April 16, 2019
An open letter to our oil and gas families, our teachers, our students, our small business owners, our firefighters, our farmers and ranchers, our truck drivers, our landowners, and all those who will be negatively impacted by the signing of SB 19-181.
In Governor Polis’ inauguration speech, he said, “Our mission now is to make Colorado a place for all families to have a chance to thrive…” Except, as we now know, he wasn’t talking about you.
Disappointed? Yes. Angry? Absolutely. Surprised? Not at all. If the Governor and the Boulder Legislators thought Weld County would be silenced or minimized, if they thought we wouldn’t speak up in support of our families, we just have one thing to say: talking heads and photo ops at the Capital will never overshadow those with boots on the ground in Weld County.
And if our local families and businesses are worried about what the future brings, please know this: we’ve been down this road before, we have your back, and we will do all we can to minimize the negative impacts this new law will have on you – our residents.
We know the value of the oil and gas industry, even if others in this state don’t. We appreciate the hard work the men and women, employed by the industry do day-in and day-out to make sure we have heat and light in our homes, as well as fuel to power our cars, trucks and tractors. We value the revenue the industry provides to its families, enabling them to enjoy financial stability. We understand the importance of small businesses that support those families and thereby support the industry. We know the significance of the tax revenue generated by the industry to our education system and our fire, water and recreation districts. We appreciate the national security this country enjoys because of locally produced oil and gas.
For months, you have listened to the emotional rhetoric from those who don’t understand the facts of this industry, nor do they care to. For months, you have endured misleading allegations that the industry isn’t doing all it can to protect life, safety and the environment as if it wasn’t your life, your safety and your environment as well.
As County Commissioners, we stand firmly behind the families employed by the oil and gas industry as we are grateful for the work you do. We stand ready to work with the oil and gas industry, as we have since the early 1920s, to develop a system that provides certainty and stability to the process.
Today is a difficult day for many of our families, but rest assured you are not alone. On Monday, April 22, 2019, during our 9:00 a.m. Board Meeting, the Weld County Commissioners will publicly pledge our support to you – the families who work hard, sacrifice much and are thanked too little. On Monday, we’ll continue to fight for our families, our businesses and our prosperity. We’ll continue to fight for YOU!
Sincerely,
The Board of Weld County Commissioners
Submitted to The BARN by:
Jennifer Finch
Weld County Communications Director
1150 O St. / PO Box 758 / Greeley, CO 80632-0758
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