Three cheers to our mayor, Dean Brookie, for showing true leadership in the face of partisan politics over the Animas spill in recent weeks. While Congress and some within our own state have been busy trying to turn our local disaster into a pawn for their political agendas, Mayor Brookie has continuously showed courage by standing up and demanding long-term, inclusive remediation efforts for the Animas River.

As we’ve all learned since the Animas disaster, our river is just one of hundreds in Colorado that has been silently polluted over the past decades thanks to unaccountable mining companies and outdated legislation. Rather than blasting the EPA for the spill, Mayor Brookie recognizes that this is a much larger problem, and the Gold King Mine was a ticking time bomb. Instead of blaming the bomb squad, he’s more interested in making sure other disasters like this one are addressed before they wreak more havoc on the lands and waters we all love.

Thanks to Mayor Brookie for standing up to those who seek to bash the EPA rather than find clear and cohesive solutions for the waters across Colorado. His leadership is a great representation of Durango’s values, and I thank him for his good work. Keep it up!

Katy Howell

Durango