Keep our public lands public (Letters)

Keep our general lands residents Re Society land on and off the chopping block necessities our continued patronage June commentary I appreciate the commentary by T A Barron Loss of our constituents lands even in small increments is stealing from our birthright Furthermore in addition to recreation they backing local economies ranching logging and natural source extraction The greater part of these lands will end up as either multi-million dollar homes used for a sparse weeks per year or as large properties the general is excluded from Readers need to contact their congressional representatives and senators to demonstrate their opinions on this issue now Democrats will certainly vote against this bill when it returns to the House so constituents of Representatives Crank Hurd Evans and Boebert have the greatest opportunity to be effective York Miller Denver The megabill in the present in the Senate includes a mandate to sell million to million acres of citizens lands mostly in the West that are presently managed by the U S Forest Amenity and the Bureau of Land Management BLM Here is why no bill should ever include such things First community lands are a matter of economic well-being A assessment states that recreation on BLM lands contributes billion to the financial market in Colorado alone Recreation in U S National Forests contributes billion in GDP nationwide Secondly citizens lands are a matter of overall human well-being Protected natural areas benefit our civilization in more solutions than we realize For example forests and wetlands filter water reducing water healing costs These places provide habitat for creatures that pollinate our crops Also spending time in nature has proven physical and mental fitness benefits This sell-off of populace lands has human physical condition implications If this goes through it won t just affect mountain town dwellers like me who want options for places to hike my dogs Even if you live in a big city and would never dream of going camping this will affect you and our country To quote a renowned folk singer this land was made for you and me Laurel Smerch Mancos Deportations during labor shortage is not logical In The Denver Post Tuesday morning June th were two separate but interrelated articles Factories having trouble filling nearly open positions and Justices allow Trump to restart deportation of asylum seekers away from their home countries Policies driven by logic and particular compassion instead of unbending ideology and fear would benefit everyone in our country Robert Morales Centennial Help save the Trevor Project Re Hotline utility tailored to LGBTQ youths to end June news story As a family physician I am concerned about the well-being of our LGBTQ neighbors An executive order is terminating the Trevor Project a suicide helpline for LGBTQ youth on July The Colorado Wellness Institute indicates that of Colorado adults almost individuals identify as LGBTQ Twenty percent of Colorado youth under the age of identify as LGBTQ This large minority of our population experiences major social stressors and disparities in access to mental healthcare care According to the Centers for Ailment Control suicide is the second leading cause of death among to -year-olds and the third leading cause among to -year-olds LGBTQ individuals are four times more likely to attempt suicide The Trevor Project estimates that more than million young LGBTQ Americans seriously consider suicide each year with one attempt every seconds These are sobering statistics The Trevor Project supported million individuals in the past years It is unconscionable that LGBTQ individuals might be unable to access a critical and simple patronage a lifeline to a sympathetic understanding ear in a time of dilemma We cannot afford to lose the promise of these youth who will be the leaders teachers and scientists of on the morrow We must promote their safety Please sign the Trevor Project s petition to reverse the planned cuts or ask your legislators to endorsement the Trevor Project If you are or someone you know is considering self-harm call or text the Suicide Lifeline at Time is of the essence Maria Yvonne Chansky Denver hed here suggested Don t Cry Wolf Without the Facts Re Tie should go to the ranchers June letter to the editor A contemporary letter suggests that if a wolf might be involved in a livestock death the tie should go to the rancher But with fewer than wolves in Colorado-and tens of thousands of coyotes and over black bears-that s not a tie That s a statistical mismatch Colorado s livestock compensation effort already heavily favors ranchers It pays sector value for authenticated wolf kills and even reimburses for indirect losses like missing livestock with just a likelihood That s the majority generous predator compensation undertaking in the country What s missing in this conversation is accountability In a newest population hearing Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff validated that livestock losses formed the basis of a large compensation claim but didn t clarify how multiple occurred before the producer implemented basic deterrents like burying an open carcass pit Population records show that once deterrents were in place losses dropped dramatically That s not a coincidence That s science and it s what Proposition called for when voters approved wolf reintroduction in Instead of lowering the bar further we should strengthen the system require nonlethal conflict prevention as a condition of compensation and ensure general funds encouragement those committed to coexistence not those who invite conflict and demand a check Let s be fair to ranchers but also to Colorado s native wildlife and the voters who supported their return Shane Brown Colorado Springs Sign up for Sound Off to get a weekly roundup of our columns editorials and more To send a letter to the editor about this article submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail