Letters - Thursday

WATER WELLS

Economic well-being not tied to growth

The presumption that there is a need to develop an additional water delivery system (the Southern Delivery System) is based upon projections of population growth. In turn, population projections are dependent upon the local comprehensive planning process. Thus the comprehensive planning process directly affects the forecast of future population growth and the need for additional infrastructure such as the SDS.

Most American communities (including Colorado Springs) base their planning process on a historic relationship between economic development and population growth. This process, however, is flawed because it never explores alternatives that promote economic prosperity while limiting future population growth. For example, many communities in Europe have sustainable and viable economies with little or no population growth. Why is that? I suggest that they have incorporated alternatives for economic development into their comprehensive planning process that don’t depend upon population growth.

The citizens of Colorado Springs have the right to expect that their leaders will explore all options for economic development including alternatives that include economic development with limited or no population growth. As population pressures continue to erode our quality of life, we must look at all alternatives for economic development in a truly comprehensive planning process. That includes alternatives that expressly provide for the future well-being of citizens and businesses while discouraging population growth through land use restrictions and other legal means.

If such planning had already taken place for Colorado Springs and an alternative development plan with limited population growth had been found to be viable, it might have eliminated or, at least, delayed the need for an expensive public works project such as the SDS.

Lawrence M. Reisinger

Colorado Springs

How much will ratepayers put up with?

A plan to double gas prices by 2015? Raise the sales tax to 15 percent in seven years? Think this might upset lots of ratepayers? I agree, and that is why I am puzzled. The March 1 Gazette reported projected doubling or more of residential water rates by 2015 (“Utilities’ water plan wins Bureau’s favor”). Yet over the past few years only a small group has questioned building the Southern Delivery System that drives these projected increases.

Pull out your water bills for the last two summers, then figure for yourself what doubling means to your budget. How many families can afford a $50 water bill for July or August going to $100 or more? Or a summer without rain and $250 monthly water bills where the same watering now costs a little over $100?

We have enough water for those who live here now. And with sensible conservation policies we could accommodate modest growth. But local economic development policies are dominated by developers and new homebuilders who see more and bigger as the only way to go. Our cityowned Colorado Springs Utilities follows compliantly, rather than putting citizens and customers first.

We already pay some of the highest rates in Colorado for water. Will it help economic development to have even higher water prices? Better to try to attract businesses that are low water users rather than another water-guzzling Intel. And to say to new residents, “You are welcome to join us if you xeriscape but we aren’t willing to underwrite rolling out the green carpet for you.”

Daphne Greenwood

Department of Economics, UCCS

Colorado Springs

LEFT’S ENDGAME

Making all people equal is simply socialism

Syndicated columnist Robyn Blumner expressed her philosophy (and unfortunately, that of many others) so very clearly (“ ‘Shared-prosperity’ feint discounts economic differences,” Other Voices, Feb. 28). Having a stove to cook on is no better than heating your meals over a lit ashcan? Try telling that to someone who has only an ashcan.

The trouble is, almost everyone in the United States is so well off by world and historical standards that she cannot even imagine having to cook over a lit ashcan. Air conditioners, cars, DVD players, microwaves, washing machines, dryers and cell phones don’t matter? That’s fine, though I’m willing to bet that she has every single item on the list and it is not up to her to tell the rest of us what we should purchase with our earnings.

I agree with her completely that financial security, education, a decent house and caring for the health and well-being of your family are more important than her laundry list of consumer goods, but these are not what many people chose to pursue first; for some, consumer goods take priority. However, because some people choose consumer goods over financial security should not make the rest of us responsible to provide the balance for them.

Her real agenda was revealed in her conclusion where she basically states that unless the middle class and the rich are the same, the middle class are poor. That sounds like socialism to me.

Steven Lang

Colorado Springs

CHECK THEM OUT

Don’t judge candidate on superficial issues

In this very important upcoming election, we must all do our homework and check out each candidate thoroughly. Check into voting records if possible, listen carefully to what they are promising, and what they really stand for. Are they making all these promises to get elected, or do they really care about this great and powerful nation? Because of some of his recent actions, I am suspicious of Barack Obama.

Please, voters, do not vote for someone because of party, race, gender or endorsement by a celebrity. Vote for what’s best for this country.

Glori Abeyta

Colorado Springs

SAVE THE CHILDREN

Regulating abortions doesn’t end the practice

I never said that a bill requiring Colorado abortionists to offer an ultrasound to women, “would have done nothing to stop women from getting abortions” (“Abortion sides agree,” The Gazette, Feb. 12; “Corrections,” The Gazette, March 1). Of course such a law would have the possibility of saving the lives of some precious children.

Colorado Right to Life opposes every law that regulates the killing of unborn children because regardless of the intention, such laws violate God’s enduring command, “Do not murder,” because they merely prune the abortion weed and strengthen its root, because such laws make abortion seem more palatable to the public and to politicians, because our conservative judges who uphold such laws become increasingly hostile to the right to life of the unborn and because if Roe v. Wade is overturned, such laws will keep abortion legal in Colorado because they end with the meaning, “and then you can kill the baby.”

Joe Riccobono

President, Colorado Right to Life

Denver

DRESSING THE PART

At least pants-clad women are supporting Philharmonic

My husband and I attended the “Off to the Oscars” concert by the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and yes, I wore pants (“Leave jeans at home when attending concerts,” Letters, Feb. 29). Not because I have lost my femininity, but because the concert started at 8 p.m. and it was very cold that evening.

Judging from all the empty seats I saw at the concert, I think we should try to do our part to boost ticket sales for the superb philharmonic, not ridicule other audience members for their choice of attire.

Whether concert-goers were clad in jeans or pants and a T-shirt makes no difference — they paid for a ticket to support the orchestra, and an awesome time was had by this woman in pants.

Rachael M. Schneider

Fountain