Stay in your lane

Government should intervene only when existing solutions are failing. In Teller County—and under Colorado law—we already have tools to address the short-term rental issues people raise most often: noise, trash/rubbish, parking, and excessive water use. Those are enforcement questions, not a justification for expanding government.

A home is a home. Whether it’s occupied by the owner, a long-term tenant, or rented for fewer than 30 days, it remains residential property. The basic rights and responsibilities don’t change just because the occupant changes. What should change is whether the County enforces existing rules consistently and fairly.

I’m asking Teller County to stand for property rights and competent administration: stop the heavy-handed overreach and enforce the regulations already on the books. If the County is concerned about impacts, start by fixing your own processes. Conduct procedural audits of enforcement and code compliance: how complaints are received, prioritized, investigated, documented, and resolved. Identify where enforcement is inconsistent, selective, or delayed—and correct it. Effective government doesn’t mean more rules; it means reliable, accountable execution of the rules we already have. And I’ll say it plainly: if you identify as Republicans committed to limited government, fiscal restraint, and efficient service—then act like it. Less bureaucracy. Better performance.

Finally, recognize the economic reality: tourism supports local businesses and jobs, and keeps money circulating here in Teller County.

Please stay in your lane: enforce existing regulations, protect constitutional property rights, and fix enforcement before proposing new restrictions.

Toni Moore, Florissant

Rules for thee, but not for me

I’ve lived in Woodland Park for over 35 years and volunteered more than 15 years with various City initiatives. I love this community. What makes a community great is its people.

So imagine my surprise when commercial motel businesses started appearing in our residential neighborhoods. How could that happen? Who would do this to us?

I learned the answer: local realtor Mary Sekowski and her Teller County STR Alliance.

At my age, over 95, you need neighbors next door and across the street, friends you can count on if you need help. You don’t need short-term rentals filled with strangers who stay a few days and leave. Transients who don’t care about the people who live here, only about finding a place for a few days without much regard for the neighborhood.

Concerned citizens finally stepped up and stopped these STR businesses from taking over our neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, Mary Sekowski is president of her HOA, which bans STRs in her neighborhood.

“Rules for Thee, but not for Me” seems to be her motto as she sues to force the rest of us, but not her, to live with STRs.

Woodland Park deserves leaders who protect our neighborhoods and play by the same rules as everyone else.

Vote for Don Dezellem, Catherine Nakai, Seth Bryant, and Jeffrey Geer.

Costa Mitchakes, Woodland Park