In modern times, purchasing tickets has become taxing
Re: “Colorado joins lawsuit seeking to break up Ticketmaster, Live Nation,” May 24 news story
Life was more honest and fair with scalpers and certainly more personable. In an attempt to be cool and modern — i.e., use computers instead of people — the industry screwed consumers and kept doing it until they were threatened with being yanked to the curb after years of increasing prices, mark-ups, and hassles.
Rocky Hill, Denver
Buying a ticket to a baseball game used to be easy. And you actually received a ticket.
No more.
I’ve gone through the digital gymnastics that is now required. It can be a long, confusing process requiring setting up an account ( with the ubiquitous password), being reminded that you’re “on the clock” with multiple “upsell” pop-ups, and finally, the demand for a credit card number, expiration date, etc. As of this week, there is no requirement for a blood sample.
So the Rockies have converted an opportunity to interact with paying customers into an impersonal, aggravating chore. This must be modern marketing theory.
Tom Bassett, Arvada
The Jenna Ellis factor
Re: “State court suspends ex-Trump lawyer’s license,” May 29 news story
“Colorado suspends ex-Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis’ law license for 3 years over Georgia election lies.”
And yet Trump blithely carries on.
“In the agreement, lawyers for Ellis and the state of Colorado acknowledged that although ‘disbarment is the presumptive sanction for (Ellis’) misconduct, it is significant that her criminal culpability was due to her conduct as an accessory, not as a principal.’ ”
Her lack of principle made her a principal.
Harold A Maio, Fort Myers, Fla.
Extending RTD program could be answer to gas costs
Re: “Gas will get more expensive,” May 28 news story and “RTD ends free ride program to contain summer air pollution,” May 30 news story
I find it very disappointing that Gov. Jared Polis and state officials chose to fight a losing battle with the EPA instead of focusing on providing funding for transit agencies for another summer of “Zero Fare for Better Air.” I think if there was ever a time Coloradans would need free public transit, this would be that time.
The Common Sense Institute released a report, “Fork in the Railroad: RTD’s Ridership Dilemma,” showing that ridership has declined and fares provide less than 5% of RTD’s operating budget. It is a chicken-and-egg problem that transit agencies face; they need ridership to provide better service, but better service is needed to attract ridership.
The fact that gasoline may increase anywhere from a few cents to 60 cents per gallon would have been an amazing opportunity to showcase the benefits of using transit.
Providing safe, reliable, frequent, convenient, free transit would help lower emissions to EPA standards, give Coloradans a financial break, and help generate ridership for agencies.
Juan Manuel Ramirez Anzures, Denver
Lawn crew in the city’s own backyard
Re: “Denver offers bonuses to some teens, young adults,” May 21 news story, and “City’s lawn upkeep lags because of hiring delay,” May 30 news story
Let me get this straight: In mid-May, the Denver Mayor’s Office announced millions for youth employment, and now, at the end of May, an official announces it will be the end of June before Denver Parks and Recreation will be fully staffed. Can’t he call the Mayor’s Office and say, “Send me some of those youth,” or can’t the mayor’s office call him and say, “We have your people”? It is hard for me to figure government programs.
Jim Hannifin Sr., Denver
