Jim Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 The place where the Waldo Canyon fire destroyed 346 homes and forced more than 34,000 residents to evacuate turned off one-third of its streetlights two years ago, halted park maintenance and cut services to close a $28 million budget gap after sales-tax revenue plummeted and voters rejected a property-tax increase. The city, the state's second-largest, with a population of 416,000, auctioned both its police helicopters and shrank its public-safety ranks through attrition by about 8 percent; it has 50 fewer police officers and 39 fewer firefighters than five years ago. More than 180 National Guard troops have been mobilized to secure the city after the state's most destructive fire. At least 32 evacuated homes were burglarized and dozens of evacuees' cars were broken into, said Police Chief Pete Carey. "It has impacted the response," said accountant Karin White, 54, who returned Thursday to a looted and vandalized home, with a treasured, century-old family heirloom smashed. No Taxes Please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 "Local community plagued by looting after dismissing police department. Residents surprised." Sounds like an onion headline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Tons of new homes in the urban rural interface and no fire suppression work either. Of course that fault lies with government, building contractors, and homeowners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevbone Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Go Ron Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 Tons of new homes in the urban rural interface and no fire suppression work either. Of course that fault lies with government, building contractors, and homeowners. This is going to be a growing problem. Given the mix of climate change, warmer winters, corresponding spread of pests such as spruce bud worm, long-term drought, and the spread of the urban-wildland interface - this is going to get expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Bud worm???? That shit could single-handedly destroy British Columbia's entire economy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevbone Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Lets just make sure it is clear to anyone who reads it that all corporate press pushes an agenda and narrative... and the narrative of this outlet is clear. "Blame the people who refuse to be flogged - rather than the Romans grinding their necks into the dirt to fund their wars and corruption". The article fails to highlight that shrinking government revenues are a reflection of shrinking personal revenues. I'd also like them to explain this better... "Since the start of the 18-month recession in December 2007" So they are saying the recession ended mid 2009?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 please define "non-corporate" press, and also explain why they would no longer have an agenda just because they're not "corporate" -- and also why being "corporate" automatically ensures a hidden agenda Oh wait, maybe "corporate" is just a word you can put on a story in order to discredit it without using troublesome logic? I think I get it now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 When you register for incorporation, do they send you your secret agenda in the mail, or are you supposed to come up with it yourself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Hey kevbone, did you know many charities are also corporations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 what is a corporation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 I think it means you're like walmart or something, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 HOLY SHIT! Colorado Springs is a corporation, incorporated June 19, 1886 THIS EXPLAINS EVERYTHING Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glassgowkiss Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Al;so building codes suck, something like mediatory metal roofs would prevent these structures from burning. also another thing are decks- all these surfaces provide landing site for hot ass and allow ignition of the structure. Also just issuing building permits for these areas is questionable. Reminds me of building homes on flood planes and then getting pissed because you get flooded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 also another thing are decks- all these surfaces provide landing site for hot ass and allow ignition of the structure. That's some hot ass! Maybe I need to build a deck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 voters rejected a property-tax increase. I see no problem here. Pay taxes, save your house. Don't pay taxes, burn your house down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 voters rejected a property-tax increase. I see no problem here. Pay taxes, save your house. Don't pay taxes, burn your house down. What's the old line? Oh yeah Ya get what ya pay for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crux Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 PROPERTY RIGHTS NOT PROPERTY TAXES! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pink Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 "Local community plagued by looting after dismissing police department. Residents surprised." Sounds like an onion headline sounds like all the meth heads from the NW migrated to colorado Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pink Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 The place where the Waldo Canyon fire destroyed 346 homes and forced more than 34,000 residents to evacuate turned off one-third of its streetlights two years ago, halted park maintenance and cut services to close a $28 million budget gap after sales-tax revenue plummeted and voters rejected a property-tax increase. The city, the state's second-largest, with a population of 416,000, auctioned both its police helicopters and shrank its public-safety ranks through attrition by about 8 percent; it has 50 fewer police officers and 39 fewer firefighters than five years ago. More than 180 National Guard troops have been mobilized to secure the city after the state's most destructive fire. At least 32 evacuated homes were burglarized and dozens of evacuees' cars were broken into, said Police Chief Pete Carey. "It has impacted the response," said accountant Karin White, 54, who returned Thursday to a looted and vandalized home, with a treasured, century-old family heirloom smashed. No Taxes Please Colorado Springs was a shit hole before this, i just don't see how 39 more firefighters could have made that big of a difference. Fires kinda do whatever the fuck they wanna do when it's dry, hot, and windy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pink Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Al;so building codes suck, something like mediatory metal roofs would prevent these structures from burning. also another thing are decks- all these surfaces provide landing site for hot ass and allow ignition of the structure. Also just issuing building permits for these areas is questionable. Reminds me of building homes on flood planes and then getting pissed because you get flooded. and cedar shake shingles, i always laugh when i see houses in colorado with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glassgowkiss Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Al;so building codes suck, something like mediatory metal roofs would prevent these structures from burning. also another thing are decks- all these surfaces provide landing site for hot ass and allow ignition of the structure. Also just issuing building permits for these areas is questionable. Reminds me of building homes on flood planes and then getting pissed because you get flooded. and cedar shake shingles, i always laugh when i see houses in colorado with them. yeah, like mazama or leavenworth are any different with building codes? just wait till later in the year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akhalteke Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Al;so building codes suck, something like mediatory metal roofs would prevent these structures from burning. also another thing are decks- all these surfaces provide landing site for hot ass and allow ignition of the structure. Also just issuing building permits for these areas is questionable. Reminds me of building homes on flood planes and then getting pissed because you get flooded. You have no idea what you are talking about. Metal roofs would have done nothing to save these houses. Also, the sites that these houses were built on was like any subdivision in the PNW. You think that Mill Creekers are crazy for living where they do? How about you blame the government for waiting for two days before they decided who was going to pay for it before deploying firefighters? I came back from a deployment not knowing whether my home was going to be there with my wife and son living at a friend's. I live in Colorado Springs proper; Old Colorado City if anyone knows the area. This is a suburb less than a mile from the downtown. If my house could go, it speaks not to my negligence as a homeowner but the ferociousness of the fire and the ineptitude of the government both local and national. You should have heard what the POTUS said. That fucker's got nerve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glassgowkiss Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Al;so building codes suck, something like mediatory metal roofs would prevent these structures from burning. also another thing are decks- all these surfaces provide landing site for hot ass and allow ignition of the structure. Also just issuing building permits for these areas is questionable. Reminds me of building homes on flood planes and then getting pissed because you get flooded. You have no idea what you are talking about. Metal roofs would have done nothing to save these houses. Also, the sites that these houses were built on was like any subdivision in the PNW. You think that Mill Creekers are crazy for living where they do? . Actually I do have a pretty good idea. I lived in Bend for 8 years, had my place burned down (non-forest fire) and my roommate for two years was the chief instructor for hotshot crew in Prineville. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Actually I do have a pretty good idea. I lived in Bend for 8 years, had my place burned down (non-forest fire) and my roommate for two years was the chief instructor for hotshot crew in Prineville. your house burned down? You're basically an expert now. Just like all those homeowners in Colorado Springs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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