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You see, they did not talk about a love for Colorado or Denver in terms of living day-to-day. ey love the parks, trails, mountains and wildlife. However, they are not happy with the direction this state is headed.

One family is changing. A couple is getting married. She has a daughter, and he has a young teenage daughter. e upcoming family of four will not be staying in Denver as their new life begins. Instead, they they cannot a ord to come together and live here.

He is a teacher. He said the salaries for teachers in Colorado are some of the worst in the nation. at means he is looking elsewhere.

e couple, once married, will be moving to Texas where teachers are paid a lot better.

Let that sink in. Texas, which makes the news regularly for politics in schools and other controversies, is about to gain a lovely family to improve their economy and communities.

Besides not being able to make it work on a professional level — the couple also said they cannot a ord to nd a home to come together as a new family. Costs are too high. Property taxes are high because of valuations — believe me, I have read mine. at means Texas will get a new-home purchasing family.

To stress, this is a family that contributes to our economy, attends our schools and has a truly positive impact on our local communities. is is a uring a recent vacation, I was able to meet and talk with several people who are from the Denver area. What I found interesting is what they told me their plans for the future hold.family we are about to lose.

Given current living conditions — they cannot stay here.

The losses will mount FROM THE EDITOR elma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.

Moving on to another gentleman that I had a lovely conversation with while waiting for a boat to leave for deep-sea shing: He talked about working in the Denver metro area and along the Front Range, and said his wife, in law enforcement, works in another state.

He said given the current nature of politics in not just Colorado, but all over the U.S., he and his wife will likely be living in another country in the next few years.

Again, a well-established couple who works hard and contributes positively to our country — does not want to be here anymore.

Look at our own legislature in Colorado. With the 2023 session ending on May 8, the day this column was written, the Democratic majority waited until the very last minute to even consider addressing the property tax issue. Let’s face it — it was not exactly a secret. So – focusing on left-leaning priorities and ghting with the Republicans the majority of the session did nothing to help local families want to stay here. In fact, in my neighborhood I’ve had plenty of discussions with moms who say when school is out — so are they.

Good families are leaving our state for another state. Young couples are saying they do not even want to be in our country anymore.

While these are quiet conversations I have had on a trip or in picking my kids up from school — the sentiments are loud and I am willing to bet a lot of families and residents are getting fed up.

And, as they move away, so will the sensible voters lawmakers might need in the next big election.

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Receiving and giving light and love o you have people that you get to see often, maybe daily, weekly, or monthly, and whenever you do have the opportunity to meet with them, they always seem joyful bringing light and love to the atmosphere? Some of us are truly blessed to have a few of these bright and cheerful people in our lives, making us feel better whenever we are together.show up, call, or send me a really funny text message, bringing some muchneeded light and love to my day, or even in the moment.

As I have traveled quite a bit in my career, one of my favorite pastimes is people watching. Is that something you enjoy as well? And I love it when perfect strangers become the light and the love for me. Watching a group of people or a family laughing out loud as they share jokes and stories. I was watching this one family as I waited to board my ight and they were traveling with their grandfather. I couldn’t hear what was said, but they all started laughing hysterically, and the grandfather was laughing so hard with huge belly laughs and tears streaming down his face, I started laughing just watching him laugh so hard and I didn’t even know