County must focus on future revenue

Are our commissioners so busy looking backwards that we are missing opportunity for our county and its citizens?

A $9 million shortfall within the Garfield County budget was announced on July 22, 2025, with our commissioners citing its cause being primarily due to a decrease in property taxes revolving around the oil and gas industry. This decrease in revenue stream didn’t just sneak up on us, it has been in steady decline over the last decade or more and most likely will continue due to an unsettled energy strategy in this country (possible return to coal, alternative energy capture, and different oil and gas extraction processes going forward).

With all due respect, maybe a little less time trying to “fix” the library board, not to mention its operations, and a little more time researching creative strategies to combat this waning revenue stream would be in order. As citizens, we should not be okay with annual reductions in county services or adoption of a county administrative hiring freeze in all areas of county governance except among elected officials.

Commissioners, it is time to focus on the job at hand: developing economic resilience along the Western Slope. It is time to move forward.

Carolyn Howard, Carbondale

Firefighters praised for response

I wholeheartedly share the sentiments of John Eaton (Post Independent, Aug. 6). The bravery of our firefighters excelled all expectations as they fought a wildfire that was close to destroying our homes. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. As John Eaton put it, “Well done good and faithful servants.”

On behalf of the people in Upper Spring Valley and Upper Cattle Creek.

Tom Reid, Glenwood Springs

Meeting between Putin, Trump is dangerous

It is very dangerous for the United States for Putin to meet with Trump in Alaska face to face.

Both are considered to be master hypnotists, but Putin is the teacher and Trump is the student. Putin disregards Trump as an idiot, and Trump regards Putin as a genius and wants to be his best friend, according to remarks he made to James Comey. This is a dangerous dynamic that puts Trump under the sway of the man that has led him to destroy much of what makes America great in just a few months. I anticipate that the rate of destruction in the U.S. will accelerate after Putin is able to reinforce his sway over Trump. The only thing that could help us is if Trump were proved to be a pedophile in the media and removed from government.

John Hoffmann, Carbondale

Martial law could follow DC military deployment

President Trump spoke this morning about bringing troops into Washington, D.C. He claimed the crime rate was out of hand, a homeless problem, a lack of public safety, and the city was overall unsightly. He said that foreign dignitaries were asking why the city was rundown.

The crime rate has actually fallen over the last two years. Two things: First, on Jan. 6, 2021, the Capitol was attacked. Trump refused to send the military to help the police. Odd. Second, if Trump sends the military in now, he establishes a precedent. The practice becomes normalized. A few more cities and we have martial law.

Patrick Hunter, Carbondale