Misplaced financial priorities in Colorado

Misplaced priorities here on the Front Range were highlighted by two headlines in the Camera’s March 29, 2025, edition:

On the front page: “Prime Lands $54M Extension With CU.” Then, in section B (Local), “School District To Cut 150 Jobs Amid $27.5 Million Shortfall” in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools (Adams and Broomfield counties).

The cognitive dissonance is obvious. Thousands of students will be getting reduced resources, including the possible loss of 150 teaching and support jobs. For twice that amount of needed money, the masses will continue to get entertaining distractions at the local coliseum, built on cash rolling in from tickets and broadcasting.

I enjoy football, but I place a much higher value on quality education. Perpetuating these misplaced priorities only serves to handicap us from addressing the really important issues our society faces, now and for the future.

Do we have smart leaders anywhere who recognize what’s wrong with this picture? Shouldn’t they be able to lead us to find creative ways to pay for both?

— John Cowley, Louisville

How we can all support the arts in Boulder

Many citizens in Boulder are justifiably proud of our success in luring the Sundance Film Festival to our city, which will bring an exciting new vibe, many visitors, along with a significant boost to the local economy and concomitant tax dollars to city coffers. According to press reports, a major factor in the decision by SD Institute was Boulder’s vibrant arts scene. We are grateful for this official recognition of the many highly accomplished artists, performing artists and musicians whose endeavors so enrich our lives, and we are hopeful that this recognition may result in significantly increased support for the arts in our community.

At a minimum, the City Council and city management should restore in its entirety the arts and culture fund established in Ballot 2A, supported by 75% of the electorate in the November election. Ballot 2A asked voters to renew a 0.015% sales tax with approximately $3.6 million of the $7 million raised designated to a specific fund for arts and culture, the other half going to the city’s general fund. Specifically, Ballot 2A provides for “direct funding for arts and culture, nonprofits, professional artists, arts education, venues and workspaces, public arts and multi-cultural programs.” Nevertheless, our city government seeks to absorb the designated arts fund into the city administration, skimming some 41% for overhead, leaving less than $2 million for grants to be divided among multiple local arts and culture organizations and individuals. We request that City Council and City Manager abide by the ballot proposal that Boulder citizens voted for: an arts and culture fund as a separate entity with its full funding intact.

— Eileen Kintsch, Marion Thurnauer and Alexander Trifunac, Boulder

Plant-based diet increases chances of healthy aging

Following a primarily plant-based healthy diet can raise the chances of “healthy aging” at age 70, according to a 30-year study of 105,000 people published recently in the prestigious journal Nature. The study defines the status of healthy aging as intact memory, lack of depression or other chronic health conditions and ability to perform basic physical tasks like climbing stairs or carrying groceries. Sadly, it found that less than 10% of their subjects had actually achieved healthy aging by age 70.

We are fortunate to live in a place and time that offers every opportunity to engage in healthy aging. Our supermarkets offer a rich array of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and grains, as well as grain and nut-based meats, milks, cheeses and ice creams. Most fast-food franchises and family restaurants follow suit. Many neighborhoods provide a gym for regular workouts or a park for healthful walks. All we need is the will to engage in healthy aging and raise that dismal 10% figure.

— Freddy Weiland, Fort Collins