Each week we highlight some of the most insightful, passionate and witty comments shared on Facebook in response to stories in The Durango Herald.
This week, readers weighed in on the proposed location for pickleball courts, Lauren Boebert’s comments about prescribed burns, a forum about Ascent Classical Academy and the breakup of San Juan Basin Public Health.
We enjoy readers’ input and reactions to local stories: People can weigh in by writing a letter to the editor, via our Facebook page or at the bottom of local news stories at www.durangoherald.com.
Here are a few comments that stood out this week:
“Is the soccer community really against sharing space at a public facility? Will an entire sport with hundreds of players be denied due to losing 42 parking spaces. The proposed courts are at the end of the existing parking lot and will not impact anyone crossing over the parking area. The revenue generated by hosting tournaments is substantial. The pickleball community has waited for more than six years for a dedicated space. It is time for some ‘common ground.’” – Brian Blanchard
“The parking lot fills up completely already. Taking up 1/2 of the parking for pickleball will push people to park in other lots and then there will be more complaints. The parking lot is almost brand new. Why rip it out to build something else. I believe there was supposed to be a lot of park and rec facility space at Three Springs. Wouldn’t that make sense to put new facilities there?” – Jason Eley
“Santa Rita would be a much better location. That parking lot is already too small and the dirt road already gets lined with cars all the way down when tournaments are in town.” – Tom Mudrak
“After years of saying things in public, Boebert almost said one intelligent thing, but then she forgot because she never knew that years of not prescribed burning became the new normal after massive wildfires took advantage of the ignored deadwood. But now we have the global warming, extreme winds, and extremely unsafe burns in Colorado, New Mexico and other western states. The new normal is prescribed burns are good and necessary at times, but when you have several out of control and winds are well higher than normal, taking a break from starting fires is science.” – Christian Hatfield
“I attended the first half of the forum yesterday and found it informative to listen to both points of view. However, the supporters of the ACAD (Ascent Classical Academy of Durango) couldn’t follow the simple rules when requested not to applaud or boo the speakers since there were so many. They were schooled to use silent gestures to show their approval – more than once – so others could have their turn speaking. If this is what the Barney Charter School Initiative at the religiously informed Hillsdale College in Michigan promotes, it isn’t a good message for children anywhere.” – Kate Bentham Britz
“That has happened from both sides of the aisle during every (limited) in-person school board meeting over the last 2.5 years. Not anything new. Ever notice how the ones who scream the loudest are the ones who get noticed and get their way? I have, and it’s not the more conservative ‘ACAD type of folk’ doing it. Perhaps they are tired of being told to shut up while the other side is being told to get loud and aggressive.” – Graycie Lou
“This is ridiculous and foolish in so many ways, and I blame Archuleta County and other short-sighted leaders. This move will likely have negative consequences for everyone involved that includes the residents SJBPH serves. Money and time will be wasted when we should be prioritizing other work from environmental protection to disease prevention. Ugh!” – Danny TheKing
“Wasn’t this the goal of Obama Care? We don’t need multiple government health care systems. Why should our tax dollars pay for more than one?” – Chandler Churchill
“Chandler Churchill this was perfect Obama Care, the government decided who’s business was essential and whose jobs were not essential. The government tried to force businesses to fire employees for personal medical decisions. This was a perfect example of the government trying to mandate health care and remove personal choice. SJBH should just go back to health inspections of restaurants and septic systems.” – David Shisler
