Spending on weapons has not brought us security
The budget disparities between military contractors and domestic spending that Ms. Koshgarian outlined are shocking (“Opinion: Lindsay Koshgarian: Last year, you spent more than a month’s rent on Pentagon contractors”). It’s clear that shoveling more and more money each year toward defense contractors is hampering our ability to fund crucial priorities like child poverty reduction, wildfire management, renewable energy, education, healthcare and more.
After more than 20 years of the failed war on terror, it’s clear that ever-increasing spending on weapons of war has not brought us security, so it’s time to do some hard thinking about what actually does make us secure and shift our national budget accordingly. As a Marshall Fire evacuee, I would put wildfire mitigation and response plus clean energy at the top of the list.
Given these budget disparities, I was even more shocked to learn that Congress requires the Pentagon to submit extra wish lists each year called Unfunded Priorities Lists (UPLs) on top of the President’s military budget request, which is closing in on $900 billion. This year’s UPLs total about $30 billion, an amount that could power nearly 70 million households with wind power for one year, according to the National Priorities Project. No other government entity gets a second bite at the apple on top of a gargantuan first bite. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin supports repealing this UPL submission requirement, passed in 2017, which skirts the Constitutional civilian administration of the military.
This is why I hope that Representative Joe Neguse will cosponsor HR 4740, the Streamline Pentagon Budget Act, to repeal these required UPL submissions and that Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper will cosponsor a companion Senate bill when introduced. It’s time to address our real security priorities.
Sara Avery, Lafayette
Please keep Iris Avenue four lanes
I’ve driven (and biked) Iris Ave at least 20,000 times over the last 33 years. The amount of commercial traffic (big trucks) on Iris during weekdays has increased greatly over the years. Iris is the main corridor connecting north Broadway, 28th Street and the Diagonal highway, all of which are four lanes. We should keep Iris Avenue as a four-lane road.
Iris Avenue is no longer safe for bikes. Every day I see distracted drivers with two wheels in the existing bike lanes. I always bike on Kalmia Avenue which parallels Iris Avenue. It is a very safe route with little traffic.
The large, mature (and healthy) trees along Iris need to be protected. It’s taken many decades for these trees to mature. They provide a great deal of shade and beauty along a very busy street.
I haven’t seen any schoolchildren crossing in the school zone at Iris Avenue (near 20th St.) in the past 20 years. The city should look at whether this crossing is still needed. The 13th St. bike path that crosses Iris at 15th St. needs flashing lights at the crosswalk. Too often cars will not stop for pedestrians in the current crosswalk.
Pat Flood, Boulder
Shame on CU and Rick George for ousting Wetmore
Mark Wetmore and his staff have won more national championships in the last 20 years than all CU coaches combined. Mark’s athletes have always excelled in the classroom. In comparison to the major sports at CU, his teams and coaches have been free of scandals. Many major universities would treasure what Mark has accomplished. Shame on CU and Rick George for their lack of grace and appreciation for what Mark has done at CU and letting him go. We have endured the many years of embarrassment of CU Football paying millions of dollars in coaching payouts when coaches were fired. Where is Mark Wetmore’s well-deserved payout?
Please tell me that you will hold Coach Prime (CU’s Golden Goose) to the same standard of excellence that Mark has accomplished.
Dave Smith, Boulder
