Letters to the editor: We must address climate change; Boulder has lost its soul; U.S. is danger to world peace - Boulder Daily Camera

Letters: We must address climate change; Boulder has lost its soul; U.S. is danger to world peace

Emerson Sturgis: Environment: In the face of extreme weather, we must address climate change

The Daily Camera recently published two articles on extreme weather — one on high temperatures and the other on Vermont flooding.

The first article talks about how temperatures are reaching record-breaking levels. The second article talks about the aftermath of flooding in Vermont and the potential for more flooding.

As the climate warms, the temperatures are increasing, leading to extreme heat events. The warming climate has also led to more flooding. In order to solve this problem, we must address climate change.

One good proposal is the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, a bill introduced in the 115th, 116th and 117th Congresses that would drive down our carbon emissions and help to solve climate change.

Thank you to Rep. Joe Neguse for cosponsoring the bill in the 116th and 117th Congresses. I urge him to cosponsor the bill again when it is reintroduced. Please urge your members of Congress to support the passage of the bill.

In order to prevent floods and extreme heat events, we must reduce our emissions and get climate change under control.

Emerson Sturgis, Lyons

Robert Porath: Growth: Boulder has lost its soul to the world of commerce

I can agree with Gary Garrison and the Camera Editorial Board that Boulder needs to change, but from the view of what the city has lost in its journey into the present.

The university, as an apex center of higher learning, gave body to the original spirit of Boulder. It attracted and held educated, intelligent people to live here. As Mr. Garrison notes, the natural surroundings and access to the beauty of the mountains were fortunate footholds as well. A protective love of learning and nature became the ethos and identity of the city. Commercial interests were mostly small and locally run and owned. Not fully a paradise, but certainly as an oasis in a harsher world of business enterprise, Boulder’s image of being a special place grew. Property values rose and outside wealth and gentrification from both coasts poured in. While business growth was encouraged and subsidized, future housing was ignored in favor of more and more Open Space acquisitions. The result, despite all good intentions, is the critical mass of commuter traffic pouring in and out of the city daily, all to the detriment of the environment we presumably love.

The current city leadership, in promoting higher density and occupancy regulations, remains focused on economic growth rather than community well-being. Despite apartment complexes being built all around the city, catching up with the housing shortage, again noted by Mr. Garrison, is destined to fall short. Similarly the university, as a corporate enterprise, is set on constant growth, higher enrollment and bullying its way into nearby neighborhoods.

All in all, Boulder has lost its soul to the world of commerce. Regaining it will be no easy task.

Robert Porath, Boulder

David Levin: Politics: U.S. is greatest danger to world peace

I highly disagree about the support of the war in Ukraine. The Russians are doing the same as we would have done in the Cuban Missile Crisis or if Canada or Mexico would have joined the Warsaw Pact. We were repeatedly warned by Russia to not expand NATO to their borders in Ukraine.

In short, I believe that the U.S. is by far the greatest danger to world peace because we are doubling down on our hegemony and imperialism because somewhere along the line, we know that we are losing power to the southern and eastern countries.

David Levin, Eldorado Springs