Partitioned bike lanes need maintenance too
As an avid recreational cyclist and longtime bike commuter in southeast Denver, I watched eagerly as the City of Denver recently rehabilitated E. Yale Avenue between Clayton-ish and Colorado Boulevard.
First, a much-needed repaving, and then fresh striping with green paint for the bike lanes — perfect! But then came protected barriers — rubber curbs with vertical barrier “pipes” — to physically separate the bike lane from the vehicle lane. Okay, but how can the city maintain the new protected bike lanes so they are actually safe to ride in?
Do they have mini snow plows that will remove snow from the bike lane like the plows used to do before? Do they have mini street sweepers, too?
The point is that these new improvements — without the “care and attention” shown the rest of the roads — have actually made this “protected” section of Yale less safe for cyclists than it used to be.
Jim Levinson, Denver
GOP cities should prepare for migrants
The governor of Texas rationalized the sending of migrants to “sanctuary” cities. Now that the majority of Republicans have either voted against or proclaimed themselves as against the latest bill for border control, it is time to forward some of these migrants to those states and cities that these Republicans represent.
I’d like to see the mayor of Denver begin bussing a percentage of these migrants to Cheyenne, Lincoln, Neb., Salt Lake City, and other cities in Republican-dominated places. It’s probably time to share the pain for all cities in the United States to drive our politicians to find common ground in dealing with this migration.
Bill O. Panknin, Broomfield
 CHSAA ruling not very sporting
Re: “Preps: ‘I want nothing more than to be on that mat,’” Feb. 5 news story
For several years now, professional, Olympic, and collegiate associations have been promoting the mental health of their athletes. Apparently, CHSAA missed out on that when considering the case of wrestler Alejandra Alfaro and the trauma she suffers. It sounds like she’s being punished again for being a great wrestler.
If she were just an average wrestler, would CHSAA or the uber-competitive schools even blink an eye over her request? What about the ethics of the other schools chasing after her? One even offered her dad a job if she went there. It seems like a case of sour grapes by the other schools because she chose Pomona High School. Not only has Alejandra had her safety stripped from her, but she now has lost her dream as well. In this case, supporting athletes’ mental health means placing compassion and the understanding of trauma, ahead of competition.
Craig A. Knippenberg, Denver
Colorado has an open enrollment law allowing parents to pick and choose where they want to send their child to school. School Districts are currently advertising that it is open enrollment time. I do not recall anywhere in the law where athletics can be a determining factor impacting open enrollment. If a student gets into a school through open-enrollment and school choice, can CHSAA restrict participation in sports?
Alejandra Alfaro appears to have valid reasons for her seeking an education other than her current school, and it appears the family went through the process correctly.
I believe CHSAA made an error in its decision to prevent her from fully participating in her sport. Why was it OK for her to participate in the regular season but take away her opportunity to finish the season? If CHSAA is using its policy on preventing recruitment, why did it allow for participation in the first place?
Dave Usechek, Parker
Profits shouldn’t be on hospitals’ agenda
Re: “Hospital profits plunged in 2022,” Feb. 6 news story
There are myriad problems — worldwide, nationally, and locally — that keep me awake at night. That hospitals decreased their profit from $3.4 billion in 2021 to $336 million in 2022 is not one of them. Health care should not be a for-profit business in the first place. In a compassionate and just society, it wouldn’t be.
Nan Young, Denver
A plague of expired plates
Re: “Honorary diplomats file suit over nixing of their special consular license plates,” Feb. 8 news story
As a motorist in the Denver area, I cannot tell you how many expired temporary tags I see on the streets. Some are more than a year old. To target 33 foreign diplomats and consulates seems ludicrous and disgraceful. Let’s get our priorities straight.
Allen H. Vean, Denver
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