Monday letters: Pardons, political concerns, local development and more

Examining presidential pardons
What a blessing it is to have leaders who “cut to the chase,” declaring the ending from the beginning, who make pure statements of facts like President Trump, Ron DeSantis, Tulsi Gabbard, and Kari.
Why are so many people surprised that President Trump pardoned the Jan. 6 people? He told us he would.
What about the summer of 2020? The riots, the burning of buildings in many cities. Many of our politicians condoned, supported, and encouraged these destructive behaviors. How many of these bad actors went to prison over all of the destruction?
Did you know that President Biden gave 8,064 pardons while in office? Did you know that is the most pardons by one president in history?
How about the 37 pardons of inmates on federal death row? How much does it cost the American taxpayers for one inmate per year? I would guess it is $50,000 per year per inmate. Why do we have to keep murderers alive? They had no respect for the lives of others.
I am not going to comment on Biden’s pardons for his family. Maybe before we start complaining about the actions of one president, we need to check the records of other presidents.
Steve Woolsey, Dinosaur
A divided election outcome
Six million Democrats failed to vote in the 2024 elections, I assume because of Biden’s part in the Israeli genocide of Gazan people and Harris refusing to say she would do anything different. That, and the intense, hate-mongering nastiness of Trump’s campaign.
So, with a minuscule 1.6% lead from a quarter of the American population, a sociopathic, pathological liar and master hypnotist was sworn in on a cold D.C. Monday as president of U.S. Republicans. He didn’t waste any time alienating and casting a pall of fear over our population and the free world.
Putin must be ecstatic to see his plans coming to fruition.
John Hoffmann, Carbondale
Water concerns with proposed development
Having submitted letters to editors over some 65 years—most of which were published—I appreciate your balanced coverage of issues.
I have also been a lifelong conservationist and a professional civil engineer specializing in the technical, economic, environmental, and political aspects of utilizing and conserving all natural resources.
As such, here are my comments on the water resource aspects of the so-called “Nutrient Farm” on the south side of the Colorado River in the vicinity of New Castle (in which I have no financial interest).
The developers of this mixed-use development are proposing to provide the water needed for sustaining it by resurrecting the diversion of water from Canyon Creek—a relative trickle of water—from the highlands on the north side of the Colorado River to the south of the river by a new “inverted siphon” (which is a pipe running under the river rather than over it).
To do so, the developers are proposing a wide assortment of legal actions to restore the historic transfer of water from north of the Colorado River to its south side. But here’s my preliminary take on my understanding of how that is inapplicable to current physical, technical, and economic reality.
Although I am skeptical as to the overall societal benefits of such developments, I acknowledge that in this case, it should be practical to provide high-quality water for the proposed development from wells drilled into the alluvium on the Colorado River floodplain south of the main channel. In general, such wells have the effect of filtering water passing through alluvial sediments from the adjacent stream.
If not, why not?
Carl Ted Stude, Carbondale
Concerns about Trump’s policies
To those of you who think that the election is over and all is right with the world with Donald Trump getting elected, think again.
If you only get news from the algorithms that target your beliefs, branch out and, if nothing else, just watch the nightly news. Or, Google a list of what is being enacted right under our noses. Generals who have served honorably being harassed, hounded, and yes, exposed to death threats.
Donald Trump ran as disruptor-in-chief, and boy, is he. Everyone will know someone deeply affected one way or the other with the purging that is going on, be it projects being canceled, DEI affecting who you have hired, kids’ lunch programs eliminated, VA hiring halts—the list goes on, and there is nothing not affected.
To those of you saying “great, that’s what should happen,” please be sure that you are ready for the unforeseen repercussions. This is not an all-or-none situation. Maybe you agree with some of the president’s executive actions, but please, please stand up for the things that are so, so wrong.
He did tell us he would be dictator on Day 1…
Susie Straus, Glenwood Springs
Air travel safety and corporate interests
What a tragedy. The last time this happened in the U.S. was some 50 years ago. How many millions of landings have happened safely in that time?
Our president gave a press conference today and asked for a moment of silence for the deceased. Then he blamed two former presidents for the accident. He also blamed the air traffic controllers for being bad at their jobs and for being hired under DEI—that is, diversity, equity, and inclusiveness. The implication was that such people were not as well qualified.
But the National Airport is considered a top spot for a controller in the world. Only the best. The airline pilots require special training just to use this airport. The chopper pilot was giving a training mission, and he and the junior pilot had thousands of hours of flying in Blackhawks.
However, it was reported that the control tower was shorthanded. The New York Times reports that there are “19 fully certified controllers as of September 2023.” The FAA and the controllers’ union call for 30 people. The shortage—caused by years of employee turnover and tight budgets, among other factors—has forced many controllers to work up to six days a week and 10 hours a day.
Air travel continues to increase, yet key safety personnel are not put in place. Investigation shows that the shares of these big airlines are owned by the big investment companies like BlackRock and Vanguard, which press the companies for greater profits.
Patrick Hunter, Carbondale
A recreation center is needed in Rifle
I read your article, I believe in The Citizen Telegram, about a “field house.” I am not exactly sure what this entails, but you mentioned a running track, etc.
I disagree with a field house but agree on building a recreation center. It could include an indoor pool to be used year-round, a running track, and courts for assorted activities. We have needed a rec center for the longest time. I talk to people every day, and has no one mentioned a field house? Perhaps this is the new name for a recreation center, and if that is so, I would be in favor. A field house would not include as many people as a recreation center.
On another note, about an article regarding City Council and a $32,250 “button” for your computer so that once or twice you do not have to get out of bed and shut off lights—I cannot believe that request. You know me well. I was forever opening and closing doors for outside events at schools. A door was left ajar at times. I may have had to go to New Castle or just across the street, but if I asked for a “button,” I would have been laughed out of the school board meeting!
For the couple of times you or some staff member has to go, it does not warrant a $32,250 budget increase. The City of Rifle would greatly benefit from a recreation center year-round with an indoor pool.
Cathy Partain, Rifle

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