City Council needs to listen to the people

As the upcoming vote on the Quail Road project approaches, we urge the City Council to consider the growing concerns about the excessive development being approved across Longmont. Many residents feel that the City Council is disregarding neighborhood voices while prioritizing financial incentives from the state.

The impact of increased traffic in residential areas poses a serious safety risk, especially to children. Are we on a path to creating overcrowded conditions that heighten the risk of catastrophic events, such as the devastating Marshall Fire or the current crisis in Los Angeles? A recent warning published by The Denver Gazette (Jan. 26) highlighted the wildfire dangers facing Denver. Shouldn’t Longmont be taking similar precautions?

People choose to live in Longmont for its sense of community, open spaces, and livability, not to find themselves in a dense urban landscape reminiscent of Manhattan. Should residents expect to step outside their homes only to be surrounded by endless apartment buildings and the constant noise of traffic? Are we sacrificing the tranquility and character of our neighborhoods in pursuit of aggressive housing expansion?

As the City Council seeks state funding tied to new construction, we urge you to remember that your responsibility is to serve the residents of Longmont, not to advance policies that disregard our quality of life for financial incentives. The growing frustration and distrust among voters across the city should not be ignored.

We ask that the council listen to the people they were elected to represent

— Michelle Claire Romeo, Longmont

Old-school Republicanism and Trumpism aren’t the same

I am a former Republican (now independent) who does not like Trump. The recent guest opinion in the Times-Call dated Jan. 28 went way too far associating past Republican actions to the Trump administration. It was filled with lots of overgeneralizations and inaccuracies. Old school Republicans and Trumpism are not the same.

— Curtis Jones, Longmont