Thanks to the Evergreen Garden Club
Editor:
I just wanted to give a big shout-out to the Evergreen Garden Club, whose members do such a spectacular job at maintaining the lovely flowerbeds located at various locations around town, including the post office, the Bergen Park fire station, the roundabout in Bergen Park, by the dam spillway, and any I may have overlooked.
These folks are unspoken heroes, spending countless hours weeding, watering and maintaining these spots for the enjoyment of everyone fortunate to drive or walk past them. I never fail to appreciate the plants and blossoms, and I’m far from the only one.
So thank you to each and every one of those hardworking, green-thumbed people who make our beautiful mountain community even more beautiful.
Scott Gibson
Evergreen
It’s important to support Jeffco Schools
Editor:
Jeffco Generations is an appropriate name for Jeffco Public Schools’ vision. In the course of my life, I have been a Jeffco student, teacher, principal and now proud school board member.
This November, a yes on 5A and 5B helps secure quality education today and for generations to come.
We are seeking support to competitively pay educators, increase mental health and counseling supports, improve safety and security, and create quality learning environments for all students. In 2016, Jeffco Public Schools was one of six metro area districts that asked voters for an investment in schools. Five passed. Jeffco’s did not.We cannot fall further behind.
Jeffco cannot afford to be a world-class training ground for teachers who leave our classrooms for higher pay in nearby districts. Nor can we delay in supporting the best learning and life opportunities for students — including STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and college and career
pathways.
5A provides ongoing dollars to bring classrooms to life, while 5B invests in school buildings.
The average age of our school buildings is 50 years. It is time to renew and repair existing schools.
We also have high growth areas that require new schools, and several buildings simply must be replaced.
The good news is our investment can result in savings in ongoing energy and repair costs, at a time when borrowing rates are reasonable.
As a lifelong Jeffco community member, who is proud to serve our students and community, I urge voters to vote yes on 5A and 5B.
We are thankful for the support and endorsement of multiple business organizations, school communities, local newspapers and private citizens. It is time for this important local investment!
Ron Mitchell
Jeffco Board of Education president
Vote for Jeffco Schools’ 5A, 5B
Editor:
I was a Jeffco third-grader the last time Colorado was near the national average in per-pupil funding — about 35 years ago. Today, we trail $2,800 below the national average in per-pupil funding. Colorado teachers are among the least competitively paid teachers in the nation.
Compounding the problem, since the recession, $7 billion in voter-approved, constitutional funding has been withheld from schools through the negative (budget stabilization) factor. Jeffco has not received nearly $700 million in state funding over the last decade.
Local investment in Jeffco Schools is critical for competitive wages, secure learning environments and ensuring equitable opportunities for all students.
However, due to statewide budget constraints, we continue to find ourselves swimming in a riptide, drifting still further from the national average.
Amendment 73 will generate the funds to move Colorado near, but not quite at, the national average for per-pupil funding. It stabilizes school property taxes as the third lowest in the nation for homeowners, and provides savings to business property owners, farmers and ranchers, who have gone decades with no property tax relief.
Amendment 73 asks the wealthiest 8 percent of Coloradans and large corporations to invest a little more in the workforce of the future. It will begin to bring balance to a tax code that currently sees middle-income earners — our teachers, firefighters and working families — paying a bigger portion of their income in state and local taxes than the wealthiest Coloradans.
Amendment 73 is good for all Colorado schools, and 5A and 5B target specific improvements for our Jeffco community. Yes on 73, 5A and 5B!
Amanda Stevens
Jeffco Board of Education
This is not how our country works
Editor:
If you listen to the inflammatory rhetoric coming from the White House, you’d think we’re about to be overrun by a bloodthirsty invasion force. You’d think that a group of beleaguered migrants is a critical, even existential threat to our country.
The “Caravan”, as it has come to be called, is a moving assembly of real human beings facing terrible circumstances and danger in their home countries, who justifiably believe there is relative safety in numbers. Anyone of us faced with their situation would do the same.
These people deserve our help and good will. Instead, Trump vilifies them, inciting fear and hatred. This is a complicated problem with multi-faceted, long-term solutions involving governments, international organizations, NGOs and individual actors — and leadership from our nation.
But in the bizarre Trumpian world view, everything is simple. These people don’t speak our language, and deserve only a wall and the back of our hand. I refuse to believe that this is how our country now works. We can and will do better.
Dan Tuteur
Evergeen
Lawyers support Cutter
Editor:
We are a group of lawyers with diverse practices including intellectual property, environmental, criminal, trial, real estate and insurance. We know and respect Lisa Cutter, and write to urge you to vote for her on Nov. 6 to represent House District 25.
While the lawyers in our group have many different practice areas, we all share a deep respect for our legal system and the protections it provides every Coloradan.
Through Lisa’s work and her campaign she has shown her respect and support our core rights. As an organizer of the Women’s March she helped our fellow Coloradans exercise their constitutional right to peaceably assemble.
As a candidate, she has committed to treating everyone fairly under the laws of this state and been endorsed for HD 25 by incredibly diverse groups (from the Rocky Mountain Farmer’s Union to the Colorado Professional Firefighters Association).
As a small business owner, she has insight into how Colorado can remain a great place to live and work.
Lisa’s priorities match those of this district: good jobs, good roads, safe and effective schools, and keeping our wonderful Colorado outdoors clean and accessible. As our representative, she would help the Colorado Legislature put people first. Vote for Lisa Cutter for HD 25.
Jim Chalat, Linda Chalat, Todd Jaworsky. Andrew Lillie, Stephen Weingold, Tessa Weingold, Lindsey Sadler. Jake Lilly. Case Collard. Elizabeth Collard and Bruce Brown,
district attorney, Fifth Judicial District
Vote no on EPRD’s 6C, 6D
Editor:
The author of “Community Voices” in the Canyon Courier on Oct. 24 makes numerous unsupported assertions regarding ballot issues 6C and D.
Assertion: EPRD “has not kept pace with community needs,” and citizens have “supported the construction of new facilities through polling.”
Response: Survey results since 2010 indicate that people are satisfied with EPRD and that emphasis should be placed on care of existing facilities. Surveys suggest a moderate tolerance for a bond issue of less than $10 million to address facilities’ needs. View results of surveys on evergreenrecreation.com.
Assertion: “Peak time crowding and facilities limitations cannot be resolved with programming.”
Response: Generally speaking, concern over crowding at facilities is neither supported by satisfaction studies nor EPRD’s figures of 20 visitors-per-hour average at each recreation center. EPRD would better serve citizens through alternative solutions (e.g. more morning fitness classes at Wulf Recreation Center) or use of different resources, as EPRD has done for yoga classes, now held at the Miller House.
Assertion: “A 38-member task force confirmed community opinion.”
Response: Unbiased surveys are the best way to assess community “opinion,” and no such survey was done in this case. The task force consisted of citizens, selected by EPRD staff, to create a wish list. Community presentations were limited to different versions of this wish list.
Assertion: “Prime opportunities are at Buchanan Park.”
Response: Buchanan Park is in the northern two-mile tier of a 78-square-mile district. Seventy-four percent of funds requested by 6C and D would be spent in Buchanan. Only those who live within a few blocks of Buchanan Park would experience any property value increases. A more balanced bond question would consider interests of all taxpayers from Marshdale to Bergen Park, from Hangen Ranch to Indian Hills.
Assertion: “At 4.328 mills, EPRD … is currently among the lowest mill levies in the area.”
Response: This figure is just “general operating expenses” and does not include “general obligation bonds and interest.” The current total mill levy for EPRD is 6.54, which is comparable to other Front Range recreation districts. Under 6C and D, the total mill levy approaches 11 mills, an increase of about 70 percent. Detailed information can be viewed on the Department of Local Affairs website.
6C and D duplicates amenities provided by EPRD’s two full-sized complimentary recreation centers. Furthermore, more than 20 percent of users are from out-of-district, yet pay only slightly more in fees than district users. Thus, with 6C and D, EPRD taxpayers would further subsidize non-district users. EPRD must re-craft its bond issue and return to its taxpayers with something that is practical and affordable for all. By voting no on 6C and D, you are expressing that you trust EPRD to work toward a solution for all citizens.
Kit Darrow
Evergreen
Putting hope, trust in Democrats
Editor:
Like most everyone, I am struggling to see a way through the dangerous and disheartening national political dialog. My strategy is to think state and local.
The daylight that I see is the leadership Colorado has demonstrated among other states. We should continue to build on it.
Our strength lies in our independent, industrious and entrepreneurial people. They have been our strength in history and are our hope for prosperity in the future.
Some of them have been here from the beginning, some arrived last month, but the “can-do” spirit unites us. Added to the natural beauty and vast natural resources (foremost among them renewable and sustainable wind and solar), Colorado is poised to be among America’s strongest models for health care, education, transportation and overall wellbeing.
What is it going to take? Leadership. Integrity. Curiosity. Intelligence. Tolerance. We can’t blindly follow national partisans who are not serving us. Luckily, at this time, in this place in Evergreen, candidates have presented themselves who have these traits and who are willing to serve us.
They are not doing it to get rich or reduce their taxes or pursue personal agendas. They are running to make us better. And this year, they are Democrats.
I thank Tammy Story and Lisa Cutter for stepping up to represent us in the Colorado Legislature, Joe Neguse in Congress, and county commission candidate Lesley Dahlkemper for being at every event I have attended in Evergreen and Conifer this year, always asking questions and listening closely to the diverse responses to serve in the county commission.
And Jared Polis, having honed his consensus-building skills in Congress, is now ready to use his business acumen to lead us into future technologies and to build a workforce ready for them.
This year, I’m putting my hopes and trust in these people. Please turn in your ballots today.
Linda Dahl
Evergreen
6C & 6D are a bad plan – Part 2
Editor:
In my letter to you last week, I was limited to 450 words. That wasn’t enough to explain all of the machinations orchestrated by Bill May, the current president of the Evergreen Park and Recreation Board of Directors during final deliberations regarding Ballot measure 6C and 6D.
During the board meeting held Aug. 28 when the board, in a 4-1 vote, approved putting the $24 million bond and mill levy on this November’s ballot, four parents of the aquatics swim team were present. Three voiced their displeasure with 6C and 6D, and stated they were going to vote no on the two measures.
May then asked these three parents — representing a single EPRD constituency, mind you — if they would vote yes if pool improvements were moved to Buchanan. When they answered yes, May turned to the other board members and in that 4-1 vote, the measure changed and the one singular improvement to Wulf was moved to Buchanan.
What’s even sadder about this bond proposal is that for $24 million, the one and only new recreational opportunity in the whole plan is an indoor jogging/walking track. Everything else is a duplication of existing facilities. Personally, I find this financially irresponsible, especially when you consider that with a more modest $9 million bond measure, all of the needed and necessary improvements could be made — North Trail, ADA compliance, expanded fitness at Buchanan.
When these cost-cutting issues were raised during the 8/28 Board meeting,
Bill May went on record as saying that If he was going to ride a horse, he wanted to ride a big horse. I truly want to give May the benefit of the doubt and think that his comment relates more to his good ole boy upbringing than some ego-driven need to create a legacy or put a notch under his belt as president of EPRD.
I will restate again what I wrote last week. I truly believe improvements to both rec centers are necessary. But they should be fair and equitable, economically feasible with “all district taxpayers in mind”.
Please vote no on 6C and 6D.
Kathy Fasold
Evergreen
Why I vote for Democrats
Editor:
Kathleen Hames in her letter in the Oct. 24 Canyon Courier asks how anyone could vote for a Democrat. I ask her this:
• I taught my children always to tell the truth. Trump lies constantly and Republicans only snicker. Recently he said that tearing babies from their mothers’ arms at the border was a law passed by Democrats and he could not change it with an executive order. Then he proved himself a liar by signing an executive order changing it. Republican voters made no complaint, though when Bill Clinton lied, they could not contain their horror. How can I support a party that professes to be aghast at a lying Clinton but chuckles at a lying Trump?
• I taught my children that racism is wrong. I can’t vote for a party whose leader says Nazis and skin heads in Charlottesville are good people.
• I taught my children that Jesus commanded us to feed the poor — not just legal resident poor, or poor we approve of, but all the poor. How do I vote for a party whose leaders slash aid to the poor in order to offer massive tax cuts to the rich?
• I taught my children to be fair. How do I vote for a party whose members shrieked furiously about Obama’s birth and his education even after they were proven wrong, called his wife a jungle monkey, and sneered at his daughter’s admission to Harvard, yet, when Trump is attacked, sob hysterically at the thought that someone might dare to be mean to him?
• I taught my children to follow their principles. How do I support a party that says, when a Democrat is president, that increasing the national debt will destroy the country but under a Republican president, passes a budget massively increasing the debt?
• I taught my son to respect women. How can I vote for a party whose leader calls women “fatso,” “horse face,” “Pocahontas,” low-IQ,” while his followers laugh?
• I taught my children that a successful life is measured not by how much money one makes but by whether one has been kind, generous, honest and respectful of others. How do I vote for a party whose members, when reminded of these faults of their leaders, say it doesn’t matter, because the economy is booming, and that’s all that’s important? Truth and decency, compassion and respect, who needs them? We’re making money and nothing else counts. Does “the eye of a needle” ring a bell here?
Ms. Hames, for me to vote Republican would make a mockery of everything I have taught my children.
Sara Gadeken
Evergreen
Crossroads for health care
Editor:
“Health care is a right, not a privilege” is a true statement in every developed country in the world except ours. We are told that none of these care systems work, but at least they believe that decent health care should be a primary function of government.
Some of these systems may be better than others, but the fact is that these countries work to address the health care needs of all of their citizens — and no one loses their homes and/or savings dealing with an injury or illness or caring for a loved one.
This Congress has the worst record ever in terms of accomplishments that serve American citizens. After dozens of unsuccessful attempts to repeal Obamacare without an adequate, modern replacement plan for everyone, it is time to think as Americans, not red or blue, because the majority of Americans desperately need and want to have an affordable health care plan that works for everyone.
The original concept of the Affordable Care Act was a Republican plan and was quite simple, not at all extreme, and workable until it was dubbed “Obamacare.” Then it became a political football that Congress failed to collaborate on to make it work for the people.
After the Affordable Care Act went into effect, 20 million previously uninsured people became insured, and insurance companies were no longer able to refuse people with pre-existing conditions or charge them excessively for services.
Insurance companies were required to provide a menu of services, and we were on our way for the first time toward health care for all Americans. It required time, work and patience to get the sick, healthy, old and young all involved to make it truly affordable and sustainable, but opponents in Congress immediately vowed to destroy it with nothing to replace it.
If this Congress remains, it already has plans to change Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, and reduce our benefits. And it will continue to sabotage or outright abolish Obamacare.
We need a new, enthusiastic dedicated Congress with fresh ideas, more women and a shift from politics as usual that can deliver a workable health care package that will bring us into the 21st century.
The Democratic Party can and will deliver on this. In Colorado, we have Jared Polis and many talented, capable candidates running for state positions who have made affordable, quality health care for Coloradans a primary goal.
Permanently solving our health care will make life better for every American, and the time is now. Vote!
Suzi Badrena
Conifer
Endorsing Lewers for clerk & recorder
Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to endorse Elaine Lewers for Clear Creek County clerk.
From prior professional positions and volunteer work, Elaine has a wealth of management experience as well as excellent leadership skills. She has some fresh new ideas for this position which will benefit us as residents of Clear Creek County.
I have been involved with a group in which Elaine was elected to lead. This was an existing group that was not open to change but rather was content with keeping everything the same — even if it was not productive.
I was impressed with Elaine’s ability to listen to all parties involved, mediate and effectively introduce and implement changes while keeping the existing policies that worked. Her leadership and management brought about changes that ultimately lead to the success and profitability of the group.
Living in Evergreen, and working “down the hill,” it is often difficult being a resident of Clear Creek County. Like most, I must interact with the Clerk & Recorders office at least once a year which can be a logistical nightmare.
Elaine is dedicated to ensuring that this office serves its residents equally no matter where they live by tailoring services to meet our needs. She proposes the office stay open late one night a week to accommodate those who work during the day and opening additional polling station locations.
Elaine will bring a new perspective with proven ability which will benefit the residents of Clear Creek County.
Kristin Crowell
Evergreen
Marlin would make good commissioner
Editor:
My best boss, best leader was a success at everything he tried. One of his pearls of wisdom was that he learned his best management lessons in volunteer organizations.
Makes sense, no boss deciding things. Volunteer leaders need exceptional skills of reasoning and understanding to lead the volunteers in a common direction.
George Marlin’s co-founding and leading Scraps-to-Soil for 10 years, while working, tells me he has the those essential skills to lead Clear Creek.
Dave Christensen
Evergreen
Vote no on Proposition 120
Editor:
In 2012, 2014 and 2017 Colorado studies alone, toxic risks were found for neurological, respiratory, hematological and developmental health issues, along with a higher risk of cancer, for those living near large-scale fracking operations.
There were also higher risks for babies to be born with congenital heart defects, along with childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia. Many of these risks were most pronounced within an approximately half-mile radius of high-density fracking operations, with some toxic effects found much further away.
There is also the not-insignificant risk of fires and explosions, with some officials recommending blast zone evacuation radii of between 0.8 and 1 mile from operations.
As for jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (not some industry front group), the entire logging and mining sector in our state employs about 29,000 people; 1 percent of our entire state labor force, and a far cry from the 200,000 plus used in some industry ads.
Many, if not most, of the employment numbers the industry claims are for temporary, non-local workers, or for jobs only marginally or theoretically connected to the industry.
Furthermore, while we value all productive employment, jobs in solar and other renewables are far more sustainable and safe for both workers and neighbors, now outnumber those in oil and gas, are increasing at a faster pace, and have far greater long-term potential to enhance tax revenues and the state’s economic health.
Modern fracking can drill out a mile and a half laterally underground. With Proposition 112, there will still be much rural and government surface area available to operators in Colorado, and they will still be able to access many cubic miles of underground territory from each multi-well pad.
Indeed, a just-released Colorado School of Mines analysis found that, even if only using 1-mile laterals, “42 percent of (Colorado’s) non-federal subsurface would be accessible, or nearly three times the available surface area,” under Proposition 112.
A major cause of climate change is the little-restricted production and combustion of fracked gas/oil. I say “little-restricted” because we have been unable to find even one instance where the state regulatory agency, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, has ever denied a fracking-permit application.
If such a toxic, heavy industrial operation is to be so routinely rubber-stamped by the state agency charged with representing our best interests, there must at least be appropriate buffers between those operations and our homes, schools, neighborhoods and families.
We shouldn’t have to accept fracking next to our homes and schools. Please consider all the true facts carefully. I’m confident that, like me, you’ll support and vote for Proposition 112.
Harv Teitelbaum
Sierra Club Colorado, Oil and Gas Campaign
Colorado Rising, Advisory Board