Urban areas urgently need wildfire risk measures and leadership
Re: “We knew these wildfires would come. Did we do enough to prepare?” Aug. 4 editorial
The answer to Sunday’s headline question: No!
Preparation and investment have typically been for forest wildfires. Our communities are unprepared for the significant growth in urban wildfires fueled by grass, homes, neighborhood trees, shrubs, and wood fences.
My neighborhood was designed in the 1970s before issues of water resources and urban fire risks were widely recognized. My neighborhood has an extremely high risk for fire damage and destruction of homes. We require leadership and resources relative to the real risks to lives, homes and communities. The state, counties, community associations, fire departments, and cities have the responsibility to protect us from fires.
A few weeks ago, a fire east of the metro area quickly burned over a thousand acres, including a farmhouse and outbuildings. Another home and business were devastated. Three fires burned in the foothills, and sadly, a life was lost, and homes were destroyed. If these fires were in urban areas, the results would be significantly different.
Colorado needs to make substantial investments in funding and execution of plans that address minimizing large grassfires. Leaders should address the risks associated with dangerous living conditions in our urban communities, such as the highly flammable, overgrown, dead, and diseased trees and shrubs and yards with fire hazards.
The urban areas along the Colorado front range have very high risks for large damaging and lethal wildfires.
Jim Remley, Littleton
Voters rejected the high cost of Steamboat Springs project
Re: “Steamboat had plan, but voters said no,” Aug. 4 news story
The article in Sunday’s edition fell short in assessing why the project failed when presented to the voters.
Citing “lingering tensions” and “simmering divisions” created an inaccurate view of our community, as did citations of opposition based solely on “change.” Concerns about change are common to all small communities in Colorado and are not unique to Steamboat.
The core issue was cost.
For housing to be affordable, it must be subsidized to some degree. The subsidy, in turn, is a function of the cost to deliver it.
The gift of $24 million for the land was generous but only equates to about $10,500 per unit of cost. That is akin to a sack of potatoes on the Queen Mary when one assesses the total building cost of $500,000 for a 1,000-square-foot unit! To that building cost, add the expense of infrastructure, estimated to be as much as $150,000 per unit or more, plus some share of infrastructure costs such as a water plant — with a cost in the millions. A big number is the result.
The greater the cost, the greater the subsidy to deliver housing as “affordable.” The greater the subsidy, the greater the prospective burden on taxpayers.
Steamboat citizens – supportive of addressing housing needs – are also mindful of cost. For Brown Ranch those seemed prohibitive.
Therein lays the basis of the greatest opposition to the project — not tension, not division, not change.
James De Francia, Steamboat Springs
Editor’s note: De Francia is a planning commissioner in Routt County.
No debates? Give us some town halls
Re: “Trump will skip ABC debate with Harris,” Aug. 4 news story
So former President Donald Trump won’t debate except on Fox News? The Fox News that is a 24-7 commercial for Republicans? The Fox News that settled with Dominion voting systems for $787 million for promoting lies about the 2020 election? The Fox News that gives MAGA-elected officials their talking points about their adversaries while only asking softball questions of their acolytes?
We know who Trump is: one who doesn’t answer reporters’ tough questions and sprinkles his responses in debates and interviews with falsehoods, hyperbole, and insults while going off-topic routinely.
We don’t need a debate with Trump to determine what we’re going to get with him. Vice President Kamala Harris should see if ABC will convert the Sept. 4 debate that Trump won’t attend into a town hall for the VP and maybe do more town halls. It seems we get a better idea as to the candidate when audience members get to ask the questions and the candidates have to answer instead of deflecting.
John W. Thomas, Fort Collins
Are condos the problem or the solution?
Re: “Colorado’s new progressive housing policies will strain neighborhoods,” August 4 commentary
Sunday’s contribution from state Rep. Gabe Evans may hit a chord with some. As an urban and regional planner, it was incumbent upon me to consider not only the physical programming of a site or development but also social programming. Builders very seldom do this. I know from an earlier career that builders tend not to even like appraisals. Loans, though, are okay.
Rep. Evans provides a point of view that, unfortunately, is not totally objective. His perception is real — for him and for many others who can’t find a house to buy these days. But he really misses the boat in claiming density is a bad thing, but condos are not bad. Aren’t condos, by their nature and design, built at high densities?
Greg Iwan, Longmont
Congrats to Colorado state Rep. Gabe Evans for nailing what is ailing Colorado’s housing situation in his commentary. He expertly explained how the constructors’ insurance cost on building condos is three times that of apartments! We have enough apartments and high rents already! How about building more condos so people, especially younger people, can get a first chance at owning a home? Seems the left can’t even put their conservative hate aside to allow some help on this.
Gabe Evans is the man to lead this state to better times. Thank you, Mr. Evans, and glad you’re in my district!
Arnie Gutierrez, Brighton
Cheering on the “third” candidate for president
Re: “Election 2024 — RFK Jr. makes state ballot; party dispute intensifies,” Aug. 2 news story
I have a renewed sense of optimism and look forward to the future, supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in his campaign to become the next president of the United States. After a lifetime of being a registered Democrat, I am now independent.
I agree with Kennedy that the Democratic Party has lost its way. What once was a party of blue-collar laborers, firefighters, and police officers is now a party under the thumb of Wall Street, Big Pharma, and the military-industrial complex. The Democratic party I grew up with, protecting my rights to free choice and bodily autonomy, mandated me to take a vaccine in 2020 or risk my job and small business. The party that was intolerant of book banning is now censoring speech on social media.
As comedian Amy Poehler once said, “Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” I stopped listening to what “they” said about RFK Jr. and started listening to what he was saying. I hope your readers vote for someone this November who inspires them and makes them excited about what is to come, as RFK Jr. does for me and many others.
Cheryl Harris, Denver
At this time, when skewed information is being propagated, RFK JR stands out as a pillar of genuine open dialogue! His candidacy is a departure from divisive tribalism! America needs to break free from the two-party system.
Kennedy’s specific and reasonable policy for everything from homeownership for the middle class, controlling our borders, stopping forever wars, rooting out corporate capture, health care freedom, and protecting our environment from big polluters is refreshing. We are so proud that here in Colorado, we submitted nearly 30,000 signatures, and with the help of the Colorado Libertarian party, Bobby is on the ballot. Thank you, Colorado Libertarians!
Now America has a third choice to vote for — the candidate with the most integrity to lead America this November. Country before party, people before politics.
Here’s hoping America will vote on hope, not fear! Bobby is the one who can unite the country!
Shanna Lakho, Aurora
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Originally Published: August 14, 2024 at 2:05 p.m.
