Here is a terrific example of how well the folks are doing in catalyzing the entrenched Valley politics of the past into a more balanced voice of all our social communities.
It could be said that the folks have 'literally been held hostage' to that very powerful social and economic class that have run most of our local governments and business communities for the past decade or more.
The past three years have seen a rising up of the more 'common man' with an emphasis on that movement taking hold in the past year or so.
We have sat major change into our county commissioners spanning the Roaring Fork Valley and both sides of the I-70 corridor. Same on our City Council and Trustee seats. Volunteer boards now hold voice of the citizens and not just powerful business people who focus on individual bottom lines. We have a lot of activism going on out here and the emotions, including anger, are at times palpable.
It is a very good feeling to watch the earlier stages of this movement to balance now be at a point where our new leadership is slowly starting to empower the folks.
A very special thank you to Glenwood Springs City Councilmen Todd Leahy, Mike Gamba and Ted Edmonds for voicing on behalf of what is actually the majority out here. When you count the shadows too.
Let's take a look at some excerpts from John Stroud's reporting:
“I think it is important for us to chime in on all issues that impact the community, and this is one of them,” Steckler said. “If it fails, there will be all sorts of impacts in terms of maintaining strong schools. It's part of our leadership responsibility to discuss such matters.”
"Added McKinney, “The people of this community deserve to know where we stand, and I think that's very important.”
"Opponents of the measure say local taxpayers deserve a break, and that the school district should have to adjust its budget accordingly with the downturn in the economy."
“Every community has different politics, and we have to respect those individual barometers,” he said. (Matt Hamilton)"
“It's not appropriate for us to advise citizens how to vote on something that's not directly part of city government,” Councilman Ted Edmonds said at the Thursday evening City Council meeting."
“There are a lot of reasons to support the tax, and I've heard a lot of arguments on the other side,” said Councilman Mike Gamba. “But it isn't our place to advise citizens how to vote.”
Now, let's see what the 'kids' have to say.
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"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
3 comments:
Now we're starting to cook.
Thanks goes out to Leahy, Edmonds and Gamba for being the first voices of what the duty of public stewards stands for.
No, Leo. You're not on that dais to tell us what you believe and you certainly are not there to use our city as your stump.
No, Mayor Matt. You don't 'weigh in' on every community issue and you certainly don't get involved. You are an elected official who has the job to lead. We have a city manager that we pay a helluva lot of money to in a salary each year who weighs in. We have a city attorney who makes as much and has the duty to be detached, impartial and protect our liability everywhere. We have a police chief and cops that are not here to enforce social pecking laws or cover so-called important people who've got their tail in a crack. They're here to enforce the law and serve, protect all of us. We've got dept. heads and officials that are experts above you. We've got a DA that is supposed to service the law with the highest sense of duty above all others. You are nothing but the conductor of this orchestra that is our community.
You're not elected to lead with your political leanings and for way too many years that dais has been used as a political soapbox and personal gratification for pet causes.
You're not elected to be a part of any community issue, you're elected to lead us through all issues.
You're not elected to be a part of any one individual's cause and you're sure not elected to ever use that dais we have you on as a means to weigh any community person or group against another. You're elected to lead everyone.
It's about time that ethics walked in our city hall chambers. It's about time.
Thank you, Leahy, Edmonds and Gamba.
How can the people of this community do anything but know where Mayor Pro Tem Leo McKinney stands?
The guy is never off the internet, micro-blogs on every social network and chat room he can log onto and rarely talks about anything but himself in public conversations.
I'd agree with the Mayor's premise that council should be involved in "all issues that impact the community" except that I don't know what he really means. I'm confused. Is it just the social feel-good circuit issues or does he mean the issues that finally some out here in the population have pushed right in front of him? If it's the former, then how can we know anything but what Matt Steckler believes in when he's got that drummed up everywhere out there in that social sector? If it's the latter then where is he? Except for when there's heat in the public eye from brave souls, Steckler is still oblivious. Only doing the bare necessary to get that spotlight off.
I guess I'll go ahead and thank Leahy, Edmonds and Gamba for doing the job they're elected to do.
Seems a bit odd, but well. OK.
How many times over the past 10 to 15 years has our town been subjected to not just listening to the personal beliefs of city leaders but getting stuck with their agenda because nobody’s been able to stop them? Hammer’s right. So is Leahy, Gamba and Edmonds. So, my question is what’s the difference between this being inappropriate for the RE1 problem and medical marijuana, every green project handed out, every grant or loan handed out, paper or plastic, free speech, home based business zoning, development or no, how to spend the tourism dollars or whether or not conflicts of interest should be allowed to sit VIP boards, anything and everything to do with illegals and gangs. You are up there to lead and govern. Not influence, not control and definitely to not serve an agenda of any kind. How about some show of good faith now like starting to put all the tourism board (past too) minutes up on public website view? How about an answer on who Strawberry Days belongs to? How about real answers on all the changes MMJ industry now has and what that means to our liability? How about addressing the city’s need for a real public relations person and get us out of the hands of the scandal filled chamber of commerce? How about considering all public input no matter how you get it instead of auto making the choice to ignore because a kiss-kiss photo op isn’t included, we’re not ignorant out here and know the rules of coming to council for approvals, we just want you to listen not authorize. Show some good faith, boys. Then we’ll see.
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