of our sales taxes are paid by tourists and neighbors that spend their dollars in Glenwood which shares the costs with all users of our streets and infrastructure. 

Given these facts, the board recommended increasing the tax by a half-cent to minimize the effects of cost inflation and duplicate efforts by accelerating the pace of surface repairs and including underground work as well. I believe that it is in our best interests to vote yes on 2A.

Ted Edmonds, Glenwood Springs

Will’s record on legislation benefiting children

As the Post Independent reported, Perry Will responded by saying, “We ran lots of bills down at the legislature on early childhood development, all that kind of thing with Governor Polis on this. But it is, it’s tough, and I know it’s tough on families.”

In fact, the Colorado legislature did pass some bills to address early childhood issues – but Will voted against them! He voted against a bill to provide additional aid to low-income preschool students (HB24-1387). He also voted against a bill to improve access to Colorado’s Child Care Assistance Program (HB24-1223).

Will said he knows it’s tough on families. Then why did he vote no on the Family Affordability Tax Credit bill (HB24-1311), to create a tax credit to help all families, not just low-income families?

And why did he vote no on a bill to provide aid to Colorado high school students experiencing homelessness while in high school (HB24-1403)?

Caitlin Carry is a parent and understands families. She deserves our vote. In her own words she says, “You deserve someone who is true to their word and won’t vote against things like tax credit for families with an employee in the ‘care’ industry.” She has a plan to move us “thoughtfully forward” on this and many other issues. She is the leader this county needs. Vote for Caitlin.

Wendy Stewart, Carbondale

Vote 127 to promote empathy for animals

In The Better Angels of Our Nature, Steven Pinker argues that violence in the world has steadily declined because of effective government systems, increased literacy and communication, and a rise in empathy.  Slowly, over the centuries, norms about animals and violence have changed. 

Humans have discarded the desire to watch a chained bear fight against several bulldogs in a fancy bearbaiting theater, to outlaw bearbaiting and hunting bears with dogs in Colorado and several other states, and to condemn dogfighting as a felony in most countries. (Sadly, dogfighting is a lucrative form of gambling, with losing dogs sometimes killed as part of the entertainment.) 

Although we’ve made progress in treating “man’s best friend “with respect and kindness, Colorado still permits packs of radio-collared hounds to chase down and tree cougars, violating fair chase norms. The dogs sometimes get wounded or killed; they are often kept very thin and sometimes underweight, ready for the chase. They are sometimes trained using inhumane and outdated negative reinforcement techniques. And obviously, cougars suffer from these cruel chases as well.

Colorado voters have a perfect chance to take another step towards empathetic treatment of animals by voting yes on Proposition 127 to ban trophy hunting of cougars. 

Katie Dolan, Edwards

Consider the consequences of your vote

It’s time to think about voting again. Know the facts before you vote. I have been a rancher’s wife for 61 years. It is a good life but sometimes it can be a hard one. With all the rules and regulations it’s hard for all of us in Agriculture to make a living. There are a lot of people that do not know how important Agriculture is in their daily lives. Learn the facts about how your vote affects us. This is a small list of some things that contain livestock by products: cell phones, nitroglycerine, insulin, melatonin, cosmetics, soap, perfumes, crayons, glue, chewing gum, candies, marshmallows, iron, antifreeze, tires, upholstery, sheet rock, insulations, gloves and shoes. There are many other things as well as these. We are losing people in the Agriculture industry everyday. We love and take care of our animals and land so that we can provide food and all the other products for all of you.

Now we have wolves to deal with along with bear, mountain lion and coyotes. The wolves are killing livestock and guard dogs. My biggest worry is protecting our small children as they wait in the dark for a school bus. What about the skiers, hikers and mountain bikers that are out on the trails alone? No one really knows what could happen. I know animals were here before we were and we have to learn how to live with them, but we need to use some common sense in making decisions that affect all of us. Please learn all the facts of an issue before you vote.

Angela L. Ryden, Silt

Vote Carey and Arauza for the future of Garfield County

Voters, you have a choice: to go back 50 years or believe in tomorrow.

Watch the BOCC meetings online to see Commissioner Samson (currently running for re-election) say “Garfield County is changing. There’s more progressive people in our county than 50 years ago when I was in high school. I feel in our nation, we’re heading in the wrong way …. And I’ll do my best to make sure that Garfield County does not follow the state and the nation.” He then said, “Many people in our community are violently upset that this is going on in our libraries right now.”

What upsets me about our libraries is not what our library system is doing – we have an award-winning system in Garfield County. What upsets me are Commissioners who refuse to recognize that Garfield County has undergone dynamic growth and who refuse to accept that the desires and needs of its current residents are not the same as those living here 50 years ago. I am upset by Commissioners who believe they have the right to direct what the children of Garfield County should read. And I am upset that there are Commissioners or would-be Commissioners who are willing to put library trustees in place who would limit our freedom to choose which books our families read.

Two Trustee positions will need to be filled by the Commissioners in the next few months. Who do you want to select them? Do you want Commissioners who are willing to ban books to choose? I don’t. 

We have two great candidates – Steven Arauza and Caitlin Carey — running for Garfield County commissioner who respect the independence of our library system and trust in parents to choose what their children read. I urge you to elect Steven Arauza and Caitlin Carey as our new Garfield County Commissioners.

Ellen Dole, Glenwood Springs

Check the records

Did you know Perry Will formally voted to thank the participants of the Jan 6 attach on our country? And voted against protecting the rights of mobile home park residents? Please consider supporting Caitlin Carey for Commissioner for genuinely thoughtful representation of our county.

Did you know Mike Samson voted to use our tax dollars to fund a climate-denial group? And opposed a bill to keep gas drilling at least 1000 feet way from school property lines? It’s time for change and I urge you to vote for Steven Arauza to represent us in Garfield County.

Kay Clarke, Carbondale

Protect Colorado public education

I am writing to express my support for Ellen Angeles, Colorado Board of Education candidate for Congressional District 3. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher, Ellen has a profound understanding of our public education system and the needs of both students and teachers.

Ellen is not just an advocate for fully funded and equitable education; she is also a dedicated community organizer who has worked tirelessly to improve the schools, public library, and a recreation center in her area. She knows that a well-rounded community helps create a solid foundation for children.

Our schools deserve leaders who believe in transparency, fiscal responsibility, and genuine community engagement. Ellen embodies these values and has shown her commitment time and time again. She knows that when teachers are well-compensated and highly qualified, our students benefit. She has seen the impact of underfunded programs and overcrowded classrooms firsthand and is ready to fight for the resources our students need.

Ellen Angeles understands the importance of public education and has the experience, vision, and dedication to ensure our schools receive the support they deserve. Please join me in supporting Ellen Angeles, she is who we need in the CD3 to protect Colorado public education. 

Please also Vote no on Amendment 80, we already have school choice here in Colorado.

Willow Brotzman, Silt

Thanks from Carbondale Rotary Club

On behalf of the Carbondale Rotary Club, we’d like to thank everyone for joining us for our third annual Potato Day pancake breakfast this past Saturday. It was a beautiful morning and we enjoyed serving everyone pancakes and potato pancakes at Chacos Park at 4th and Main Street.

The event simply would not have possible without the extraordinary generosity of Bonfire Coffee and the Village Smithy. They provided us with copious amounts coffee, pancake batter and sausages to make the morning a success. Charlie Chacos and everyone at both businesses went above and beyond and we cannot thank them enough.

Thanks also go to our title annual sponsor Ace Hardware and lead annual sponsor Alpine Bank for their many years of steadfast support. Our other annual sponsors include Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty agent Karen Peirson, Bookbinders, Cowen Center Convenience Store, Coldwell Banker Mason Morse agent Brian Keleher, Lulubelle, Martin Insurance Group, Nordic Gardens, Obermeyer Wood Investment Counsel, The Pain Center of the Roaring Fork Valley, the Post Independent, Rivers Dentistry, RJ Paddywacks Pet Outfitter, Sopris Liquor and Wine, Thunder River Theatre Company, and Umbrella Roofing. 

We’d also like to recognize and thank Alyssa Reindel at Evergreen Zerowaste for making our breakfast as low-impact as possible. The Carbondale Community United Methodist Church was kind enough to lend us their tables and chairs.

Big thanks go out to Glenwood Rotarian Joe Mueller for once again loaning us his excellent grill. Joe embodies the best qualities of the Rotary motto, “service above self.”

Last but certainly not least, Eric Brendlinger and Erica Savard from the Town of Carbondale Recreation Department helped us organize and continue one of our favorite annual traditions. It was a great way to kick off Potato Day Saturday and celebrate the best of Carbondale.

Rachel Hahn, Carbondale Rotary President; Alan Cole, Carbondale Rotary Fundraising Chair; Carbondale

Vote no on ranked choice voting

Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is just another way for operatives to tamper with our elections. The rules are confusing and time consuming. How many times do you want to cast your vote before you get a result?

It sounds good because of more choices, but often ends with the second place candidate winning the day, even if first place wins by a wide margin.

It works much like a game of cutthroat where two can conspire to take out the leader. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the current ‘winner take all’ method of voting. Please vote no on Prop 131.

Gwen Zengota, Glenwood Springs