Constituting ‘green’ development

To the editor,

Edgemont Highlands just pushed a new phase into what was once a ponderosa forest. They treated the trees with extreme disrespect, a mature forest now is leveled, rubble stacked in large bulldozer piles of what is no more than debris.

Thousands of board feet of homegrown lumber/firewood now lies in a useless pick wick, assumed to be burned like the Brazilian conflagration. Who makes the decisions? At the very least, give the trees a better purpose and value ... not to mention all the wildlife pushed out onto the road.

I am wondering, what constitutes a “green development?”

– Stephen Saltsman, Durango

Rep. McLachlan takes a bow

To the editor,

Now that all the votes cast are counted and the results are final, I have conceded the election to J. Paul Brown and congratulated him on his hard-fought win. His victory, though by the slimmest of margins – 168 out of 34,380 votes – is a victory nonetheless.

Thank you to my wife, Barbara, for her hard work on this campaign and for being my best supporter in this election, and in my life. I also thank my campaign managers, Matt Sheldon and P.J. Higgins, and all the volunteers, friends, voters and family who worked so hard for me.

It was my honor to serve the people of the 59th District and to sponsor legislation that directly affected4

the lives of my constituents. This legislation includes the Clean Energy Project Private Activity Bonds, Rural Family Medicine bill, Rural Prosecution Fellowship Program, Tax Credit for Donating Food to Charitable Organizations, sales & use tax exemption for Ute Indians, College Affordability Act, funding for Fort Lewis College and Western State Colorado University, financing for the Long Hollow Dam completion, Habitat Stamp, Advance Industry Export Grant program, Wounded Warrior Fishing Licenses, and Colorado Aerial Firefighting Fleet Aircraft Acquisitions, among others.

I hope to continue my record of public service to the people of Colorado in the future. God bless America and God bless the people of the State of Colorado.

– State Rep. Mike McLachlan, Durango

Common sense for immigration

To the editor,

President Obama’s unconstitutional action on immigration can be blunted with the passage of a few common sense laws. As a conservative, I have no problem with taking illegal aliens “out of the shadows.” However, Congress needs to pass a bill that does more than pay lip service to strengthening the borders and sets up a system that will issue documentation allowing these people the opportunity to get a job and pay taxes. Furthermore, illegals convicted of felony crimes must be deported instantly, and local law enforcement cannot ignore the situation at the behest of bleeding-heart progressives.

Finally, illegal aliens that have been given a free pass by presidential fiat have to wait at least 16 years from the date of the issuance of the new green card before they can apply for United States citizenship and voting rights. Exceptions would be serving in the armed forces. While this solution doesn’t create an instant voter block for Democrats, it does offer common sense ideas.

– Dennis Pierce, Durango