Letter writers’ interests and concerns in 2024 couldn’t have been more varied; even a partial review might better begin with “here’s what wasn’t shared.” But that wouldn’t make this look-back as compelling.
Support and criticism of the presidential candidates was a given leading up to November. More letters opposed to the winning individual than supportive, a result of his first term, background and promises.
For regional and local candidates there was mostly praise; the negatives were largely unspoken. Admirable. For good reason, Tiffany Lee, La Plata County Clerk, received much praise.
Because people have different feelings about what is important, what follows is a mix of some of the topics and opinions that appeared in The Durango Herald this year.
A plea to keep bicycles off the city sidewalks was there, as was a suggestion that the county do a better job of including bicycling in its road plans. There was praise for Tri-State’s move toward becoming more renewable and several writers wanted more action to deter global warming, but without offering manageable tips on here’s-what-each-of-us-can-do.
Using empty buildings to house the unhoused was suggested, as was digging deep to put housing underground in Durango (“thinking under the box”). City rules should make it easier to convert motels into housing, said another. And another: It’s not new airport hangars that are needed, it’s housing.
The message-leaving sidewalk commentator who works in chalk was praised, so, too, was the importance of not impeding farmworkers from crossing the border.
The preamble to the Constitution can be considered a list of valuable social rules, said one. While there was no praise that we found for the high-end RV park proposed for Trimble Lane. There was support for Palestinians and for putting the right to abortion on the ballot; the latter did take place, which voters supported.
Bill Roberts, the Herald’s 27-year opinion page editor who died in February, was remembered favorably, as was Kim Martin’s continuing series of columns about her ongoing experience with Alzheimer’s, and praise for Judith Reynold’s Mortie the cat cartoon character was received.
That Diamond Belle’s longtime ragtime pianist Johnny Maddox deserves a labeled room at the Strater Hotel was a suggestion. As was the suggestion that students had been overlooked in the Herald’s coverage as advocates for Durango School District 9-R’s embrace of solar energy. There was a letter in support of water-skiing on Lake Nighthorse.
The effectiveness of 12-step programs was challenged, as was public criticism of Robert F. Kennedy’s anti-corporation pronouncements. That the state should mandate a five-day work week for dentists was another.
There were suggestions as to how to improve the 15th Street-3rd Avenue intersection, and several letters urging the city to abandon Main Avenue’s Next Step plan. “Nothing’s broken,” they said.
The Herald received criticism, with a writer saying the paper was “myopic” in its view of the incoming president by not recognizing his strengths. Another said the Herald was not sufficiently pro-American in its choice of stories about Israel and Hamas, and another that less national and more local content would be preferable. The left’s claims also should be fact-checked, said another.
One writer did praise the Herald for including a story about a person who took responsibility for his negative actions, something that the writer said is too often lacking.
April was National Poetry Month and local poets skilled, and mostly skilled, submitted their work as letters. A welcome diversion from the narrative format. It’s not only schools that educate students, it's also parents, said another after a story about the new 9-R Impact Career Innovation Center opened.
Durango City Council should speak up on state and national issues, said one reader, and that locals should play a large role in determining the protections for the Dolores River Canyon, said another. Other readers suggested that clean up costs must be borne by the fossil fuel industry, and that new residential housing should be located somewhere other than along the already busy Florida Road.
And many more ...
Readers, see what we mean? There’s not a lot missing. For 2025, keep the letters coming. Life is all about variety, and your contributions.
