Congratulations to the city of Cortez in taking a small step toward reducing blight. I anticipate that the process of reducing blight will have financial and political hurdles and thus take time. Nonetheless, it's a start.

I challenge the county to take similar steps to reduce blight. Many of the problem areas are in the county, such as the buildings on U.S. Highway 141 south of Cortez. Also, let's not forget to include the state which has an abandoned weigh station building on U.S. 141. Wouldn't it be nice for visitors to focus on the mountains and other amenities here in the southwest rather than dilapidated buildings and numerous billboards?

Dick Rudolph

Dolores