City should rethink immigrant policy
Re: “Migrant crisis: Denver plans cutbacks to defray costs,” Feb. 10 news story
In August 2017, then-Mayor Michael Hancock issued Executive Order 142, which laid the groundwork for the illegal immigration surge we have so unfortunately experienced in Denver. Drafted in part as a political counterpunch to then-President Donald Trump’s stance on illegal immigration, this order welcomed illegal immigrants and mandated they receive access to city of Denver facilities, services and programs.
Fast forward to 2024. Denver has welcomed nearly 40,000 illegal immigrants; this is the most of any U.S. city on a per capita basis. These are individuals who are fleeing desperate situations in China, Africa, and South America and who have willingly bypassed the legal immigration process, although many have opened asylum cases upon entry.
The annual direct budget impact to the city is projected to cost $180 million in 2024. Mayor Johnston has already announced reductions in services to libraries, the DMV, and recreational centers; surely more will follow and further reduce our quality of life and increase our tax bills.
Reportedly, Mayor Johnston is “furious” about the lack of available federal funds to fund his open border initiative. Guess what, mayor? We, too, are furious, but not for the absence of federal funding to propagate an open border policy.
We are furious with your limp efforts to govern our city in a non-partisan manner, as you have promised. If you are as committed to resolving this issue as you claim, here’s one easy solution: repeal Executive Order 142. Immigration and border policy is the business of the federal officials and Denver, by failing to repeal Executive Order 142, undermines federal efforts.
Bryan J. Auchterlonie, Denver
It’s a shame to see that taxpayers will have to suffer cuts in services as a result of the wide-open Southern border. It’s also a shame that Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has to take the party line and blame the Republican leadership in Congress for not passing comprehensive immigration reform. That leads me to believe that this problem will never be resolved because to solve a problem, you must correctly identify the cause of the problem, which Democrats refuse to do.
The overwhelming migrant issue we are experiencing lies solely at the feet of Joe Biden for undoing successful policies that were already in place. Biden has wasted untold amounts of taxpayer dollars with this foreign policy failure that is straining cities’ budgets.
A large segment of our society has had enough and just wants the border closed now! Why are Democrats and the White House unwilling to stop this bleeding?
Mitch Brown, Littleton
Migrants don’t have to be a burden; let them work
Re: “Window washing offers migrants a lifeline,” Feb. 2 news story
While asylum-seeking migrants wait months or years for work permits, they add an enormous burden on taxpayers funding their government services. Migrants waiting for work permits and their families must be fed, housed, and clothed, and many need health care. Too many end up living in homeless encampments, which are dangerous, reduce nearby property values, and too often negatively impact nearby businesses as customers and workers go elsewhere to avoid the encampments. Some migrants resort to washing windshields, sometimes aggressively, in intersections, which is unsafe for both migrants and motorists. Others, sadly, resort to crime. It’s not a good situation for anyone.
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But it doesn’t have to be this way!
The humane solution to the problem is to end the authoritarian practice of denying migrants the right to earn an honest living. Migrants have a human right to work from the moment they set foot on U.S. soil. If there is a willing employer and a willing migrant worker, the government should butt out.
Permitting migrants to work immediately changes them from being a burden to contributors to the economy. Imagine no more migrant encampments and no more aggressive windshield washers at intersections. Give taxpayers a break by legalizing working for an honest living. The economy can expand to accommodate new workers. Unemployment is low, but there is a worker shortage. Now is the perfect time to end the barbaric practice of forcing peaceful people not to work.
Freedom — not authoritarian control — is the solution to society’s problems.
Chuck Wright, Westminster
Xcel executive responds
Re: “Don’t forget conservation, Xcel Energy,” Feb. 4 editorial
A clean energy transition is underway across our state. Xcel Energy is taking groundbreaking steps to become a net-zero energy provider by 2050. While we make this transition, we have a responsibility to maintain a reliable, safe natural gas system while working on the next steps in emission reduction and technology advancement — whether that is achieved by beneficial electrification, clean fuels or reducing use with energy efficiency.
A policy such as that advocated by The Post in its editorial would increase energy providers’ financial risk and make it difficult to raise the money we need to invest in new clean energy. This would result in an energy system that is less clean, more expensive, and less dependable.
To date, very few customers (out of our 1.5 million customers in Colorado) have submitted applications to permanently disconnect from the natural gas system. We recognize those numbers could increase in the future, and we must prepare for larger-scale changes without limiting customer choice or leaving our most vulnerable customers behind.
That is why we are committed to working side-by-side with policymakers to ensure the right regulations are in place to help facilitate customers’ move away from fossil fuels while simultaneously ensuring equity and affordability for all our customers. We are committed to supporting a cleaner energy future together.
Robert Kenney, Lone Tree
Editor’s note: Kenney is the president of Xcel Energy Colorado.
Response to homeless pets inadequate
Re: “The bill requiring pet fish registration is dead, but other overreaches remain,” Feb. 11 commentary
Krista Kafer states in her column regarding sheltering and care of homeless pets that “voluntary action by individuals and community-based organizations are more than adequate to address the issue.” Apparently, she is not aware of the fact that animal shelters all over the country are bursting at the seams with homeless pets. And yet she also states that “less adoptable animals had to be put down to make room” in reference to overcrowded animal shelters. It doesn’t seem “more than adequate” to me when pets are euthanized to make more room. Of course, The Denver Post adds to this problem by continuing to run classified ads for dog breeders!
Sherry Peterson, Denver
Policies threaten small-time landlords
Re: “New pro-tenant Colorado bills want to limit fees, rent increases and evictions,” Feb. 3 online news story
Like most small-time landlords, I am a good apple — I try to choose my tenants carefully, I fix problems immediately, and I update and upgrade as cash flow allows. I reduced rent during the COVID pandemic, and I almost never raise rent on an existing tenant, even after years of renewals, which means that I’m drastically under market value.
While I have been able to see the value of my investment grow over time, it’s by no means a cash cow — it has a mortgage, along with skyrocketing property tax and insurance costs, and at 120 years old, a long list of things that could break at any moment. I am small-time, I don’t have an unlimited pot of money to draw from, and I am always one bad tenant away from having it all go up in smoke.
I read about legislation being considered at the state level, like that discussed in the article, and it drives me to seriously consider selling. While that may sound great to young people trying to get into the market, it will most likely end up with an institutional investor, drawing humanity out of the relationship and the economic benefits out of Colorado. Poor policies created the housing crisis, and more legislation that drives small landlords like myself out of the market is just one more step down that line.
Lindsay Vaskey, Centennial
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