L E T T E R S

Posted by DP opinion @ 9:14 am  Denver Post October 1, 2007

Wilderness is for all

Re: "DeGette's wilderness proposal in San Luis Hills," Sept. 27 letter to the editor.

Regarding Rep. Diana DeGette's involvement in proposed wilderness legislation for the San Luis Hills, I would remind letter-writer Mary Robbins that wilderness designations apply to federal land and not to private property. Federal land (national forests, Bureau of Land Management, etc.) is land that is owned by all Americans.

Thus, residents of Denver - and, for that matter, as far away as New York City - have just as much right to weigh in on how federal land should be managed as do San Luis Valley residents, regardless of the location of the federal property in question.

As a practical matter, Congress rarely votes to designate new wilderness unless the proposal has the support of the local congressperson (in this case, Rep. John Salazar).

Rob Carnachan, Denver
 
COMMENTS/RESPONSE (1)

Instead of acquiring more, the federal government should instead liquidate millions of acres of "public land." They cannot care for what they already have, and states having federal lands carry the brunt of maintenance costs.

This problem is further exasperated in that the federal government does not pay taxes on their land, and states suffer that loss of tax revenue.

Additionally, private property that conjoins public is at high risk today, in that it's exposed unfairly to the cross fire of an "interested public" who demand "corridors, view sheds along side of corridors, and control over usage of private land and water that fawn, fauna and fowl might traverse."

Announcement to those who want to "weigh in." Regardless where you live, you can weigh in by picking up a rake and cleaning all barrel pits, regardless where they are. There's a ton of park potties that could use a little of your shining too.
In fact, your weighing in could save taxpayers a ton of money, and just think how happy everyone would equally be!

Comment by Roni Bell - October 1, 2007 @ 7:52 pm