Memories of Esquire’s kid’s matinee

Re: “Historic Esquire Theatre closing,” March 21 news story

Boy, that hurts. The last staple of my childhood, the Esquire Theatre, is closing. Every Saturday morning for the first half of the 1950s my brothers and I would each be given a quarter and sent off to our babysitter, the kid’s matinee at the Esquire.

Along with hundreds of other hyper kids, we’d sit through about 15 cartoons, an adventure from a 15-episode serial, and then a feature-length movie, usually a Western with Rex Allen or some other singing cowboy.

By then, it was afternoon, and if we weren’t too hungry, we could sit through the regularly scheduled feature. Eventually, we’d leave the theatre and all the racket, and eyes dilated from hours sitting or, more likely, running around in the dark, and wander home a few blocks away on Emerson St. to be fed. Mom, visibly refreshed after an hour’s long break, seemed glad to see us.

Harry Puncec, Lakewood

Ask a neuropsychologist about Biden

Re: “Biden’s legal team upset over digs at president’s memory,” Feb.12 news story

Regarding Special Counsel Robert Hur’s testimony and report, I suggest that if presidents’  cognitive status is going to be evaluated, it be done by neuropsychologists, not by attorneys.

They have the knowledge and skills to do such an evaluation. And, in the reporting some perspective could be added. Out of this 345-page document, how many pages were devoted to memory lapses, and what was the overall nature of these lapses. Perhaps they were of a nature that we all could relate too, regardless of age?

If cognitive status is going to be a topic in the presidential campaign, I suggest that both candidates be evaluated by a trained professional, not an observer with no clinical background.  Going forward, this could be a requirement of any candidate over a certain age. That would prevent speculation about cognitive status and use of it as a cudgel during campaigns.

Nancy Litwack-Strong, Lakewood

Biden can’t forget people are struggling

Re: “Biden goes on the offensive before a big national audience,” March 9 news story

I am a lifelong Democrat. After watching President Biden give his inspired speech the other night and after my initial enthusiasm, I am worried.

There are two kinds of Democrats. First are the rich and upper middle class, college-educated, well-heeled democrats who sit in their ivory towers and look down and see good news. Unemployment is down, inflation is decreasing, Biden’s accomplishments are historically impressive. The journalists, who have six-figure incomes on MSNBC, smile at each other and prove their erudition. But they are missing something important.

The second kind of Democrats may not agree. They are the lower middle class and lower class poor, both white and people of color. Ask them if things are getting better. There are more homeless, evictions are up, the national minimum wage is still too low, single moms can’t afford daycare, drug addiction is rampant, mass killings continue, cost of living is outrageous. Dreamers are still dreaming. And more. Of course, it isn’t just Democrats who are hurting.

I wanted Biden to get more personal and speak to those of us who are hurting: “I understand and have seen your pain and suffering. I am sorry you are hurting so much. I will try harder to help you.” And so much more. But he didn’t acknowledge them.

The people who have power in the Democratic Party better wake up!

Ken Spooner, Littleton

Wildlife commission battle “stirring people up”

Re: “Sportsmen lose a champion on CPW commission,” March 20 letter to the editor

I, too, am a lifelong hunter and angler in Colorado, and I supported Gary Skiba in his bid to be our Colorado Parks and Wildlife commissioner. I want to thank him for his letter because it highlights a serious problem within my hunting/fishing and outdoors community. He was the most qualified commissioner appointee representing the hunting/angling community in recent history.

Another insider was also shunned for upholding wildlife ethics about 30 years ago. Tom Beck, the state’s leading bear biologist, worked at the Colorado Division of Wildlife alongside Skiba. Beck was similarly harassed, shunned and ostracized by the loud minority fringe groups, who feel that any criticism of any kind of hunting is wrong.

Beck simply spoke in favor of not allowing the hunting of bears using bait and hounds in spring when cubs are present. The voters made it happen instead, by a whopping 70% of the vote.

Today, we have social media, and bullying and harassment are on steroids; it’s pure tribalism.

The only people who win here are those who are trying to raise money by stirring things up in our community for their own selfish reasons — especially those using fearmongering techniques suggesting they are coming after you next. A pastor I know calls this “stirring people up with a dirty spoon.”

Bravo to Beck, and to Skiba. I will end with what Beck said so well: “Most hunting can be ethically defended. Some cannot. Change, where necessary, is our only hope of survival. Antihunters may hold a spotlight on our behavior, but through our behavior we control what they see.”

Dave Ruane, Windsor

Legislation would demand transparency from charter schools

Re: “Mean-spirited’ legislation targets Colorado’s charter schools,” March 17 commentary

Aurora City Council member Stephanie Hancock thinks House Bill 1363 is “mean-spirited.” I was curious as to how legislation requiring more transparency and accountability for charter schools could be a problem, so I read the entire bill.

What I found was an effort to require charters to meet the same standards as traditional public schools.

How is it “mean-spirited” to require charter-school operators to prove there is a need for their proposed schools? Isn’t that cost-effective government? How is it “mean-spirited” to ask charter schools to disclose which waivers they are granted from requirements that traditional public schools must meet? Aren’t parents entitled to know if some services aren’t available? How is it “mean-spirited” to require a process in which community members can appeal a charter approval? Isn’t that fiscal responsibility?
In terms of mean-spiritedness, the best example seems to be Hancock’s unfair swipe at teacher unions, a common tactic of corporate-driven school “reformers.”

I’m not an educator or union member. I’m just a taxpayer and voter who wants to see strong, well-funded public schools available to every Colorado student.