Letters - Wednesday

EQUAL PROTECTION
Heimlicher abandons conservative principles over Cheyenne Motel

The Gazette's "exposé" of the relative crime spree surrounding the Cheyenne Motel exhibits a lack of true conservative leadership on the part of Councilman Jerry Heimlicher ("Some would welcome a vacancy," July 13). He seems to believe the city can and should step into the private decisions of property owners. This act of liberal government intrusion into the lives of owners appears to be in conflict with the principles of true conservatives.

But, is it really? Could there be a more dangerous agenda hidden in the movement to use the city's nuisance ordinance? I would surmise that this is little more than a political power grab in a neighborhood which seems to feel that it is besieged by criminal activity.

I would even suggest that the city deciding to use the ordinance without first addressing the large number of calls to other locations mentioned in the article would be an infringement upon the rights of the Cheyenne Motel's owner.

Heimlicher feels 79 calls for police service at the establishment justifies the city seizing the property. If this is correct, then why start with the lesser offender? Surely The Citadel mall must be the first establishment cited followed by the Wal-Mart on Platte Avenue. These establishments have had 427 and 300 percent more calls for service over the same time period. The fact that the Cheyenne Motel has seen only 23 percent of the calls for service as The Citadel shows Heimlicher's proposal is intended to single out this owner and deny him the equal protection of the laws.

The article certainly suggests Heimlicher wishes to enforce the ordinance on a pick-and-choose basis. This would set a dangerous precedent for the entire city, demonstrating that the rights of the small property owner can be trampled upon, while the large corporations continue to do as they please.

Mert Smith, Colorado Springs

WHAT'S THE DEAL?
Adoption story rudely invaded privacy of adoptive family

The Gazette did a grave disservice to the adoptive family in publishing the article, "The best, hardest choice," (July 14). What was the purpose behind publicizinginformation about the adoptive family?

Two obvious purposes - to pressure the adoptive family, and elicit sympathy for the Warde family - smack of selfishness and intrusion. This article should have been written to protect the privacy of the adoptive family, even if Viola Warde consented. This is not an unusual story between relinquishing and adoptive families. This story was a blatant invasion of the adoptive family's privacy.

Rose Zacker, Falcon

EQUAL TIME
If Manitou shows Gore's film, it should show other side

As reported in The Gazette, the Manitou Springs Climate Action Plan includes a recommendation to "increase education, including screening of Al Gore's ‘An Inconvenient Truth' at Manitou Springs High School." I can't help but wonder if, in the interest of science education, a screening of "The Great Global Warming Swindle" (www.greatglobalwarmingswindle.com) will also be scheduled.

I'm going to guess not, since allowing anyone to see even a bit of the scientific evidence that global warming is unrelated to carbon emissions would only emphasize the pointlessness of so-called carbon neutrality.

Robert Herzfeld, Colorado Springs

AMENDMENT 48
Proposal would redefine life to eliminate birth control

Peg Roach asked, "What does Amendment 48 have to do with birth control?" This amendment states that life begins at fertilization. They are two different things" ("Proposal doesn't pertain to birth control methods at all," Letters, July 10).

No, they are very much connected in the minds of the amendment's sponsors.

This amendment would extend the right to life to all human beings from the moment of fertilization, which means that any form of birth control that could inhibit the natural development of a fertilized egg would violate that egg's right to life, requiring criminal prosecution.

The most effective methods of birth control sometimes work by making the uterine wall inhospitable to fertilized eggs. The pill, the patch, the NuvaRing, IUDs, Depo-Provera, Implanon and Plan B all could become illegal if this amendment passes.

Medical science doesn't consider conception to have taken place (a pregnancy established) until the fertilized egg successfully implants into the uterus, because a lot can happen during the journey (about 10 days) between those two points.

By redefining the term "conception," Amendment 48 bans most contraceptives, as well as abortions. Is that what Colorado really wants?

Marsha Abelman, Colorado Springs

LOOKING AHEAD
Waller would be welcome change from Bruce's ego-inflating ways

There are two types of legislators; the good ones listen to the experts and translate that into good legislation, the bad ones stir the pot, grandstand and get in front of the press whenever possible to increase their influence and feed their ego.

It is very refreshing to hear Mark Waller's conservative stance on important issues and to hear he doesn't have a canned legislative agenda. I want a representative who will listen to his constituents and prioritize the most important issues and do a great job writing legislation to make Colorado a better place to live. Waller is a principled leader who is not afraid to confront the ugly side of politics, but ultimately will listen to his constituents, then work hard to further their greater good.

Steve Jacobs, Colorado Springs

5TH DISTRICT RACE
Republicans should concentrate on taking Democrats' seats

Saying you're a winner and actually winning are two different things.

Neither Jeff Crank nor Bentley Rayburn has even run for the school board, yet both of them want us to unseat Doug Lamborn, on whom we just spent a lot of money to support two years ago. I have to say I still resent Crank's entitlement attitude after Joel Hefley essentially tried to appoint him as his successor. And for Rayburn to choose such a safe seat that's already occupied strikes me as an example of poor judgment.

I don't know these guys and they don't know me, but they are either rookes looking for the best seat at the cheapest price, or they are politically savvy, experienced and electable Republicans who should be running against Democrats such as the Salazars.

Either way, in my estimation this isn't where conservative Republicans should be spending their money. Doug Lamborn is a proven winner.

James Davis, Colorado Springs

CITY FEES
Officials can't scare taxpayers out of supporting petitions

I read Rep. Douglas Bruce's June 29 essay on the two petitions to reform city stormwater and other enterprises ("City Council's math doesn't add up," Other Voices, The Gazette). He proved beyond all doubt that City Council can't add straight. Their estimations of the proposed tax cuts are wild tales to overstate the savings from these two modest plans.

The council inflated the cost to scare us seniors into voting against ending these taxes. Well, I'm in my 70s, and I'm not scared. I'm tired of city spendthrifts raising taxes without voter approval, and threatening to take my home if I don't pay.

Doug Stinehagen, Colorado Springs