Brookie a smart, capable leader
 To the editor,
I had the distinct pleasure of getting to know Dean Brookie, current candidate for Durango City Council, while I was serving as a City Councilor a few years ago. I and my fellow Councilors went on to work with Dean on a number of projects during our time on Council.

Through those interactions, I found Dean to be a smart, dedicated member of our community. I know him to have the many capabilities necessary to serve Durango well as a City Councilor: strong communication skills, a great ability to listen, empathy for the needs of others, and reasonable, centrist views that are in line with the vast majority of Durangoans rather than a select few.

I’m glad Dean is running for Council, and I encourage my fellow citizens to learn more about him and join me in voting for him later this month.

– Scott Graham, Durango

Oppose private hunting tags
To the editor,
Today one of the greatest threats to the future of our public lands hunting heritage is not anti-hunters, rather it is the trend to commercialize and privatize wildlife.

Recently the Colorado State Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee held a public hearing on proposed legislation (SB13-188) to increase the number of big game hunting tags given to landowners as part of the state’s Big Game Landowner Voucher Program.
Currently, this racket allows private landowners to acquire, via special lottery, up to 15 percent of available big game hunting tags, by quota, for eligible species in limited-draw units where their land is located. The more land you own, the more tags you’re eligible to draw. The kicker is that these voucher tags, some 12,000 to 15,000 of which are now doled out annually, can be resold at open market prices to wealthy hunters.

The problem we are faced with now is that the voucher program has turned into a money-making machine for landowners and outfitters. They can take a $50 license 4 from Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) and sell it for $2,000 for the privilege to hunt a public resource, and they don’t even have to stay on private land. These thousands of voucher tags are good not only on the landowner’s private property, but unit-wide, including public lands. Thus, we have a situation where privilege, via property ownership or wealth, is being used to buy special access to public wildlife on public lands.

They are selling the public’s wildlife for 10 times what the CPW gets for a license, and that’s one less license for everyday hunters. Politicians are turning a public resource into the King’s Deer and Elk again. The rich can buy licenses no matter what, and the rest of us get the shaft.
As Oscar Simpson (N.M. Backcountry Hunters & Anglers chairman) put it, “If you don’t speak up against the increase in private allocation, you’ll legitimize it, and they’ll come back year after year with increases guised in program improvements.” In New Mexico, 50 percent of deer tags are private, and 70 percent of antelope tags.

Unfortunately, that’s where we’re headed here in Colorado, unless sportsmen and women speak up and let their state legislators know that SB13-188 and landowner tags are contrary to everything enshrined in the democratic history and heritage of public lands hunting in the United States.

–  David A. Lien, Co-Chairman, Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

Keep up the good fight, Mike
To the editor,
We learned about safety as a child: carry scissors pointing downward; don’t throw rocks or heavy objects at others; wipe up water on floors; don’t hit others; etc. Part of learning safety is learning to respect others. When children are brought up with love, which includes attention and guidance, they develop a sense of worthiness about themselves and others. Bullies typically grow up without love. They act out to get the attention they crave. Starting in preschool, all children need to learn that they are valuable and valued by those around them. This feeling needs to continue throughout their lives: “I’m OK; you’re OK.” Those who feel the need to hurt others need guidance from parents, families, friends and professional counselors. This is not something that should be hidden. It must be dealt with and healed.

Allowing those who are in need of counseling to have any type of weapon is putting others at risk. This includes those with certain mental health issues, those who have restraining court orders placed on them, and the like. We must spend the money in our communities for those who are struggling in the mental realm to have help and for it to be easily found.

My son works for the City of Santa Cruz, Calif., which recently had several incidents that greatly upset that community. As it has been pulling together to decide how to offset these incidents, two of their police officers were brutally killed by a person who needed counseling. To say that everyone in that area is stunned and overwhelmed is putting it mildly. Thousands of California law enforcement and firefighters attended the funeral service March 7, as well as community members.

My question to gun owners: The law permits you to have guns, but why would a civilian need to own an assault weapon or high-volume magazine? How can you say owning these agrees with the safety and respect principles you learned as a child? These instruments of killing are beyond what is needed for protection or hunting.

I stand with Colorado Rep. Mick McLachlan in pursuing background checks on who can buy guns or buy a high-volume magazine. That latter should be for the military only, in my opinion. Mike has already written several bills that will benefit veterans and civilians. I like Mike!

– Cherry Miloe, Forest Lakes

A good choice in Brookie
To the editor,
I am writing in support of Dean Brookie for City Council. Dean has been a dedicated contributor to our community over the years with volunteer efforts and in his capacity as an architect. He is a very careful listener, and in my observation, works toward solutions that benefit the greater good of our local community.

He is familiar with many of the community issues and a strong supporter of our downtown and will work toward keeping it vibrant and economically healthy. I believe Dean Brookie will make a great City Councilor, and I urge all voters in the City of Durango to vote for Dean Brookie for City Councilor.

– Timothy Wheeler, Durango

Brookie will know the code
To the editor,
With the current Durango City Council poised to adopt a brand new, complex 500-page Land Use and Development Code (LUDC), the next Council will need smart and experienced minds to do a good job of implementing the code. Durango is fortunate to have Dean Brookie running for City Council. His past experience and knowledge of so many issues in this realm puts him in a perfect position to represent the citizens of Durango.

Dean has a long history of architectural design, land-use planning and small business development in Durango. He is well schooled in all aspects of the LUDC. There is no need to look any further than Dean Brookie for a new City Councilman to implement the LUDC and give full attention and wisdom to other city issues as well. Please join me in voting for Dean Brookie for City Council.

– Kathleen Adams, Durango