This isn’t pretty
The proposed O’Neil/VeLa downtown high-rise apartment complex, VeLa Peakview, which was the subject of a front-page article in the June 27 issue of the Gazette, is a bad idea for three reasons:
Aesthetics. We live in a place of amazing natural beauty. VeLa Peakview would be a 27-story middle finger directed at every Colorado Springs resident who prefers an unobstructed view of that natural beauty.?”Oh, but it’s just one building,” you might think. Once the precedent is set, you can bet that other high-rises will follow.
Finances. The developer has already scaled back this project from 36 stories to 27 stories because of financial concerns. Now they want to use an “urban renewal” designation to help fund it. In other words, they can’t make the numbers work without taking tax revenues that would otherwise go to other projects in Colorado Springs — projects that could benefit many Colorado Springs residents, not just a few. Let private investors take on some of the risk for a share of the reward, but keep our tax dollars out of it.
Vision. The Gazette article played up the attractiveness of an “urban lifestyle,” a vision of Colorado Springs supported by this project. Over the past few decades, the influx of individuals who prefer the urban lifestyle, many from the West Coast, brought to Colorado a sea change in our political climate. We’ve watched this happen over the 34 years we’ve lived here, and it isn’t pretty. Do we really want to encourage more of the same by becoming an urban lifestyle Mecca?
All this being said, there is a place for projects like VeLa Peakview. It’s called Denver.
Bob and Kay Copus
Colorado Springs
Address local governance
Local governance needs change. This past year we as local citizens of Colorado Springs have watched our City Council approve the Mountain Shadows Water Tank, the Arrowswest Apartments and the Amara Annexation despite considerable opposition from the public. Realizing we do have a representative form of local governance, we do not have the appropriate checks and balances in place to ensure the public is heard.
First, we have an elected mayor who does not have voting authority for land use or utilities decisions. Second, we have City Council who wears several hats. As City Council they serve as the Board of Directors for utility decisions and budgets. Then they serve as City Council to approve their Utility Board of Director decisions. Then they change hats and serve as the regulatory body that sets utility rates to financially support their decisions.
Finally, the City Council members are not required to recuse themselves from voting on development projects when they knowingly have received large contributions from the developers coming forward to request approval, as brought to our attention by Council Member Dave Donelson. With the help of our elected Mayor, maybe we can fix this situation by initiating a review of the City Charter. Mr. Mayor, I urge you to consider establishing a Charter Review Committee to start this process. Then through a vote of the public on the charter amendments we can finally have the opportunity to address this problem.
Alan Goins
Colorado Springs
A successful American statesman
President Biden gave a national address Wednesday night that exemplifies the word character. He did not show resentment or any malice. He showed leadership and love of country. He just gave up the most powerful leadership position in the world, not an easy decision to make. But he realized that it is time for new voices and yes, younger leaders to protect our democracy.
President Biden’s 3.5 years of leadership will go down in history as one of the most successful in terms of saving our climate, bolstering technology, updating our national infrastructure, supporting a fair wage for American workers all while building an economy that leads the world.
Putting your ideology aside, Joe Biden is a successful American statesman who has served our country for 50 years.
Stephen Bast
Colorado Springs
An assault on life
In response to the opinion piece in the Gazette entitled, “Democrats rally around the worst possible candidate” by Byron York, one has to question — How is it that Kamala Harris has been stealthy, undemocratically, escentially appointed to be the Democrats’ choice to run again for President when her record as VP is so dismal, unremarkable. She has the powerful abortion industry behind her. Just two days ago Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorsed her. You need only to visit their website to see all her accomplishments for the abortion industry. Her positions have never represented a balanced approach to abortion. Her positions are extreme.
Regardless of your political views, what she did for Planned Parenthood (PPH) while Attorney General of California was unethical, to say the least. She directly collaborated with PPH to confiscate and/or silence any evidence that PPH was selling fetal body parts for profit. As AG, this action was corrupt. I would encourage readers to watch a video on YouTube from three years ago, entitled, “Planned Parenthood and Kamala Harris attack the First Amendment “, which provides clear evidence to support her totally unethical, corrupt work on behalf of PPH. (Watch asap before it is taken down as efforts to white wash her career are underway).
Her positions on many issues are extreme, but her assault on life is dark and driven.
Wendy Smith
Colorado Springs
