Struggles of the homeless

In a recent Gazette article, a homeless man said “we are not going away.” What steps are available to address this seemingly impossible problem for those trapped in a hopeless lifestyle and society at large? It begs the question: How did we get here?

Many adolescents suffer a traumatic event of some nature and become caught in a downward spiral, resorting to drugs as a coping mechanism. Some come from such dire home situations that making sound decisions and healthy life choices is almost impossible. They lack the confidence, training and support to develop the needed skills to build self-worth and to be self-supporting. We have seen what happens when a child loses confidence in the ability to relate to others and in the ability to contribute. With little support, a lack of skills, and low self-esteem, the pattern is set.

Could we not establish programs to intercept the very young with learning disabilities and serious psychological needs? It would require society to commit significant resources for teachers, counselors, social workers, and health care professionals to make a diagnosis and provide appropriate treatment.

We have read study after study of the effects of marijuana (and psilocybin) — anxiety, schizophrenia, lung damage, impaired memory, and so on. Why then do we support readily available drugs with wide societal acceptance, contributing to addicted and hopeless lives?

We as individuals and those in the policy-making positions can surely see the long-term advantages of saving our youth and, to some degree, stemming the surge of homelessness. Is it not worth the investment? Are our kids not worth forgoing damaging habits?

You can pay now or later, but you will pay one way or another. One is much more costly to our youth and society.

Jack Hood

Colorado Springs

Dropping the CPA requirement

Not only is the decision over whether Colorado Springs should require its city auditor to hold a CPA license extremely important, but the way City Council has handled it is cause for real concern. This issue is visibly being rushed forward without due diligence, and residents of this city deserve better.

I was shocked when every other council member present at the Aug. 12 meeting refused to consider Councilman Dave Donelson’s motion to postpone the CPA removal vote until an audit committee could be appointed to thoroughly evaluate Colorado Springs’ city auditor position’s necessary certification qualifications, for the good of the city.

Those in favor of dropping the CPA requirement were quick to point out that the perceived industry standard for the city auditor position does not require CPA licensure; yet, how can we know this to be true for Colorado Springs unless due diligence is done through a thorough, non-biased evaluation, including speaking to past auditors who have held that very position?

It seems highly irregular to make concessions in the hiring process and then eliminate those very requirements mid-term, especially for the same appointee. If council members are willing to discard a commitment made only months ago, can the public trust that other pledges to accountability, transparency, or fiscal responsibility will be honored? This change, if passed again this Tuesday, will set a deeply troubling precedent, clearly demonstrating that professional standards in city government are flexible when they become inconvenient.

Council’s willingness to accommodate Ms. Lovell in both the hiring process and now in quickly allowing the removal of the CPA requirement, so she won’t have to follow through on her agreement, is unsettling to say the least. If the City of Colorado Springs truly deems the CPA requirement as no longer necessary, Ms. Lovell should still be held to her initial hiring agreement. At the very least, any change in requirements should apply only to future auditors, not current ones who have already agreed to specific hiring requirements.

Margaret Lanosga

Colorado Springs

Sound still needs mitigation

The sound mitigation at Ford Amphitheater still needs some work because (depending on weather conditions and other variables) we continue to hear concerts inside and outside of our home which is located 2.95 miles away from the amphitheater. I appreciate the Tuesday night concert Aug . 19 ended at 9:30 p.m., but, it is still too late for school children who live in the area and people who have to get up early for work. Please continue to work on mitigation efforts to lower the sound going out into surrounding neighborhoods, or put some type of roof on the amphitheater to contain the sound.

Michelle Kiernan

Colorado Springs

Amazing publication

Thanks to the Gazette for the added publication “Colorado Living Rocky Mountain Lifestyle Magazine.” The layout is beautifully done with amazing pictures and interesting content. I hope to see it often!

Ann Smith

Colorado Springs

Public wants TABOR refunds

Why do the Colorado governor and local mayors who supported the upkeep of thousands of illegal immigrants, which made the United States of America a sanctuary country, because they don’t have enough money to keep funding their cause of helping the illegal movement started by Colorado’s governor?

They want us to make up the difference by increasing taxes. Demand that the Colorado governor and his personal staff of followers (mayors and city council) use their own money to get us out of the hole they dug. The governor of Colorado is worth hundreds of millions of dollars and he used the money to house these people.

We want our TABOR refunds.

Doug Evans

Colorado Springs