DIA’s Great Hall project is a mess

Re: “Denver airport fires construction partners,” Aug. 14 news story

I’m disappointed in many issues regarding the present state of affairs, but two stand out. The contract was awarded to a foreign company, which I don’t believe should have ever happened in the first place. After all, American companies designed, engineered and built the airport to begin with and could certainly make any major renovations as needed.

Then there is the seemingly cavalier attitude from the mayor down through the entire DIA administration, who seem to believe it’s OK and you have to expect glitches like this on a project of this magnitude.

Meanwhile, the traveling public will bear the burden of increased taxes and fees, which seem to be implemented on a regular basis any time DIA wants additional funding for anything. All the while, we are experiencing massive inconveniences, delays and expenses. Don’t expect the situation to improve any time soon.

Lawrence E. Barnes, Littleton

Woodstock’s legacy of peace

Re: “50 years on, memories still glow,” Aug. 11 news story

There were no hippies at Woodstock. And, as Richie Havens and others (like me) who were there will tell you, it was not a gathering of the “anti-war crowd.” The corporate media then, as today, attempted to marginalize and trivialize the event by contriving the term “hippy.” We were proud to call ourselves freaks. And we gathered as peacemakers, not anti-war protesters — an important difference. The love, peace and happiness we experienced that weekend lives on in our remarkable children who, on the whole, are more open-minded, tolerant and loving of all people than any previous generation.

John Paul Marosy, Lakewood

Feds, look to Colo. on climate

Re: “Panel seeks state’s advice,” Aug. 2 news story

Colorado has made historic progress this year to advance clean energy, which is a critical tool to fight climate change. That’s why Congressman Joe Neguse hosted the first field hearing of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis in Boulder, so that members of Congress could hear from our state officials, including Gov. Jared Polis, about the concrete steps they’ve taken to combat climate change.

Back in May, my organization, Conservation Colorado, played a key role in the state legislature’s passage of historic legislation that requires Colorado to reduce our carbon emissions by 90% of 2005 levels by 2050, including a critical interim goal of a 50% reduction by 2030. Through executive action and signing a package of 13 climate and clean-energy bills into law, Polis and our pro-environment state legislature have put our state on the path to 100% clean energy by 2040. That is huge.

Throughout the hearing, Neguse made the case that Colorado’s clean-energy progress can serve as a model for federal action on climate change — and it should.

Kelly Nordini, Denver

Editor’s note: Nordini is the executive director of Conservation Colorado.

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