News coverage about suffering of Gazans must improve

I’m writing in response to the article the Camera ran on 4/27/25 about an Israeli hostage fearing the many ways to die while being held in Gaza. I am, and always have been, a supporter of the state of Israel and its right to exist. What happened to he 1,200 Israelis who were murdered was horrific. Having said that, the racist fascist regime of PM Netanyahu continues slaughtering the citizens of Gaza and the West Bank.

Where are the articles about the horrors being done to them? Why aren’t there more in-depth articles about the starvation, withholding of basic health services, destruction of Gaza and the murders of those citizens?

Many members of Netanyahu’s Cabinet are calling for the removal and death of the people of Gaza. They also foment Israeli settlers in the West Bank to forcibly remove Palestinians from their lands and if they can’t, then it is apparently okay to murder them and seize their lands.

The racist, xenophobic regime of Netanyahu continues down this road. Maybe part of the equation is that he is afraid of losing power and then having to face all the legal charges against him for all of his actions. Slaughtering Gazans keeps this from happening.

On 6/30/2024, the British medical journal The Lancet published an article that said there were 64,260 deaths in Gaza, when other news sources said there were 47,000 deaths. On 7/12/2024, The Lancet extrapolated there have been 186,000 deaths in Gaza. Where is the outrage? The state of Israel should be ashamed. How is this any different than what happened in WWII? What happened then was unconscionable. How is what is happening today in Gaza any different? There needs to be a more equitable and balanced news coverage of he horrific genocide that is occurring. In addition to this on 4/27/2025, a woman in Brooklyn was attacked by a mob of Orthodox Jewish men. They were kicking her, throwing traffic cones and trash cans at her. Ben Gvir, the minister of national security for the state of Israel, was visiting during that time. He has called for the elimination of all Gazans and West Bank Palestinians. Could it be that these men felt empowered?

Please let’s stop this madness and call this what it is, genocide and ethnic cleansing!

— Rodney Pierce, Boulder

Via Mobility Services — a name and reputation worth protecting

In 1979, a dedicated group in Boulder County launched Special Transit — now known as Via Mobility Services — the region’s first paratransit provider. From the beginning, our mission has been clear: to connect people who can no longer drive or who live with disabilities to the places and people that matter most — medical care, groceries, senior centers, family and friends. Over time, Via became a trusted partner to cities and counties throughout the region, earning a strong and respected reputation.

Today, that reputation is under threat.

An out-of-state company, Via Transportation Inc., is now using the “Via” name along Colorado’s Front Range, despite our long-standing use and legal registration of the brand. This includes recent service in Longmont branded as “Ride Longmont — Powered by Via,” which has caused confusion among riders, donors, employees and local partners.

While we’ve engaged in good-faith discussions with Via Transportation Inc. for the past four years, no resolution has been reached. It’s important to note that Via Mobility Services rebranded from Special Transit in 2012 — six months before the New York-based Via Transportation was founded.

For 46 years, Via Mobility Services has provided safe, caring and accessible transportation as a critical second responder in emergencies and a long-time contractor with RTD, the City of Boulder, Boulder County and more. We offer door-through-door paratransit, public transit, and evacuation services — always with community at the heart of our work.

We’ve asked Via Transportation Inc. to stop using the name “Via” in our region. You can help by sharing our story and staying connected. Visit us at www.ViaColorado.org and make sure your community knows: There is only one Via Mobility Services.

— Frank W. Bruno, Chief Executive Officer, Via Mobility Services