YOU CAN COMMENT ON ANY STORY AT WESTWORD.COM; SEND LETTERS TO [email protected] LETTERS TO THE EDITOR comprehensive insurance, so for me, the theft was a total loss. But I also don’t live the life of the per- son who stole my converter. That’s always something to consider. Living your life as a criminal, crawling under cars in the dark to commit a noisy crime that could explode in violence or prison at any moment and then fi nding fences to sell the converters to…it can’t be an easy life. I hope we make that life even harder to help stop this crime wave. But at the same time, I’m glad I don’t live their life. Yes, I was inconvenienced. But my life could be a lot worse. Rich Grant Denver Veteran parts guy here. There are several ways to cut down the theft: If an individual is selling a catalytic “THE UNKINDEST CUT,” THOMAS MITCHELL, JUNE 30 S T ATE OF EXHA US TI ON Although I’m sorry Thomas Mitchell lost his catalytic converter (and I’m sorry for anyone who has to go through this — I know several people who have), I really enjoyed his story... and I really appreciated him actually saying what a catalytic converter is. But I’ll bet his Aunt Gladys isn’t happy. Suzi Thompson Denver It’s too bad more cars don’t crush these guys when they are under it. Nathan Walker Lakewood This happened to me in Lone Tree, and it sucks. Chris Allen Highlands Ranch A catalytic converter isn’t a key part of anything besides the EPA. Randy West Commerce City Part of living in Denver anymore…crimi- nal gets away with it, too. Alexander Marc Littleton I had mine stolen twice at my house. I put in the CAT security plate around mine: $1,500 in deductibles and a new security sys- tem. Honda Elements are not safe in the city. Matthew Liht Denver I also have been a victim of a recent cata- lytic converter theft that eventually cost me $2,000. I’ve also had a car stolen (’99 Honda Civic) three times — twice in front of my house, once from an RTD parking lot. But I especially liked the attitude Thomas Mitchell took in the article. I didn’t have converter, require a valid ID and only pay with a check. Also, require proof of pur- chase (a receipt for a new replacement that they bought) for a new cat before they can sell one. Businesses should keep lots of any purchases, along with name, address, etc., of the sellers. Scrappers should keep records of all vehicles that they buy and part out. Bulk sellers should have records and receipts for every cat that they’re selling or recycling. I’ve seen some vehicles sit at shops for months because the CARB (California Air Resources Board)-compliant cat wasn’t available anywhere. I’ve seen the devastated look in a poor family’s eyes when we quote them the price of a new cat...either because they always used the cheapest gas and barely could afford to maintain their cheap car, or because the cat was stolen and needed to be replaced. I make sure to remind them of why we have these new standards and who put them into place. Sometimes replacing the cats will cost way more than what their car is worth. Oddly enough, neither John Hicken- looper, Jared Polis or any of our state Demo- crat government offi cials have taken any credit for going to CARB emissions standards here; they’re usually shouting loudly from the rooftops when taking (or trying to take) credit for something that they’ve accom- plished. They’ve been strangely silent on this one, though. Federal emission standards are just fi ne; the new regs hit the poor and working class the hardest. Hopefully they’ll vote enough Democrats into retirement in November and some semblance of balance will return to our state. Then maybe they’ll get rid of this emissions standard and start cracking down on criminals. They used to hang horse thieves here; a case could be made that a vehicle is the modern-day horse. Eventually, people are gonna start shooting at these thieving bastards. Jeremy Wetzel Aurora VOLUME 45 NUMBER 45 JULY 7-13, 2022 W AR T Art Director Jay Vollmar PR ODUC TI ON Production Manager Michael Wilson Assistant Production Manager Erin Kirk Graphic Designers Chris Arneson, Tori Bohling, Danielle East 7 WHEELING AND DEALING Denver’s e-bike rebate program is on a roll. BY CONOR MCCORMICK- CAVANAGH 10 TAKING THE WHEEL Denver potters want to build a better community for beginners. BY KATRINA LEIBEE 13 TURN-UP At farmers’ markets, keep an eye out for Colorado’s most underrated vegetable. 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Le Culture Editor Emily Ferguson Food and Drink Editor Molly Martin Cannabis Editor Thomas Mitchell Staff Writers Catie Cheshire, Conor McCormick-Cavanagh, Michael Roberts Senior Contributor Alan Prendergast Contributors Amy Antonation, Dustin Bailey, Nathalie Baret, John Bear, Staci Berry, Alex Berryhill, Teague Bohlen, Jake Browne, Hyde Chrastina, Jacqueline Collins, Linnea Covington, Justin Criado, Nate Day, Claire Duncombe, Susan Froyd, Tom Hellauer, Nick Hutchinson, Danielle Krolewicz, Karl Christian Krumpholz, Kristen Kuchar, Cleo Mirza, Ryan Pachmayer, Michael Paglia, Kristin Pazulski, Adam Perry, Evan Semón, Jon Solomon, Kastle Waserman, Juliet Wittman Editorial Fellow Katrina Leibee Editorial Interns Jehu Iyema, Ana Ortega ON THE COVER PHOTOGRAPH OF EMILY KLEINFELTER BY EVAN SEMÓN 3 westword.com | CONTENTS | LETTERS | CALHOUN | NIGHT+DAY | MOVIES | THEATER | ART | CAFE | BACKBEAT | WESTWORD JULY 7-13, 2022
