To listen to the work sessions and the council meeting for yourself, click here. Timing for the City of Glenwood Springs to get the feed posted up runs anywhere from a day or two after the meeting to roughly 10 days to 2 weeks.
Let's comment first, for a moment, on a 'hypothetical' situation.
Let us fantasize that just maybe there really, really is a very large group of citizens and business folks in the 81601 zip code that are fed-up with the handling of public funds, the ways, means and methods of promoting our largest industry of tourism (and) thoroughly disappointed in the stewardship by our elected and hired leaders of our local economic strengths and growth.
Remember now, this is a 'hypothetical' 'fantasy' that such 'people' really do exist. We 'know' for 'absolute certainty' because "facts" and "credible news" and "credible" people in "positions of trust" 'tell' 'us' that there really is "no such group" and that "only one level of discourse" exists in 81601. Backing 'them' up are the 'few elite' and the 'propoganda' that "confirms" that for 'us'.
In our 'fantasy' this morning, this group of citizens that may or may not really exist, pick up their free copy of the morning paper.
What is the likely question that first pops into their mind?
Could it possibly be a WTH? Or maybe: "Are we ever, ever going to have any credible press releases or news reporting that doesn't completely destroy all the hard work of the folks?"
Remember now, this 'hypothetical fantasy' is coming from the viewpoint of people who have to live day in and day out in the true economic reality of 81601. Not that partially disclosed, rose-colored cheerleader version that's usually in the morning paper. These people are the ones that carry all the weight of every disappointing performance and failed stewardship of duty from our leaders.
SandBox comments this morning: "Chances are, after so many years of little but propaganda, hard knock of criticism after hard knock and the last 10 months or so of obvious struggle to break entrenched habits not getting the job done of eliminating that vexation of the folks; 'probably not'.
Mr. Stroud, if you would even just entertain the remote notion that your written word that used to hold the tremendous power to sway the public, has weakened to simply thoroughly upseting a good portion of the population on most days you write; you just might not cost 81601 so much monetary loss every time you pour the ink.
Let's now look at the reported news itself and see what we can do to help the common's voices out here:
'SandBox Nanny' has still not listened to the session or the meeting nor is she likely to. Such a complete waste of time at this point, plus the content is likely to be disheartening. She really does not get too many perks to her 'job' of moderating and posting. But, one of the ones she does get is all the input and feedback from you that saves her from the often coma-inducing sitting through long, long meeting feeds.
Why don't y'all temper the reality you're forced to live, by the major disappointment that is our economic condition in 81601 right now, with a little 'fantasy' of your own?
Think....."DDA. Leslie Bethel. Councilman Gamba."
There ya go. Because there is one absolute fact that you can count on.
Your empowerment and subsequent growth powered results is permanent. Nowhere, ever again unless you let it, will your voices die off and 'old realities' get out of the dust cloud you've left them behind in.
Help this movement from the city to take hold. In fact, things are so bad out here you might want to think about helping it all burst out of the gate.
(Read Stroud's piece? Click title. Comment to discuss)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
18 comments:
set aside the fact that they're a decade late and still moving slower than Aspen can get Mick out of office.
my question is this.
but first get out a dictionary.
multi-task. look it up. define it in relation to only the real money we have in the bank to work with not the money you lib's are thinking you're going to run out and print or borrow to pay for this director.
then look up the definition of sustainable profits.
got it?
excellent.
now when this position is created put that rfq together for somebody who knows how to multi-task and hold power in leadership. somebody the folks like and respect might be a good idea too.
their job would be to take all the reins and be supervised by the tourism board and the city.
exit stage right every conflict of interest we have now and remove association in the tourism board and city to any vendor or profiting business including anybody in the dda.
their job is to make our public funds work to the peak performance they can.
add on being the voice of the city for all relations.
add on being responsible not just heading up a committee to do the work for them for getting out there and bringing real draws and real events, businesses and large groups to town. they can appoint a committee to help once they get a real bite instead of a hit on facebook or a nibble like our tourism vendor does now.
oh, yea. forgot to mention.
they need to be at work on 1/1/2012 because the folks are drying up on the vine out here. You're only a decade late.
sent from my verizon blackberry
"free copy"
lol.
I'm not on board with creating another hired position with one individual. How many times has that been tried in the area?
Also not on board in any way for the need we've got to be run by the chamber or the DDA. The DDA was created because the chamber does little to nothing for the downtown. Under heat that's changed a little. But if you pull merchants aside without exposure to reprisal and away from the social gossip snoops digging into them they'll tell you there is still pretty much worthless aid and promo.
We need regional tourism and Glenwood Springs should take the leap and become the center for that. Bethel would be good but she would need to be cut completely free from the influence of the tourism board and the chamber. Most folks don't even realize yet how much information has been held back from them on what's really gone on behind the scenes. People can't stand any more of this. We need tax revenue and sales to come into our citizens hands. Nanny is right. Why would or should any business person keep packing around all this dead weight of a leadership community that can't be strong enough to get cleaned up so it can grow?
This is way late and a dollar or ten short of being ready to fly.
Too bad nails is right again. When you're already a decade or more behind at this point they need to sprint.
Pick three out of the seven council that can think on their feet and judge merit in brainstorming ideas. Gamba, Leahy and McKinney. For god's sake keep all the others set in the background for work sessions they have no idea how to brainstorm a business solution.
Then park those three and their job is the farming of logistics ideas for setting up a regional hub under 81601. Next step is adding on somebody like Bethel. For god's sake don't muddy it up yet with the chamber or any part of the tourism board. Expand the farming. Build the beginning of a business plan with the three councilman holding all the power to run the next phases. If they don't do that it's going to end up chopped up.
Then pull in some full worksessions.
Out of it, bring the folks a plan that will fly.
See Burton's letter in the PI today?
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20111205/VALLEYNEWS/111209933/1021&parentprofile=1077
How many of these dud ideas have we had? If Glenwood city isn't careful their going to end up with the same situation Aspen has going on with Marks. People will only stand for so long on being kept in the dark and pushed beyond endurance.
Our house did listen and watch the worksession and council mtg., anonymous. You're closer than you think you are in your analysis and so is Lynn Burton in the Post today.
Nanny put the link to the video feed up in her post on this, go there and listen for the stmts. that reveal the tourism board has been talking with Marianne and the chamber over what to do and the attractions tax. Listen to Steckler repeat over and over again how badly he wants the chamber input into this idea. Listen to Sturges fumble most of the ball again but at least he's getting in the right ball game on where a lot of the folks mindset is at. Finally and just when getting term limited out but at least he's made it to the right game after all.
Now does this old idea with a new title on it start to make sense to you on even why it's being brought up now?
When there has been a block on sunshine law of everything tourism related since June of 2009 when the first round of investigative television teams started asking for tourism board minutes out of the chamber, nobody should be thinking that unless another real fire is lit under Glenwood's leaders is anything going to get done that works.
We do have some ability similar to Marks up in Aspen. CORA and FOIA are very powerful laws and we've never had any transparency when it comes to economic and tourism dollars.
Didn't know that gws44. Same old. Same old. Does explain everything so guess the only question now is whether or not they're going to fall for that again. Last thing we need is to get hammered down with similar to what Aspen's going through but we also can't afford in any way to keep going like we are. Sure it's great Dave's finally made it to the right ball field and that we managed to get 2 out of 3 good picks up on the dais. None of that changes the fact that dais doesn't have a clue how bad it is out here. 99.99% of the prominent voices that leadership will actually listen to go around behind the scenes digging into private lives. This town will not change in that being the highest priority until this town cleans that up. We've got real problems out here and having a lot more than what you're calling soft corruption is going on. Back in 2007 there were a few locals who had the concept of regional tourism hub and were ready to start pulling private enterprise together. Teaming with things like Carey's park and a string of other ideas stretching through Garco. If the recession hadn't hit they would have been soaring by now. There's not a lot to be said for government control over economic development. Especially with the collective clench hold that soft abusing has on Glenwood Springs.
For years the lame argument from at least the private entity of the chamber has been that all chambers are now tourist promotion associations using public dollars under contract. In Glenwood Springs case that became a finger in all pies.
Marks has a foundation in CORA and election law. There was talk back in 2005 to go for a lawsuit that demanded transparency. We let that go back then just to find ourselves 4 yrs. later forced to protect one + a few others who needed to get paid on a certain McMansion in Aspen Glen.
The difference between the situation in Glenwood Springs and all other resort associations that smalltown knows of and researched is that the cities and towns they serve kept full control and watched all of the ethics between a government entity boosting the bottom line of a non-profit. Glenwood Springs has gone only about half the way there getting control. There still needs to be a separation so to speak between church and state. Until that happens the city has no business digging the people further in with a private entity.
Think about it. How often do you ever hear of a private entity influencing a government decision that would use tax dollars and influence the lives of the taxpayers?
It would bear a good thing to check out whether or not the DDA is private held, membership held or government held. Has been so long my husband and I can't remember this morning. If it is any portion private then it should not be involved in influencing any deeper committment and potential liability for the folks.
Get Leahy, McKinney and Gamba as the task force with power. Hurry up and get them hammering out how logistics might work and then bring in somebody like Bethel or if desperate then go get Kate. She's had one chance and shown extraordinary tunnel vision which is not what we need at all. Bethel is a good bet. The key is to get an outline that works in place before the door's opened to the snoops and greed mongers.
Most important set a goal for no longer than 6 months to get something that works executed. Because if longer than that we're really going to end up like Marks and Aspen.
All relevant gws44. But probably too far reaching the way things are locked in around Glenwood. People need something down to boost right now. The only thing there is, if they had any sense at all and made sure the tourism promotion contract covered non-performance is to pull back some of those funds and bring in some events picked by the board and the city. Vendor only advertises it on the already owned by the city websites and state tourism channels. Shouldn't cost more than a days worth of work for a clerk at the chamber to add the events on to the sites. It really is that easy. Council needs to sit down with FAB and tourism board and Hecksel and see where some money can be found to get one bigger event like a kayak championship or get us into the Pro race. Something that will help 2012. Join it with private enterprises like the whitewater park and go for it now. Do same thing and make the vendor be involved in just the advertising, stop throwing good money out with the bathwater. Your idea of somebody taking charge of this on council's end is a good one. Otherwise it just spins its wheels like usual. Same old. Same old.
Just make the choice to lead. Never ever not do anything.
Gamba needs to fire up and take this one by the horns.
None of the permanent and positive change and growth the people want is going to happen until we get rid of every single elected or hired person that protects getting to the bottom of it all and getting rid of everything and every person that holds us back.
What I see is that we just don't have time anymore. People are tired, broke and growing madder every day. Look around town. We should be packed and still it's just another barely break full Christmas season.
The whole thing of no real accountability and no sunshine has got to go.
Elected offices: Either perform or step down.
Chamber board: Apologize for scandal because you're a higher caliber. Or supposed to be. Then open your doors and quit hiding behind a DA and a police chief and a city council. At the same time get rid of the useless gimmiks and perform on that contract or release that contract to one of the other contenders that we needed in the first place.
Hired offices:Sitting in city hall and administering with a pen in your hand instead of knowing your city doesn't cut it any more if it ever did. Take charge and do your job or at least cut back your salary based on your performance.
This almost sounds like a Perry approach needed. They either all perform or they get relocated, fired, impeached or their pay cut back.
On the chamber board, chirk? Never going to happen. Know how 7you can tell? When a position of trust and duty has its only focus on finding out who a bunch of anonymous commentators are who have managed to get a whole lot of power knocked into their world, just so they can get them to shut up and get back in the groupie line. It becomes pretty obvious when money abuses, the bad public perception of our town and the right out in front ignoring law and ethics doesn't mean a damn thing. Never going to happen. What's sad about the whole thing is how much time is being wasted and hurt to everybody in town's business lives while we stay stuck in 4lo because we have to wait out this farce, this joke of elected leadership that we've got. I say revitalize the 2007 start up of regional tourism promotion and just get it done.
Glenwood's always sat in the right spot for region tourism hub status. Been talked about for years. But every time it gets a head of steam that pesky little truth about clench holds and groupie lines rears up.
We could serve the entire western part of the state all the way to Montrose and Gunnison. All the northwest. There are grants and funds from Colorado tourism to help feed it and launch it. The concept of regional economic development and tourism as the #1 mainstay is the future of Colorado.
Front Range. Western and Southern. Right now it all feeds into the state tourism power and reservations. Al White heads it all up.
We need to get the big picture completely away from private non-profits and leave them to just handle the functions of contracted projects. The biggest stumbling block to date has been cities and townships not wanting their turf infringed on. To do regional development and infrastructure for world events like the Olympics and Pro Challenge we have to get turf defined. Only way to do that is to remove the power of all these resort associations. It is a failed concept overall because small business care and custody, which is what any chamber will always first and foremost be is an entirely different animal than tourism. It's fine if not abused, to have chambers contracted to handle certain jobs or events.
We waste valuable dollars fueling state tourism and single town tourism. State and regional is all there should be with local governments paying into that hub for various projects and needs.
There is a lot more power in team efforts.
Note to self:
Buy a megaphone.
The very first time I heard the concept of area (or regional) tourism development be related to demographic economic development was 2001. This is not a new concept and is whispered about all the time.
With the way we sit on I-70 and our access to the reaches of Gunnison and Montrose, Grand Junction and Steamboat, on over to Greeley and this side of Eisenhower the location is perfect for a hub right here.
Besides putting us in the collateral advertising of every tourism and economic growth project advertised; we get the conventions and seminars and training sessions. If the city would ever get off their laurels and build a large enough performing arts and convention center there would be no stopping the administration of a regional tourism hub right here in town.
Whenever you put small factions in to a concentrated effort in the media world, you win. We could handle World Kayak because others would be helping. Olympics and Pro Challenge? No problem. World class ballets and arts in Vail, Aspen and Grand Junction just to start off.
It's true that there are funds available to do this with. We don't even need permission from state tourism if the proposal met with resistance. There's nothing to stop just doing it with grants and GoCo funds in addition to private sponsorship if we need to.
The idea should run under the oversight of the city so that the folks stay in control of our end of benefits. The time has come when we really should be thinking about major change and big leaps instead of re-harvesting an old, stale concept that's not just been used a couple times under different titles, it has repeatedly failed to really perform.
But given the source that's always clouded over that idea of hiring a director that failing to really perform has always been a great way to keep dependency in place.
Go big.
They've already got over half million bucks a year in lodging tax and enough in the annual city budget to every year roll out some new and greater idea that makes us no money right now. Until these jokers get our house in order and that means knocking down the door of anybody who's questionable or not performance based. Then I'm not up for any of this new hiring and trying. We've got lots of ideas and the money to do them. We just don't have anybody who can balance a budget with a piggy bank attached or use a battering ram on a door.
All great ideas I would support, ladies. They need leadership and unless somebody steps up that holds that kind of power nothing is going to get done.
Except maybe another director with a board doing double time hashing over same ideas that've been around for a long time. And pushing the same agenda I said in my last comment.
When you've got one concentration of total power and control that is so blind and needy to their egos over-ruling simple common sense then that is all you have and nothing is going to get done.
About the best coming out of this thread is to keep forgetting about those egos false worried about the public images of public interest others and revitalize the effort to do regional from private enterprise.
Got more to add on this since yesterday.
Finally got my turn being interviewed by investigators for defense side of the scandal of all scandals. Leaving that news right there. What's relevant to this thing from Stroud and the thread going on with it is sunshine and transparency laws. Nobody's ever seen me weigh in on Marks and Aspen. That's because Marks point is so obvious on the side of the law and Aspen's response is so a-typical it's not worth my time in to comment and I hate to see the trash talk and such. Makes us look bad and it's preventable.
But what I found out yesterday blew me away because it's so much the other way on the wrong meter MA and I have both been up most of the night not being able to sleep. It's one thing our dear Nanny, for somebody we know to bear the weight of it all without saying a word looking for support personally. We'll talk about that. But it's a whole other ball game for all the rest of that scandal to let run free for what, almost 3 years now.
Sums up still just as easy as it did when it started. The folks and in at least one case the specific folks and their life have nothing to do with public tax money, economic or tourism promotion. Nothing to do with chambers and boards and city problems. None of us do. We just elect bodies who're supposed to do their jobs and we expect them to do that. We can even get used to staying detached enough to sort out the meetings and pointless most of the time results of those mtgs. Don't give a damn most folks don't, whose ego is bent or feathers ruffled or lashing out all bent because a taxpaying, voting citizen or dozen have been in their face for whatever reason. We really don't care until we have to step in because the lack of foresight and intelligence in that kind of thing is only passed by with the immaturity of what should be a group of adults.
Finding out yesterday that we've got sitting law enforcement, sitting board members and sitting council that are so focused still on stroking the ruffled feathers of a few who really should be in jail by now than they are on fixing their duty they failed many months ago is shocking. Even to MA and I who're in the know on a lot of things. Or thought we were, Nanny.
After a night of no sleep I've changed my mind about Marks and Aspen coming to a Glenwood version. Bring it on. Who knows. Maybe we'll just wipe out two major boards and refill those seats. For sure an incumbent or two is never going to make it back. And all done by folks like Marks who've got the guts to demand sunshine.
It isn't just that particular problem wingman. It's the refusals to ever answer a question on "how much" money? What's been wasted and how does that factor into the hole we're in? We don't get any usable, substantial or worthwhile information on the revenues the city brings in. Never have. People need to stop harping on the PI for being worthless. They are and it is not going to change. They have no real income because few subscribe to them and they have to survive on what they make off the buddy system. Sooner or later that protection wall you're talking about has to fall. If it's not done through throwing out the bums we've got it'll get done because the law prevails in the end. The real problem is that slippery slope of trying to do private enterprise in a town where there is little to no sunshine. If times were better on the economy front then taking calculated risks would be a thought. We're not sure at our home if we want to entertain taking a risk with a city hire or private enterprise. This town has barely any enthusiasm left because they've got little to no trust left. What an asinine place to be in.
Really isn't fair to keep sayin that Glenwood only has 2 attractions. Murphy/Schneider and Beckley. Really we have 3. Those 2 and city hall. World recognized, maintained and promoted by same side show. New title of the job should be Circus Mgr. instead of Economic Director. Go private instead and give yourself a chance at success.
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