October Letters to the Editor
City Should Explain Before Asking For More Money
Referred Question 2A (Denver Facilities System Bonds) on the Nov. 2 ballot is an ask for $104 million for Denver facilities projects like repairs and improvements at the Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Bonfils Theater Complex and the Denver Zoo; two new libraries; renovation of a city-owned youth empowerment center; and accessibility upgrades for city buildings.
In 1982 the administration led by Mayor Bill McNichols included a project to “repair and improve” the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. It turned out to be a doubling of the size of the museum with no evaluation of the increase of needed parking. When the parking problem presented itself in the midst of the Ramses show five years later, the Denver Museum of Science and Nature, in City Park, asked for more money to “solve the parking problem” it had created with no public discussion.
They built an underground garage with no planning to add stories of parking above it. At the time I asked the head of the museum if the garage could be expanded vertically. He said it could not. Similarly, I understand that, after completing the southern addition of 60,000 square feet, the boss asked to grab the lawn between the museum and Colorado Boulevard for additional parking. I also understand former Mayor Wellington Webb intervened to abort the plan.
Someone should be assigned to investigate the sources and realities of these anonymous proposals. How many will need more parking? What are the realities of these “repairs and improvements”?
Tom Morris, Cheesman Park
Choose Action Over Apathy
The reason I moved to Denver was to pursue work at the intersection of social work and environmental/climate justice. Today, I am sitting under smoky skies in Denver processing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC’s) new report that analyzes and communicates the current and expected impacts of climate change, and what is needed to address climate change.
The analysis and findings of these scientists are not surprising, but still devastating. I want to share a few things if you’re seeing news on this that have been helpful for me as I process the new report.
“Every fraction of a degree averted is suffering (human and non-human) averted. Just because you can’t stop all suffering is not a reason to not prevent what suffering you can. There’s no giving up, my friends.” (Dr. Elizabeth Swain).
“Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.” (Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass)
There will be grief for what is now irreversible. I’m feeling it heavy today. But there is also hope and much more action needed, and we must choose action over apathy.
“We must envision the world we want. And go create it. In our collective action, there is power. We can grieve and act at the same time. Indeed, we must.” (Dr. Lisa Reyes Mason, my very wise research advisor).
Colleen Cummings Melton, Platt Park
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