Letters to the editor: Feb. 9

City should explore other solar incentives

I was surprised to hear that Longmont’s solar-rebate program was canceled. I was extremely grateful to receive a solar rebate from the City of Longmont in 2009 when I had solar photovoltaic panels installed through the Climate Smart loan program — a program that has been very successful in bringing renewable energy and efficiency measures to residents of Boulder County while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and stimulating our local economy.

However, I don’t believe that I benefited “at the expense of the many” –rather, I had to go into debt to have the solar panels installed on my townhome, despite receiving the solar rebate and a federal tax credit. The true benefit has been reducing the amount of electricity I consume from dirty sources — namely coal-fired power plants — something that clearly benefits the many.

I can understand with our city’s shrinking budget why the City Council would vote against this. It’s difficult to provide up-front money when the payback is over such a long period of time.

We may want to take a closer look at what’s been done in Gainesville, Fla., where they’ve taken it to the next level. In 2009, Gainesville passed a “feed-in tariff,” an economic incentive to those who install PV systems. It guarantees that the utility company will buy all of the electricity produced by these systems at a fixed rate for 20 years, making PV installations profitable. Germany has been doing this for years and for them, it’s been a win-win situation. I hope that the City of Longmont will consider exploring a Feed-In Tariff in its future environmental planning.
Teresa Foster

Longmont

City should hold off on red-light cameras

I’m writing in response to an article in the Jan. 31 Ledger regarding the installation of red-light cameras in Longmont.

There are a number of reasons Longmont residents should oppose the installation of traffic cameras. Here are two.

First is the outsourced nature of the contract. Handing this deal over to Redflex Traffic Systems, a foreign company that runs these sorts of operations worldwide, looks like a dream come true to a politician or town council: You can tell your constituents it won’t cost them a dime to set up and it will eventually bring revenue into the city’s coffers. But a publicly traded, for-profit company running the operation will naturally be interested in its shareholders’ interests first, not public safety. By outsourcing the deal this way, Longmont introduces profit motive into what should be a safety issue exclusively.

Second, and more importantly, the jury is still very much out on whether such cameras make for safer driving. Readers might be surprised to know that some states’ departments of transportation have found that these cameras actually increase the number of accidents — especially rear-end collisions, presumably because drivers are so afraid to even drive through a barely yellow light that they slam on their brakes, much to the surprise of the driver behind them.

Longmont shouldn’t rush into this. Let’s learn from other cities’ mistakes and not make the same ones.

M. Porter

Longmont
Reform agenda clear; now it’s time to act

I am retired and have been affected by the greed of big banks that brought down our financial system. We need legislation to stop this from reoccurring.

Education needs to be addressed. Our youth need to be educated in order for the U.S. to compete in today’s markets. This area needs financial aid as addressed by President Obama.

Our health-care system is in desperate trouble and will get worse if we do not act quickly on health care reform. The public option should be included in this revamping of health care.

Nuclear energy should receive Priority attention together with solar and wind implementation for energy sources.

Our roads, bridges and rail system desperately need upgrading.

If we implement these ideas, we put our people back to work. It will be a relief for our middle class and put our economy back on track.

Congress (especially senators) — do the right thing and act on these points. Republican “party of no” — get off it and think properly and wisely for the American public. We need to act now!

Diane Wood

Longmont

There are limits to the greed we can endure

Curbing corruption is most important.

Lending for new businesses that promote clean energy and social welfare are most important.
An energy policy that promotes U.S. manufacturing and implementation of wind and solar should be of utmost importance.

By visiting nursing homes I’ve found the number of facilities not adequate; Baby Boomers are coming and complexes of dome facilities would be cost and energy efficient. Building them would promote more jobs and do the public a great service.

Corruption with hospital CEOs with their big salaries, just as with banks, has been ruining our health-care services.

There are limits to the greed we can endure.

Barbara Franc

Longmont

Seniors left out of president’s plans?
I was impressed with the content of President Obama’s “State of the Union” address. His agenda was important to getting this country back on track economically.

One area that did not get mentioned, however, was senior citizens. We are hurting! No increase in Social Security and the Medicare deductible was raised from$135 to $155. That hurts and it was kept very quiet, no notification to recipients; I found out by accident.

What happened to the stimulus that seniors were supposed to get? That would have helped to pay for food and other necessities.

Seniors vote and most helped to elect the president. So please, Mr. President, do not ignore us. We are part of this country and are also feeling the pain of this economy.

Catherine Hodde

Longmont

Time to focus on buoying middle class

Have you noticed how out of whack many things are in our country? Most people don’t have time to think — they are working such long hours, or are burdened with so much medical paperwork, and whether employed or not are just trying to piece together their next meals, rent, or mortgage payments.

I was relieved that the president said in his State of the Union Address that he would focus on jobs, the cleaner-energy economy and health-care reform. I personally think he’s done a good job over the past year.

But now that the economy is stabilized, it is time to focus on reviving the middle class, which basically means lots of jobs with benefits or a national health plan of some sort. And to be sustainable economically and environmentally, the jobs need to be directed toward newer, smarter technologies.

I believe the president wants to bring about real, positive change, not the illusion of change amid sparring egos and scorched-earth tactics that leave the majority poorer and a few still raking in unearned profits.

Let’s take the chance we have with a positive, hard-working, super-smart president to lead us out the mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. He’s willing to listen to Republicans and Democrats alike and find middle ground.

I feel fortunate to have such a high-caliber person on every level as our president. Let’s help him help all of us out of this quagmire.

If we don’t do it now, we may not have the chance again in our lifetimes. The recent Supreme Court ruling will make it hard to Elect anyone who wants to give power to regular people.

Rebecca Meier

Longmont

Festival at reservoir could violate codes

The City of Longmont is considering issuing a permit for Heaven Fest to be held at Union Reservoir. Issuing this permit would violate the city code and leave the city open to lawsuits. The code states that permits for use of public lands shall not be issued if the proposed activity would likely result in excessive damage to the property in light of prior uses or current condition.

There is no way that a festival that promoters are claiming can accommodate 50,000 people would not result in excessive damage to Union Reservoir. The reservoir probably doesn’t have 50,000 visitors in a year, much less in one weekend. Imagine over half the population of Longmont arriving at Union Reservoir at the same time. The wetlands and eagle habitat could easily be permanently damaged by this huge influx of people.

Also, the city just paid $8 million to purchase the Adrian open-space property. The festival plans call for this land to be used as a parking lot! Ordinances regarding the use of open space are very clear and parking lot is not one of the sanctioned uses. The city states that purchasing this property and others in the area advances, “Longmont’s goal to keep Union Reservoir as an important wildlife habitat area.” Issuing this permit would clearly conflict with this stated goal.

City codes are written to protect everyone. They’re not intended to be bent for the profit of a few. If the city makes concessions for this festival they will be legally obliged to do the same for other festivals interested in using our pubic lands. (There is already at least one other major festival, with past attendance numbers in the tens of thousands, now looking to Union for their event this summer.) The city must follow its code and reject this permit.

Paula Burr

Longmont

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