What news?
When we write letters to the editor, what is our intent? Who is the audience? Who reads? Who learns something and changes their mind? I recently heard less than 2% of people under 50 read a paper. What percentage under 50 read anything not on social media? I read social media, too, but it’s quick-note, line-summary, five to 20-second information.
I stayed in a couple of hostels recently while traveling, getting into interesting conversations and being exposed to a different crowd than my usual one. I “almost blew it” only once, when a 40-year-old woman commented that she didn’t get into news because people can’t tell what’s true, so what’s the point?
I took a moment then, with a still heated voice, replied, “Democracy requires engagement. It requires paying attention. Read reputable sources and follow the money.” Later, I wished I’d also said, “Don’t be lazy. Don’t let others do it for you, because they’ll be doing it for themselves — not for you.”
To those of you who do read this letter: challenge yourself. When is the last time you read nonfiction? Current fiction? A magazine you don’t subscribe to? Our libraries have all that. On Libby or Hoopla, you can read pretty much any journal or newspaper behind a firewall. Yes, it takes a bit of effort. You actually have to seek it, not wait for it to fall in your lap or be sent to you from someone else.
And, while you are at it, consider when the last time was that you changed your mind about something substantial. Do you really have all the right answers to everything you care about? When was the last time you engaged in a conversation about something substantial with someone you disagree with? Were you able to find how they got to their position? Did you look in and discover how you came to your position? Is there a common value that drives both of you? Is there a mutually agreeable position you both can at least respect each other about?
I was fortunate to find paid work that rewarded me for being curious. It was a good fit, because, at my core, I am still. I hope many of you are, too. Happy winter light!
Susan Rhea
Carbondale
Library law
On Dec. 12, the Garfield County BOCC interviewed 12 candidates for three GCPLD trustee positions. All applicants are given a packet which contains, for example, the Library Bill of Rights and access to Colorado library law, documents which spell out the predetermined and required duties of a library board trustee. The appointed trustee signs off, promising to uphold the ideas put forth. Unfortunately, it was clear that some had not read the packet.
One question, in my opinion, was instrumental in the decision as to whether that applicant would be considered an acceptable trustee. That question follows:
Federal law, Colorado law and the Garfield County Library District’s bylaws require the library to protect children from material on the internet that is harmful to their beneficial development. Do you believe there should be the same reasonable policies for children’s access to books that are designated for mature audiences? Why or why not?
This question referred to the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), a federal statute, passed in 2000, that restricts underage minors from accessing obscene or indecent internet content via computers in facilities that receive federal funding, such as public schools and libraries. The statute requires those facilities to utilize software filters and similar technology on behalf of underage patrons, but to disable those filters per the request of an adult user.
Senate Bill 24-216 was passed by the Colorado legislature in May 2024. This bill details what the library’s responsibilities are when considering the banning (removal, restriction or relocation) of titles. The bill emphasizes the role of professional knowledge and experience in creating public library collections.
What the BOCC wants is against the law. CIPA protects children against obscene material defined as having no literary, political or scientific value. SB24-216 spells out library responsibilities when considering a challenge to a title. Both rules are followed by the library trustees.
In library school one learns to make a conscious effort to strategically arrange a collection so that age-appropriate information is in each section: children, young adult and adult. Our library district is following the law. The BOCC refuses to trust the experts and wants a commitment from the selected trustee to refuse to follow the law, to break the law. SHAME ON YOU.
Jocelyn Durrance
Carbondale
Traffic concerns
Community members and transportation experts have raised serious concerns about the traffic mitigation plan proposed for the Harvest Roaring Fork development along Highway 82. A review shows the plan relies on assumptions that do not reflect existing conditions on an already constrained corridor.
The traffic analysis does not fully account for the project’s scale, which includes approximately 1,500 residential units, potential accessory dwelling units, commercial uses and a hotel. Using more realistic trip rates suggests the actual traffic impacts may be significantly greater than those presented.
Highway 82 is already operating at or near capacity, with daily volumes between 24,000 and 29,000 vehicles. Adding what could be more than 15,000 additional daily trips is effectively introducing a small city’s worth of traffic onto a roadway that is already strained.
Equally concerning is the lack of meaningful analysis of construction traffic. Years of heavy trucks, material deliveries, equipment hauling and worker commutes are not adequately modeled, despite impacts occurring long before occupancy and continuing through a multi-phase build out that could last through 2040.
Safety risks are particularly acute in the Cattle Creek area, where increased traffic, turning movements and construction vehicles will heighten dangers for residents, emergency responders and wildlife. This corridor also serves as critical wildlife habitat, and added traffic will worsen fragmentation and collision risks.
Finally, the mitigation strategy relies heavily on optimistic assumptions such as internal capture and reverse commuting. If these assumptions fail, congestion will fall entirely on Highway 82, raising serious concerns for emergency response and wildfire evacuation.
If a traffic mitigation plan does not withstand basic scrutiny, the project is not ready for approval. Our community deserves realistic, transparent development that protects public safety and quality of life.
Miriam Muñiz Fennell
Glenwood Springs
Safety or gridlock?
Our community must demand a safe and sensible development plan for the proposed 111-unit workforce housing project by Aspen One (Ski Co) near Blue Lake. While we fully support the goal of workforce housing, the current proposal is fatally flawed in its excessive scale and its catastrophic impact on public safety.
The project’s density, at approximately 5.5 units per acre, is incompatible with our neighborhood’s character. This is more than double the density of the existing Blue Lake community (2.34 units/acre) and forces the developer to build three-story, multi-family buildings that will fundamentally change the suburban look and feel of our area. It is an urban apartment complex being dropped into a low-profile community.
Even more alarming is the traffic plan. Aspen One’s traffic study is unreliable, based on the wrong standard (“Affordable Housing” ITE 223), which leads to a massive undercount. The claim that 111 units will generate only 28 total trips in the morning rush is simply unbelievable. The developer is so aware of the traffic disaster that they are asking for a waiver to excuse a Level of Service (LOS) failure at the Blue Lake main entrance (SH 82 and JW Drive/Valley Road). This failure projects an average wait of over five and a half minutes (334.5 seconds) per car for one turn — a direct compromise of public safety.
The resulting gridlock will not only be a daily nightmare but will also delay emergency response times, a concern formally raised by Roaring Fork Fire Rescue.
The solution is not a safety waiver, but a sensible compromise. We urge our community leaders to formally oppose the current plan and demand a scale-back. Opposition could be reduced or withdrawn only if the project size is limited to a maximum of 50 to 60 total units and the buildings are reduced to one or two stories high. We need a good neighbor, not a safety disaster.
Susan Sullivan
Carbondale
Liberty and justice
Do these words sound familiar?
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Liberty and justice for all — that is our pledge, stated within the Constitution and its amendments.
What does “justice” mean? Receiving “due process,” if anyone, ANYONE, is accused of a crime, that person, regardless of citizenship status, receives a just and fair trial before being determined guilty.
During these past few months, U.S. military has been ordered to attack and destroy boats in international waters and murder all survivors. Those actions, those orders, are illegal.
Mark Kelly, a U.S. veteran and senator, publicly reminded our President — and all of us — that if anyone in the military is ordered to commit an illegal action, that person is obligated to refuse.
Trump has publicly stated Mark Kelly is guilty and should be hung.
Trump’s accusation is unethical, outrageous and dangerous. I thank those members of Congress who stood with Mark Kelly, voiced their own outrage and reminded all of us that our fundamental rights are being threatened. I support those courageous six lawmakers and veterans fully. They took action. They refused to violate their oaths to protect and uphold the United States’ Constitution.
I ask every single one of our representatives and senators to stand up and speak out.
I must do the same.
Nancy Bo Flood
Glenwood Springs
Letters policy: The Sopris Sun welcomes local letters to the editor. Shorter letters stand a better chance of being printed. Letters exclusive to The Sopris Sun (not appearing in other papers) are particularly welcome. Please, no smearing, cite your facts and include your name and place of residence or association. Letters are due to news@soprissun.com by noon on the Monday before we go to print.