LETTERS: Sunday

OHV problem widespread

In Gazette reporter R. Scott Rappold’s recent article (“Dirt bikes, camping and a slew of problems, June 3”) highlighting the increasing public-lands damage being caused by OHV overuse and abuse here in Colorado, he points out the proliferation of illegal, user-created routes and the expanding culture of lawlessness apparently permeating a critical mass of OHV users.

As a hunter and OHV user myself, I understand the attraction of these vehicles, but their misuse is widespread (as Rappold’s article confirms) and not only churns up the countryside, causing public lands damage that will take “three decades…to come back,” it also spooks deer and elk, chasing them farther into the backcountry where they are harder for hunters to find.

Colorado Division of Wildlife director Tom Remington says, “These animals are chased and harassed all year long, it’s not just hunters.” Year-round disturbances make wary animals even more wary. Add to this near-constant state of nerves caused by scofflaw OHVers running rampant across the countryside, and you have the makings of a lackluster hunting season.

In Colorado, the State Parks Board has the opportunity to support real, meaningful OHV management reform through “sticker funds” reallocation, which would result in more funds being allocated to OHV law enforcement and remediation activities. Hunters and anglers pay for our own law enforcement through license fees. Why should the most damaging and disruptive  group of public-land users  be allowed to escape the responsibility of self-policing?

Certainly, we can all agree that every citizen should have opportunities to enjoy the big outside — and indeed, public lands welcome everyone. But must they accommodate everybody’s favorite toys, too? Of course not, no more than we are free to ride our dirt bikes into the post office or the library, even though we pay taxes to support those facilities.

David A. Lien, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Colorado Springs

Over-taxed by taxes

Our patriot forefathers fought for and earned our nation’s independence, spurred by the wrongful imposition of taxes by the English Parliament upon the colonists. The colonists deemed those taxes wrongful because the colonists had no vote. Hence arose our hallowed tradition that no government can impose upon us “taxation without representation.”

The Denver City Council has imposed a tax (disguised as a fine) upon any non-Denverite involved in an automobile accident within city boundaries. Only citizens of Denver can vote for or against their City Council. Other Coloradans (as well as tourists and visiting businesspeople) just get to pay. That, folks, is taxation without representation.

Moreover, this wrongful tax was proposed by Mayor John Hickenlooper in his budget. For a fellow seeking to be elected governor, a statewide office, that seems an odd disregard for other Coloradans. Ah, but all of us do get to vote on his gubernatorial candidacy.

You can decide for yourself whether you want such a governor. Even those of you who live in Denver, although spared on this tax, may not be spared then.

Peg Brady

Centennial

Here we go again

We are now in the process of re-inventing the wheel; that is, bringing back the Human Relations Panel. Why? This “thing” didn’t work before and will certainly create problems and dissent as it did in the past.

The premise is to bring the community together. False! The need is from some community organizers who see a political advantage by this unelected forum.

These people usually have a series of issues that they will try to advance, disguising them as a benefit to the community. They justify these actions against the community by using accusatory statements such as” intolerance and nonacceptance.”

These organizations serve two purposes. They promote their own personal philosophies and/or they serve as a buffer for elected officials. Please note that a citizens organization just approved a controversial building at the site of 9/11.

Defining areas of responsibility will be a task for City Council. In times of financial difficulties, the city would be better served by volunteers whose efforts would be directed to beautifying the city.

Roy Ayala

Colorado Springs