Accountability of employers

I am writing regarding the front page story in the Aug. 9 Gazette: ICE raid in Black Forest, a week later.

The article ICE raid in Black Forest lays out very nicely the sequence of events related to the ICE raid. Surely we are safer having these undocumented persons off the street, particularly the individual convicted of serious crimes.

I did, however, not see a comment with regard to the contractor/employer who hired these individuals. As I understand the law, employers are required to use the E-Verify system of the Department of Homeland Security to verify that individuals are authorized to work in the USA. Do we know who the employer was of the two undocumented individuals? Will the employer be held accountable?

David P Kirby, Colonel, USAF (retired)

Colorado Springs

Confusing street names

Thanks for recent humorous column on street names. Would suggest that we could facilitate wayfinding if we don’t allow a variety of endings to street names. For example: Club Heights, Club Drive, Club View, Club Terrace, Club Place, Club Ridge, all near Cheyenne Resort. Or Blackhawk Court, Drive Circle. Often, one remembers the base name but not the qualifier.

This became clear at an excellent garden tour a couple of weeks ago in the Old Farm area, where a number of streets use Old Farm in the street name. The English language has, by far, the largest vocabulary in the world as we readily accept borrowed words from other languages. I understand that developers are allowed to choose the names for their development. Perhaps avoiding the repetition of one name would improve wayfinding for all of us.

Judith Rice-Jones

Colorado Springs

Stop playing politics

It seems like every time I turn on the news there is another headline story about out of control crime in the US. Gangs of teenagers hijacking cars, beating up innocent people and, in some cases, killing people. These are mostly 14- to 17-year-old kids who have nothing better to do than rob stores, steal cars and terrorize neighborhoods.

Then there are the illegals who have been convicted of crimes, either in their own country or in the U.S., yet continue to be out on the streets. Sanctuary states and cities are disgraceful, as they put their own legal, taxpaying citizens at risk all for the sake of making Donald Trump look bad. They are predominately blue states and cities who are able to “defund the police” by not keeping their police departments up to full strength. How many citizens must be killed, raped or attacked before these misguided politicians understand what is happening.

Cooperating with ICE is not a bad thing. These agents are trying to help reduce crime in the U.S. by arresting illegal aliens that Joe Biden allowed to invade our country with no vetting whatsoever. Then we have soft-on-crime district attorneys who do nothing but give these juvenile delinquents and illegals a slap on the wrist. How many more U.S. citizens are going to die or be assaulted before blue-state governors and mayors like those in Colorado stop playing politics and let law enforcement, federal and state do their jobs. I have a very appropriate cliche for the solution: do the crime, do the time, regardless of age or immigration status.

Barry S. Oswell, Lt. Colonel, USAF (retired)

Colorado Springs

Mankind could destroy our space

Sad to read of the passing of James Lovell (Gazette Sat. Aug.9) He certainly was a pioneer, hero, and made history during the heyday of the U.S. space program. I will never forget the Apollo 8 journey, the photo of the blue and white Earth against the stunning blackness of space. The live TV telecast on Christmas Eve 1968 while orbiting the moon, Lovell said, “The vast loneliness is awe-inspiring and it makes you realize just what you have back there on Earth.”

Sad that on Earth in 2025, we have a dysfunctional political system in the United States. Mass shootings almost daily; war and famine in Gaza. A Russian bully invading a sovereign nation, Ukraine. Tens of thousands killed, vast areas destroyed, and innocent people in misery. Mankind has the means to destroy the miracle in space we inhabit. It could happen.

Billy Greer

Colorado Springs

Stand firm on CPA requirement

The newly hired city auditor did not meet the posted requirements for the job, but agreed, as part of her offer letter, to earn a CPA. She has now petitioned the City Council, the hiring body, just to ignore that requirement as well.

I have been both the auditee and the auditor.

I have respect for the office, the individuals in the office, and the findings they report are directly related to the credentials and experience of everyone involved — particularly the head of the organization.

This respect is critical to the auditee’s cooperation with the audit as well as the acceptance and proper remediation of the findings.

Specific questions often have to be researched to understand whether compliance has been achieved.

Understanding and applying the research is highly dependent upon an individual’s experience gained both on the job and through education. Especially for the city auditor, as they often have to make the final call on these questions.

The idea that someone can properly administer an audit organization without the appropriate experience and credentials is absurd. The financial aspects are probably the most critical of all the many areas that are audited and a CPA is a bare minimum requirement.

If the sitting city auditor is incapable of earning a CPA, they have no business being in the seat.

It is an embarrassment to the position, the people who put her in the seat, and to the city as whole.

It is time for the City Council to do the right thing and stand firm on the CPA requirement and its timing.

Carl Nehls

Colorado Springs