Letters - Friday

Change needed right here

There are not words to describe my current level of excitement at the prospect of luring another business to our fair city with a few "incentives" ("Council approves HP tax incentives," The Gazette, May 13). It is largely because of incentives that our leaders have managed to expand our city limits, but at what cost?

We have continuously expanded our infrastructure and its management to a point that it will not begin paying for itself for another 20 years while we are making duct-tape repairs in the city's core. We need to make our 911 calls at least an hour in advance, and the costs of utilities services steadily rise as more and more citizens matriculate to unemployment and under-employment.

Our cherished relationship with the USOC is now a source of great embarrassment for that institution.

What say we take a step back and deal with the fact that it is almost impossible to successfully obtain a political position in the city or county without funding from construction and real estate organizations and, of course, certain considerations are expected. How about a few incentives to help existing businesses stay in business? We didn't need "change" in Washington nearly as much as we need change in our own front yard.

Mike Neeley, Colorado Springs

City not here to create jobs

As President Ronald Reagan used to say, "Well, there you go again." First it was $53 million for the USOC, now $4.8 million for Hewlett Packard. Who's next?

The city is laying off employees and cutting back on services to try to make up for millions in budget shortfalls with one hand, while passing more millions out the back door for private companies with the other. Cutting jobs to try and create jobs.

This corporate bribery, extortion and welfare must stop now. It is simply not the responsibility of the city government to spend tax dollars to try to bribe companies to locate here. The city's charge is to provide police and fire protection, maintain streets and street-lights, and, if there is any money left over, maintain the parks.

The Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corp. are charged with the task of promoting Colorado Springs to businesses; with private donations, not city or county tax-dollar subsidies. Enough is enough.

Kyle C. Akers, Colorado Springs

Idea for traffic safety

I figured out a way to slow down speeders in neighborhoods. On May 5, my 13-year-old granddaughter and two of her friends spray-painted "Slow Down Stupid" on the street in front of our house.

As the deputy was writing her a summons to court for a class 2 misdemeanor I commented on how slow the traffic was going. The deputy said the sight of her car tended to do that.

So, to save the county some money, we could just park some cars here and there to slow speeders. Just the cars that are not in use at the time.

This would solve two problems at one time: Slow traffic in neighborhoods, and eliminate the need for teenage girls having to be made into criminals by spray-painting "Slow Down Stupid" on the streets.

Preston Rohrick, Colorado Springs

Washington bleeds us dry

If you have not read the book "The Rise and Fall of Germany," "The Thundering Storm," or at least, "While Rome Burns," then perhaps you need to. That is, of course, if you are wondering what is going on in Washington these days.

The Mafia and the drug cartels are small-time hoods compared to the dictators of Washington and their captains, the state governors. I am 70 years old and wish I would live long enough to see the outcome of the coming revolution/civil war. The creators of our Constitution must be shedding tears to see what is taking place in a country they dreamed to be so great.

Ed Myer, Colorado Springs

Local racers are real winners

Way to go, Margie and Luke ("Local tandem had a blast in dramatic global race," The Gazette, May 12). My family was cheering you both on from day one of "The Amazing Race." To us, you were real winners and inspiring representatives of Monument. Classy all the way.

Andy Petersen, Colorado Springs

GOP must get on board

If Republicans don't distance themselves from Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney and their alienating ideas of what it means to be Republican, I wish the party the best of luck.

You don't have to be a retailer to know that you don't try and sell what the public doesn't want. For example, if the people want 2 slice toasters and all you have is 4 slice toasters, you will be out of business in no time. The same goes with the Republicans' ideas of rejecting gay rights and single-payer health care, among other ideas. The steam roller is coming. You can get on board and ride or get flattened.

Patrick Daugharty, Monument