Editor: The Mountain Chamber Alliance (MCA), a group of chambers of commerce in Colorado’s mountain region, works to apply our collaborative impact to ensure that our mountain communities have a voice on regional and state issues of importance. Our vision is to advance public policy goals that enhance economic vitality and oppose those that negatively impact our communities and businesses across the region. The Mountain Chamber Alliance supports the following proposed legislation: MCA Supports: HB24-1001 – Reauthorization of Rural Jump-Start Program HB24-1131 – Local College DistrictsHB24-1156 – Chamber of Commerce Alcohol Special Event Permit SB24-100 – Commercial Vehicle Highway Safety Measures SB24-106 – Right to Remedy Construction DefectsHB24-1160 - Economic Development Organization Action Grant ProgramSB24-002- Local Government Property Tax Credit RebatesThe MCA opposes: HB24-1005 - Health Insurers Contract with Qualified ProvidersHB24-1008 – Wage Claims Construction Industry Contractors HB24-1098 - Cause Required for Eviction of Residential TenantSB24-033 – Lodging Property Tax Treatment MCA is monitoring:HB24-1299 - Classification of Short-Term Rental Units for Purpose of Property Tax TreatmentThank you in advance for listening to our perspective and for your consideration. We appreciate the work that you are doing to support our mountain communities. (The Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce is a member of the alliance.)Mountain Chamber Alliance
Nothing matters until you quit buying Chinese
Editor:The most important act you can do for the global climate and world peace is to stop buying products made in China. Last year, China built 300 plus coal powered plants, and in 2024 the Chinese will build another 360 coal powered plants. Why? It’s the cheapest form of energy to supply products to the United States and the world — including solar panels and batteries for electric vehicles.China builds over 70% of the world’s solar panels and EV batteries. Each time you buy a product from China, you are promoting China’s growing economy to continue to build coal powered plants and more importantly buy billions of dollars of oil from Iran and Russia.Think about it, for each shipment of oil from Russia and Iran to China, these funds are going to two war fronts, Ukraine and the Middle East. A stalemate in Ukraine, and the 200 attacks by the Iranian backed proxy fighters on U.S. bases in the Middle East, of which three U.S. soldiers were killed, can be traced to Chinese influence.When you buy Chinese products, you are basically helping the U.S. fund both sides of each war at the same time increasing the pollution from the present 1,142 coal powered plants, which will total 1,502 by the end of 2024. Let’s see how serious city and county governments are about climate change and war. If they can ban gas stoves, they can certainly ban Chinese goods.Here’s our opportunity.Neil WatkoGunnison
Honored by your support
Editor:KBUT wants to thank the entire Gunnison Valley community for yet another historic outpouring of support for our Winter 2024 Pledge Drive, which ended last week. We have continued to grow and serve the community in more ways, but everything got more expensive everywhere. Only six months ago, we asked the community to get us to $70,000 for the first time ever, and gave ourselves 12 days to do it. We reached our goal on the morning of the 12th day. Earlier this month, we asked for $70,000 again, and we had it by 8 p.m. on the ninth night. We didn't stop there and, by the end of the drive, this community had come together to raise and donate more than $92,000 to support community radio, independent journalism and thousands of hours of volunteer-driven entertainment and information — delivered throughout the Gunnison Valley and all over the world. As an organization, we just can't get over the pace and amount of support this community pours into KBUT. We are honored by it, and proud to turn that support into the best radio station in the world. In the coming weeks, you’ll hear thank yous to the dozens of local businesses that kept the DJs, phone ops and staff fed during the drive.There are too many to thank here. We'd like to thank the Old Town Inn, The Slogar and the Center for the Arts Crested Butte for contributing to our early bird prize. We also want to thank Crested Butte Mountain Resorts’ Epic Promise for donating the grand prize that every donor was entered to win. I'd like to personally thank KBUT's incredibly dedicated staff, and our ceaselessly talented and creative volunteer DJs, the heart of all we do. More than anything, I want to pass along a heartfelt, humble and awestruck thank you to the Gunnison Valley community and our listeners around the world, for such an unprecedented outpouring of generosity.Jackson PetitioKBUT
Thank you to responders
Editor:Annie and I want to sincerely thank Matt Evans and the rest of the Crested Butte Fire and EMS responders who came to assist when I was seriously hit by snow cascading from our roof on Feb. 3. I was not totally buried, but they had the training and experience not to move me other than expertly to an ambulance for my ride to the Gunnison Valley Hospital (GVH). It turned out I have a broken back.We are also grateful for the caring and professional services provided by the emergency room staff at the GVHl, the calming attitude of the flight crew and all the excellent caregivers at St. Mary’s Hospital.It has been quite the experience, and my daily improvements remind us that with the help of these folks and our loved friends in the Gunnison Valley, life will return to normal and we will continue to bask in the beauty of this community and these mountains. Everyone, please stay safe out there and keep your eyes on those snow-covered roofs!Jim and Annie StarrCrested Butte
Give thanks as a community
Editor:Although it is just getting to spring, I would like to talk with you all about Thanksgiving. Last year, a group of great volunteers got together and planned a free community-wide Thanksgiving meal. We started with a generous donation from Trinity Baptist Church so we would not have to raise funds for the first event. With the enthusiasm and help of the food pantry, Six Points, library staff and many others we had a successful first annual community Thanksgiving.When we first met in February 2023, we did not have any idea how to proceed, or how many to prepare for. We reached out to Montrose, which has been doing successful community meals for many years. They were very helpful and much appreciated. Community members from all over the valley jumped in to help with set up, clean up and children’s activities. Nicole from Health and Human Services provided a class for our volunteers on food safety that was attended by many of our volunteers. The consensus of the handful of people meeting was if we got 80-100 people there it was a success. We planned for 250 just in case and knew we could send the unopened food out through the pantry. We were very excited to serve over 150 community members, and sent leftovers home with folks who had friends and neighbors that were not able to come. Many of those who attended or volunteered were excited to spread the word and make it an even better event in 2024.So here it is, 2024. We had our first meeting last month to start planning for this year. After last year's event, we had a couple of people volunteer to deliver meals to shut-ins and transport others to the event. Chef Jeff has agreed to cook again next year as have the volunteers who helped him in the kitchen. We have a community member who is excited to round up and sponsor music. Malcolm and Maryo have joined us to help with marketing, promotion and donations. We have lots of pieces to figure out as we grow. If you are interested in jumping in to help please let us know and reach out to janetdiligenthands@gmail.com or 720.341.1177 and leave a message. Our next planning meeting is June 13 at 4 p.m. at the library if you wish to attend, but we are working behind the scenes now. Janet Cox Gunnison
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