LETTERS: Safe and successful election; red light running

I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to everyone who contributed to making this recent election one of the most successful, safe and secure in El Paso County’s history. This achievement was the result of incredible teamwork and dedication from so many individuals. To our election judges and Clerk and Recorder staff — your dedication, long hours, dealing with hazardous weather conditions, and attention to detail made a tremendous impact.

I am also immensely grateful to the supporting entities and our partners in the Office of Emergency Management, whose coordination efforts helped ensure a smooth and safe voting process. And, of course to our engaged voters, thank you for your participation and trust in our democratic system. This success was possible because of a collective commitment to excellence, security and transparency.



I am profoundly grateful to each person who helped make this election an inspiring example of teamwork and dedication to our community. Steve Schleiker, Clerk & Recorder El Paso County Red light running is out of control. My wife and son were nearly killed today turning left from U.

S. 24 onto 31st street with a protected green arrow. She had to slam on her brakes to avoid getting t-boned by someone running the red light and she wasn’t even the first car in line to turn left.

I have had the same experience happen to me on U.S. 24 and have seen it happen elsewhere on multiple occasions.

It’s a running joke at my work that, if you drive through an intersection on a yellow light and should be the last car to go through, you can regularly see multiple cars running the red light behind you. Every driver I have talked to here has seen and complained about blatant red light running. We obviously need better enforcement against running red lights and an increase in efforts to reduce distracted driving.

But our roadways are part of the problem. Accidents are going to happen when drivers make mistakes. When they happen on high speed, multilane highways with signal intersections, they are often fatal.

State and local officials should explore alternative ways of making intersections safer such as replacing stoplights with roundabouts. Roundabouts are a proven safety countermeasure, reducing fatal and injury crashes by 78% according to the Federal Highway Administration. I am tired of putting my life on the line every time I drive through an intersection.

Craig Drinkall Woodland Park Well, we just got screwed again by the City Council or should it be the back pocket of the city utilities. Has any one really looked at the cost the city demands us to pay to live in a city that does what it wants to and when it wants to. Example: High crime, very bad streets and a City Council allowing this to happen with its hands out.

Doug D. Evans Colorado Springs I herein take the liberty of speaking for the veteran community and wish to express a hearty helping of gratitude to Americans for the good wishes, various discounts and tasty treats proffered on this Veterans Day. I ate too much and loved it! The United States never feels fear when it goes to war.

The Army and Marines don’t get lonely and stressed. The Air Force and the Navy don’t miss their families and important family events. The individual veteran bears that and as human beings, we find it gratifying to have that acknowledged.

But when people tell me “Thanks for your service”, I like to say “Thanks for your support”. Because its the support of the folks back home that make it possible for the military to do its sometimes distasteful job. Further, for individual Americans to live their best lives is the best thanks that can be offered to a veteran because helping to create that opportunity is why we did what we did.

So, to all Americans: Thanks for your support. Brett Mers Colorado Springs Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.

) boasts that President-elect Donald Trump plans to move U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Ala.

Respectfully, I wish answers to the following questions: 1. What part of the current Space Command structure is not functioning as it should? How will moving it to Huntsville cure that deficiency? 2. What benefit(s) will accrue to our Defense posture by relocating.

3. What will it cost and what will be the cost-benefit to America? 4. If Space Command is uprooted, will current Space Command employees be asked to relocate or will they be reassigned, and if the latter, where will they be asked to employ their space-related expertise and institutional knowledge? 5.

If current employees decide not to relocate to Alabama, who will replace their knowledge, skills, and abilities to be sure we don’t lose defense strengths during the interim? 6. How long will it take to complete a relocation? 7. Lastly, will America be better off with Space Command in Huntsville? If so, how? While I support much of Trump’s agenda, without reasoned and objective answers to these questions, this idea is frankly not worthy of another two minutes of deliberation.

Don Addy Colorado Springs So has Gov. Jared Polis forgot that he is supposed to represent all the people of the state not just himself/Democrats. You, Gov.

Polis, are gearing up to fight President-elect Donald Trump before knowing if what Trump does or doesn’t do, positively or negatively affects the people of Colorado. What if Trump makes changes that work for all people. Are you, Gov.

Polis, going to fight still? For who...

.. You!! I lived in California for many, many years and have seen the decline first hand, having to walk over the drug and alcohol addicted people on the sidewalks to get to work.

The tents, trash, urine and fecal matter. You, Polis, are putting Colorado in the position to become another California. I pray that before this beautiful state is overtaken but your bad choices just to fight Trump, you can work to make this a state in which we have a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

...

.. all people!! Let’s have some middle ground that works for all.

Donna Ryan Colorado Springs.