Colo.’ s pandemic aid response misses the mark

Re: “Colorado shows Congress the way forward,” Dec. 4 editorial

The General Assembly failed to do its job during the special session. Opening businesses should have been their top priority, followed by providing a framework so that restaurants, gyms and other businesses can operate safely.

The next priority should have been to rein in the arbitrary rules that the county health departments and the governor have established. Why must a gym be limited to 10 people when the big box gyms have more than 20,000 square feet?

The next priory should have been to force the governor and county health departments to follow the rule of law. Shutting down businesses without due process is a violation of the constitution. And what about the abuse of power and retaliation? Or has The Denver Post forgotten about Bandimere and the CC Tea Coffee shop in Castle Rock, among others?

The $ 15,000 the general assembly so graciously doles out to businesses does what exactly? For many restaurants, gyms and businesses, this does not even pay a month’s rent and a month’s utilities. The general assembly failed at its job. Period.

Jeff Jasper, Westminster

● ● ●

As the state distributes needed dollars to groups during this pandemic, I question the need to fund health clubs in the latest round. Are health clubs more essential than a start- up small business that doesn’t have a long- term history but is suffering?

Why are these corporate- owned health clubs a higher priority of getting state funds than giving it to more small businesses? Is it due to the lobbying power of these corporate health clubs and contributions to the reelection coffers of our elected officials that classifies them as essential to receive these funds? I personally feel there are more essentials businesses not receiving these state funds than health clubs.

Dave Usechek, Parker