Dropped air service
is a familiar story

I was struck by a sense of déjà vu reading The Daily Sentinel’s coverage of Frontier Airlines’ decision to end its Lynx subsidiary service to Grand Junction in September.
In 1997, Maverick Airways launched flights between Grand Junction and Denver. We were an independent airline but had a code-share with Frontier, returning the Frontier name to Walker Field for the first time since the original Frontier disappeared in 1986.
As I told the Grand Junction Air Service Task Force 12 years ago this month, after we ended our flights, a lot went right and a lot went wrong. We were undercapitalized, subjected to predatory pricing and faced with competition so difficult to work with that we actually received an unsolicited apology from a United Airlines attorney.
What we didn’t capture was connecting traffic, that which went beyond Denver. Only a portion of the Grand Junction-to-Denver traffic is local; the majority is connecting.  A healthy mix is necessary to survive.
While much has changed in the industry since Maverick ceased operations and Lynx was created, similarities remain. I’m reminded of the people who lauded Maverick coming to Grand Junction because air fares were once again competitive, flights were on time, staff were friendly, aircraft were comfortable and connections were easy, only to walk to the next gate and board a United Express flight in order to build their Mileage Plus accounts at a more affordable price than before we were in the market.
I started covering Grand Junction aviation as a reporter in the 1980s. Airport Authority member Gregg Palmer described having two airlines flying to Denver as “a little excessive.” Please remember that sentiment when airfares again become a little excessive if competition on the route goes away.
LANCE ROSS
Former Director
Corporate Communications
Maverick Airways
Denver 

No one drives clunkers
if they can afford new cars
At my age, I am still amazed that our representatives in government feel they know better than we do how we should spend our earnings and savings.
Do they really think we drive “clunkers” because we really want to drive an old vehicle? If we have an auto or truck that does not get 18 mpg, it probably means we plan our trips to get the most out of each gallon (whatever happened to common sense?) and cannot afford a new car.
I’m from a generation that was raised to believe we took care of our finances without intervention from the government. Perhaps we need less intervention in our personal lives. Also, perhaps if we weren’t involved in world governments, we could take care of our own, bring manufacturing, etc. back to our country and once again be the most powerful country in the world and have peace in the world, thereby stopping the killing of our young people.
GERALDINE BINAM
Montrose

CDOT funding process
ignores top safety needs
The good news is the Colorado Department of Transportation has awarded Elam Construction a 3.7 mile modernization project for Colorado Highway 13 from the south end of the work completed a couple of years ago, southerly toward Rifle.
The cost, funded by stimulus money, is $10.6 million. This includes about a mile of utility relocations and fencing beyond the reconstruction limits. Elam’s bid came in about 8 percent below the engineer’s estimate.
The bad news is that a better investment for the money would have been the building of passing lanes, especially between Rifle and Rio Blanco, and the creation of a safer intersection at Rio Blanco. Of course, the 3.7 miles of modern highway will be terrific, but it’s somewhat like a rancher who needs a new pickup going out and buying a Cadillac sedan instead.
The problem is that CDOT is locked into a process that ignores pressing safety needs. Another, even more unwise expenditure of stimulus money is $11 million to be spent on three roundabouts at the Edwards interchange on Interstate 70. When I questioned this, I was told local officials wanted the money spent there, so CDOT had to go along with their wishes.
I thought the Colorado Transportation Commission decided where highway funds should go. Oh! That’s right. That’s how it was in the “good ol’ days.”
DICK PROSENCE
Meeker

County appears off base
in fight with rock farm
In response to the article entitled “Between a rock and a hard place,” concerning the Mesa County commissioner’s ruling against Rudy Fontanari’s rock farm, the county’s actions do not make sense.
Here is a longstanding, hard-working businessman who has benefitted this community for decades. He has operated his rock business in that same location for 25 years. He has operated other types of industrial businesses there for 32 years. His business was in line with the zoning of his property.
Our county leaders chose to rezone him in 2005 and then told him he is in violation of county code and must now move his rock. The expense of moving the rock is horrendous and obviously will strip the man of any profit, or worse. Shouldn’t our local leaders encourage business rather than undermine it?
In addition, Rudy’s business is on the main thoroughfare, under the shadow of the viaduct and against the railroad tracks. Is there a better place for a business? In rezoning this to residential, does our county intend to put homes up against the railroad and viaduct?
The location the county wants the rock to be moved to is away from the main highway and railroad track. This new location almost certainly will be a residential area in the near future.
All of this seems to be a bad game that assails another beneficial business in Mesa County.
RANDY DAVID
Grand Junction

Obama’s job machine
has failed to produce
I would love for someone to show me one single job that was not here before and that is not a government job that President Obama has created.
I see that Rocky Mountain Health Plans could go out of business if his health care plan passes. That sucking sound you hear are jobs leaving town.
Thousands of families lost their income and jobs at auto dealerships across this country when the government took over GM and Chrysler. Our energy industry jobs left, and it looks like he will do the same to our health care system.
Obama said he would create three million jobs. Well, since he took office, we have lost two million more and counting. He is five million jobs in the hole.
Where is the person who will truly represent the working men and women of this country? And before anyone accuses me of being “partisan,” they should know they would be wrong. We have been betrayed by both parties and neither party represents me. Neither party gives a whit about my family or yours and the proof is in what they have done to our country over the last 30 years. Republicans and Democrats, there is no difference.
All the politicians on both sides of the aisle have robbed our country blind and are leaving our children a bankrupt nation.
KIRK ANSTAETT
Grand Junction

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 30th, 2009 at 10:41 am and is filed under Printed letters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.