Letters to the Editor

Don’t shoot messenger over mine spill
Letters to the Editor

Don’t shoot messenger over mine spill

August 15, 2015

Twenty-five years ago, when Silverton was struggling to exist after the last mine closed, “Superfund site” was no welcome label. So a compromise was reached, doing the jobs piecemeal. I…

More helicopters will destroy Silverton
Letters to the Editor

More helicopters will destroy Silverton

August 15, 2015

And when challenged, they threaten to lay off employees in an attempt to coerce hesitant county commissioners into supporting their devious requests. But the three or four new employees that…

River pollution reminds of Native proverb
Letters to the Editor

River pollution reminds of Native proverb

August 15, 2015

“When the last tree is cut down, the last fish is caught, and the last river is polluted; when to breathe the air is sickening, you will realize, too late,…

Import bears to deal with homeless
Letters to the Editor

Import bears to deal with homeless

August 15, 2015

I have a solution to this problem: Import more bears to the Tech Center area! While the bears were playing up there, panhandling came to a screeching halt. Walmart is…

Take action now on climate change
Letters to the Editor

Take action now on climate change

August 15, 2015

Colorado is already paying the price of warming temperatures and unchecked carbon emissions via increased wildfires and a shrinking snowpack. It’s having a negative impact on our businesses, communities and…

Time for Silverton to cooperate with EPA
Letters to the Editor

Time for Silverton to cooperate with EPA

August 13, 2015

Mines above Silverton have leached so many toxic chemicals into the Animas that several species of indigenous fish and insects to the river have all but disappeared. According to a…

Strater play captures Durango flavor
Letters to the Editor

Strater play captures Durango flavor

August 13, 2015

The original play perfectly captures the flavor and tradition of Durango and the Strater Hotel. The professional performers create an engaging, comedic show that will make you laugh and even…

Tell Congress to make cleanup a priority
Letters to the Editor

Tell Congress to make cleanup a priority

August 12, 2015

This is also a wake-up call to our community about the ongoing threat posed by abandoned hard-rock mines. There are an estimated 500,000 of these mines, affecting about 40 percent…

Clean Power Plan encourages growth
Letters to the Editor

Clean Power Plan encourages growth

August 12, 2015

Small Business Majority’s scientific opinion polling found 87 percent of small-business owners believe improving clean-energy innovation and energy efficiency are good ways to increase prosperity for small businesses through job…

Adopt, enforce barking-dog ordinance
Letters to the Editor

Adopt, enforce barking-dog ordinance

August 11, 2015

I am of the belief that there is no such thing as a bad dog, only bad dog owners. My wife and I enjoyed dogs in our family for more…

The future of the Animas is worrisome
Letters to the Editor

The future of the Animas is worrisome

August 11, 2015

We launched in our kayaks thinking it was runoff from the Red Mountain pass area that made its way down the river, and didn’t think in our wildest dreams what…

Time for Superfund status for Silverton
Letters to the Editor

Time for Superfund status for Silverton

August 9, 2015

Therefore, our La Plata County commissioners, our Durango City Council and hopefully the state of Colorado need to immediately join forces to demand Superfund status for these mines. They have…

The LPCHS needs an outside evaluation
Letters to the Editor

The LPCHS needs an outside evaluation

August 9, 2015

Because of the nature of the humane society, emotions tend to run high at all levels of shelter operation from the board to the staff. I have witnessed the extreme…

Bush, Fiorini need to get facts straight
Letters to the Editor

Bush, Fiorini need to get facts straight

August 9, 2015

Those political farces reminded me of Brian Keenan’s quip: “Politics can only be a small part of what we are. It’s a way of seeing; it is not all-seeing in…

Clean Power Plan a win for good health
Letters to the Editor

Clean Power Plan a win for good health

August 8, 2015

Besides helping keep our community safe from air pollution, the Clean Power Plan is one of our best tools for protecting our outdoor experiences, which are key to keeping our…

Give state’s retailers a level playing field
Letters to the Editor

Give state’s retailers a level playing field

August 8, 2015

Fortunately, federal legislation has been introduced by Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, a key member of Congress, which could finally shut down this loophole and allow states to require online sellers…

Planned Parenthood is vital to Colorado
Letters to the Editor

Planned Parenthood is vital to Colorado

August 8, 2015

Using edited and deceptive videos produced after lying to Planned Parenthood staff, this group is making outrageous and inaccurate claims about Planned Parenthood’s valued services. And now, after being misled,…

Will the EPA now charge itself a fine?
Letters to the Editor

Will the EPA now charge itself a fine?

August 8, 2015

My opinion is it should be disbanded and closed down. Now, is it going to give itself or the guys who caused the catastrophe to the Animas River a big…

Council shows a gift for spending money
Letters to the Editor

Council shows a gift for spending money

August 8, 2015

Based on the council’s own data, their compensation will be greater than other Colorado towns larger than Durango with the exception of Golden. The average salary for city councilors among…

FLC does little for Native Americans
Letters to the Editor

FLC does little for Native Americans

August 8, 2015

But a deeper look into President Thomas’ efforts reveal that this does nothing to aid Native students: The students are legally entitled to the waiver – whether Colorado gets reimbursed…

GOP’s women, children policy disastrous
Letters to the Editor

GOP’s women, children policy disastrous

August 7, 2015

In 2014, Coloradans voted to protect their guns. What we got was more slashed education and nutrition programs, and the “personhood” of a woman repeatedly denied. The Republicans who rejected…

Fix Arc without spending more money
Letters to the Editor

Fix Arc without spending more money

August 5, 2015

Heck, don’t we all get cracks as we get older? Chalk it up to the true nature of history: unforeseen changes. Let’s instead put money into housing solutions for our…

Colorado governments should not buy art
Letters to the Editor

Colorado governments should not buy art

August 5, 2015

The result? Camino del Rio and friends. This is a street that you may have to drive a full two miles just to drive to the other side of the…

Two sentences show the need for reform
Letters to the Editor

Two sentences show the need for reform

August 4, 2015

Logan Griffith, 19, takes a gun into a pot dispensary and robs that business but never discharges the gun and kills no one. His sentence is six years. Does this…

Vandalism adds to Arc’s abstract nature
Letters to the Editor

Vandalism adds to Arc’s abstract nature

August 4, 2015

It’s original look was, to be kind, very abstract and controversial. But, over time, Durango folks seem to have adopted the Arc in good humor as evidenced by the creative,…