Russell: Let Aspen’s artistic heart live prosperously

I am writing to support the opinion piece written my Sarah Pletts regarding the real estate transfer tax. Independent research confirms her opinion that the spirit and letter of the law are being violated here. The 1979 law, which requires half of the funds to be allotted to the making art and half for the support of the arts. It appears that neither mandate is being followed, and worse, no council has been established to guarantee that the funds are allocated properly.

The result of this is a tragic reduction in creation of art in Aspen, a town that had always thrived on the expression of artistic creativity. What would Aspen be without that spirit on every street?

I urge that those in charge of these finds do an audit going back to 1979 to determine whether these funds have been transferred to the arts as intended and as required. If not, major adjustments should be made to ensure that the arts get the financing that they are legally entitled to, and certainly deserve. We cannot allow the artistic heart of Aspen to die.

Jacqueline Russell, esq.

Snowmass