Springs just doesn’t get it

Re: The proposed “anti-sitting” law. Well now that’s just dumb. Colorado Springs seems to always want to create ways to have downtown be more “user friendly” and create more foot traffic so that the area can be more vibrant and a boon to the businesses that are located there. And then they come up with this idea. Crazy.

We definitely have a problem with people loitering near the corner where the 7-11 is located. I don’t “blame” 7-11, but that was never an issue when any other business was there, so go figure. And the strangest thing to me is there is a police station right across the street!

Instead of proposing a no-sitting law (still can’t believe how dumb this is), how about no loitering … and how about enforcing it? Wow. Novel concept. In addition, try cleaning the sidewalks – they are disgusting – NYC sidewalks are cleaner than this. Encourage downtown pedestrian traffic by making it pleasant to walk down the street! Clean up the weeded and trashy areas. Actually police the area for no bikes, no skateboards etc. on the sidewalk. Use the band shell at Acacia Park for free concerts, family friendly events, free movies in the park – something that actually draws people to the downtown area.

People always complain about the parking or lack thereof. How does it make sense that on a major corner (Pikes Peak and Tejon) there are four dedicated spaces to police vehicles only?

Colorado Springs just doesn’t get it in ways that much smaller towns do. It’s too bad. It has great potential but not enough insight to get out of it’s own stuck ways.

Robin Dillon

Colorado Springs

Census security needs testing

Apparently, The Gazette’s staff reporter, Debbie Kelley, has been chosen for a census test which is a precursor to the 2020 nationwide census. The goal being to reduce costs by using the Internet instead of paper for future census surveys.

Those of us who read the news regularly are aware that when the Affordable Care Act Internet’s application system launched for the states without their own system there were major problems.

It was stated that there had not been enough time for proper testing. Currently the IRS has problems and it has been stated this is because there is not enough funds to update their system properly.

This statement pops-up occasionally in explanations of why various Homeland Security departments fail to cross communicate with each other. And of course there is the recent hacking of Anthem Health Insurance, which was apparently done by “mobsters” for the China and Russian governments so the information could be compared to the information hacked (by China?) on individuals with Secret Security clearance.

There are a lot of problems that need to be addressed before there is a test, let alone a nationwide census event.

As much as I am for saving money, our Census Bureau needs to be told if the security of the system is not proven, real, paid for, tested, and information cannot be hacked then they should not insult the U.S. public’s intelligence by not expecting to be knocking on a lot of doors.

Ruth Wilcox

Colorado Springs

Keep Drake running

Concerning our local energy needs and the Martin Drake plant. Let me start off by stating that using children as pawns to sway an outcome is cheap and desperate. It will take a long time for Drake to equal the effects of Mother Nature.

The haze to the west from fires or our own past fires and flooding have much more impact for years to come.

Coal may not be the cleanest but until other energy sources become economically viable it’s not bad especially with modern filtration methods. After the mine debacle I hardly trust the EPA passing judgment on how to protect us. An efficient option for Drake is natural gas.

I have been here long enough though to remember one attempt on conversion, only to see that commodity jump in price, leaving us thankful for not switching. Keep Drake running and our energy costs in line.

Dale Gray

Colorado Springs

School zone safety issues

School has been in session for a few weeks. I wanted to bring some much needed attention to school zones. I have been driving for quite a while, but I still remember to slow down to 20 mph in school zones. What I have witnessed is drivers flying through without any regard to the school zone. Tailgating, trying to get through the zone quicker. not sure how they intend to go through my vehicle to accomplish this? Weaving in and out so they can pass the “slow drivers”.

By the time the traffic light changes, we are at the red light at the same time. These drivers didn’t save any time, just risked the safety of children and other drivers’ sanity.

When a police cruiser is at the school zone, it is amazing how everyone magically remembers what to do. Why can’t we step up and do this even when there isn’t a police officer present? Since this city isn’t getting any smaller, perhaps it’s time for us to pay for more police services rather than just complaining about the end result of not having enough officers for basic tasks – such as school zone safety.

Parents also take note – when picking up or dropping off your children at school, your kids and others are watching you cutting in line, and cutting off other drivers, disregarding others’ safety as well as your own. We all learned in kindergarten, to wait for your turn, it is common courtesy!

Take the time to be responsible, since your time is not any more valuable than anyone else’s!

Lorraine M. Lawson

Colorado Springs