Letters to the Editor

New year will see property tax changes
Letters to the Editor

New year will see property tax changes

December 28, 2013

I’ll recap the tax district changes for the year: There were the Animas, Hermosa and city of Durango elections, which consolidated two fire districts into one, incorporating a city of…

Forget Obamacare; emulate Britain, Canada
Letters to the Editor

Forget Obamacare; emulate Britain, Canada

December 28, 2013

And many are losing their existing policies and their choice of doctors. Some say we had to do something to defend Obamacare, but, in this case, something is worse than…

Skip gas and head straight to solar power
Letters to the Editor

Skip gas and head straight to solar power

December 28, 2013

My next thought is for anyone who’s ever been swimming in the Colorado River, which recently showed evidence of hormone-disrupting chemicals linked to fracking. For a happier new year, as…

Barr believed in future teachers’ success
Letters to the Editor

Barr believed in future teachers’ success

December 23, 2013

To an emerging educator, Barr’s passion for education and her commitment to her community is awe-inspiring. I unfortunately never had the opportunity to personally meet Barr. However, as a language…

Board did right thing in choosing Spradling
Letters to the Editor

Board did right thing in choosing Spradling

December 23, 2013

It amazes me that there are some people in Durango who are so quick to judge others, to spread rumors and negativity, when they don’t even know the facts or…

Proud, grateful to be counted as Durangoan
Letters to the Editor

Proud, grateful to be counted as Durangoan

December 23, 2013

Durango had long forgotten my family’s traditional cattle ranching; it no longer bought vegetables from us “lowly farmers.” I had just considered it a spot on the map. But this…

Did the Grinch work out city’s parking plan?
Letters to the Editor

Did the Grinch work out city’s parking plan?

December 22, 2013

Deactivating the parking meters during this peak holiday season, which attracts many tourists to our wonderful little city, certainly has the feel of a Grinch’s touch. Because by declaring open…

Help FLC divest itself of fossil fuels
Letters to the Editor

Help FLC divest itself of fossil fuels

December 22, 2013

I am writing to express my full support of this campaign and its intentions. We are well aware the combustion of fossil fuels result in carbon dioxide emissions, and this…

Choosing Spradling ruins 9-R’s credibility
Letters to the Editor

Choosing Spradling ruins 9-R’s credibility

December 21, 2013

Kathleen Murphy Durango Editor’s note: The story referred to has been open for online comments. As the Herald’s website advises, those wishing to comment online must first be logged into…

FLC largely absent in debate over austerity
Letters to the Editor

FLC largely absent in debate over austerity

December 21, 2013

The conventional wisdom is that a national economy is just like a household budget. Therefore, it implies we must tighten our belts in tough times, like the long recession, for…

Cloud-seeding is destroying blue skies
Letters to the Editor

Cloud-seeding is destroying blue skies

December 21, 2013

Go outside and see the evident crisscross lines or straight lines that have filled the sky and dispersed into a milky haze. I’ve been documenting this for a year in…

Lasting memories of a much-loved aunt
Letters to the Editor

Lasting memories of a much-loved aunt

December 21, 2013

We were accompanied by my grandmother, who was raised in Silverton, and my parents. My father was a captain in the Army Air Corps having recently returned from China. Ever…

Collaborative effort seeks to protect Dolores
Letters to the Editor

Collaborative effort seeks to protect Dolores

December 19, 2013

The Dolores River Dialogue has been working toward addressing local needs while creating meaningful protections for our unique river and the adjacent landscape for many years. As participants in this…

Volunteer with DNS and see the world anew
Letters to the Editor

Volunteer with DNS and see the world anew

December 19, 2013

I had the great privilege and joy to participate in Durango Nature Study’s fall training program to guide local students through the inspiring learning process of the natural world. Durango…

Barr’s influence will assist future teachers
Letters to the Editor

Barr’s influence will assist future teachers

December 18, 2013

Barr awarded FLC students close to $250,000 in the last 15 years, in portions of no less than $750, and often as much as $2,000, a semester per student. Many…

Barr was great role model, generous donor
Letters to the Editor

Barr was great role model, generous donor

December 18, 2013

I fell in love with teaching. But as all young adults, I wanted to find some adventure, so after college, I moved to Durango. When deciding to go back to…

Senators trying to dodge blame for failures
Letters to the Editor

Senators trying to dodge blame for failures

December 18, 2013

Watch for Udall to try and divert the public’s attention from their tax-and-spending failures at every opportunity. Rod Ems Durango

Remembering lost loved ones is a great gift
Letters to the Editor

Remembering lost loved ones is a great gift

December 18, 2013

I’ve learned that there’s comfort in being reminded of him. A few days ago, I was stopped downtown by a friend. She put her hand on my shoulder and said,…

Use gas, oil revenue to fund tuition waiver
Letters to the Editor

Use gas, oil revenue to fund tuition waiver

December 17, 2013

One issue that remains, however, is how to pay for it. A precedent for funding public higher education exists. In the 19th century, the sale of public lands was used…

Draw from Roberta Barr’s sincerity, kindness
Letters to the Editor

Draw from Roberta Barr’s sincerity, kindness

December 17, 2013

Her sincerity and kindness are models that I will follow as I pursue my own path to becoming a teacher. This past fall, I was deeply flattered and touched to…

Real reform would go beyond Obamacare
Letters to the Editor

Real reform would go beyond Obamacare

December 15, 2013

In developed, industrial countries where health care is state sponsored, the legislature regulates the industry. The cost of pharmaceuticals and health-care reimbursement is regulated by the equivalent of Congress. In…

Time is right for switching to solar power
Letters to the Editor

Time is right for switching to solar power

December 15, 2013

This initiative is taking local renewable power seriously and is facilitating 100 new solar electric installations in the county. Here are some great reasons to consider installing solar today and…

Obamacare opponents should explain hatred
Letters to the Editor

Obamacare opponents should explain hatred

December 15, 2013

One would think ACA must have some truly significant flaws that would motivate conservative members of Congress to try to shut down the federal government for 16 days at a…

Fair Deal must continue New Deal tradition
Letters to the Editor

Fair Deal must continue New Deal tradition

December 15, 2013

President Obama and Pope Francis have now each voiced their concerns about this issue. But, what can be done to force our other leaders to follow suit? I suggest we,…

Schools should be donation-funded only
Letters to the Editor

Schools should be donation-funded only

December 14, 2013

If all the people in 9-R who are still shocked about the failure of Amendment 66 were to give $5,000 or $10,000, then everyone would be happy. The schools would…

Students fortunate 9-R has priorities straight
Letters to the Editor

Students fortunate 9-R has priorities straight

December 14, 2013

All I could think of as our children performed was the caption above. I am so glad that Snowberger and our school board have the proper priorities for our schools.…

Herald’s priorities are misguided
Letters to the Editor

Herald’s priorities are misguided

December 14, 2013

Ambassadors and military have died with no investigation, IRS targets people based on politics, NSA spies on its own people, millions are losing their health-care coverage (We were promised we…

Look outside the American education box
Letters to the Editor

Look outside the American education box

December 14, 2013

Firstly, according to The Economist on Dec. 7, 15-year-old students in the United States taking the Program for International Student Assessment math tests scored behind those from 25 other countries.…