Ask yourself: Is this truly a pressing issue in our local schools? Or is it a political distraction — a dog whistle — meant to divert attention from the real problems affecting our schools, our children and our community?

If this were genuinely a local concern in District 51, I would hope our school board would approach such a challenging circumstance with thoughtfulness, discretion and compassion — not with political exploitation.

As we approach the upcoming school board elections, I sincerely hope — and firmly believe — that our community deserves candidates who are committed to supporting our communities, expanding opportunities for our children, and doing the difficult, important work of leading our schools. We need leaders focused on education, not political theater.

ED SEYMOUR

Palisade

Sympathy for immigrants clouds the legal issues

The Sentinel’s Commentary pages have recently been overloaded with letters and opinions regarding the nation’s immigration policies. Most have supported allowing unauthorized immigrants to remain free in the country as they are by-and-large honest persons who have families, work and pay taxes. The writers blur the distinction between legal and illegal entry into our country, as if how they got here is of no consequence. They seem to be unconcerned whether the immigrants followed the law or not.

I wonder how those who are following the law and remain on the immigration waiting list for up to 15 years view those who simply moved in ahead of them without authority? Congressional representatives of both political parties have formulated immigration laws that permit orderly entry into the country by properly vetted foreigners. Yet many now wish to open the gates to any and all who wish to come in the name of human compassion, filling jobs Americans avoid and of course, voting for more of the same.

Our president was elected in large part to enforce the immigration laws of this country. That translates to closing the previously wide-open border and deporting those who have entered under cover of darkness or false pretenses. He has accomplished the former but faces deportation resistance from those on the left, many in the media and a number of judges who twist the laws to meet their liberal agendas. Hopefully the president’s “common sense” approach will prevail and our laws will be fully and fairly enforced.

STEPHEN LEANE

Grand Junction

Time to further restrict open burning practices

Open burning in backyards and fields has been a time-honored tradition of unwanted vegetation disposal. However, the smoke from this practice has also been recognized as a serious health hazard and fire hazard for too long.

Ten years ago, we worked to further clarify municipal and county rules governing the practice of open burning and we made great progress. Local governments passed new ordinances regulating open burning.

Times have changed, Mesa County and its municipalities have grown, and still every spring and fall a lot of illegal burning continues, even in residential areas. This spring, severely dry weather and wind have increased the fire danger and created a serious health hazard for over 33,000 residents with either cardiovascular or respiratory illnesses in Mesa County. Breathing smoke is bad for everyone, especially our kids and elderly.

Citizens for Clean Air urges residents to become familiar with local governments’ open burning ordinances. We believe it’s time to further restrict this outworn practice and replace it with several of the healthier alternatives available such as composting.

BENNETT BOESCHENSTEIN

Citizens for Clean Air

Grand Junction

‘So what?’ wins the day?

In my opinion there is sufficient evidence to support the following conclusions:

1. The earth’s atmosphere is warming.

2. CO2 has increased significantly in the atmosphere.

3. The burning of fossil fuels is a meaningful contributor to this increase of CO2

4. Humans are doing most of the burning, so their behavior is a major cause of the increase in CO2.

President Trump’s position seems to be:

1. Global warming is a hoax.

2. And if 2,3, and 4 are correct, “so what?”

President Trump tells us he is a genius. Maybe he is correct. I never realized how effective “so what” is as an argument. I stand corrected.

DAVID AUSTIN

Grand Junction