Struggling to keep city nice

As an annual visitor to Colorado Springs I have followed, with interest, for the past few weeks the struggles to keep the city nice. Since 1965, I have watched what was once the nicest place I have ever been try to maintain its high standards through fast growth, changing political views and numerous other factors.

Last week while playing golf at one of the city’s public courses, I was asked by a firsttime visitor, who was staying downtown with his family, if “the reason they are so many bums on the streets was the legalization of pot?” He was surprised by what he found and did not think he would revisit.

I for one hope the city finds a way to restore Colorado Springs to its former place as a gem of a city.

Robert Webb

Tampa, Fla.

Suggestion to repair road

This letter is to anyone who drove to the Rampart Reservoir or Rainbow Gulch parking area (FS road 300 in El Paso County) last weekend. Considering the anticipated heavy aspen tree color viewing traffic and lake fishing traffic, the road was not maintained.

I am familiar with this road and it is always rough yet navigable, but this was the worst yet. I saw about 150 cars traveling on Sunday alone. The attendant at the fee station ($6 day pass) thought the Forest Service was supposed to grade the road. Turns out no one is really sure who grades the road or how often.

I made phone contact with state and district Forest Service and also requested a representative of El Paso County DOT to call me regarding the scheduled maintenance and condition of this busy recreational traffic road with no reply.

I bring up this subject for two reasons: If you drive over 15 mph you will lose control of brakes and steering of your vehicle on the washboard road. Also, the parking at Rainbow Gulch is always overloaded. I believe this is because when you park there to bike or hike to the lake to fish, etc. you avoid having to pay the entrance fee to use the trails, restrooms, trash containers, security officer and other operations at the reservoir area. I suggest setting up a fee station at Rainbow Gulch (county or Forest Service, whoever wants to claim responsibility) and use the revenue to attend to the dangerous road conditions on a busy route.

Don Winter

Colorado Springs

Simple act of crossing the street

During the Labor Day weekend – on Sunday night – two elderly couples were taking a walk along Boulder Street and El Paso in downtown Colorado Springs. They loved to walk after dinner and as pedestrians in Colorado Springs, they were accustomed to walking a great deal each day.

However, the simple act of crossing the street became deadly that night. A 19-year-old young man sped past them and hit one of the elderly women. As a result, she died shortly afterward.

Sadly, her husband is now widowed. He grieves for her and misses their daily walks. He misses her companionship. She was the love of his long life.

But more than that, why wasn’t a flashing light installed at Boulder Street and El Paso years ago? So many near misses have occurred at this intersection.

Please install a flashing light before more deaths occur on Boulder Street and El Paso. Let us treasure all those pedestrians in Colorado Springs who do not own cars and enjoy the simple act of crossing the street each day.

Janice S. Moglen

Manitou Springs

Carson gave the right answer

In response to Kathleen Parker’s opinion (“Faith or no faith should have no bearing on being president,” Sept. 25): All week long we have had to put up with the total fabrication and misrepresentation of what Dr. Ben Carson said about not supporting a Muslim for president. NBC’s Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press” asked Dr. Carson whether a president’s faith should matter? Of course it should matter! Everything should matter when we are considering someone for the highest office in our land. It will be up to our independent judgment as to how much it should matter.

Let me say this very slowly so that even a “politically correct elite” like Kathleen Parker can understand it. Carson was asked “his opinion” as to whether “he” believes” that faith should matter when selecting a president.

Contrary to what Parker stated, Carson gave exactly the right answer. Why?

Because it was “his honest” answer! Something that the “politically correct” crowd in Washington D.C., will never be able to understand. He was not asked whether it should be allowed, or even the legality of it, simply what his thoughts were on the subject.

Looking at recent polling numbers would indicate that the vast majority of American citizens agree with Carson also. I would say that is because they are apparently far more aware than Parker is as to how people, and especially minorities, gays and women are treated in Muslim countries operated under Sharia law.

It is a fact that Sharia law is totally inconsistent with the United States Constitution; there is no disputing that. It is a fact that our president must be sworn in with his or her hand on the Bible – not a Quran. These are facts, not my opinion.

If it were not for the fact that this is such a serious issue, the ridiculous outcries and false indignations coming from the left and the “not so right” would almost be laughable.

I would suggest that Parker might want do a little more research concerning Muslim countries, and how Sharia law impacts the citizens in those countries, before falsely attacking Carson for exercising his First Amendment rights under our Constitution . at least for now we have those rights!

Mick Hartley

Monument