We found much to praise in 2019: that citizens were demanding Durango be 100% renewable in electricity by 2050, that Monarch butterflies were recovering, Cokie Roberts’ life in journalism and that Southwest Colorado looks at least as good as the settings in those Super Bowl ads.
We liked Durango reducing its campaign donation reporting requirement from $5,000 to $20. City elections are low-cost, and knowing who is behind even small amounts is important.
We applauded Coloradans Michael Bennet’s and John Hickenlooper’s entries into the presidential race. We had good things to say about all of the Democratic candidates, which served to call attention to the party’s televised debates. We did say, in September, that Joe Biden ought to step aside to allow a dark horse to emerge.
Several of the Herald’s editorial positions did not go anywhere, at least not yet. We suggested the city consider switching to a strong mayor form of government, and while we praised the spring curbside trash pickup, we asked that its window be shortened; city streets do not show well during the multiple weeks. And we favored a Snowdown parade that begins at 5 p.m., not 6, allowing some light and additional warmth for spectators.
We like animals – our favorite dog swam the Animas River Park in high water – and we reminded readers of the Soviet pooch who was first launched on a one-way trip into space.
The editorial board makes its election recommendations based on what its members think best, and while voters agreed with our endorsement of Kim Baxter for City Council, they did not support youthful and articulate businessman Marcos Wisner. The board still believes the next generation has much to offer.
We supported the additional half-cent sales tax for city streets, as did voters, narrowly. In conjunction, we liked that a commission would review the street spending.
Several of our editorial comments were presented in uncommon ways. We remembered the sacrifices of D Day by quoting at length from a soldier who was there, and reminded readers of the role that Sarah Hale had in the 1860s in encouraging Abraham Lincoln to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday.
We urged that City Manager Ron LeBlanc be let go after it appeared he was no longer leading, and the council agreed, 5-0. We faulted him for using a city councilor’s business partner to sell his house (at least the appearance of a conflict if not more). And we took the school district superintendent to task for downplaying the calling of police officers to an elementary school, and the school board for embarrassing cafeteria line students who had not paid their lunch fees.
We considered whether the challenges of addressing homelessness in big cities such as Los Angeles had lessons for Durango, and gauged that they did not.
We defended the Betsy Ross flag instead of abdicating to the far right, and displayed it on some Opinion pages. We criticized the inclusion of the Confederate military flag in Bayfield’s Fourth of July parade by an out-of-town group..
We opposed the state Legislature’s “red flag” gun legislation, agreeing with the ACLU that it labels an individual based on what he might do rather than what he has done; red flag nevertheless became law.
We supported asking voters if wolves should be reintroduced, but cautioned that it will be Front Range residents who do not have wolves anywhere near them who will determine the outcome.
Driving is always on everyone’s mind, and with highway work this fall, we explained that the zipper merge should be practiced.
The zipper, needed at two busy locations, has been added to Durango’s lexicon.
Readers will say the list of 2019 editorial topics should have been different, and contrary positions should have been taken. In the new year, make your suggestions as to what you want to see.
