Dear Neighborhood Gazette Team,
I just read Daniel Greeson’s piece on families seeking alternatives to traditional schooling and I wanted to say how spot-on it is.
We are seeing the exact same trends here at Alpine Valley School (also in Wheat Ridge). Many families come to us specifically because they want to opt out of the “curriculum wars” entirely. Since our model is entirely student-led, parents rarely have to worry about many of the concerns that you raised in the article.
Daniel’s article highlighted charter schools and homeschooling in the area, but I’d love to share a perspective on a third option: private alternative schooling. Our school is a self-directed democratic school, but there are also other private alternative schools in the Wheat Ridge area. We find that many students need more community than homeschooling provides, but more freedom and flexibility than a public charter school can offer.
We have some fascinating stories from our time operating an alternative school in Wheat Ridge—and our school’s 30th anniversary is right around the corner.
In any case, great work, we really enjoyed the piece.
Thanks,
Marc Gallivan, Staff Member (and alumni)
Rising Temps, Rising Costs
During a record-breaking warm Colorado winter, the science has never been more evident—reliance on fossil fuels is warming the planet at alarming rates. The solutions are clear; we must set targets to transition away from fossil fuels and invest in clean energy. Even more imperative is stopping the development of new dirty energy projects. Rather than investing in the affordable clean energy future, Xcel Energy prioritizes profits over people and the planet, doubling down on dirty gas infrastructure that will increase their profits while raising costs for consumers.
Clean energy is the way forward. Wind and solar consistently surpass gas sources in energy affordability, efficiency, and reliability. But Xcel’s profit-driven lobbying has created barriers to achieving this clean energy future in Colorado. Without stronger energy regulations, Xcel will continue to impede clean energy projects and increase energy bills. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Coloradoans can stand against an unreliable, dirty grid and demand a green energy transition.
One of the best ways to do this is to get involved in pushing clean energy legislation, such as demanding clear transition targets for Colorado: stopping new fossil fuel projects, investing in clean energy, and reaching net-zero by 2050. We must vote and get involved in efforts to strengthen the Public Utilities Commission so that they can increase grid reliability and regulate energy prices to ensure affordable rates. Together, we can work toward a clean Colorado and keep lethal fossil fuels in the ground.
Warmly,
Eleanor Hébert
Dear Neighborhood Gazette Team,
In response to “Can a Sprawling State Agency Really Protect Utility Customers,” specifically in questioning how we can justify paying into a monopoly for a household necessity that hasn’t done any work to improve any part of the system, but continues to charge increasingly exorbitant prices. Just in the last 4 years my rates have done nothing but increase even though I have done everything within my power to maintain if not decrease my usage in the time. But my ability to decrease my usage is very limited due to my parter being chronically ill, as well as having a child. My house cannot be colder than we keep it without severely impacting their physical and mental health. Despite these rate hikes there hasn’t been and discernible improvements in the services provided, and in fact excel has started to shut power off to its customers instead of trying to make a more reliable grid or findings more cost effective source of energy. So what am I actually paying for besides a bigger payout for excel executive and shareholders? They have repeatedly show they will never put us, their customers, first so it’s high time we push for change to make them. Whether it is to bring in competition, build up renewable resource, or pass legislation to force accountability on to Xcel!
Sincerely,
Evan Buschman, A troubled Colorado resident;
Dear Mr. McKibben,
I recently read your article, as well as Mr. Rose’s article in the previous Gazette, regarding the success of the traffic radar cameras.
While the results are positive, it is important to note that it took a significant amount of persistent effort and complaints from residents before the city took notice and worked to resolve the issue. Seems like the city installed the cameras where they would get the most visibility not where they would do the most good. I personally emailed Mr. Rose about this problem in the past and suggested specific locations for cameras. However, those locations were not considered then and do not appear to be under consideration for the future.
Sincerely,
Dean Clinard
P.S. Maybe they can teach these cameras to look for drivers using their “de-vises”. I was told by Wheat Ridge police they couldn’t enforce the law keeping drivers from using their phone.
