Letters to the Editor https://www.durangoherald.com/feeds/letters-to-the-editor/ 2026-05-25 01:57:33 -0700 en-us https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/school-tech-policy-needs-a-parent-driven-update/ It takes a fair amount of time to read the “Student internet and Electronic Mail Acceptable Use Policy” before registering kids for school in the Durango School District. That is why I imagine most pa... 2026-05-25 05:00:00 -0700 aa73cfd9-6d61-4754-b12a-1684cebdc90a https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/paint-the-roundabout-save-the-sculptures/ I’ve been thinking about this suggestion for a couple of weeks, and if I had followed through earlier maybe the latest wreck on the Chapman Hill roundabout wouldn’t have happened. I would like to sugg... 2026-05-25 05:00:00 -0700 6c8008a1-a6c4-4e1b-b70c-ece365d315b9 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/kip-koso-has-the-skills-to-lead/ I had the honor to work with Kip Koso for years on the Local First Board of Directors. His leadership during my term was exemplary. He has the patience and listening skills that are required to be an ... 2026-05-25 05:00:00 -0700 c9283c2c-21a2-473a-a39e-195e40d1c5ed https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/who-is-behind-the-code-rights-project/ In 1980, I arrived in La Plata County to begin a new chapter as CEO of Burns National Bank (currently Bank of Colorado). Our core lending was in business, construction and development, and we financed... 2026-05-22 05:00:00 -0700 3fc7b925-238f-48ac-bd55-d89eddd38f48 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/support-dont-shortchange-local-nonprofits/ Thank you, Briggen Wrinkle, for your well-reasoned article about what we think we know about nonprofits (Herald, May 1). Having spent much of the past 40 years creating, leading, supporting and evalua... 2026-05-22 05:00:00 -0700 dd1546be-a452-49a7-ac67-e69fd3978703 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/prison-needs-better-management-not-expansion/ One April 17, the Herald reported Gov. Jared Polis’ lament for a new prison. He is wrong. What we need is competent management. Over the past two decades, we’ve been through around a dozen executive d... 2026-05-22 05:00:00 -0700 87c87909-3a68-442a-b1a1-d830aea4d9a7 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/councils-power-play-undermines-public-trust/ Honest and transparent communication is essential for public servants. It takes hubris and hypocrisy, then, for city council members to quietly orchestrate behind closed doors the sidelining of a coll... 2026-05-22 05:00:00 -0700 5e0bce22-17db-43c4-9e7c-178a526c405c https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/taxpayers-should-not-fund-trumps-ballroom/ When President Donald Trump went on his destructive East Wing rampage, he reassured an anxious nation that his ballroom would not be paid for with $400 million in tax dollars but rather through person... 2026-05-22 05:00:00 -0700 9ffb8656-c9c1-453c-9a83-c6f12c88966e https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/fossil-fuels-solar-must-coexist-for-now/ In a recent letter, “Affordable energy requires honest accounting” (Herald, May 6), the author made interesting arguments regarding the debate over fossil fuels vs. solar and wind energy. However, the... 2026-05-22 05:00:00 -0700 9b4c02bb-767d-49c1-80be-04c13d1af0eb https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/dog-left-in-hot-car-city-slow-to-respond/ On May 9, I reported a dog locked in a hot car. I had to leave the scene but trusted that police would promptly respond. Thirty-eight minutes later, I received a call from the Durango Police Departmen... 2026-05-22 05:00:00 -0700 96e814ea-5488-4799-85bd-03512c657e72 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/dougherty-most-prepared-at-ag-debate/ During the May 7 attorney general debate in Denver, I quickly observed that the responsibilities facing the next attorney general will be as serious as a heart attack, but only one candidate appeared ... 2026-05-20 05:00:00 -0700 9d80c358-791b-4d0f-b61b-eb42ddb6fb68 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/executive-experience-matters-in-governors-race/ There’s a writer on Substack, David Thielen, who explained the upcoming June primary decision for Colorado governor this way: “This race isn’t about ideology – it’s about competence. … On paper, Micha... 2026-05-20 05:00:00 -0700 3b158b71-de29-46eb-99dc-b358daa7dd3c https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/colorado-wolf-recovery-shows-encouraging-signs/ After a challenging third year in Colorado’s citizen-initiated program to restore the gray wolf, some good news has finally arrived – particularly regarding the high number of pups that have survived ... 2026-05-20 05:00:00 -0700 45e81a04-3996-4836-bc6e-cf73c4a92116 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/weiser-for-governor-bennet-for-senate/ Michael Bennet states that he can handle Colorado’s budgeting process because he did budgets while serving as superintendent of Denver Public Schools. He did, but Denver ended up in a deep financial h... 2026-05-18 05:00:00 -0700 1a9eb082-0103-4ab1-9656-cda85c723214 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/competence-matters-vote-luschen-and-jenkins/ Competence matters. That seems like an obvious statement, but when you are talking about energy, it could not be truer. Competence is what is needed going forward so LPEA makes thoughtful energy procu... 2026-05-18 05:00:00 -0700 27d1437b-2987-4647-86a0-337c038cb30e https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/attorney-general-phil-weiser-for-governor/ The midterm primary is June 30, when U.S. Sen. Bennet and current eight-year Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser are on the Democratic ballot for governor of Colorado. I hope you will join me in vot... 2026-05-18 05:00:00 -0700 3cfeb0fe-2d86-42fc-b99b-461598d21163 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/lot-f-should-benefit-the-broader-community/ As the new Head Start nears completion, the question is how Lot F, the site of the old Head Start, will be used. This is a city-owned lot, and there is a proposal for 22 housing units, with only four ... 2026-05-18 05:00:00 -0700 4e8142db-feae-44cb-9460-6a93da10b741 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/durango-must-take-water-conservation-seriously/ It’s encouraging that Durango is finally addressing water usage. I frequently eat out and socialize at local businesses, and it’s frustrating to see large glasses of water and pitchers of water served... 2026-05-18 05:00:00 -0700 d621f2c3-bccc-4299-88f2-7820de233079 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/colorado-voters-should-participate-in-june-primary/ Did you know that there will be a primary in June for us in Colorado? The primary ballot, mailed June 8, will select the final candidates to represent either the Democratic or Republican Party in the ... 2026-05-18 05:00:00 -0700 81e3db8a-01c0-4244-9e34-c34b24e85d0b https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/jodi-zuber-brings-trusted-leadership-experience/ Jodi Zuber cares deeply about our community, and that is one of the many reasons I am proud to support her for the LPEA Board of Directors. I have known Jodi for nearly 50 years, dating back to her ch... 2026-05-18 05:00:00 -0700 db9237fd-3f66-4f6e-a60b-c29c5568a9e8 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/cpws-role-under-sb25-003-raises-concerns/ Colorado’s new firearm law, SB25-003, takes effect Aug. 1 and places Colorado Parks and Wildlife in charge of developing and approving firearm safety courses that will be required to purchase certain ... 2026-05-18 05:00:00 -0700 0cd69d72-815b-4996-8f8d-159a76f88735 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/phil-weiser-for-governor/ Sen. Bennet is running in the Democratic primary for governor of Colorado against Attorney General Phil Weiser. Sen. Bennet questions Weiser’s ability to fight Trump, saying, “I understand that Phil i... 2026-05-18 05:00:00 -0700 b8dd7690-9e9b-4326-b274-f0157b34ac06 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/trump-should-undergo-cognitive-evaluation/ A respected psychiatrist recently educated me about a neurological condition known as “sundowning syndrome” in aging people. This mental weakness may indicate oncoming, or existing, dementia. It is a ... 2026-05-18 05:00:00 -0700 d666977a-b5f8-40dd-824b-e0cb751dd828 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/jenn-jenkins-puts-community-first/ As an educator, I believe in leading by example. Connection and kindness matter. We are fortunate to live in a small town where we see people we know at the grocery store, friends at the park or previ... 2026-05-18 05:00:00 -0700 f0234439-c62b-4e9e-9dfc-ee9091d6627b https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/lpea-needs-practical-dependable-community-leadership/ As a lifelong resident of La Plata County and someone who has spent years working community events around Ignacio and Durango, I want to support Jodi Zuber for the LPEA Board, District 3. I have known... 2026-05-18 05:00:00 -0700 dc79d6ff-ec4d-441d-b854-fefe8d85f72d https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/lpea-needs-practical-energy-leadership/ We need to elect new La Plata Electric Association board members, ones who will seriously consider the impact rising electric costs are having on families, seniors and businesses in our communities. L... 2026-05-18 05:00:00 -0700 cb3fdef3-da43-4633-8b06-1593520ca5b9 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/voting-alone-will-not-stop-fascism/ The third No Kings protest in March was, from the perspective of its organizers, a huge success. Said to be, once again, among the largest protests in U.S. history, it demonstrated that many Americans... 2026-05-18 05:00:00 -0700 bf8892a3-4ef3-4119-aa76-70c23384299f https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/public-education-deserves-colorado-first-leadership/ As a lifelong educator and former state representative deeply invested in promoting public education, I am saddened to learn that Sen. Michael Bennet’s super PAC has accepted millions of dollars from ... 2026-05-18 05:00:00 -0700 d65f069f-bb4c-433c-8a1b-b79cdc905584 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/reelect-luschen-for-lpea-district-4/ In deciding who you will choose to elect for LPEA District 4 this month, please ask yourself: Will you vote to re-elect David Luschen, or elect John Purser for the first time after his three previous ... 2026-05-15 05:00:00 -0700 18555c1b-42d2-4d52-b765-99eff2237568 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/a-vote-of-confidence-for-lpea/ Paying a utility bill to a monopoly provider can be frustrating, especially as the cost of living rises. That frustration might tempt you toward “change for change’s sake.” But as a member-owner of La... 2026-05-15 05:00:00 -0700 64725d63-00c2-441c-b7cd-22b3ebfbaa27