Steamboat Pilot & Today

'Terrorist' comment

Doug Monger should do the right thing and resign immediately as county commissioner. alling members of the Friends of the Justice Center, a group that is exercising its rights to express its opinions, "a group of terrorists" is as irresponsible a comment as a public official can make. I guess by Monger's definition, anyone in Routt County who questions a decision by our county commissioners is now a terrorist. oug Monger should either resign or call the Office of Homeland Security and have most of the Routt County residents, past and present, investigated. Either way, he should make a very public apology to all the residents of Routt County for making such an insensitive and inflammatory comment, and for demonstrating a total lack of leadership and good common sense.

Editor's Note: Monger apologized for the comment during an April 28 meeting during which it was announced that the county's wetlands permit for the western site had been approved.

Irresponsible talk

Calling constituents "terrorists" ("County to consider property," April 28 Steamboat Today) s a totally irresponsible act for a public official.

'Terrorists'?!

Wait a minute, did I just read Doug Monger refer to the Friends of the Justice Center as "terrorists" ? Forgive me if I am misguided, but I was under the impression that we lived in a democracy where opposing views are valued and, indeed, solicited in order to come up with the best solutions and compromises. To refer to Friends as terrorists is ignorant and repugnant. I have been following the matter of the justice center and am still undecided as to where the best site would be, but the increasing secrecy and back-stabbing is starting to disgust me.

Real gas economy

Whenever gas prices go up, the Pilot runs an article ("Travelers budget gas for getaways") featuring people with fuel-intensive lifestyles; gas-guzzling SUVs, RVs, or large pickups towing camping trailers or boats; plus motorsports such as snowmobiling, four-wheeling and dirt biking. Tell me, is it the Pilot's intention that we readers feel sorry for these folks?

Kudos on letter

Richard Levy's letter to the editor in the April 24 Pilot & Today, "Examining Bible Curriculum," is a classic. I have read it six times and it gets better with each reading.

Don't ban smoking

I just love it when others try to shove their misguided opinions down my throat. Why not get rid of this voting stuff all the way? Sure, then you can force others to go to your church, tell them what clothes to wear, drive only the cars you like, repeal the Second Amendment. Free will is so dangerous that nobody should have the right to do anything that is not "Good for You." We can become just another dictatorship where a group of high-powered do-gooders keep the masses in their place. We wouldn't want them to think for themselves, would we ? That might look too much like what America is supposed to be.

Save old school

I think an effort should be made to use the old high school on Seventh Street. Back East and in Europe, they have managed to upgrade and upkeep buildings hundreds of years older than the high school. We don't need more buildings demolished to make room for more development.

Monger should resign

It's time that Doug Monger retire or resign his position as county commissioner. Putting out comments calling those with opposing views terrorists and referring to the business of the public as stash is completely inappropriate and shows that his viewpoint has changed from representing the public to his personal interests.

Squandering money

The Routt County commissioners continue to squander our tax dollars at an unprecedented pace on the unwanted, unvoted, unneeded, unfunded and unnecessary new justice center. Let's stop the bleeding.

No deed restriction

Deed-restricted housing is not a public benefit. Families will be trapped in homes they cannot afford to replace. If the city of Steamboat Springs really wanted to promote affordable housing, they could legalize small lots and manufactured housing in every neighborhood. They could eliminate outrageous fees and tax on homeowners. They could streamline the expensive and onerous permit process. Within 10 years, you'll be able to identify the deed-restricted housing in West End Village.