Burden of providing utilities
I am strongly opposed to annexing the proposed Amara Development into the city of Colorado Springs.
We have so much open land within the city now that can be developed, we don’t need to add to the burden of providing utilities, fire, police, and other services to a new development that might have up to 9,500 homes. We are obligated to the land around the airport, the Banning Lewis Ranch property, and so many other sites in our city that will add thousands of rooftops and commercial, retail, and other buildings that we can’t say “no” to.
It isn’t contiguous with our city but merely a thinly veiled attempt to be part of Colorado Springs.
I believe Fountain rejected it because they don’t have the wherewithal to do it and provide the services, so La Plata came to Colorado Springs, knocking on our door.
It will burden us with expenses and water necessities that we don’t have and don’t want to be obligated to … a “short sighted” reason for annexation — for their profits!
They claim to add to the revenue of the city, but I’m not sure it will.
As our utility planning and finance head, Tristan Gearhart stated, it could create too much debt for years to come, even with the shaky “rider” financing. We are already at 51% debt load.
I don’t want my rates to increase simply to offset these costs.
Who knows how much our costs will be with the added state mandates for “clean energy” and for which we don’t even know what they will cost. Huge question mark.
Less water from the Colorado River Basin.
What if the costs are greater than anticipated by La Plata and burden us with more expenses?
We need to upgrade many of our aging utility lines now.
Ronald Rubin
Colorado Springs
It is time for change
I am disappointed in the editorial regarding Initiative 91, proposal to eliminate trophy hunting, published Monday. The editorial represents one side: hunters.
While we can discuss science-based wildlife management, isn’t it really about money? The state gets an average of $9 thousand a license for a mountain lion. And trapping bobcats for their fur is also a money-making industry. Certainly, these revenues taint the whole idea of science based decision-making.
In addition, the idea that we are trying to end some basic traditions that have been passed down over generations is crazy. The romanticization of living off the land and back to basics is delusional. This idea changed long ago with high-tech weapons and GPS-collared hunting dogs.
It is time for change. End these heartless money-making practices. I am all for hunting, but let’s try a bow and arrow. Now that’s a sport.
Kathy Farrell
Colorado Springs
Time for the city to move on
First, the City Council shot down a fully researched proposal by Colorado Springs Fire Department to take over the ambulance transport in our city because they believed the accounting given to them by AMR.
It’s kind of like asking the fox if the chickens are safe in your coop! AMR has been doing the same song and dance over the years with no improvement in safety or health of our citizens, just more money to corporate accounts.
Now the same council takes issue when one of their own asked about outside money amid a vote about the height of buildings in our downtown area. So it looks like the council can be bought, and now is the time for our citizens to take back our city and with the votes in their hands decide the fate of AMR and building height (developers).
John Suthers is no longer mayor with his developer friends; it’s time to move on. And while at it, bring in a whole new City Council that will listen to citizens of our good city and not developers or special interests groups.
Walter Taylor
Colorado Springs
Origin of the ‘Big Lie’
As we have seen and heard recently, lying has become an everyday part of our political discourse.
For those that use lies, guidance is provided by Adolf Hitler, in his 1925 — 1926 manifesto, “Mein Kampf.”
He stated “If we want to score a victory, we must actively make use of lies. They have to be big. The bigger the lies the quicker people will believe them.” He coined the term grosse Lüge — “Big Lie.” He used them to spread untruths about Germany’s Jewish people. Josef Stalin reportedly used Hitler’s “Big Lie” method to explain his persecution of Soviet citizens.
Today, learn the facts, and you will have a better chance to avoid becoming a believer of a “Big Lie”!
James Condit
Colorado Springs
This is elder abuse
Anyone who has seen the debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump knows Biden has some form of dementia. Many of us knew before the debate.
The responsibility does not rest with only our government, it begins with his family. It is “elder abuse” that you see with his wife, Jill, and others in his family.
It is hard to take the car keys from a loved one. I know I had to take them from my father. But it was easier than seeing him hurt himself or someone else.
Right now, Biden is hurting America, and the stakes are high. America is now vulnerable to a war or nuclear bomb or some other attack.
It is a wife and family’s job to do the right and moral thing. I pray they will.
Carolyn Riggle
Colorado Springs