LETTERS

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), May 14, 2002

WATER WOES

Local government can't make up its mind

As I continue to read about our water shortage and drought, I wonder if we can't learn from history as those who can't are doomed to repeat it.

If we look a little further south and see what Phoenix has gone through in the last 20 to 30 years with its growth explosion, we may find some lessons. That city both allowed and encouraged newcomers and new buildings to landscape their property for beautification and civic pride. But eventually what they got was "pollen" pollution in a once-haven for allergy sufferers, water demand sky-rocketing to keep up with new growth, taxes raised for finding new water sources, and ecological changes along old water-shed regions.

Now look at Colorado Springs from 10 years ago up to now. See any similarities? If someone has built anything around here lately, you know that city codes demand a landscape plan with trees, plantings, etc. These all require water and change our eco-system. Don't they know we live in a high-desert mountain and arid region?

Of course, another agency just down the hall is using our ratepayer dollars to tell us to conserve water and use xeriscaping. So we plant to please the city and county; then, we don't water to please the city and county - and then we have fire danger from dead plants. Don't these people ever talk? Who is in charge of coordinating the message around here?

Todd Pickle, Colorado Springs

Errant sprinklers send wrong message to public

I was very dismayed to see two sprinkler zones in the North End of Goose Gossage Park running water on a sidewalk and on the landscaping around the restroom and utility building for over two hours while we were watching my son's lacrosse game Saturday afternoon. The hot dog vendor (who is there all day) said they had been running since the morning. This is the parking area and building just west and north of the skateboard park on Mark Dabling. A large volume of water was running down the street during this time. I did call the utilities department to advise them and they said they had an emergency contact for this at the city's parks and recreation department.

I know the department has an extensive amount of sprinkler systems that it is responsible for and that things do break or are programmed improperly. However, at this time of drought in our city, it seems imperative that city government provide the leadership to the community in wise use of limited resources. Obvious waste of taxpayer resources through poor system management or lack of attention to repair issues will cause citizens to become cynical to pleas for conservation by authorities.

Reginald D. Francklyn, Colorado Springs

TRI-LAKES VOTE

Election's over; majority said no - get over it

We, the Tri Lakes voters, were thrilled to see the funding issues for the Tri-Rec District go down in flames last Tuesday, by 80 percent to 20 percent. Happily, we thought that this was the end of any more discussion, and that we could get back to our normal lives.

However, in your paper, last Thursday, you quote the chairman of that ballot effort, Russ Broshous, as saying the board will digest the election results, and debate the future of the district at its next meeting, May 21. What kind of answer is this to the voters, who sent them a resounding no?

Don't they get it? The people have spoken. They should dissolve now. We urge everyone who can possibly attend to join us at the May 21 meeting in Monument at 7 p.m. at the Lewis Palmer Administration Building. The election is over.

The Tri-Rec District should be history, as well.

Ruth Higgins, Monument

CHURCH AT CROSSROADS

Hierarchy turns deaf ear to member's input

The May 12 Gazette report, "Catholic parishioners want more say in church issues," was welcome exposure during this troubled time for Catholics.

I am a St. Francis parishioner who was dismayed over Father Pat's departure and must question how parishioners can be ignored with such serious decisions.

I am suspicious of the comment that says they "cannot consult" with parishioners. These are the same parishioners St. Francis needs for its mere existence. How long can we be asked to be obedient and at the same time be asked to contribute financially and through volunteerism if we do not have a voice in who is going to preside over our parish?

Maybe even the larger crisis of pedophile priests would have been averted with more openness by the Catholic leadership. I left a message for the parish director and sent an e-mail to Bishop Hanifen regarding Father Pat without either of them having the courtesy to respond.

No, the Catholic Church is not a democracy, nor should it be, but this kind of arrogance only will force each and every parishioner to rethink his contribution and commitment.

David D. Nelson, Colorado Springs

SOCIAL SECURITY DEBATE

Let's face it: The system is going broke

Marianne Means' column "Social Security privatization would be bad for women," in the May 12 Gazette, is just another ridiculous diatribe against President Bush and anything he does to attempt to fix or improve practically any rotten government program ever forced upon the American people.