More than just a fountain

What a ridiculous decision by the City of Colorado Springs to let the Julie Penrose Fountain sit dry, especially at the heart of “Olympic City USA,” in the shadow of Pikes Peak and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum.

It feels like we’re right back in 2009, when I spearheaded the nonprofit Friends of Julie Penrose Fountain to raise funds to operate the fountain for two years. We did it then because the fountain is free, safe entertainment for children and adults of every socioeconomic and cultural background, and it’s a centerpiece at the gateway to downtown.

A fountain is more than just a fountain. It is community. It’s one of the simplest, most visible ways a city signals: “You belong here.” We’ve built a national reputation on quality of life, yet we’re allowing a signature civic space to fail over an operating plan that should have been solved more than a decade ago.

Back on March 18, 2009, I wrote a Gazette opinion urging the city to address the fountain’s sustainability through a corporate sponsorship model, rather than draining the budget through bureaucracy year after year. We are still paying the price for that lack of long-term planning.

If the city won’t operate the fountain this season, then the public deserves a transparent explanation and a public-facing sustainability plan with dates, costs, and a path forward, whether that’s sponsorship, a public-private partnership, or a dedicated maintenance fund. This should not be an annual scramble, and it certainly shouldn’t be happening during an Olympic year in Olympic City USA.

Kristen Downs

Colorado Springs

Legislation full of unknowns

Senate Bill 26-097 seeks to have to government fulfill the role of a Jeffrey Epstein. The status of women will be reduced to a commodity, subject to buying and selling.

Who does this bill serve? Are sex workers clamoring to submit to government regulation? Is the bill sponsor seeking to head the new Department of Sex Work? Who will ensure compliance and supervise that the proper licenses are adhered to?

This legislation is full of unknowns, and has no upside for the non-sex working citizens of Colorado.

Janet Mohler

Colorado Springs

No definitive end game

As a military veteran with over a quarter century of active service, I remain in awe with the federal government and conservative media talking heads so willing push the United States into war with Iran.

A government replete with draft dodgers and leaders with limited to no experience, yet they are so willing to put our sons and daughters in harm’s way with no definitive end game. Have we not learned from Desert Storm or Vietnam? Our sons and daughters deserve better.

Willie Breazell

Colorado Springs

A constitutional challenge?

So the US Supreme Court decided that since only Congress has taxing authority then Donald Trump’s tariffs are unconstitutional. So does that mean any funds collected by government are by definition a “tax?”

Where then is the constitutional challenge to what Colorado calls “fees?” Does this decision create that precedent?

John Bender

Monument

Not difficult to understand

People surmise and fantasize about immigration enforcement. Riots and violence have erupted in opposition to ICE and CBP.

But “Section Eight” in the U.S. Federal Code is clear.

For instance, 8 U.S.C. 1373 prohibits state or local governments from restricting the sharing of information regarding an individual’s immigration status with federal authorities.

Meanwhile, 8 U.S.C. 1644 reinforces that no local ordinance may prohibit communication with DHS on immigration matters. And 8 U.S.C. 1324 criminalizes the harboring of illegal aliens, which can mean policies shielding them from federal detection.

Physical interference with ICE operations, assaults on federal personnel, and official rhetoric encouraging resistance are against immigration law.

This shouldn’t be difficult for school children and citizens to understand.

Janice Taylor

Colorado Springs

USA hockey teams the best

 Teams U.S.A  Mens and womens hockey won gold.. I was glad to see them both win.

It goes to prove what I have said for some time now. The best hockey players are born in the North American continent. Either Canadian born or  U.S. born.

Congratulations to the players.

Eric DesPres

Calhan

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