February 18, 2008
Mr. Brian Moss
KCNC
1044 Lincoln Street
Denver, Colorado 80203
Dear Mr. Moss
Enclosed is a recent handout from our City Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz. While it is self-explanatory, I would like to add some more information to back up my belief that you, as an investigative reporter, should follow up on this and make it known to the general public.
While I’m sure the Mayor’s aide, Roxane White, who is spearheading this campaign, is well meaning, the fact remains that using COP’s is an effort to bypass the voters’ will. In an age when transparency seems to be a big concern for us all, creating more debt under the table for Denver taxpayers is a step in the wrong direction.
If there is one thing the mortgage mess in the U.S.A. has taught us, it’s that it’s easy to step away from a responsibility such as a mortgage payment when there is nothing invested. Likewise when homeless people are given free apartments with no financial commitment or responsibility, what will be the logical and foreseeable outcome? Not a good thing!
I understand this same scenario played out in Philadelphia with poor results. Apartments were trashed; appliances, copper piping, etc. were sold with the City of Philadelphia picking up the tab to refurbish and repair the units repeatedly. Even IF the apartments were minimally maintained, who is going to pay for that regular maintenance and upkeep? Who is going to pay utility bills? Again the Denver taxpayer will be caught holding the bag. As a taxpayer, I feel that bag is getting too weighty for me.
I understand that Ms. White has finally admitted that COP’s are, in reality, debt. So -- how much more debt can the Denver taxpayer take on? And how long can we continue to pay? Calling COP’s “not debt” doesn’t mean that the bill won’t come due somewhere down the line.
If giving people places to live with no commitment works, wouldn’t the private sector have decided that it’s a good idea and have done it long ago? It doesn’t work—that’s why!
At the very least, the Denver taxpayers should be able to make this decision at the polling place before the money is spent.
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions. I certainly encourage you to contact Jeanne Faatz, who has a long-standing reputation at both the City and State levels as a good steward of the taxpayers’ money and a level headed, reasonable public servant.
Thank you.
Sincerely
Ginger Schlote
1895 South Hazel Court
Denver, Colorado 80219
Enclosure (1)
cc: Jeanne Faatz
All 200+ Registered Neighborhood Groups within the City and County of Denver boundaries
Mr. Brian Moss
KCNC
1044 Lincoln Street
Denver, Colorado 80203
Dear Mr. Moss
Enclosed is a recent handout from our City Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz. While it is self-explanatory, I would like to add some more information to back up my belief that you, as an investigative reporter, should follow up on this and make it known to the general public.
While I’m sure the Mayor’s aide, Roxane White, who is spearheading this campaign, is well meaning, the fact remains that using COP’s is an effort to bypass the voters’ will. In an age when transparency seems to be a big concern for us all, creating more debt under the table for Denver taxpayers is a step in the wrong direction.
If there is one thing the mortgage mess in the U.S.A. has taught us, it’s that it’s easy to step away from a responsibility such as a mortgage payment when there is nothing invested. Likewise when homeless people are given free apartments with no financial commitment or responsibility, what will be the logical and foreseeable outcome? Not a good thing!
I understand this same scenario played out in Philadelphia with poor results. Apartments were trashed; appliances, copper piping, etc. were sold with the City of Philadelphia picking up the tab to refurbish and repair the units repeatedly. Even IF the apartments were minimally maintained, who is going to pay for that regular maintenance and upkeep? Who is going to pay utility bills? Again the Denver taxpayer will be caught holding the bag. As a taxpayer, I feel that bag is getting too weighty for me.
I understand that Ms. White has finally admitted that COP’s are, in reality, debt. So -- how much more debt can the Denver taxpayer take on? And how long can we continue to pay? Calling COP’s “not debt” doesn’t mean that the bill won’t come due somewhere down the line.
If giving people places to live with no commitment works, wouldn’t the private sector have decided that it’s a good idea and have done it long ago? It doesn’t work—that’s why!
At the very least, the Denver taxpayers should be able to make this decision at the polling place before the money is spent.
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions. I certainly encourage you to contact Jeanne Faatz, who has a long-standing reputation at both the City and State levels as a good steward of the taxpayers’ money and a level headed, reasonable public servant.
Thank you.
Sincerely
Ginger Schlote
1895 South Hazel Court
Denver, Colorado 80219
Enclosure (1)
cc: Jeanne Faatz
All 200+ Registered Neighborhood Groups within the City and County of Denver boundaries
0 comments:
Post a Comment