Since I moved out here, I have been a huge fan of Westword — read pretty much every single edition and enjoyed it. But as of late, there have been quite a lot of articles written and published on your website regarding how awful of a state New Jersey is compared to Colorado. As a person who grew up there for 23 years and moved to this beautiful state, I find this highly offensive and see no reason for all of the Facebook posts bashing my home state as a whole. Yes, our governor, Chris Christie, said something regarding Colorado and our marijuana laws, but I do not see any reason for all of the negative, harassing comments about New Jersey from your publication.
I have always thought that your publication had a great, unbiased opinion on most topics. But seeing those posts have been highly disappointing. I know I am not the only one who is bothered by these articles, because I have spoken to multiple people who are in the same situation as I am. Thank you for your time.
Chelsey Quaglietta
Denver
"Rocks and Roll," Melanie Asmar, May 8
I'm writing to compliment you on the cover story by Melanie Asmar. I found it to be a frightening story because of how long the problem has been there and how little it has made the news. We read every year about the people who fall climbing Red Rocks, but not injuries inflicted by the venue itself. I think the question of the city and promoter liability is a good question to ask. Red Rocks is the iconic symbol of music in Colorado. If going to it poses a risk beyond the legal marijuana, heavy drinking and earsplitting music, then it must be addressed more than every three years.
I'm glad to see Westword bring this problem to light, and look forward to updates in the future.
Alex Teitz
Denver
There are danger signs everywhere. Grow up and go back to California.
Josh Starrett
Posted on Facebook
Yeah, try winning a lawsuit from the government over an act of God!
Steve Potts
Posted on Facebook
I would be shocked if we see a lawyer prove that it was from music vibrations and not just some shitheads climbing out of bounds. Or just an unfortunate incident, for that matter.
Pete Copeland
Posted on Facebook
Man, I used to have so much fun in those caves. Really sad to see that they have been fenced off and even more graffiti caked on. Fuck the taggers, and fuck the city for closing them off.
Rob Payne
Posted on Facebook
If the rocks were going to revolt, you'd think it would have been any of the times ICP played there.
Zack Lewis
Posted on Facebook
Now if only rocks would fall at a Widespread Panic show so that we could get rid of that crap, too.
Sylas Colley
Posted on Facebook
Editor's note: For many more comments on "Rocks and Roll," go to the online version of the story at westword.com.
"Bloody Ludlow," Alan Prendergast, April 17
Wonderful piece. I was first exposed to the full story of Ludlow in 1970, when I was a member of Plumbers Local #3 here in Denver. In the union office, they sold copies of Out of the Depths, by Barron Beshoar.
My grandfather on my mother's side was a Slanovec out of Slovenia; at Ellis Island, the customs officers Americanized the name to Slanovich. Two of my grandfather's older brothers died in a mine accident at the Hastings Mine in Huerfano County in April 1917, when 121 men were lost. My grandfather had settled near Cañon City at that time and was working in the mine at Chandler, a Colorado company town that no longer exists, where strike activity also took place. At my grandfather's funeral, two old compatriots of his told my uncles that he was a brave man who dynamited a National Guard machine-gun nest during the uprising. Could be a fanciful myth, but Mom still remembers that when she was young, occasionally my grandfather would be working in fields and orchards and someone would take a shot at him, so he would pack his horse and disappear for a couple of weeks until he felt it safe to return.
His homestead at the time had orchards, a truck garden, a smokehouse, cattle and chickens, and still stands today. In fact, over the years, my uncles have even acquired the entire town plot of Chandler and much of the surrounding coal-country land. I recall as a small child standing in line with my cousins while waiting to sit on my grandfather's lap when he was seated at a wooden table in the orchard spooning large tablespoons of his dark honey into our mouths. It was a sweet time.
Thanks for reminding us.
Patrick D. Ryan
Denver
Editor's note: From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, the United Mine Workers of America will hold a family day at the Ludlow Memorial National Historic Landmark outside Trinidad; at 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 18, the UMW will convene a Ludlow Centennial Remembrance Ceremony at the memorial. For more information, go to Ludlow100.org.
