Dear Reader,

It’s just come to my attention—though an agenda published on the Town of Estes Park website—that Rocky Mountain National Park Superintendent Darla Sidles will be making a presentation to the Town Board tomorrow, Tuesday November 23rd, at 7pm.

If you want to submit a comment or a question to her or the Trustees, you must do so before 12pm tomorrow. You’ll find the instructions below on how to submit your comment or question. Why should you bother?

It may be your only chance to speak out before Superintendent Darla Sidles unilaterally imposes further restrictions in 2022. We need to hold her publicly accountable, in front of elected representatives, for her undemocratic and unfair policies. How?

First, you can submit your own public comment on how you felt about the 2021 restriction system, or what you think should happen in 2021. You can do so by clicking this link. Those comments will be presented to the Town Board of Estes Park and entered into the public record (maybe even the local press will report them!)

Second, if you have a particular question you’d like one of the Trustees (or Estes Park Mayor Wendy Koenig) to ask Superintendent Sidles on your behalf, email them at these addresses: trustees@estes.org  and WKoenig@estes.org.  

Don't be shy. All of the Trustees and the Mayor support the Park’s so-called pilot programs to restrict public access to public lands. But I’ve found, most of them to be helpful and responsive when I’m trying to get answers to questions the Superintendent or her public relations team won’t answer. The Mayor and Trustees may disagree with your view (as is their right). But they are public servants.

They are there to represent residents of Estes Park and the Estes Valley. But if you’re a regular visitor—or even if you just love Rocky and want access to be fair, equal, and unrestricted for everyone—definitely get in touch with them. They need to know how you feel. trustees@estes.org

Only last Friday afternoon did I receive official conformation from Park PR officer Kyle Patterson that all the public comments you submitted this summer as part of the pre-NEPA process would be made public for EVERYONE to read.

But not until January!  It took a month to get a simple answer. And now I wonder why the Park is waiting until January to publish those comments when they are announcing plans for 2022 tomorrow evening. Do you think it could be because the comments show there is widespread public opposition to her plans? That’s what I think.

Maybe the Superintendent has finally decided to treat the public as an equal partner in making important decisions about the Park’s future. Maybe she hasn’t made any decisions yet, until she’s shared the data and comments with the public so we can all see what she’s already seen. Or maybe she’s already made up her mind about another ‘pilot’ program. We’ll see.

• Instructions on how to watch the meeting live or listen in by telephone can be found here. (If you can't or don't use Google Drive, I've posted a picture of the instructions below).
• If you want to watch the meeting on Zoom, here’s the link: https://zoom.us/j/98216902040 (Meeting ID is 982-1690-2040)
• The toll-free number to call in is 877-853-5257 (Webinar ID is 982-1690-2040)

Having less than 24 hours to provide comment on something we don’t even get to see sucks. But at least you can get your comments and questions into the public record. We still live in a democracy and your voice still matters. Making your views known to elected officials (and unelected government employees like Superintendent Sidles) is your right.

Please do this.

Finally, my apologies on intruding if you’re already on vacation or enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday at home with family and friends. It strikes me as odd—and probably not accidental—that the Superintendent, without any public notice I could find on the Park’s social media or official website, is presenting her review of 2021 and plans for 2022 during one of the busiest weeks of the year, with less than 24 hours’ notice.

In any case, have a great Thanksgiving and thanks for your time, attention and ACTION to make sure the reservation system doesn’t sneak in through the back door AGAIN in 2021.

Yours,

Dan Denning

PS You might have seen that Rocky’s leadership wants to raise the daily vehicle entry fee by $5 for 2022, from $25 to $30. This would not affect Annual Pass or Golden Pass holders. But if the reservation system is again imposed in the spring, despite public opposition, it will mean not only is it harder than ever to get into Rocky, it’s more expensive too. And Pass holders would still be required to make a reservation (each reservation costs $2 to make at recreation.gov).

You can provide your ‘comment’ on this idea here. You having until January 7th, 2022 to do so. Assuming the Park hasn't already made up it's mind, please give them a piece of yours (either way, for or against)..

All the operational challenges the Superintendent has cited in public can be solved with more resources, better management, and better education of the visiting public. You isolate and educate ‘bad actors’ causing the biggest problems—without punishing the entire American public (and locals, and Colorado residents) by restricting access to public lands.

What’s not acceptable—and frankly to me it’s outrageous and arrogant—is to ask for more money and then continue to make private decisions about public access to Rocky without any accountability. That’s a sign of leadership that holds the public in contempt and doesn’t feel any pressure from the press or elected representatives. I hope you bring some pressure tomorrow night. Don’t give up. Keep fighting.