Protect Denver’s public art by keeping it indoors

Protect public art from vandals. Keep it inside.

Having a public art program in Denver that uses a developer’s tax to fund artists to create art in the city’s public spaces is a good thing.

Seeing these same works of art defaced by gangs who “mark” them with their “signs” is horrible.

So, until these gangs can be stopped from doing their jobs, we should not place new public art in places where it will surely be defaced.

Unfortunately, that means in our public parks, especially along Denver’s beautiful Cherry Creek hiking and biking trail.

The murals on the walls along this trail have been ravaged from Confluence Park to Colorado Boulevard, particularly the huge mural across the creek from the Cherry Creek Mall.

Yet the Denver Arts & Venues agency continues to offer the Public Arts Program a free pass to commission new murals and other artwork on its property, as if gang tagging is nothing inevitably follow.

There are many indoor locations in our city where public art will be safe. Let’s use them instead of creating even more problems by placing new murals in our unprotected public parks!

Nathan Edelson, Denver

Senator Bennet’s support is crucial for Alzheimer’s patients

As nearly 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease, including 90,800 people here in Colorado, prioritizing how this devastating disease is treated remains a critical issue for our country. Much progress has been made in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease over the past decade, largely due to Congress’ passage of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act, and the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act.

These laws were set to expire on December 31. It was therefore urgent for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers to update these important pieces of legislation. Please join me and the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado in thanking Senator Michael Bennet for co-sponsoring these three critical pieces of legislation. They have all been adopted and now have the force of law! The BOLD Act allowed our state to have an Alzheimer’s and Dementia Plan, managed by the Colorado Department of Health. Senator Bennet, I appreciate your continued support of this cause that touches so many Coloradans!

Jana Jordan, Denver

Editor’s Note: Jordan is a dementia caregiver and volunteer for the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

How to teach and learn

We do not teach; people learn. Our children’s world is different from ours. Present the facts. Listen to their discussions. Encourage their exploration. Don’t teach the answers. Teach questions.

David L. Stevenson, Denver

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