The mask dilemma
Now that mask mandates have gone away based on the science according to the CDC, businesses are relying on the honor system for 60% of people who aren’t fully vaccinated to still wear a mask. If, after all this time, there are people who aren’t fully vaccinated, the question is why not? Is it access, is it ignorance, is it a personal preference, or is it politically motivated?
Regardless of the reason, wearing a mask now would be tantamount to admitting you aren’t vaccinated, possibly leading to public scorn. And what is lost in all of this are the fully vaccinated people who will want to continue to wear a mask as there is still so much unknown as how the virus may still spread. Will these people feel that others assume they aren’t fully vaccinated, so will feel forced to stop wearing one based on public scorn?
If herd immunity happens when 80% of the population is either vaccinated or has had the virus, how does it make sense to lift the mandate at this time? I believe in the science, but the science has evolved in so many ways that there are still so many unknowns. I’d like to continue to wear a mask indoors. But I probably won’t because it will single me out unjustly.
Teri Sinopoli, Centennial
Traded away
Thank you, Dick Monfort, for bringing minor league baseball back to Denver.
Jim Jenkins, Arvada
Seniors’ tax exemption diluted
Re: “Quit celebrating Colorado’s rising home values,” May 9 commentary
As currently and originally written, the Senior Property Tax Exemption should be adjusted; it is not as generous as it initially was.
The exemption states that homeowners 65 or older who own and reside in their current home for 10 or more continuous years are entitled to reduce by 50% the tax on the first $200,000 of assessed “Actual Value.”
Dave Whamond, PoliticalCartoons.com
Dave Whamond, PoliticalCartoons.com
When first enacted, the median home value was less than $200,000. The result is that most Colorado senior homeowner’s tax bills were cut in half. Now that the average home is valued at $400,000 or more, most eligible seniors only realize a 25% reduction in their tax bill at best (do the math).
Therefore, I urge you to contact your state legislators and ask that they adjust the exemption to $400,000, thereby allowing most Colorado seniors to realize the 50% tax savings once again as originally intended. This will put the exemption more in line with today’s market.
John C. Fraioli, Aurora
End systemic racism
One of the problems with right-wing politicians and commentators decrying the uproar over systemic racism is that they equate demands for changes in policing to the condemnation of all individual law enforcement officers. This is classic willful ignorance. America, like it or not, has a well-documented history of policies and structures that benefit white Americans and discriminate against Black, Brown, indigenous and other non-white Americans. This includes law enforcement, as well as financial systems, education, health care, politics and most other systemic structures. Policing and law enforcement need basic changes in order to correct this wrong.
Michael Guthrie, Lakewood
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