Democrats must keep control of state house; DIA needs clear smoking areas; wars are good

Gina McAfee: Election: Democrats must keep control of state house

Thank you to Deborah Swearingen for writing about Janice Marchman and her race in State Senate District 15. The importance of this race cannot be understated: Boulder County residents hold the key to making sure our State Senate remains in Democratic hands and the progress we’ve made can continue.

Colorado has enjoyed the last four years of a Democratic majority in the State Senate and State House. Yet because of redistricting, this could change. The State Senate is at risk of turning over to Republican control. If this happens, we will not be able to make any progress on critical legislation such as climate protections, criminal justice reform, public education, women’s rights or lowering the cost of living.

State Senate District 15 is critical to making sure we can keep our Democratic advantage. It includes residents in rural Boulder County: Eldorado Springs, Nederland, Lyons, Ward, Allenspark, Jamestown and Gold Hill, in addition to unincorporated areas.  These Boulder County residents are key to ousting the current incumbent for District 15, the very conservative Senator from Loveland, Rob Woodward. Rob is anti-choice, anti-environmental protection and anti-gun safety. He has voted against providing affordable health care, against the safe storage of firearms, against protecting a woman’s right to abortion access and against equal pay for women. Our votes are needed to support Janice Marchman for Senate District 15.

Gina McAfee, Boulder

Bill Wilson: Airport: DIA needs clear smoking areas

My wife and I are frequent riders between DIA and Longmont on the Eight Black shuttle, and formerly the Green Ride shuttle. We appreciate the convenience and value of the shuttle. The drivers are safe, dependable and courteous. However, the pickup spot outside is in the same spot as a smoking area. Sunday, several people were vaping and smoking in this area and there is no clear indication of where smoking is allowed. It is horrible waiting for the shuttle with smokers. I witnessed TSA and airline employees smoking in areas that were clearly not the area for smoking. The airport needs to improve signage to clearly define where smoking is allowed and where it is not allowed. And the shuttle needs to move its pickup spot further away from this area.

Bill Wilson, Longmont

David L Cook: China: Wars are good for the political party in power

Are the Democrats trying to pick a fight between the U.S. and China? Did they between us and Russia? Every move they made makes the answer seem like a resounding “yes!” Why is that? Here is a probable scenario: They know their policies are anathema to America and will get them crushed in the 2022 midterms. So, what to do about it to salvage the situation? History shows that war always benefits the party in power when it starts. So, start a war. In fact, Start two of them. The Republicans are duped into going along with it as those in power are not evidently smart enough to realize that most of our modern society in the U.S. and the first world relies on imports of critical materials from China.  A war with them will shut us all down. But re-election is the goal. All else is secondary. When stupid people take over, this is what you get.

David L Cook, Loveland