7 minute read
Soapbox
News coverage of the proposed library district for the City of Durango and the Durango Public Library fails to reveal some key issues. Apparently a consulting firm is to be hired. Are these funds to come from the city’s general fund, and if so, how much will the consultant cost? Why not use this money instead to expand library hours to include Sundays?
Apparently approval of the library district would “free up” money within the city’s general fund. Creating a new library district means imposing a new property tax on Durango homeowners. How much will this new mill levy cost individual homeowners? And who sits on this five-member panel who is making the decision on whether to hire a consulting firm or not?
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Who chose the members of this panel?
A city library is a valuable public resource that is rightfully funded by general fund tax dollars. Shifting the cost of library operations to a new taxing district, and in the process raising property taxes on homeowners, erodes trust in our local elected officials.
– Chris Paulson, Durango
Stop World War 3
With NATO leaders conducting discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which made a truce during The Olympics, our government workers in Ukraine are warned to get out while there is still a window of time to leave alive.
Seems like this standoff will turn ugly unless Putin gets an agreement where Ukraine does not join NATO. I believe if Ukraine gets to be recognized as a sovereign country, in writing of course, without more years of Soviet killings, no cyber-attacks and can legitimately live without other horrors, they can do without joining NATO.
If Putin – the literally richest man on Earth – breaks the rules, then he can have all of his treasures taken away through sanctions. Oligarchs that are Putin’s buddies could also have all of their treasures taken away.
Leave the rest of the little people in Russia alone that want to live in peace like everyone else on Earth and not have one trigger-happy shot fired ever again, which could easily end up becoming a Nuclear World War 3 with no last man standing.
– Sally Florence, Durango
Cincinnati Bengals win Super Bowl LVI!!! ...uhh…not quite.
After 58 minutes of letting the teams slug it out, officials threw back-to-back-to-back questionable flags, giving the Los Angeles Rams two fresh sets of downs, the last of which on Cincinnati’s 1-yard line. Rams QB Matthew Stafford found receiver Cooper Kupp, this year’s MVP, for the goahead touchdown and the win, 23-20.
But wait. On the first play of the second half the officials missed a facemask penalty on Cincinnati’s wide receiver Tee Higgins, allowing him an easy score to give Cincinnati the lead. Were the officials trying to make up for one bad call with a series of others? Questionable calls marred an otherwise exciting edge-of-your seat game.
In a season plagued with officiating snafus, the Super Bowl ends up the same. The noticeable lack of penalties for most of the game was refreshing to watch, allowing an unimpeded ebb and flow of momentum. To have the last two minutes so marred it changed the outcome of the contest is deplorable. The goal of all officiating is don’t be the story; don’t let a bad call be what they talk about. Officiating any sport is tough; on the biggest sports stage in the world, it is a huge challenge. Nonetheless NFL officiating needs an overhaul.
The Rams’ plan worked. Trade for talent – including the Denver Broncos sole defensive standout, Von Miller – and build a one-season team to win the Super Bowl. But they paid a heavy price. The Rams traded away their drafts for the next several years and it is notoriously hard to keep a Super Bowl team together.
The NFL’s lack of minorities in head coaching jobs has been an ongoing controversy. On Super Bowl Sunday, President Joe Biden called out the disparity and told the NFL they must do better.
The Super Bowl half time show, a tribute to Dr. Dre, is being hailed as one of the best ever. Dre’s protégés, including Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar, honored the master. Eminem took a knee in solidarity with NFL players supporting Black Lives Matter. Hip-hop and rap are a comfortable fit in the NFL.
This was likely announcer Al Michaels’ final broadcast for NBC. Michaels’ smooth, urbane style has made him one of the NFL’s best – and most loved – announcers. Michaels, 77, is being wooed by Amazon, which will have a Thursday night game next year. It was also Michele Tafoya’s last game. NBC parted ways with their stellar sideline reporter.
The Rams become the second team in Super Bowl history to win the big one in their home stadium. Tampa Bay did it last year.
Billie Jean King, the tennis superstar, tossed the coin to start the game. Going into Super Bowl LVI, the team winning the coin toss had lost the previous seven times. Make that eight. Cincinnati won the toss.
– john van becay, Aurora
Respectful exchange
A Google search for “Why are Democrats losing voters?” reveals voters are feeling so disenfranchised by the Democratic National Committee they are turning off in droves.
This, during a year that should have every democracyloving American energized and looking for how they can best participate in the coming election. It’s frightening.
After all, more than anything, this election will be about the future of open and fair elections in the U.S. Beyond that, it’s going to be a national referendum between the importance of honesty and truth in America’s public dialogue versus a descent into anger-driven anarchy. No exaggeration; simply pay attention to how the Republican Party has been engaging in every imaginable dirty trick to stymie future election participation and voting legitimacy.
Successful politicians require strong, informed and proactive support if they are to lead, yet the DNC seems to be doing little to nurture that sort of buy-in from their grassroots. Why?
The DNC’s disregard towards rank and file concerns is reflected in the constant bombardment of boilerplate donation pitches, as though money was all We The People are good for. I understand the need to fundraise, but what about making us feel like active participants through straight talk, informing us of challenges, calling for feedback, being responsive and nurturing engagement.
The DNC should earn its money by informing and engaging constituents in a way that makes sense to us and connects with our lives – creating relevance, encouraging enthusiasm and producing participation.
Why not use the internet? Why not create a quality internet platform for having constructive political dialogue, by Democrats for Democrats? You could call it “The Democratic Party Online Discussion Forum” where America’s untapped concerned citizens could share their stories, ideas, concerns, questions and challenges.
The forum would be public, though only registered Democrats could sign on to comment and start threads. It would require a set of clearly spelled-out guidelines. Participants would need to sign up and agree to abide by the forum’s rules and standards. Moderators would be of critical importance to the forum’s success: fair, consistent, with a flair for humor, touch of empathy, and an instinct for constructive resolution and steering dialogue back on point.
I’ve been participating at forum.CenterForInquiry.org for many years, and they provide an excellent example of how such a forum could be organized and operated. While Center for Inquiry’s forum is small, a Democratic Party Online Discussion Forum could serve as a nucleus for some serious community building.
Politically interested citizens have few opportunities for connecting with others. By providing us with a trustworthy adult discussion platform for constructive dialogue among concerned Democrats, I can’t think of a better way to rapidly increase awareness and reinvigorate a disillusioned Democratic grassroots.
For all its faults, the Democratic Party is all we have. We need to focus on fixing it, rather than abandoning what little remaining political muscle we the people have. – Peter Miesler, Hesperus
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