Boulder must stand with workers, not oligarchs

The recent Boulder election results should give us pause. Across Colorado — and even in Aurora, a city with a historically conservative council — voters rallied behind bold, progressive candidates focused on affordability, workers’ rights and housing justice. But here in Boulder, turnout dropped, and more moderate candidates prevailed.

One of Boulder’s strongest labor advocates was pushed out — not because her ideas lacked support, but through political maneuvering and tired rhetoric about a “return to basics.” That should worry anyone who believes Boulder can and should lead on fair wages and economic equity.

When I spoke at the first No Kings rally, I reminded everyone to “think global, act local.” Low voter turnout shows how easy it is to lose focus on what matters most: the people who make this community run. While we look away, the Boulder County Commissioners are quietly considering rolling back planned minimum wage increases — just as working families lose critical benefits and face skyrocketing rents and food costs.

The truth is, the current wage plan raises pay slowly over several years. Many small businesses already pay above minimum wage and have time to adapt. What’s really needed is leadership that helps small businesses plan for the future — not a rollback that benefits Boulder’s own oligarchs and landlords at the expense of workers.

If Boulder wants to live up to its values, we need to put people before profits and make affordability more than a slogan. Join us on Nov. 20 to tell the County Commissioners that cutting wages is not the way forward. Sign up at tinyurl.com/SaveTheWageSignUp. Then visit your Boulder City Council members and ask: Why would cutting tipped workers’ wages ever make sense?!

Let’s make Boulder work for everyone.

— Alejandra Beatty, president, Boulder Area Labor Council

Don’t hold your breath for Trump’s tariff dividends

On Nov. 9, on his Truth Social account, Mr. Trump announced he was going to send $2,000 in tariff dollars to every American — perhaps an attempt to bolster his falling ratings with dollars as a bribe. Assuming (always dangerous) that he actually meant $2,000 to every American family, the tally for that adventure would be: 84.3 million American households times $2,000 per household equals $168.6 billion (yes BILLION). This bloviated largesse is from the same President who refused to fully fund SNAP for those truly in need and promised, in his 2016 campaign, to pay off the national debt “over a period of eight years.” Holding one’s breath for those $2,000 checks to arrive will probably not be a YUGE or prudent idea.

— RC Lloyd, Longmont

Local resolve in the face of SNAP emergency

As we have slogged through the disaster of shutting down essential services for people who depend on SNAP and other support provided by the Federal government, state and local citizens have stepped up.

In context, Governor Jared Polis released information about the 600,000 people in Colorado who depend on SNAP. Half of that number are children.

Organizations like Sister Carmen, the Erie Community Food Bank, Coal Creek Meals on Wheels and others are receiving increased donations from the community members.

Erie Trustee Emily Baer helped collect and deliver over 2,000 pounds of food to these organizations. Drop-off points were established throughout the town. That was seven carloads of food delivered to the food banks in the area.

Erie should take pride in the Trustee’s leadership and in their own giving hearts that responded to this emergency.

— Pat Waak, Erie

Why should the war in Gaza be stopped now?

I disagree with the recent letter, “Republicans must stand up to Trump on Gaza,” that the war against the Palestinians should be stopped immediately. Who started the war? Does October 7th trigger a memory?

Unfortunately, wars affect the innocent as well as the guilty. Two of my friends were young children in Germany during World War II. They lost their homes, experienced famine and saw many dead bodies. One of them experienced the deaths of her father and her brother.

Perhaps the Palestinians need to learn that war is not profitable. Trump didn’t cause the problem. Why expect him to solve it?

— Irene Eggers, Wheat Ridge