Letters to the Editor

Protect Our Bees

I want to thank you for running an article last month in regard to bees, especially when it regards legislative initiatives. It drove me to action to call my representative, which is not something I’ve ever done but bees are something I’m really concerned about.

My only criticism with the article is that it only mentioned honeybees. It would have been nice if our native bees had been included. Native bees are at a higher risk of extinction than honeybees. Another point, when I called the listed numbers for our legislators they seemed a bit lost as to what I was talking about, even after reading them the article. Maybe if there is a number or name for the legislative initiative; that might have been listed.

I would love to suggest doing a future article on native bees, including things that people around the neighborhood are doing or could do to help support them. For me, I put up native bee houses, make sure that the habitat is bee friendly, don’t use pesticides, etc. Your article pushed me to try to offer lessons to people in my neighborhood on how to set up a native bee house, maintain it and why this helps bee health, so I definitely appreciate you for that.

Colleen Peper, Park Hill

Editor’s Note: The bill is HB20-1180, the Protect Pollinators Through Pesticide Regulation, which would place restrictions on certain pesticides to protect honey bees, native bees and other pollinators in Colorado. It was introduced on Jan. 29 and assigned to the House Energy and Environment Committee. Check out page 14 for details about a March 28 local forum about bees.

Failure To Act

Protecting the natural beauty of our state is a bipartisan priority for all Coloradans, whether you enjoy skiing and hiking in the Rocky Mountains or own farms on the Front Range. On Feb. 20, Sen. Cory Gardner joined Donald Trump at a rally in Colorado Springs to convince Coloradans he is the right choice for reelection. But on climate, Gardner has repeatedly favored Washington elites over his own constituents.

Gardner is the first Colorado senator in 50 years to not sponsor a wilderness protection bill and has accepted over $1 million in contributions from the oil and gas industry. Closely aligning himself with Trump, he voted for Scott Pruit, a well-known climate change denier, as head of the EPA. Unlike Gardner, John Hickenlooper’s record as governor reflects a concern for environmental preservation, like upholding the provisions of the Paris Agreement and committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across Colorado. As wildfires and drought continue to ravage our state, Gardner’s legacy will be as the senator who failed to act in time for Colorado.

Madeleine Hughes, Park Hill

We love your letters! Send them to editor@greaterparkhill.org. Deadlines are the 15th of each month.