Denver voters approved the bonds, now we must audit the projects (Letters)

Bond needs early oversight and fair contracting Re: “Bond measures OK’d,” Nov. 5 news story Voters approved the Vibrant Bond to deliver projects on time and on budget. The Denver auditor exists to give taxpayers a live read on whether that is happening as dollars move from authorization to construction. If the auditor function operates as an early-warning system, the City of Denver can prevent cost overruns instead of making excuses for them later. The fix is simple and practical. Publish a monthly Bond Accountability Dashboard for every project, including the original budget, spend to date, forecast at completion, contingency drawdowns, schedule target vs. actual, and total change orders. Add clear thresholds that trigger review before large change orders. Use independent cost and schedule checks so contingency is not treated like a secondary budget. Audit early. Audit often. Bond delivery also relies on fair contracting. Require machine-readable certified payrolls for primes and subs, unannounced field checks for classification and overtime, and hold retainage until wage findings are resolved. Denver voters supported this package to get work done. They expect discipline to protect workers and protect taxpayers. Denver can get this work done with transparency and effectiveness with good oversight. Erik Clarke, Denver President’s use of tariffs and military not justified With the Supreme Court case over the president’s authority to unilaterally impose tariffs having begun, it’s worth highlighting the rationale being used to defend it. Namely, that a national emergency exists, allowing the president to invoke powers to impose tariffs he would not ordinarily possess. Questioning by both liberal and conservative justices indicates a high degree of skepticism for the government’s argument because unfair trade practices asserted by the administration do not constitute an emergency. The same can be said for the rationale the administration is claiming for sending troops to cities that oppose their deployment. The existence of crime does not represent an emergency sufficient to use the military to patrol city streets. In both cases, the ends — increased revenue from tariffs and a lower crime rate due to a higher “police” presence — do not justify the abuse of power not constitutionally granted to the president. Douglas Hoyt, Wheat Ridge Broncos are on the right track Re: “Is trade for WR or TE last piece to winning AFC West?” Nov. 4 sports commentary, and “Confident Broncos make no trades,” Nov. 5 sports story The Broncos did not go for another player before the trade deadline. Coach Sean Payton has his team and had little to say today when asked about it. However, most of the sports writers are going nuts. Never heard so much negativity with a team leading 7-2 and magic happening in fourth quarters. Great job, Broncos. You are fabulous. Keep it up. Don’t listen to all the “advice” from the writers and speakers who are not out in the field performing as you are, and don’t let anyone steal your magic. Dea Coschignano, Wheat Ridge Recycling inefficiency Residents on my block have a front-row seat to city inefficiency. For several weeks, one side of the street has not had recycling pickup. After we were jilted last week on our regular pickup day, we left our carts in the street. Numerous residents have contacted the city to request pickup. Yesterday, a truck came, emptied one cart, and left. A row of seven or eight carts down the block waiting for service was ignored. Residents called, and today the truck returned and emptied one more cart, but no others. We have been told that each resident has to report their unemptied cart, and the city will send a truck to make a pickup for that address only, continuing to disregard not only the other carts but our requests to empty all the carts. Why are we paying for a truck and driver to make multiple trips to the same block for the same purpose? This is beyond stupid. Nancy B. Weil, Denver Sign up for Sound Off to get a weekly roundup of our columns, editorials and more. To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.