Editor’s note: The following letters to the editor are from student writers in the BoCo Wild Writers program. They are addressed to Boulder’s newly elected officials. These letters were submitted by their teacher and poet, Erin Robertson, who lives in Louisville, with permission from parents.

Fur farming is a very big problem and needs to stop

This is something that has been on my mind for a while now, and it’s a big problem. The problem is fur farming. As you read this, hundreds of unhealthy foxes are sitting in tiny cages with no room to run around, and barely any food. Animals should not be suffering just for people to have real fur. If this does not stop, foxes might become endangered. Please try to do something about this.

Save the foxes!

— Alina Beard, age 10, Erie

Boulder needs more clear nature and less buildings

I would like more clear nature! Meaning I would like to be able to go on a walk and be at least thirty feet from a building. That also means banning building things in certain places. I really hate being in a car and driving to a place that should be natural and seeing buildings. I like tourists, but we have enough hotels and Airbnbs, too. We should not think that we need more buildings and places to live! You can pick which places where you would put nature, but I would like to have more than forty to fifty places in big cities, please. I would like for you to take this offer into consideration!

Thank you for your time and patience!

— Liv Martin, age 10, Boulder

Add more trees to Pleasant View Fields Complex

The Pleasant View Fields Sports Complex’s fields are really good and I am happy about that. But I wish there were more trees. It is important because, for one, trees clean the air, and second, people wouldn’t have to think about bringing umbrellas for shade. Keep up the good work maintaining the fields. Please do the same thing to other fields, too!

— Liam Lane-Miller, age 11, Longmont

Decrease number of apartment buildings

Where I live there is a traffic light by my house and 90% of the time we hit a red light and it is always busy because there are a lot of apartments there and they are about to open another one. That’s why I think you should decrease the amount of apartment buildings in Colorado.

I am sure a lot of people send letters to you, so thank you for your time.

— Winston Plummer, age 11, Boulder

Colorado should teach finance in middle school

I have a new law to propose that will add a new class to middle schools. Barely any kids are learning about finances, which can be a real problem as our economy is collapsing. No one is learning about investing, buying real estate, or buying an asset to buy a liability, which is super important in today’s world. Because of this, I am now suggesting that a financial course be added to middle schools all around the state of Colorado and maybe even other states if possible. I understand that you have a lot on your mind and that you might not be able to focus on this immediately, so don’t worry about it too much. Of course, it is important, but don’t put all your focus on it. Since I am homeschooled, my education is a little bit different from public school. I have learned about financial struggles and problem-solving, and I believe it is important because it prepares our children for the future much better than any history or science class ever could.

— Mila Lane-Miller, age 12, Longmont

What if we change how grades work in schools?

I have a proposal for you. What if we change our schools? What if people get put into grades based on intelligence instead of age? Sure, you can move up a grade. But think about how much smarter kids could be if they could live up to their full potential.

I do get that kids of similar ages have similar abilities. But in truth, a lot of these kids are at all different levels. So, if we put these kids into groups based on intelligence they may become some of the smartest kids there are on this planet because they’re getting the right amount of challenge and being able to take in this knowledge at all levels.

Thank you for your time.

— Lovecloud Lemley, age 12

Overdevelopment is destroying natural areas

I would like to address the problem of overdevelopment in Boulder, Colorado. I have watched so many beautiful natural areas disappear beneath huge, towering apartment buildings and department stores.

I remember when I was younger and there was a wonderful field outside my aunt’s house. It was full of flowers, and it had a pretty little pond with ducks and geese and trees. A few years later, a giant Lowe’s descended upon the area, leaving nothing but a few gangly little trees and some dry, brown grass. It was the first time I’d ever seen such a thing, and I was heartbroken.

Since then, I’ve watched too many natural areas disappear, giving way to apartments, offices, and huge buildings. I know these are necessary, but it still makes me sad to see this occur.

I am hoping this could be a problem for you to consider.

Thank you for your time.

— AJ Martin, age 14, Boulder

Boulder should add more murals and sculptures

Hello! Congratulations on your newly appointed position. I would like to address the beautification of the buildings in Boulder. A lot of the newer buildings include lower-income housing which creates more diversity, which I am grateful for. I think that any way to bring the Boulder community together is worthwhile. Art is an excellent way to do this. Boulder has a high population of artists and I believe that many of them would love to make Boulder an even more beautiful place. I don’t think anything would have to be architecturally different, murals or sculptures could be added. What if for every new apartment or industrial building the City of Boulder sponsored an art project that positively affected the exterior of the new building? You could have events that are open to the public and invite families to participate. This could get kids more excited about art and, at the same time, bring more culture to Boulder.

Thank you for your consideration.

— Paloma Tavernetti, age 14, Boulder County

Mud snails must be removed from watersheds

I, Roland Plummer, as a serious fisherman, strongly feel that there needs to be more effort put into the removal of the New Zealand mud snails in Boulder’s watersheds. When I fish in creeks and rivers, I love to wade across them and fish in the middle so I don’t get snagged on the bushes and trees on the banks. But I’m not allowed to wade across the creeks and rivers infested with New Zealand mud snails. I know the signs say that you shouldn’t wade in the water because if you go to other water sources you can transplant the snails there. The only water we go to is South Boulder Creek, so I will occasionally wade through and fish. But I have been yelled at by multiple people even if I hop onto a rock in the middle of the creek to “Get out of the water!” Much to my dismay, I listen to them, and then think to myself none of this would have happened if there were more effort to remove the snails. I know it won’t be an easy task, but I feel like if enough of us work together we can remove them.

— Roland Plummer, age 14, Boulder

Downtown Boulder needs to address bathroom issue

I would like to address the bathroom issue downtown. There is a public bathroom near the courthouse, but it is very dirty and is very uncomfortable to be in. In Amsterdam, they have open bathrooms — private, but they use the waste for fertilizer.

— LeiLani Lemley, Boulder

Dear newly elected officials

Americans have entrusted the future to someone who denies the existence of climate change, discounts the role of science in creating policy, and is committed to increasing corporate profits no matter the long-term ecological cost. Instead of joining the world in attempting to rein in carbon emissions, we can expect another round of “Drill, baby, drill!” As our national leaders run away from their responsibilities to the planet, local leadership and individual actions will be critical to limit the damage of this policy shift.

How can you help? As Heather Cox Richardson says, “Do the next right thing, no matter how hard.” For our officials, this means standing up and representing us even against a hostile administration. For our individual households, we must continue to make choices that benefit the planet even as federal incentives disappear. We must find ways to support our struggling neighbors as the federal government caters to billionaires. We must stand up against repression even if it brings worrisome scrutiny of our own actions.

We must protect as much as we can during this difficult time, and not hand over people, places, or ideals willingly. Please stand strong and stand together. That’s our only hope.

— Erin Robertson, Louisville