Letters to the Editor https://www.durangoherald.com/feeds/letters-to-the-editor/ 2026-06-23 01:13:47 -0700 en-us https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/county-staff-didnt-write-the-code-alone/ Misinformation is being spread in the community, with unfair criticism launched at county staff about the process that created the Land Use Code. I, with fellow county commissioners Gwen Lachelt and C... 2026-06-22 05:00:00 -0700 5dd89981-3ef4-4c55-b529-b0f69c42d78b https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/romeros-record-of-service-earns-my-support/ I am supporting Dwayne Romero for CD3. Dwayne was raised by a single mom in Texas who, he says, taught him how to work hard. Dwayne knows what it’s like for a family to struggle to make ends meet. Fol... 2026-06-22 05:00:00 -0700 3cac0944-d099-4cac-b1e0-844568a746d1 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/restore-qa-at-lpea-board-meetings/ A few years ago, La Plata Electric Association eliminated the public Q&A period that once opened its monthly board meetings. In its place, the board adopted a comment-only format. While public comment... 2026-06-19 05:00:00 -0700 ab198208-99aa-4d05-a38b-71c4a03fed5b https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/romero-has-the-right-colorado-roots/ Dwayne Romero is a Democrat running for the 3rd Congressional District seat in Colorado. He was raised by a single mom and helped her make ends meet. Romero is running for Congress to lower everyday e... 2026-06-19 05:00:00 -0700 e7d01b0b-67ac-4fee-98fe-6a869d9db88b https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/primary-silence-is-a-vote-too/ Primary turnout is often below 20%. That means a small group of voters decides who everyone else gets to choose from in November. When you sit it out, someone else makes that call for you. And that si... 2026-06-19 05:00:00 -0700 abcfc4b4-5806-461f-921b-c682b1278d49 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/bennets-recent-votes-undercut-his-legacy/ I have been hugely thankful to Sen. Michael Bennet for his excellent work protecting our most revered places, like Hermosa Creek. He’s also fought for decades to protect the Dolores River watershed. M... 2026-06-19 05:00:00 -0700 d8521f76-81a0-40c0-b47f-15d8883d1f3d https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/fossil-fuel-money-corrupts-our-climate-future/ The world as we know it today was built on the back of burning fossil fuels. Unfortunately, this process has come at a tremendous cost. Emissions from burning fossil fuels are rapidly warming our worl... 2026-06-19 05:00:00 -0700 9b403206-1706-42db-beb7-c5dd1035f54d https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/phil-weiser-lesser-known-better-qualified-for-governor/ There are two good men running to be the Democratic nominee for governor in the June primary. One, realistically, will be our next governor, as the state GOP is a mess. One has the stronger name recog... 2026-06-19 05:00:00 -0700 35d18eb9-3254-46e0-928d-7d82357daaa7 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/old-abe-needs-more-than-oil-and-a-dusting/ I read with interest the recent article on Old Abe (Herald, June 5), the wonderful steam-powered tractor that had been a fixture of parades and local festivities for so many years. The hope that Al an... 2026-06-17 05:00:00 -0700 fc1f24f8-e0ee-433c-8d28-df655915d983 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/city-hall-project-needs-a-hard-reset/ Many of us remember – and some participated in – a community effort that saved the old Durango High School and the adjacent Arts and Science Building from being transformed into a fire station. The op... 2026-06-17 05:00:00 -0700 ee9e88fe-3069-4324-9472-e9bdc4b9bdee https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/dont-let-buckley-become-a-parking-lot/ The arrogance is almost unbelievable. Mayor Yazzie’s comment relating to parking for the new city hall/police “campus” – “but just see what we come up with, or take the land from Buckley Park” – is mo... 2026-06-17 05:00:00 -0700 f32045e0-3459-4314-a238-77898e955e2e https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/polis-tina-peters-gambit-backfired-badly/ Now we watch as Donald Trump ignores Gov. Jared Polis’ quid pro quo commutation of Tina Peters’ prison sentence. Give a bully what he wants, and he never gives you anything – he just demands more. Con... 2026-06-15 05:00:00 -0700 c72f40fa-611c-40d1-82b0-d1f4ea636b55 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/mara-make-america-respected-again/ Donald Trump calls his war with Iran a skirmish, a little love tap. I wonder how the families and friends of the dead and injured service members feel about their loved ones’ casualties. I believe Tru... 2026-06-15 05:00:00 -0700 3c2eb597-0512-41ad-aedc-986c0136830b https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/head-start-site-belongs-to-the-neighborhood/ Regarding the property Head Start will vacate when it moves to its new building, the city should consider using the site for a park and playground. I understand the need for workforce housing, but add... 2026-06-15 05:00:00 -0700 18f180d8-5936-43d0-8c7d-d42d91587304 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/weiser-delivers-results-not-just-rhetoric/ The divide between governor candidates Phil Weiser and Michael Bennet over Donald Trump-era policies is not about whether to oppose them – both clearly do. The real question is what kind of opposition... 2026-06-12 05:00:00 -0700 de8ad446-d70f-4ada-a908-9379f4285868 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/hurd-should-earn-his-conservative-label/ Rep. Jeff Hurd, it is time to distance yourself from the unconstitutional power grabs of this president and establish yourself as a truly independent legislator. You have done well for us in the Third... 2026-06-12 05:00:00 -0700 0b550141-6b6c-4cbd-b299-9b6d243ee31c https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/herald-missed-a-100-million-story/ There was a public progress meeting on the remodel of the 9R building into a new city hall and police department May 20, which was announced days before in the Herald. I was unable to attend. So I wai... 2026-06-12 05:00:00 -0700 ecf3c3b4-f222-4a99-b4b3-ea80595ed397 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/romeros-real-colorado-roots-run-deep/ Alex Kelloff proudly talks of his work in the telecom industry, expanding fiber-optic networks in rural areas – makes it sound like he’s right here in Colorado, boots on the ground. The truth is a bit... 2026-06-12 05:00:00 -0700 d3e7d97a-47ed-484a-9155-e038a05ff01f https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/bennets-local-results-speak-for-themselves/ I am writing to support Michael Bennet for the next governor of Colorado. He delivers results. I met Michael after he became a U.S. senator over 17 years ago. Since then, he has come to this county ti... 2026-06-12 05:00:00 -0700 ec908469-2d44-4df6-a1b5-4274e2ac481f https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/durango-needs-a-residential-recovery-center/ My name is Jessey Stiegelmeyer, and I am a longtime Durango resident who loves this community. One thing I believe Durango is missing is a residential rehabilitation center. I have developed a proposa... 2026-06-10 05:00:00 -0700 cdb3ddcc-9889-4cb7-8527-54c1c01ea9d2 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/questions-about-peace-run-founder/ I read your recent article about the Sri Chinmoy Peace Run with concern. While world peace is a goal we all share, I was troubled to see city officials participating in an event organized around the l... 2026-06-10 05:00:00 -0700 74460446-edf5-4fa6-893c-fcce73e545b0 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/the-first-amendment-protects-us-all/ I know that during times of political turmoil and constitutional illiteracy, it’s hard for people to understand and appreciate that the way you live, regardless of where you fall on the political spec... 2026-06-10 05:00:00 -0700 2e860a1a-b97a-456f-869a-960d9a82d2be https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/site-should-remain-focused-on-children/ I’m looking at the front page of the Herald from May 27. The first story discusses Durango’s childcare access crisis and the desperate shortage of affordable childcare. The second story asks what the ... 2026-06-08 05:00:00 -0700 0dfa0cc1-2080-4a09-922c-1760cd06a42d https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/transparency-and-the-tina-peters-case/ The judge in the Tina Peters case, a Gov. Jared Polis appointee, is not a Republican, as stated in the editorial, “Wrong call,” (Herald, May 20). The judge has been far harsher in Peters’ sentencing t... 2026-06-08 05:00:00 -0700 080276cf-0aea-49a6-b7ff-df8e2f85ffdd https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/addressing-americas-growing-wealth-gap/ Wealth inequality in the United States has reached levels that should concern every American. While millions of working families struggle to afford housing, healthcare, childcare and higher education,... 2026-06-05 05:00:00 -0700 870c5f2d-1761-4dc2-bdaf-29552a7ddf40 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/democrats-still-misunderstanding-their-2024-defeat/ Republicans seemed concerned about their electability in the wake of Donald Trump’s increasing unpopularity. But don’t worry – Democrats can still snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in 2028. After... 2026-06-05 05:00:00 -0700 66f2b575-2b3d-44bf-8a1d-77e9f8738497 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/kelloff-puts-public-lands-at-forefront/ Alex Kelloff has been part of ranching and public lands for four generations. He and his family have lived, run cattle, hunted, fished and worked with local communities from Trinidad and the San Luis ... 2026-06-05 05:00:00 -0700 9b0df6d8-e5a7-4c39-97de-42595895dce9 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/naomi-riess-is-the-right-choice-for-hd59-2/ I am proud to offer my full support and endorsement of Naomi Riess as the Republican candidate for House District 59. I have known Naomi for many years, and during that time she has shown a deep and l... 2026-06-05 05:00:00 -0700 3283ac34-2712-49e0-8031-a5f36a392488 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/rethink-watering-unused-grass-in-bodo/ With water restrictions arriving early this year, and given that we live in a high desert, one has to wonder why there is so much completely unused, lush green grass in Bodo Industrial Park. Acres of ... 2026-06-03 05:00:00 -0700 2c1c0cfb-f9ea-474b-be1b-5364283552d3 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/pay-for-gas-tax-relief/ President Trump wants to suspend the federal gas tax to lower the price pressure created by his reckless war in Iran. A great idea! We could all use the help. But he needs an act of Congress to do it.... 2026-06-03 05:00:00 -0700 35f093dd-c8fd-427e-9721-1a1780a0c4ba