SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Journalism "The Aspen 50 – Forbes billionaires in Pitkin County"

What we hear many news consumers 'just sayin',  is that they do not care how much money 'Aspen' or individuals living in the region have.

That they could care less for listening to the endless pontificating in Aspen, Glenwood Springs and once in awhile Vail news outlets over "...The building sites of new mega-mansions scar huge swaths of land; once-bustling neighborhoods sit empty most of the year..." (Aspen Journalism) and 'how wonderful' the "old Aspen" was or how unique the current Aspen thinks it is.

That they truly appreciate all that Aspen and Vail bring to the table as far as ability to capitalize on with their own small businesses and earned wages; but what is devastating to everyones life in the area when it gets out of control, is the adamant refusal of "Aspen" to listen.

Here's a news flash to those in Aspen that are unwilling to listen to the rest of the world even though the most vocal live within a 100 mile radius:

If you were to approach these vocal locals directly with a comment like this:  "...and escalating real estate prices have driven an untold number of locals down or out of the valley...(Aspen Journalism)", they would laugh at you.  'They' have not been "driven" out of Aspen, chances are they ran as fast as they could from Aspen.

We all come up and hit the high points and once in awhile for a unique gift shopped for or a dine out in a great restaurant.  Used to come up to ski but frankly...it's not just the need to hock the house and kids to afford a ski pass...there is no way that anyone who works in Aspen is going to run right up there on their day off.  It takes a weekend to shake off the snobbery, the arrogance and to listen to more pontificating while standing in the lines??  Forget about it.  It's the weekend and the world outside of Aspen has a much broader view of the world than a lot of Aspen residents do.

Do they have friends and business relationships upvalley?  Absolutely.  Nine times out of ten those relationships will meet them outside of mainstream Aspen in order to enjoy the natural perks we all love and keep as the baseline for why we all put up with each other...while all living within a 100 mile radius.

Here's the thing, "Aspen".

The reason you're seeing a decline in so many areas and your population is strongest in the older age ranges is because you still live in the past.  Even the upper middle age to the 'younger' generation of mid-twenties to thirty somethings.  To remain being somewhat brutally honest, when you're not up on a soapbox of some kind or hopelessly into yourself; you're looking for the thread and glue to connect your dots out here in the land of the little guys.

The day that 'we' were 'driven out of Aspen' (if 'we' ever were) is long, long gone.

Maybe it's time to look around at the incredible assets that are all around you and let a little sunshine in.

With that said, one of our first stops every week is Aspen Journalism.

Brent Gardner-Smith has done an excellent job in lending balance to area news outlets.  We obviously believe that the backbone of America is independent journalism.  Every single day the world wakes up, eager to hit their favorite independent, trusted sources to find out what they missed while sleeping.

'Why' would some thing  or someone as allegedly controversial  as SandBoxBlogs and SandBox Nanny go chasing after regional, state, national and world news every day?

Because she hears others "just sayin" and they are not getting their voices listened to.  (Why is that when "Aspen" sports some world class journalists?) 

Not because she either feels the exact same way those consumer voices do (or) because she's on some alleged covert mission to flush out 'evil' lurking in the local media....(whisper...whisper...for gosh sakes...do these people have nothing better to do with their time than hallucinate... maybe it's the altitude and thin air....whisper...whisper...).

just sayin.

Catherine Lutz, Aspen Business Journal and Brent Gardner-Smith, Aspen Journalism:
"...Some have chosen to get even more involved locally—for better or for worse, or sometimes both. Bill Koch, for example, number 14 on the Forbes 400 list with a net worth of $4 billion, is one of several plaintiffs suing the city of Aspen over its plan to use water from Castle and Maroon Creeks for hydropower.

Is he in this case using his power and money to highlight a really bad idea, or to obstruct a widespread community benefit? Koch also wants to install guardrails (on his dime) along winding Castle Creek Road which leads to his home—a self-serving measure that would ostensibly make the road safer for all.

Stewart and Linda Resnick, 29th on this year’s Forbes 400 list, waged a legal war against local governments in the early 2000s over an employee housing project to be built near their home. They claimed in part that the worker housing would devalue their property, now worth $15.3 million. The Stillwater housing was eventually built, but with major design modifications.

Others’ influence is felt more broadly. Stephen Ross is head of New York’s Related Cos., which developed Snowmass Base Village but then defaulted on a major loan, leading to foreclosure on the property and a partially built development that has had major business ramifications and has been the source of much local concern...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Newsmax "David Koch Faced 100 Death Threats Last Year"

"David Koch, the billionaire businessman and philanthropist, says he was the target of 100 credible death threats last year alone because of his opposition to unions in the United States.

The influential conservative, who founded and funds the tea party-friendly group Americans for Prosperity, told The Palm Beach Post that he's no "bully."

"They make me sound like a bully," Koch told the Post, complaining of press coverage. "Do I look like a bully?"

The Post detailed a charity dinner that Koch and his wife, Julia, hosted recently at their Palm Beach home for the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

In 1990s, Koch discovered that he had prostate cancer. The Anderson Center successfully treated and cured him.

Koch said he is remaining active in political battles despite the criticism and threats he has received.

He told the Post that Americans for Prosperity is helping Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who faces a recall election after taking on public employee unions.

"We're helping him, as we should. We've gotten pretty good at this over the years," he said. "We've spent a lot of money in Wisconsin. We're going to spend more."

Americans for Prosperity reportedly is spending about $700,000 on television ads supporting Walker and his reformist union policies.

But the Post notes that Koch and his brother Charles, who share the No. 4 rank in the Forbes billionaire list, have broader charitable interests than just politics. David "holds board seats with 23 nonprofit groups and has pledged gifts totaling more than $750 million for cancer research, the arts and cultural institutions, according to his foundation," the Post reported..."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."