Letters to the editor: Sacred Heart; Michael Christy, Tara Winer, Steve Rosenblum, and Mark Wallach; CU South; Matt Benjamin
Oct. 15—Richard Eggers: Sacred Heart: Differing opinions exist
The barely reported recent desecration of two Boulder Catholic Churches by pro-abortionists reveals Boulder at its darkest.
Recently a Daily Camera Op-Ed from a Dallas newspaper headlined "A bad abortion law" criticized Texas' new abortion law. Fact: deeply differing opinions exist regarding abortion.
1) The editorial's opening sentence: "It would be hard to imagine a more deeply personal, enormously consequential, morally fraught with public policy issue than abortion." How true! And how strong an argument this should be for states' rights determination not a federal one (it was for 183 years until Roe v. Wade) . We are 50 separate states with differing views and beliefs . Further, states have the plenary police power to regulate health and safety. Congress has only limited power as enumerated in the Constitution.
2) Roe v. Wade is arguably the most indefensible Supreme Court ruling since the "Dred Scott" decision. Even notable legal scholars favoring legal elective abortion as policy acknowledge this. Google Harvard Law's John Hart Ely — 1973 Yale Law Journal: "It is not constitutional law and gives almost no sense of an obligation to try to be." Ditto liberal Laurence Tribe — 1973 Harvard Law Review: "behind its own verbal smokescreen, the substantive judgment on which it rests is nowhere found." Because the Constitution does not protect a right to abortion, it provides no guidance to courts on how to account for any interests in this context.
3) Yes, a woman should have the "right to choose." That right should be exercised at the time of choosing whether to have protected sex or not. Not after the miracle of life has occurred. It will be weakly argued males have no "standing" on this subject. But they do have standing regarding the taking of a life.
Richard Eggers
Niwot
------
Sonja Seitamo: Christy, Winer, Rosenblum and Wallach: Attuned to reality
Few problems affecting our community can be solved with a simple slogan or a single, sweeping policy change. Housing and growth are two such areas that require consideration of the causes of current problems and the myriad impacts policy changes will have on the city at large.
Among the candidates who are vying for the five open seats on the City Council this fall, four strike me as especially attuned to this reality — Michael Christy, Tara Winer, Steve Rosenblum, and Mark Wallach. They are thoughtful and caring and have realistic strategies to support Boulder's growth and challenges. Mark espouses smart growth, not simply by densifying residential units but by doing so while protecting current building-height limits and the open space that has made Boulder the envy of cities around the country. Tara and Steve speak of increasing the supply of affordable housing in less-developed parts of the city, like abandoned parking lots, old shopping centers and undeveloped transit corridors. Michael calls for careful planning for strategic growth that avoids the pitfalls of rapid overdevelopment he witnessed in California and focuses on the housing needs of low- to middle-income people of all ages.
All these approaches are aimed at prompting an open-minded examination of the development pressures Boulder currently faces and opening a civil, fact based, intelligent conversation about steps to improve housing affordability and access in our community while preserving Boulder's neighborhoods and open space.
Sonja Seitamo
Boulder
------
Jon Carroll: CU South: An extensive process
As a resident of South Boulder, I experienced the 2013 flood firsthand and know the dangers lurking without solid flood protection. Even before the flood, the city has been studying the floodplain since 2001. We've been discussing CU South Annexation for a long time. I've been an active participant in many of those discussions. The community engagement has been robust and transparent. Now a very strong consensus has emerged around a plan. Just to recap the extensive public process:
26 council meetings
25 Process Committee Meetings
9 Planning Board meetings
14 Open Space Board of Trustees meetings
8 Water resources advisory board meetings
2 Be Heard Boulder Questionnaires
4 Neighborhood meetings
3 Meetings with organized groups
6 Community briefings and listening sessions
4 Office hours discussions
5 Draft agreements that have all been public.
Many more individual meetings.
Through this extensive public process, the Annexation Agreement for CU South is stronger. We've been talking about this and studying it for decades. The time has come to take action. Vote No on 302, decline to sign the referendum and let's move forward.
Jon Carroll
Treasurer, Protect Our Neighbors
Boulder
------
David McGuire: Matt Benjamin: A vote for compassionate governance
I first met Matt Benjamin in 2017 when he was running for city council. We stood in my driveway discussing possible solutions for South Boulder Creek (SBC) flood protection. My home was inundated in 2013 and Matt listened carefully and thoughtfully to my concerns for the many residents in the southeast part of Boulder, particularly Frasier Meadows.
Matt has not faltered from his commitment to help protect those that remain in harm's way from future SBC flooding. He's championed feasible/scientifically-sound methods to solve this critical health/safety problem and supported the city's decision to implement the 100-year flood protection design to be constructed on donated land at CU South.
Matt's involvement in such issues is characteristic of his compassionate and practical approach to problem-solving including working toward the provision of affordable and equitable housing, enhancing opportunities for all on Open Space, and mitigating climate change impacts.
He stands out among council candidates in his understanding of how Boulder city government works. He spent years volunteering on city working groups for things such as campaign/election reform and stormwater master planning. He was instrumental in the voter approval of the "Our Mayor, Our Choice" campaign.
He has successfully worked with many in the city that hold diverse and differing views. With his background working with city staff, Matt will hit the ground running on day one.
I heartily endorse Matt Benjamin for city council. His experience w/city government makes him an ideal candidate. Please visit https://www.mattbenjaminforcouncil.com/issues to learn more, and cast your ballot for Matt Benjamin on November 2.
David McGuire
Formerly of Boulder
Westminster
