Work requirements put back on Congress

The GOP wants you to get a job to qualify for SNAP benefits and Medicaid. Many people I know have two jobs just to break even, and they do not qualify for these benefits. Congress members get good salaries and excellent health insurance paid by taxpayers. Do your one job, Congress! It’s not impossible to solve the GOP-induced “debt crisis.” Don’t cut benefits. Raise revenue and repeal the Trump tax cuts to wealthy families and corporations.

— Victoria Swearingen, Denver

Seniors’ tax exemptions should continue when downsizing homes

I purchased a new home, and we will be moving there soon. I lived at my current location in Denver for more than 40 years and was getting the senior property tax exemption for over 12 years (I am 76 years old). When I tried to apply for this exemption for my new home, I found out that I do not meet the requirement of 10 years of residency.

Talking with the assessor’s office, I found out there is no exception for seniors who move and lose this exemption. We need to contact our state legislators to seek an amendment, as many seniors are in this situation throughout the state. I feel this needs to change so as not to punish seniors who choose to downsize.

— Girish Bhargava, Denver

Editor’s note: Proposition HH on the November ballot would add portability to the senior property tax exemption so downsizing seniors would not be penalized.

Outdoor Retailer show provided space for grassroots organizations

Re: “Colorado to study feasibility of an alternative to the Outdoor Retailer show,” May 19 online news story

In a recent Denver Post article about the loss of the Outdoor Retailer Trade Show, the concept of another “non-trade show” replacement was speculated. I attended that coming together of the outdoor recreation tribe for over 30 years and believe that the time has come for a new and improved way of bringing together all of us who love the great outdoors and use the equipment that is on display for buyers and sellers of the latest gear.

You see, I went not to buy or sell the latest gear or clothing for the outdoors but to sell the importance of rallying on behalf of the land we loved to recreate on. I was there at the founding of Leave No Trace, the Conservation Alliance, the Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America (now the Outdoor Industry Association), the Camber Outdoors and so many other grassroots efforts that focus on the issues that were near and dear to us.

The manufacturers and retailers were a necessary economic force that enabled us to come together for seminars and keynote speeches and political engagement, but the grassroots organizations’ volunteers and advocacy made all the difference in creating awareness and policies that were desperately needed.

— Bruce Ward, Denver

Editor’s note: Ward is president of Choose Outdoors.