Readers sound off on the issues that matter most. Here's what they're writing about this week:
Reject violence, but understand it
I have found some responses to the horrific fire assaults on the Pearl Street Mall to be very disheartening, including those by Phil Weiser, the attorney general of Colorado and candidate for governor.
I received an email article from him in which he talked about the attack on peaceful protesters who were seeking to draw attention to the Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas since its October 2023 attack on Israel. Weiser described the Pearl Street assault as an antisemitic attack — with no reference to it as an emotional response by a disturbed Egyptian native concerned about what has been happening in bordering Gaza.
In neither Weiser’s article nor his interview on MSNBC was there any mention whatsoever of the plight of the Palestinian people. There was not one word about the 56,000 civilian deaths, the bombing of hospitals, schools and refugee shelters, or the blockage of aid and food creating famine conditions.
This is in no way to condone what happened on the mall, but an attempt to understand it.
We need leaders who are able to see both sides in all their complexity and history. Leaders who can help us break this devastating cycle of violence begetting violence. And, most importantly, leaders who can help us find some path forward to reconciliation and healing.
– Ellen Stark, Boulder
Complex issues require nuanced thinking
I am writing to comment on the opinion piece “When victimhood masks power” (June 26). Kudos to Micha K. Ben David for a fantastically written article. Like Ben David, I too believe that caring for the plight of Palestinians and standing for the humane treatment of them does not imply that one is antisemitic. In fact, I believe it more accurately implies that one is anti-Israeli government.
In my view, the dualistic and black/white thinking that so many seem to be controlled by regarding the Palestinian/Israeli issue has been and continues to be the source of many of the problems our planet faces.
– John Lazas, Boulder
Don’t criminalize poverty
Let’s put things in perspective: In less than six months, Boulder County has lost its only youth homeless shelter, reduced beds at its largest adult shelter, is in the process of shutting down its foster care program and cut millions of dollars in human services spending.
Now, Longmont City Council is considering making it unlawful to sit or lie in public.
If you are experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing your housing — regardless of age — our county and local officials are sending a clear message: You’re on your own, and they want you to keep moving.
The ordinance claims this is “needed for the protection of the health and safety of the public,” yet increasing access to housing and supportive services — solutions that truly protect health and safety — are not being prioritized. It’s immoral to criminalize survival when we lack the resources to help our most vulnerable.
We are all neighbors: 57% of us live paycheck to paycheck. That means we’re just one accident, one life-altering medical diagnosis or one layoff away from this draft ordinance possibly being used against us.
The answer here is not criminalization; it’s committing to local solutions that keep people housed and help them stay housed after experiencing homelessness.
This isn’t a problem we don’t know how to fix. It’s a question of whether we, as a community, want to solve it or criminalize it. Viable solutions are available, and we should start by listening to the people who have their boots on the ground.
We should increase our human services budget to truly meet the need in our community. We can expand eligibility for the Longmont CAReS program so more families can access sales and property tax rebates, and get help with rising utility costs. We need to raise the minimum wage in Longmont to help working families afford rent, keep food on the table and keep the lights on. What we don’t need is to ignore the plethora of knowledge our local nonprofits can shine on this issue.
On a hopeful note, I was grateful to see the City Council delay their vote until August. Between then and now, I urge my neighbors to join me in letting our local elected officials know that they should vote against this measure, and invest their efforts in what makes Longmont great: its people.
– Patrick Dillon, Longmont
Critical cannabis reports overdue
I am writing in response to Anna Segur, (“Colorado teens aren’t smoking less pot,” June 17). We applaud her leadership and care for kids. To get the most accurate picture of teen cannabis use, looking beyond self-reported survey data to objective statistics as well as listening to kids and families is critical.
My organization, One Chance to Grow Up, and I have worked hard to ensure more data is collected and reported on youth impacts so the state and those of us living here can have a more complete picture.
This is why, back in 2013, we supported Senate Bill 283, which mandated that the Division of Criminal Justice in the Colorado Department of Public Safety study the impact of Amendment 64, including on law enforcement and youth and report back to the state legislature every two years.
This information will no doubt be insightful and help inform public policy decisions based on evidence. This is why we are concerned that the Department of Public Safety has not released this report as required by statute. The report, “Impacts of Marijuana Legalization in Colorado” is two years overdue. The last report was released in July 2021.
When contacted multiple times over the past year and a half, the department simply says the report “is under review.” Who is reviewing it, and why the slow roll? Now another report with the latest data is due.
We must have a better picture of what is happening to our kids when it comes to today’s new and radically different high-potency THC products.
This past legislative session, the cannabis industry sought to capitalize on this data vacuum and attempted to increase sales limits. The industry succeeded in reducing regulatory oversight, including a loosening of requirements for employee background checks, security monitoring of premises and record keeping.
The public and our lawmakers are now missing four important years of data. As concerned parents, we urge our legislators to insist on the release of the overdue 2023 report, and a timely 2025 report.
– Rachel O’Bryan, Denver
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These letters do not necessarily represent the views of Boulder Weekly.