Return Manitou to its natural state

At last, people are recognizing that the Manitou Incline “trail” has become the disaster it was destined to be. It’s now clear that the plan wasn’t well thought out from the beginning. The impending issues of crowds (more like hordes of people), parking problems and irritation of the Ruxton neighbors were not realistically addressed. Large numbers of people coming to Manitou have not become the bonanza retailers had hoped for. The prevailing human attitude seems to be “bigger is better.” Well, the concept of the Incline corridor as a hiking trail has grown into a monster. What is most obvious to me is that the corridor was not created to be a trail. Anyone who builds trails knows that you would NEVER build one straight up a mountainside. The result is obvious: The Incline corridor is not, and never will be, sustainable without the routine influx of millions of dollars. Your article suggested that funding for corridor improvements and maintenance has dried up. What a surprise.

I have watched the evolution of this disaster since the Incline was originally closed. At the time I thought the law required that former railroad corridors had to be reclaimed to their original state. Whether that was true, reclamation seemed to be the solution to the impending problem of intense erosion that would follow if nothing were done. In fact, the ties were left in place to help stop future drainage and erosion problems. My suggestion is to close and reclaim the corridor to its natural state. The work that has been completed would have had to be done anyway to mitigate the drainage situation. I am well aware that this would not be a popular solution for the users, but it would be a viable “fix” for just about everyone else. Picture a green hillside without an ugly scar, a decrease in traffic congestion and noise on Ruxton, more parking for residents, removal of the parking meters on Manitou Avenue. Picture Manitou Springs returned to its natural state.

Gayle Allen

Colorado Springs

Fiscal waste and mismanagement

If one has any doubt about fiscal waste and mismanagement at the federal level, I call their attention to the following excerpt from the Oct. 15 Gazette report on the Manitou Incline:

“A second grant request, this one for $500,000, is pending with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is expected to announce winners this month.”

FEMA! Really! Has the issue of repairing and maintaining the Incline escalated to a federal emergency? I think not.

James McGregor

Colorado Springs

Peyton Manning’s detractors

All sports outcomes are really trivial among the truly major concerns of our day; however do not tell the fans that. Sports have a way of affecting our lives in an all-encompassing way. But I am getting pretty sick of these alleged sport journalist “experts” trashing Peyton Manning, who thus far is undefeated this year. Perhaps we are spoiled brats considering what Manning has done in previous years. Yet this year he has operated in a running scheme offense which is not working well for running. He has possibly his weakest, most inexperienced O line (little protection) since coming to Denver, yet his offense has scored more than 20 other NFL teams; the young strong arms (Stafford among many others) are making mistakes left and right.

I watch all the other QBs younger (stronger arms supposedly) throw interceptions, too short, too long, with little criticism. Manning gets blasted for everything. It is the PC thing to do this year, and it is largely inaccurate. Manning hit Demaryius Thomas’ hands in the end zone and Ronnie Hillman’s chest in the end zone with perfectly placed passes pro receivers should never miss. And Owen Daniels was knocked off his route by an uncalled pass interference, yet it was Manning who was blasted. I played football from first grade through college, yet I wonder if some of these critics have played one down in their life. It is time these football experts show they are experts and not hacks.

Grow up, men!

Stephen Leonard

Colorado Springs

Avoiding ruinous taxes

Some friends of mine from Massachusetts recently visited me. They told me that property taxes on their $570K home there are $10,000 per year. It was for reasons like this that I left that state in 1990 and moved to Colorado Springs.

Ruinous taxes mean your children cannot afford to live in your state, and that (in this case) $833 of every mortgage payment goes just to property taxes. Please keep this in mind the next time you hear politicians voting to reform or repeal TABOR or any right you have to vote on tax hikes.

Steve Helmreich

Black Forest

State of mass extinction

I’m writing this letter in regards to Walter Williams’ “Desperate agenda of global warmers.” If what Williams says is true, then with all due respect, they should be desperate. We’re essentially throwing our world into a state of mass extinctions that occurred millions of years ago – “The Great Dying” I believe it was called. I am shocked to hear that some say we should strangle deniers in their sleep (which is hard to believe isn’t taken out of context), but what happens if we really do throw our world into a self-imposed state of mass extinction? So yes, I think they have a right, and ought to be, in a state of desperation.

I would agree that there are some political goals attached to global warmers, but does that really matter in light of the true nature of global warming? People who have selfish agendas are always going to have selfish agendas.

Look at the data; we’re killing our planet and we need to act now!

Jesse Lane

Colorado Springs