Speak up!
June 5, at 2pm at the Carbondale Library, the library board of trustees discusses if it is their role as trustees to restrict access to books found objectionable by a small group of people based on a political or religious ideology. Censorship is to restrict or impede access to information.
This past year, this well-organized political/religious group showed up at Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) meetings, requesting the BOCC take control of the appointment of the library board of trustees . The BOCC did take control of the appointment of the library board of trustees, emboldening this group to continue calling for books to be moved around in the library.
Last year, this group showed up in large numbers at the library board meeting in Carbondale. They put a lot of pressure on the library board of trustees to censor books. This year, it is expected they will do the same.
June 5 at pm at the Carbondale Library is your chance to let your voice be heard. Show up, speak up and always protect our GarCo libraries — www.protectgarcolibraries.org
Susan Use
Glenwood Springs
Swimming season
Ahhh, the hazy, crazy, lazy days of summer are upon us. I so want to grab my swimsuit and head over to the pool for a refreshing splash and swim. But oh no! Not this year!
The construction site is humming along, it might actually be finished this September, but that’s too late for a swim this year. I can only hazy-lazy dream of next summer — a full time lap pool, a full time recreation pool, a hot tub for easing those muscles sore from yesterday’s hike or bike, new lounge chairs under colorful umbrellas, listening to kids laughing while they play in the water features, all heated by an all-electric pv system and heat pumps. It’s going to be so great!
But — there is a but — in spite of Town’s careful budgeting, the chaos of the real world messed with us. Everything costs more and every funding opportunity is hammered by other communities just as needy as we are. We need 800,000 more dollars to finish the pool with all the cool stuff you’ve seen in the drawings. In a town and community of over 10,000 people, we should be able to donate an average of $80 a person.
A big SHOUT OUT to all who have donated so far! If you haven’t yet, please step up soon. Let’s get this funding over the finish line so we can stop fretting about it.
BONUS, if you give $1,000 or more, your name will be forever included on the donor wall. All those people in the future will know you cared.
You can split your donation over two years through a pledge form. Stop by Town Hall or Rec Center for info on that. Or donate directly at www.carbondaleconnect.org/pool
Susan Rhea
Carbondale
Insanity
There is a saying that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. And yet here we are, with another Republican Congress selling tax cuts for the rich.
Tax cuts would just result in more wealth inequality, more homelessness, more suffering for the hourly wage worker, and higher interest rates due to our additional national debt to fund them. It is a big cruel lie rather than a “big beautiful bill.”
We know what it takes to balance the budget; Democratic President Bill Clinton produced a surplus in every year of his second term. Hint: it requires taxing the rich more, cutting defense spending, and constraining the growth of social programs.
As soon as Clinton left office, the Republicans passed major tax cuts, primarily for the rich, and the deficits grew out of control. Since then, presidents from both parties have piled on big deficits.
The richest 5% of people in the U.S. now possess two-thirds of the wealth. The richest U.S. man invested $290 million in the 2024 campaign and now has control over removing subject experts in the government, even those responsible for investigating his corporate malfeasance. Billionaire families invested over $2.5 billion dollars on the 2024 campaign. Their investment returns come in the form of tax cuts, reduced inheritance taxes, the carried interest loophole, and control over regulators.
Insanity describes this administration’s actions on several fronts. In a democracy the citizens are expected to require a course correction. Will we stop the madness or just keep staring at our Instagram or TikTok feed? The choice is ours.
Robert Schultz
Carbondale
Ceasefire film
On June 5, Ceasefire Now RFV will host a free screening of “No Other Land” in Glenwood Springs. This is a powerful documentary co-directed by a Palestinian and an Israeli journalist, unambiguously documenting Israel’s forced displacement of Palestinian families in the West Bank. Despite winning an Oscar, the film has faced censorship, including attempts by politicians to shut down screenings here in the U.S.
In the Roaring Fork Valley, where we pride ourselves on standing for justice, we must confront uncomfortable truths. The film reveals home demolitions, armed settler attacks, and military violence — realities that undermine the narrative pushed by U.S. media and politicians. Meanwhile, Israel’s war on Gaza has killed over 36,000 Palestinians, including 15,000 children — more than all the kids in Garfield and Pitkin counties combined. Yet our government continues sending billions in military aid to support this violence.
This screening at the library is more than just a film showing — it’s an act of solidarity and defiance. In a time when speaking out for Palestinian rights is met with backlash, our community must stand against censorship and dehumanization. I urge Carbondale and RFV residents to attend, bear witness, and join the call for a ceasefire and an end to U.S. complicity in this genocide.
The truth will not be silenced.
Robyn McBurney
Redstone
Jewish homeland
The terrorizing state of Israel needs to be reined in by stopping all arms shipments and support of the genocide by the U.S. The criminal ring leaders of Israel must be removed and brought to justice. Then, a declaration of Palestine as a brother state would immediately release all hostages and cease all hostilities from Palestinians, Houthis, and other Arab States. The 70-year occupation and containment of Gaza, as an open-air prison by the Jews, must be converted to normal International border protocols. This is the only way that Hebrews will find peace in their homeland.
John Hoffman
Carbondale
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