Private-public partnership for U.S. 36 was a mistake
Re: “CDOT will start search for answers, and blame,” July 16 news story
I attended the community meetings years ago “staged” for those of us along the U.S. 36 corridor from Denver to Boulder. That was all it was, a staging, for we were told of the Boulder Turnpike reconstruction as a “done deal,” not for further public scrutiny or input. I can tell you that as the “flagship,” first-time PPP (public-private partnership), no one was happy being presented with an unprecedented 50-year contract, starting from design through construction through maintenance.
The “Boulder Turnpike,” as originally built by the State of Colorado, had no major structural issues for what, 50 years? Now the new “model” for road expansion brings us a private entity, and not the expertise of CDOT engineers, with we as consumers having little understanding of the role and oversight, if any, of the PPP’s expertise and CDOT’s oversight.
With a fully collapsing structure, and major closure of this vital corridor between Broomfield and Westminster, this is now a calamity.
Could this have been avoided? Is such private “expertise” really worth what CDOT sold it as? At this point, I think not. The CDOT spokesperson, whose arrogance throughout those meetings reminds me of a similar spokesperson for the White House, shut down most questioning and discussion. Enough said.
RL Rittmaster, Superior
CdeBaca’s politics are scary
Re: “CdeBaca is first democratic socialist on the city council,” July 15 news story
Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca may wish to duck the communist moniker.
“Progressive” and “democratic socialist” and “social democrat” are euphemisms for the same thing. Is “community ownership of land, labor and resources,” including yours and mine, not the Marxist doctrine?
If it quacks and walks like a duck…
Jon Williams, Denver
Anybody else a little disturbed by newly seated Councilwoman CdeBaca’s comment that our nation is in “late-phase capitalism” and that she believes in community ownership of “land, labor and resources” and that she’s excited to “usher it in by any means necessary?”
David Oyler, New Castle
In her interview, CdeBaca expresses her belief that others peoples earnings, if above some threshold, are unfair and must be redistributed by government. Looking at every historical occurrence where such a concept has been tried shows that the redistribution goes mostly to those doing the redistribution, and pittance enough to keep them quiet goes to the citizens.
We’re seeing this very example being carried out live in Venezuela right now. What had been the wealthiest nation in South America is now a wasteland of poverty for the citizens, and a golden throne built on theft and corruption by the current totalitarian demagogues. What fools are we?
Stephen Holben, Lakewood
TABOR: the lid on the honey pot
Re: “TABOR continues to be a hot topic,” July 14 letter to the editor
Tom Sabel wanted to know why other states have not approved TABOR, yet followed the lead of Colorado and gladly approved legalized marijuana? Simple: TABOR puts the lid on the legislators’ honey pot, while legalizing marijuana provides them with a steady stream of the golden juice to spend.
Bob Lowry, Highlands Ranch
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