Consensus between The Durango Herald’s letter writers during 2019 was rare, very rare, and topics often ranged far afield. Thank you, readers and writers: That is what makes for readable opinion pages.
The second homes which are infrequently used when housing for most of us is scarce? Double their property taxes, wrote one writer. Another thought differently: Do not tax them at all. Their owners gave Durangoans construction work and their occupants are not here to burden public services.
There were several letters critical of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s smoke (the railroad is “selfish and overbearing”) and for the 416 Fire. That triggered numerous defenders of the railroad to speak up; “the railroad was here first” was popular, as was “move elsewhere.” One said the smoke was “authentic.”
The Herald’s reporting on School District 9-R’s superintendent was necessary, said a few; none of it should have appeared, said others.
Bring Three Springs into the fold, wrote a couple of writers. The trail that would make walking and bicycling to and from downtown looks to have stalled in favor of north Durango, wrote another. Durango begins at Three Springs Boulevard on U.S. Highway 160, where is the city limits’ sign? wrote another.
The Herald’s apparent liberal bent was criticized, repeatedly by a couple of known writers; the Democratic Party leadership also found fault. From others, The Herald discontinued the wrong comics, and before ending its Monday print edition, it should have polled readers.
Other views: The leash law should be followed, otherwise wildlife is threatened, and wildlife is endangered by high traffic speeds. Go meatless for the Fourth of July.
A climate change skeptic said the only way to know whether the Earth is warming is to take its temperature from space. And, the solutions to global warming will enrich the wealthy.
More views: For any needed revenue, tax users, not property owners.
There was considerable support for Durango’s homeless, but with no agreement on what should be done; city and county officials do not have the answers, either.
One writer said the recent federal tax breaks, and in general, tax laws that benefit the wealthy, have increased homelessness. The resulting wider gap between rich and poor is to blame.
Still more views:
Ignore the homelessness experts, halt liquor sales and provide jobs instead.Do away with the Electoral College, or continue it. Mercy Regional Medical Center has excellent staff, but its billing is excessive and profits are going elsewhere. Medicare is wonderful.Democrats hate the United States; no, they do not, it is the president.Let’s drop our partisanship and talk.United Airlines has had far too many cancellations, and support for the federal Save America’s Pollinators Act (that’s bees) is needed.
A replacement sculpture at the intersection of U.S. 160 and 550 at the DoubleTree Hotel was on one writer’s mind: it should be indigenous and reflect our roots.
And, a certain amount of unqualified praise: for small business, by the tourist for what a good time his family had, for almost all the Democratic presidential candidates, for increased housing density, for a homeless individual who returned a lost backpack.
There are more, and for that, we are grateful.
Thank you for your contributions to the opinion pages. Someone said, “if you don’t have an opinion, you’re not thinking.”
We like that.
