Voters must reiterate stance on Park Hill Golf Course land
Re: “Project headed back to voters,” Jan. 25 news story
Thank you, reporter Joe Rubino for your coverage of the late night spent by Denver’s City Council deliberating how to proceed in determining the use of Denver’s last, largest undeveloped parcel of land.
This issue makes me angry because we voters have already spoken, saying that we want this land to remain undeveloped green space, with the passage of Ordinance 301 back in 2021. Ordinance 301 required voter approval for the conservation easement on the land to be lifted. I want the existing conservation easement on this land honored to prevent development upon it.
Once land has been developed, it will never, ever be free open space again. Denver needs trees, not more mixed-use development. Voters, please don’t let Westside Investment Partners or City Council wear you down on this issue; in April, we all need to vote, yet again, to enforce the existing conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course land.
Joanna & Chris Johnson, Denver
The landlords can’t be expected to absorb exploding costs
There is lots of talk from the left (anti-capitalist) wing of the legislature regarding rent control. Before I get into some facts from an individual who owns two rental properties (me), let’s look at some history.
Government controls are draconian and usually don’t work in the long run by stifling investment.
The so-called greedy landlords like myself have had to absorb costs that cannot be made up with rent increases. The market will not tolerate these kinds of increases. In one property my HOA monthly cost in January 2022 was $462; this January, it is $582, a 26% increase. In another property, the HOA last year was $840; this year, $1008, a 20% increase.
These additional costs of ownership do not include the inherent property tax and insurance increases, plus increases in maintenance costs and fees we have no control over. These over-the-top increases typically cannot be passed on because the market, that is, the free market, will not tolerate it.
I just wanted to temper the self-serving proposals and propaganda with some facts. The old adage, which might apply, is: “Don’t confuse me with the facts.” Many politicians of a certain persuasion have difficulty with this concept.
Myron Spanier, Aurora
The next chapter of African-American studies
Re: “State rejects AP African-American studies class,” Jan. 20 news story
Florida’s disallowance of courses studying the history of racial discrimination provides future courses with their next chapter.
Todd Lundy, Denver
Aiming in direction of bystanders
Re: “When is a mistake a crime,” Jan. 8 editorial
To me, it is pretty simple. If you do not know where the bullets are going, you should not be pulling the trigger. If you do know where the bullets are going and you hit innocent people, it is a crime.
Gerald W. Berk, Evergreen
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