- Lakewood’s mayoral race
- Free trade bad for economy
- Is the Rocky “Catholic bashing?”
- Parents of Cherry Creek Schools suing
- Code of ethics needed for social workers
- Salazar should learn facts
- Boettcher does need the remodeling
- SCHIP vital for the children
- Children’s Hospital “trashes” opportunity
- Congress lacks common sense
A DIFFERING VIEW/Denver bond measures should pass as a package
The Rocky Mountain News has the right idea when it calls for a responsible bond package to present to Denver voters (“Asphalt, bricks, mortar,” Oct. 11), but it veers off-base in singling out two of the nine separate items (ballot questions G and H).
The facilities that would be fixed, repaired and upgraded in those two items are some of the city’s most vital cultural and tourism destinations: Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Museum of Nature and Science and Boettcher Concert Hall. They attract visitors from all over the metro area, the state, the nation and even internationally.
These facilities generate hotel and sales tax revenues that support city programs. Denver Botanic Gardens alone attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. To delay the gardens’ necessary repairs will only deteriorate the community and fiscal benefits that they provide.
The bond package is about investing in our community’s infrastructure, and items A through I create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. The payoff to citizens will come in three ways — better visitor experiences, increased tax revenue and the leverage to attract additional private-sector investments.
Jerry Ladd is chairman of the board of trustees of the Denver Botanic Gardens.
And, make damned sure that the bond issue the public is going to benefit so much from doesn't include a hidden clause that insures future bond issues that, ultimately, are the responsibility of the taxpayers to pay for if the bonds don't produce the funds required.
Posted by Allen Campbell on October 26, 2007 07:43 AMHow about we not let theses "facilities" fall into disrepair in the first place.
How about we not re-appropriate the funds meant for these "facilities" from the general budget in the first place.
How about we better leverage private funding for non-infrastructure projects in the first place. Sorry, but the Botanic Gardens, Museums and Concert Halls are NOT critical infrastructure items.
Lets fix the roads, drainage, and those type facilities first and keep them maintained.
I thought Ref C was going to fix roads, education, etc.? Hmm interesting how that changed...
A-Z is just another money grab plain and simple. If I spend my entire paycheck buying video games, is it my bosses fault I can't buy groceries?
VOTE NO ACROSS THE BOARD...
Posted by on October 26, 2007 08:53 AMI'll gladly vote yes, because the price is cheap and unlike the poster above I care about the quality of life in my city. There are ample crapholes to live in that would suit this individual and many others much better.
Posted by on October 26, 2007 10:07 PM