Turn to urban green areas to fix our water woes

We’ve been told we have to build, build, build!

Build so that we will have enough housing for our projected 2050 population…Build so that we can provide a ordable housing.

Build, Build, Build!

And this is all being done at the expense of nite resources, such as land, lumber, and especially water! So, apparently, the latest “Solution” is to use cement and asphalt, instead of irrigated lawn and trees to enable even more building and growth!

In the rst place, growth is not always good. For instance, cancer is a growth, but that does not make it good.

We must plan for “sustainable growth” with sustainable technologies, rather than any and all growth and building. One of the most sustainable things we can do is to re-use existing buildings and infrastructure. Many older buildings are constructed of brick or masonry and already have infrastructure such as water pipes, electricity, gas pipes, roads, etc. in place, rather than having to extend all new utilities to buildings proposed of lumber construction.

By the way, lumber-constructed structures are at a far greater risk of re spread and damage than structures made of brick and masonry.

But back to water: Before the mid-term elections, Jared Polis and

Heidi Ganahl were determined to let us know that Colorado has high priority water rights compared to other states and that storage of this water is the solution.

What?

Lake Powell is a water storage project that is running so low that the dam will not be able to function unless we drain water from other sources just to ll it up to bare minimum capacity. So creating a bunch of mini Lake Powells is supposed to be the answer to our water situation? Really?

Water Storage is n ot the solution. In fact, it is really a major part of the problem!

When we pipe water from one slope to the next and let once owing rivers run dry, just to ll “Water Storage Facilities” (dams, etc.) all we are doing is dehydrating our natural landscapes and opening them up to greater re danger along the way. We also cut o drinking sources for plants and wildlife.

I do support one form of water storage; beavers are great at constructing natural dams to create ecosystems that protect forests and other plants from re damage while also creating ponds for sh and other animals who depend on a steady-year-round water supply. e human solution to this dilemma, unfortunately, is to build tall dams out of concrete (6% of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions come from cement production) and dole out the water for human

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com consumption only. We are supposed to relegate our surroundings to xeric (drought-resistant planting) areas, after all, this is the semi-arid southwest and it is not natural to have trees and lawns in the semi-arid southwest, right? Well, guess what else isn’t natural in the semi-arid Southwest? You guessed it, millions of people living in houses made of imported lumber, driving around in carbon-emitting automobiles on petroleum-based asphalt streets, from stores to schools to work, etc. is is all not natural. Yet, these unnatural scenarios are considered necessary, while the green and cooling spaces - not to mention carbon sequestering spaces -within our new urban landscapes are the things that have to go?

Urban uses for water account for approximately 10-20% in Colorado, with landscaping needs accounting for only about 2% to 4%. e bigger percentage of water use is for agriculture. Raising cattle is a huge source of water depletion, especially when we appropriate large amounts of water to irrigate pasture land- often at the expense and needs of our native animals and environment. In fact, I could take a shower each day for ve months and still not use all the water that it takes to “raise” one pound of beef. at’s 1,850 gallons of water!

Personally, I would rather experience the cooling and carbon-

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com political sense to call it the “Roadway Improvement Fee” with all funds earmarked for street maintenance.

Hopefully, the concrete replacement work and the street lighting charges from Xcel Energy are still covered in the Street Division budget. Secondly, I would encourage sta and council to pursue a $2.00 per month increase to be more meaningful as far as how much work could be done. Residents know the city is behind in street maintenance. If you are going to do it, make it count.

Obviously, generating $1.2 million each year will accomplish more street work. at is what is needed now! Go for two bucks a month!

SEE CHRISTOPHER, P13

Letter To The Editor

Rent control promotes discrimination

One important factor that’s been absent from the rent control debate thus far is the fact that rent control lowers the cost for landlords to discriminate against prospective tenants.

When rents are forcibly lowered by rent control, bigoted landlords can be choosier to whom they rent to because more prospective tenants can a ord the arti cially low rent.

Rent control empowers bigoted landlords to discriminate against people of color, LGBTQIA2S+ people, young people, people with pets, people with children, people who wear turbans, people with tattoos and nose piercings, people who dress unconventionally, overweight people, people with disabilities, people who consume tobacco products or marijuana, people who drive beater cars, and on and on.

When rents are uncontrolled and high, bigoted landlords can’t a ord to be as choosy about whom they rent to because prospective tenants who can a ord the high rents are comparatively fewer and further between.

If you want more discrimination against prospective tenants, rent control is de nitely the way to go. But if you think more discrimination against prospective tenants isn’t right for Colorado, oppose rent control.

If you want lower rent, the solution is to increase the supply of rental housing, and to do that, government restrictions on building more rentals, such as zoning regulations, must be loosened up or eliminated altogether.

Chuck Wright, Westminster

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Window.

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Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

Hyland Hills board candidates announced e deadline for candidates to le seeking a seat on the Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District Board of Directors has come and gone with four candidates who decided to run.

Incumbent Board member Jenn Flaum, Paul Paige, Danielle Grosh and Mike Hald make up the ballot this time. Flaum has another term of eligibility and decided to throw her hat back in the ring. Board member Chris Dittman will have served two terms and will be term limited. us, there will de nitely be at least one new personality on the ve-member board. Paige ran last year and lost by one vote. Yes, your vote does count!

Park naming honors former city manager Brent McFall

Westminster City Council voted recently to rename the park across the street from city hall known as Westminster Center Park to McFall Park in honor of former City Manager Brent McFall.

He served as the city’s top executive from 2001 to 2015. Such recognition for a city manager is especially unusual and shows the degree of