Today while singing Stephen Schwartz’s song “Beautiful City,” my questions changed to ones of, what would make Durango and Silverton and the forest between the two a “Yes we can?”

The lyrics of the song go like this: “Out of the ruins and the rubble, Out of the smoke, Out of the night of struggle, Can we see a ray of hope?”

And the chorus goes like this: “We can build a beautiful city, Yes we can . . . Not a city of angels, But we can build a city of man.”

I believe there is a group of citizens that is organizing, looking for a solution – a way to build “a beautiful city” – that will give the railroad profit, that will pay employees well, that will bring a flourishing economy back to Durango and Silverton, and that will reduce fire danger and protect our health. I encourage those of you who love Durango, Silverton, the forest – I encourage Mr. Harper – to work together so that the DSNGR is a safe asset.

There are thoughtful ways, in every sense of the word, for us to care for each other.

Judy Kolz

Colorado Springs