Our brief annual Will Smith Memorial Kayak Coarse up date, Memorial Day week end is past and the run off is peaking. I am still looking for our elusive kayaker on Will Smiths “world famous” kayak course, to no avail.
A statistic you many enjoy; there were more tourist pedestrians serious injured by local motorists while legally walking in cross walks in Estes Park than there where people injured by elk in Estes Park - in total - ever.
Just a public service reminder, you all choose to move to our Colorado Mountains, on the boarder of a national park. This is not a zoo, you built your Omaha suburban style condo on the grounds of the elks natural grazing area. All you people from Omaha pay attention, this time of year the elk mommies are having elk babies if you get near the elk babies expect to get the shit kicked out of you. If you leave your pets out the mountain lions and coyotes will have a snack. You are not on top of the food chain here. Bears are hungry and love sugar water, bird seed, and a juicy bag -o- trash, they do not read no trespassing signs very well, and are very very strong. Our limp wrested town government has not taken the necessary steps to create land use and zoning regulations to keep our town compatible with the surrounding natural environment. So we now have a mix of suburbanites in Bermuda shorts and hungry dangerous wild life. Want the best wildlife viewing anywhere? Go downtown about 11:00 PM you are likely to see fox, raccoons, mountain lions, coyote, elk, deer, bear, kind of the night clean up crew.
“Save The Peak Season”
This weekend the traffic was bumper to bumper for hours on end all over town. Your elected town officials have committed $300,000.00 of our tax dollars to run a shuttle system for the next three years for the national park. Did anyone of your elected officials suggest that the air pollution created by all this traffic is dangerously high at Elkhorn and Moraine, especially at this altitude when the temperature reaches eighty degrees Fahrenheit and more? The ozone must be incredible. Was it even suggested that spending your money on an air quality monitoring program would be a good idea for the health of every Estes Park citizen and would run pre-concurrent-post of this trial run bus nonsense. Naaa, ignorance is bliss and besides the mayor was to busy in Washington kissing butts working toward wilderness status for RMNP. Maybe hizzonor should read the press clipping again about what national travel writers think about the blight Estes Park is on RMNP, great idea your honor a sappy tourist town next to a wilderness area. A yard full of weeds and hizzonor is off to improve the neighbor’s lawn. Lets send Mark Udall a copy of the National Geographic Travelers gateway community addition. Cool
Back to the elk, when you build your golf coarse where the elk once grazed on the natural flora and fauna, is anyone shocked that the elk would acquire a taste for good old Kentucky Blue Grass, watered every day and kept cool and green? One more good idea maybe the midnight snipers can pop off a few practice rounds at the Samson memorial bronze, you know, kind of get the windage before the main event. Aren’t intergovernmental relationships suppose to work both ways, now we will have go view elk in the land fill next to the old ski lift towers from Hidden Valley, know what I mean?
Here’s a new X sport; ride your BMX bike on the lake trail during elk caving season or on the golf coarse during the rut. I personally would pay to watch.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Reach Out To The World. More Press For Estes Park
Plan for Sharpshooters to Thin Colorado Elk Herd Draws Critics
New York Times article.
By KIRK JOHNSON
Published: May 28, 2006
ESTES PARK, Colo., May 25 — The elk that roam Rocky Mountain National Park in their slow-moving majesty have become a signature attraction for tourists, and an economic driver of the economy in this town at the park's edge.
But the animals leave some mighty big hoof prints. The park's biology has been skewed by elk overpopulation, which biologists say is squeezing out even butterflies and beavers, both of which need the aspen groves that the elk herd of perhaps 3,000 animals decimates in its search for food.
The town itself has become an elk playground as well. The animals regularly stop traffic — a phenomenon beloved by visitors — but they are also becoming more and more of a nuisance, and occasionally even a threat. The chief of police, Lowell Richardson, said he had been chased around more than once on the golf course. A woman was seriously injured several years ago when she got between a mother elk and her calf.
But now the town-park-elk triangle, with elements of economics and elk biology in equal measure, is about to change profoundly, and few are happy. Park administrators have proposed a 20-year program of herd reduction and management that would involve shooting hundreds of elk, mostly at night in the park, using sharpshooters with silencers.
Critics of the plan advocate either bringing back wolves to control the population, or recreational hunters or contraception. Park officials say they have studied every option and that "lethal reduction," as the plan is called, is the best way to bring the numbers of elk down to a sustainable 1,200 or so.
Estes Park itself, meanwhile, is bracing for the elk themselves to react and adapt by moving even more into the community than they are now. Town officials and residents say that when the park is no longer a safety zone for the animals, as it has been since the 1960's when the last herd-reduction program was abandoned, the town will become the inevitable refuge.
"There's a lot of concern," said Dave Shirk, a town planner who attended a public meeting on the herd-reduction plan here on Thursday night. Mr. Shirk said he believed that an elk exodus into the streets of Estes Park was inevitable. The question, he said, is whether the impact will be tempered by the park's proposed reduction in total elk numbers.
"That's our hope, that's our thought," he said.
What was equally clear at the sometimes raucous public meeting was that love of elk, love of the park and passionately defended positions about how to resolve the problem go hand in hand. Every idea posited from one side — allowing a hunt, allowing predation from wolves, allowing the elk population to grow and not worrying about the ecological consequences — was vehemently denounced by somebody else on the elk-opinion spectrum. Park officials say they plan to announce a decision on a plan late this year or early next.
"The park is in a no-win situation," said David Beldus, a retired teacher and former national park ranger, as he sat watching the fireworks at the meeting.
Value judgments about the relationships of humans and animals and the imagery of the national parks also color the debate, wildlife biologists and public policy experts say.
"The national parks are considered special by most Americans, the place where we should let natural processes work as much as possible," said Robert A. Garrott, a professor of ecology at Montana State University in Bozeman.
And in Rocky Mountain National Park, natural is a tough thing to pin down. The elk certainly do not qualify. Their tame behavior, with no predators to keep them wily, is utterly unelklike to a wildlife biologist. They are not native. Most of the herd is believed to be descended from elk brought to Colorado in 1913 and 1914 from Wyoming after the local herds were driven to near extinction. The park was established in 1915.
The aspen groves, by contrast, which propagate by cloning one individual through shoots, are thousands of years old, dating from the end of the last ice age, and are uniquely connected and adapted to the specific life history of the park's lands, said Therese Johnson, the park's lead biologist on the elk issue.
Deer culling at night, using night-vision goggles and silencers, is well established in many parts of the country. But park officials acknowledge that trying the practice with elk, which can weigh upwards of 700 pounds for full-grown bull, two or three times the size of a common white-tail deer, is new territory.
Human population growth ultimately underscores all the considerations, epitomized by Estes Park and its shoulder-rubbing proximity to the herd. More people are living closer than ever, and in greater and greater numbers, to places like Rocky Mountain National Park, which was set aside for a glimpse of the wild.
When gray wolves were introduced into Yellowstone National Park in 1995, by contrast, advocates for the experiment could argue that the buffer zones of national forests, and the park's huge size, made it big enough and isolated enough that nature could be natural in keeping down elk and deer populations.
Rocky Mountain National Park, at just over 400 square miles, is only about one-eighth as big as Yellowstone, and 2.4 million people in the Denver metropolitan area live within a two- or three-hour drive.
"The lesson is that the more we ring these parks with other activities and encroach on them, the more we're setting ourselves up for difficult issues," said David K. Skelly, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale.
Mr. Shirk, the town planner, said his professional concern about what might happen to his community as a result of elk reduction was balanced against the love he has for the animals.
"I live here; I want to see the elk in my backyard," he said.
New York Times article.
By KIRK JOHNSON
Published: May 28, 2006
ESTES PARK, Colo., May 25 — The elk that roam Rocky Mountain National Park in their slow-moving majesty have become a signature attraction for tourists, and an economic driver of the economy in this town at the park's edge.
But the animals leave some mighty big hoof prints. The park's biology has been skewed by elk overpopulation, which biologists say is squeezing out even butterflies and beavers, both of which need the aspen groves that the elk herd of perhaps 3,000 animals decimates in its search for food.
The town itself has become an elk playground as well. The animals regularly stop traffic — a phenomenon beloved by visitors — but they are also becoming more and more of a nuisance, and occasionally even a threat. The chief of police, Lowell Richardson, said he had been chased around more than once on the golf course. A woman was seriously injured several years ago when she got between a mother elk and her calf.
But now the town-park-elk triangle, with elements of economics and elk biology in equal measure, is about to change profoundly, and few are happy. Park administrators have proposed a 20-year program of herd reduction and management that would involve shooting hundreds of elk, mostly at night in the park, using sharpshooters with silencers.
Critics of the plan advocate either bringing back wolves to control the population, or recreational hunters or contraception. Park officials say they have studied every option and that "lethal reduction," as the plan is called, is the best way to bring the numbers of elk down to a sustainable 1,200 or so.
Estes Park itself, meanwhile, is bracing for the elk themselves to react and adapt by moving even more into the community than they are now. Town officials and residents say that when the park is no longer a safety zone for the animals, as it has been since the 1960's when the last herd-reduction program was abandoned, the town will become the inevitable refuge.
"There's a lot of concern," said Dave Shirk, a town planner who attended a public meeting on the herd-reduction plan here on Thursday night. Mr. Shirk said he believed that an elk exodus into the streets of Estes Park was inevitable. The question, he said, is whether the impact will be tempered by the park's proposed reduction in total elk numbers.
"That's our hope, that's our thought," he said.
What was equally clear at the sometimes raucous public meeting was that love of elk, love of the park and passionately defended positions about how to resolve the problem go hand in hand. Every idea posited from one side — allowing a hunt, allowing predation from wolves, allowing the elk population to grow and not worrying about the ecological consequences — was vehemently denounced by somebody else on the elk-opinion spectrum. Park officials say they plan to announce a decision on a plan late this year or early next.
"The park is in a no-win situation," said David Beldus, a retired teacher and former national park ranger, as he sat watching the fireworks at the meeting.
Value judgments about the relationships of humans and animals and the imagery of the national parks also color the debate, wildlife biologists and public policy experts say.
"The national parks are considered special by most Americans, the place where we should let natural processes work as much as possible," said Robert A. Garrott, a professor of ecology at Montana State University in Bozeman.
And in Rocky Mountain National Park, natural is a tough thing to pin down. The elk certainly do not qualify. Their tame behavior, with no predators to keep them wily, is utterly unelklike to a wildlife biologist. They are not native. Most of the herd is believed to be descended from elk brought to Colorado in 1913 and 1914 from Wyoming after the local herds were driven to near extinction. The park was established in 1915.
The aspen groves, by contrast, which propagate by cloning one individual through shoots, are thousands of years old, dating from the end of the last ice age, and are uniquely connected and adapted to the specific life history of the park's lands, said Therese Johnson, the park's lead biologist on the elk issue.
Deer culling at night, using night-vision goggles and silencers, is well established in many parts of the country. But park officials acknowledge that trying the practice with elk, which can weigh upwards of 700 pounds for full-grown bull, two or three times the size of a common white-tail deer, is new territory.
Human population growth ultimately underscores all the considerations, epitomized by Estes Park and its shoulder-rubbing proximity to the herd. More people are living closer than ever, and in greater and greater numbers, to places like Rocky Mountain National Park, which was set aside for a glimpse of the wild.
When gray wolves were introduced into Yellowstone National Park in 1995, by contrast, advocates for the experiment could argue that the buffer zones of national forests, and the park's huge size, made it big enough and isolated enough that nature could be natural in keeping down elk and deer populations.
Rocky Mountain National Park, at just over 400 square miles, is only about one-eighth as big as Yellowstone, and 2.4 million people in the Denver metropolitan area live within a two- or three-hour drive.
"The lesson is that the more we ring these parks with other activities and encroach on them, the more we're setting ourselves up for difficult issues," said David K. Skelly, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale.
Mr. Shirk, the town planner, said his professional concern about what might happen to his community as a result of elk reduction was balanced against the love he has for the animals.
"I live here; I want to see the elk in my backyard," he said.
DEAL OR NO DEAL
From the City of Estes Park Ordinances and Development Code
5.20.010 Business license fee.
(a) There is imposed a business license fee on the privilege of carrying on or engaging in any business, profession or occupation within the Town, which business, profession or occupation consists of the selling of goods, wares, merchandise or service; the performing or rendering of service, for charge; the leasing, renting or furnishing of accommodation units; and the carrying on or engaging in any nonresident business or community special event. Each business, profession or occupation conducted at a separate physical location, regardless of ownership, shall pay a business license fee.
Commercial Zoning Districts.
a. CD Downtown Commercial. This zone district is established to provide a wide variety and relatively high intensity of retail and commercial services within Downtown Estes Park to serve both residents and visitors. The CD District implements the “CBD-Commercial Downtown” land use category set forth in the Comprehensive Plan. This district is intended to encourage a predominance of compact and pedestrian-scale retail, service and office uses in the Downtown core. Residential uses, especially employee housing or when mixed with commercial or retail uses, are also encouraged within the district to provide alternative housing choices for the Valley’s workforce.
It is the intent that the Downtown maintain its function as the Valley’s focal point of tourist shopping and entertainment activity. This area is also a key economic engine for the Town of Estes Park and the Valley; therefore, future sales-tax generating uses are strongly encouraged.
It is also the intent of this district that new development develop in ways integrating and even enhancing the qualities of the streams, rivers, topography and other natural assets of the area.
L. Outdoor Display/Sales and Storage. All uses with outdoor displays, sales or storage shall be subject to compliance with the outdoor display/sales regulations in §7.13 of this Code. See also §4.4.D.1 for specific operation restrictions on outdoor displays and sales applicable in the CD Downtown Commercial zoning district.
L. Outdoor Display/Sales and Storage. All uses with outdoor displays, sales or storage shall be subject to compliance with the outdoor display/sales regulations in §7.13 of this Code. See also §4.4.D.1 for specific operation restrictions on outdoor displays and sales applicable in the CD Downtown Commercial zoning district.
B. Use Tables--Permitted Uses. Use Tables 4-1 and 4-4 (below) set forth the use classifications and specific uses permitted within the relevant zoning districts.
P
1. Permitted By-Right Uses . A “P” in a cell indicates that a use classification or specific use is allowed by right in the respective zoning district. Permitted by-right uses are subject to all other applicable regulations of this Code, including the General Development Standards set forth in Chapter 7.
S
2. Special Review Uses. An “S” in a cell indicates that a use category is allowed only if reviewed and approved as a Special Review Use, in accordance with the Special Review procedures of §3.5.
—
3. Uses Not Allowed. A “—” in a cell indicates that a use type is not allowed in the respective zoning district
Okay all you grass roots movement members, copy this on your printer this morning or tomorrow morning, around 10:00 or 11:00 or 12:00 AM walk over to the art fair and make a visual of compliance inspection and than see how many people are shopping in the crap fair and how many people are shopping with our merchants. Make a small purchase see if they collect a tax, collect business cards, count the number of vendors, try and find one piece of "fine art". You be the judge.
5.20.010 Business license fee.
(a) There is imposed a business license fee on the privilege of carrying on or engaging in any business, profession or occupation within the Town, which business, profession or occupation consists of the selling of goods, wares, merchandise or service; the performing or rendering of service, for charge; the leasing, renting or furnishing of accommodation units; and the carrying on or engaging in any nonresident business or community special event. Each business, profession or occupation conducted at a separate physical location, regardless of ownership, shall pay a business license fee.
Commercial Zoning Districts.
a. CD Downtown Commercial. This zone district is established to provide a wide variety and relatively high intensity of retail and commercial services within Downtown Estes Park to serve both residents and visitors. The CD District implements the “CBD-Commercial Downtown” land use category set forth in the Comprehensive Plan. This district is intended to encourage a predominance of compact and pedestrian-scale retail, service and office uses in the Downtown core. Residential uses, especially employee housing or when mixed with commercial or retail uses, are also encouraged within the district to provide alternative housing choices for the Valley’s workforce.
It is the intent that the Downtown maintain its function as the Valley’s focal point of tourist shopping and entertainment activity. This area is also a key economic engine for the Town of Estes Park and the Valley; therefore, future sales-tax generating uses are strongly encouraged.
It is also the intent of this district that new development develop in ways integrating and even enhancing the qualities of the streams, rivers, topography and other natural assets of the area.
L. Outdoor Display/Sales and Storage. All uses with outdoor displays, sales or storage shall be subject to compliance with the outdoor display/sales regulations in §7.13 of this Code. See also §4.4.D.1 for specific operation restrictions on outdoor displays and sales applicable in the CD Downtown Commercial zoning district.
L. Outdoor Display/Sales and Storage. All uses with outdoor displays, sales or storage shall be subject to compliance with the outdoor display/sales regulations in §7.13 of this Code. See also §4.4.D.1 for specific operation restrictions on outdoor displays and sales applicable in the CD Downtown Commercial zoning district.
B. Use Tables--Permitted Uses. Use Tables 4-1 and 4-4 (below) set forth the use classifications and specific uses permitted within the relevant zoning districts.
P
1. Permitted By-Right Uses . A “P” in a cell indicates that a use classification or specific use is allowed by right in the respective zoning district. Permitted by-right uses are subject to all other applicable regulations of this Code, including the General Development Standards set forth in Chapter 7.
S
2. Special Review Uses. An “S” in a cell indicates that a use category is allowed only if reviewed and approved as a Special Review Use, in accordance with the Special Review procedures of §3.5.
—
3. Uses Not Allowed. A “—” in a cell indicates that a use type is not allowed in the respective zoning district
Okay all you grass roots movement members, copy this on your printer this morning or tomorrow morning, around 10:00 or 11:00 or 12:00 AM walk over to the art fair and make a visual of compliance inspection and than see how many people are shopping in the crap fair and how many people are shopping with our merchants. Make a small purchase see if they collect a tax, collect business cards, count the number of vendors, try and find one piece of "fine art". You be the judge.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Arts In The Park?
This weekend will start the competition for retail dollars in the community. The Town has spiffed up Bond Park with sod that will become trodden with thousands of feet that will be touring the parks arts festival. Retailers will be pleading for visitors to come into their newly swept shops with loads of inventory and bright shiny windows, as they hope to sell goods that will, in turn, provide sales tax dollars to the Town.
The sales in the park are on the honor system to pay taxes but there is no way to control whether or not they actually do. This is because Estes Park is a statutory town that has no method of collecting taxes. Who loses? We all do.
What could we do that would allow everyone to win? First, we could eliminate the fairs in the park and not allow outside vendors. If an art group wants to make money, they could have displays in the park of their own inventory. Visitors would tour and enjoy the artwork. Artists and cultural groups could pass out coupons to visitors (provided by shopkeepers) that would encourage visitors to visit those shops. The coupons could give a value that a portion of would be returned to the non-profit.
Let’s say a 5% coupon would also provide 2% to the art group. Some combination of this arrangement would be a win-win for everyone.
Is this all true and accurate enough for you? Will it work?
Of course it is true and accurate, but it won’t work here because nobody gets along and wouldn’t cooperate on this type of enterprise. Instead they will bitch and moan about all of the lost sales given to the art fair. What a shame.
The sales in the park are on the honor system to pay taxes but there is no way to control whether or not they actually do. This is because Estes Park is a statutory town that has no method of collecting taxes. Who loses? We all do.
What could we do that would allow everyone to win? First, we could eliminate the fairs in the park and not allow outside vendors. If an art group wants to make money, they could have displays in the park of their own inventory. Visitors would tour and enjoy the artwork. Artists and cultural groups could pass out coupons to visitors (provided by shopkeepers) that would encourage visitors to visit those shops. The coupons could give a value that a portion of would be returned to the non-profit.
Let’s say a 5% coupon would also provide 2% to the art group. Some combination of this arrangement would be a win-win for everyone.
Is this all true and accurate enough for you? Will it work?
Of course it is true and accurate, but it won’t work here because nobody gets along and wouldn’t cooperate on this type of enterprise. Instead they will bitch and moan about all of the lost sales given to the art fair. What a shame.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Trail Ridge Road Opens Early
Trail Ridge Road opened Saturday and will remain open, conditions permitting, for the summer. They have had a few temporary closings due to mud slides but intend to keep things cleared. There will be some delays throughout the summer due to repairs that will be performed on the road.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
THE ESTES PARK TEN COMMANDMENTS
THE ESTES PARK TEN COMANDMENTS
Thou shall check thy brain at town limits
Thou shall feel free to screw thy neighbors businesses
Thou shall perfect the art of two book accounting
Thou shall bellyache but never vote
Thou shall not peer behind the town curtain
Thou shall buy thy knee pads locally
Thou shall not question the town trustees
Thou shall follow all laws except ones thy trustees choose to ignore
Right is wrong and wrong is right in vacation land
Smite the horned wapiti for he walks on four legs and wanders the darkness of the forest
Thou shall check thy brain at town limits
Thou shall feel free to screw thy neighbors businesses
Thou shall perfect the art of two book accounting
Thou shall bellyache but never vote
Thou shall not peer behind the town curtain
Thou shall buy thy knee pads locally
Thou shall not question the town trustees
Thou shall follow all laws except ones thy trustees choose to ignore
Right is wrong and wrong is right in vacation land
Smite the horned wapiti for he walks on four legs and wanders the darkness of the forest
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Listen To Yourself
It’s always amusing to hear the clarion call of the do-gooders that say “we’ve done this for our community.” Well folks, you haven’t done squat.
John Tucker, as well meaning as he is, is trying to take credit for something he had little to do with, and what was it anyway? The legal issue was whether or not the Town could change how they collected taxes. Well, they couldn’t. The real issue was – the Town was trying to Screw the accommodation people, or anyone that rented rooms. Let’s say it again. The Town was trying to SCREW YOU!
Or, look at Fishman. He apparently tried to have the Town increase parking. He made reasoned arguments, gave impressive statistics and did everything he could to make it happen. Big whoop. It didn’t happen because the Town refuses to listen to anyone. The Town is the enemy.
Sandy Gleick gave a fine argument that they were able to turn the Town away from competing with retailers on selling T-shirts. Listen to yourselves. The Town was trying to Screw you. How is that a positive thing? It never should have happened.
People in this town are so used to getting Screwed, a minor victory is when for once they don’t. How is that a positive thing? How is that even possible that you think you have accomplished anything? The Town will try and Screw you as long as the current leadership is in place. Why should you be forced to spend anytime at all Protecting Yourself from this Town?
When will you ever get it?
Now, a positive thing would be when the people of this Town band together and create a Home Rule charter, create a marketing district that includes the Y and everyone else from Allenspark to Drake and hires an independent marketing company to do the marketing for the Estes Valley.
Do that one thing and then you can make a claim you’ve accomplished something. Until then, hide your head in shame.
John Tucker, as well meaning as he is, is trying to take credit for something he had little to do with, and what was it anyway? The legal issue was whether or not the Town could change how they collected taxes. Well, they couldn’t. The real issue was – the Town was trying to Screw the accommodation people, or anyone that rented rooms. Let’s say it again. The Town was trying to SCREW YOU!
Or, look at Fishman. He apparently tried to have the Town increase parking. He made reasoned arguments, gave impressive statistics and did everything he could to make it happen. Big whoop. It didn’t happen because the Town refuses to listen to anyone. The Town is the enemy.
Sandy Gleick gave a fine argument that they were able to turn the Town away from competing with retailers on selling T-shirts. Listen to yourselves. The Town was trying to Screw you. How is that a positive thing? It never should have happened.
People in this town are so used to getting Screwed, a minor victory is when for once they don’t. How is that a positive thing? How is that even possible that you think you have accomplished anything? The Town will try and Screw you as long as the current leadership is in place. Why should you be forced to spend anytime at all Protecting Yourself from this Town?
When will you ever get it?
Now, a positive thing would be when the people of this Town band together and create a Home Rule charter, create a marketing district that includes the Y and everyone else from Allenspark to Drake and hires an independent marketing company to do the marketing for the Estes Valley.
Do that one thing and then you can make a claim you’ve accomplished something. Until then, hide your head in shame.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Blog As Commentary
Many dissenters feel that not enough has been done by the Estesparkian to make changes to the community. Whiners and complainers say “what should we do?” The Estesparkian then gives a 4 or five point plan to follow to make this a better community and the whiners and complainers then say, “yes, but what should we do?” These are people that want everything done for them because they are too lazy to do it themselves or to get involved. We’ve had people propose a meeting place to discuss the issues and nobody followed up on it. That is the fault of this community. We whine and are complacent.
A blog is a commentary on personal impressions, daily events, views and opinions. A blog cannot change anything, only the society that is being written about can change themselves. Will the blog illuminate issues? Hopefully. Will the blog point out personal impressions of problems that face the community? Of course.
If nothing else has been accomplished, the one true thing that everyone has been made aware of is that this is a very divided and angry community. This is not a community that is at all like it seems on first impression. If someone sells their business they lie to prospective buyers, if someone asks about the good old home town feel of the place they are told it’s the perfect place. Yet, over and over people move here to start a business and if fails. People move here to enjoy their retirement and they don’t enjoy it and leave. Some people move here to take their kids out of a crowded metropolitan school system and find that there are bullying problems, drug problems and certain kids are treated special because of their parents; so the newcomer decides to home school, or they also leave.
Like it or not, the politicians have a stranglehold on this town and fervently protect it. They grow infrastructure where there is no need to do so, they spend money illegally without checks and balances that a Home Rule community would have, because not enough people care. Over and over it has been pointed out in this blogspace what should be done. Over and over dissenters say: “yes, but what do we do?” Sadly, if they were to drop a load in their pants someone would have to tell them to change their pants and then help them do it. In the meantime, there are a great number of full britches walking around.
A blog is a commentary on personal impressions, daily events, views and opinions. A blog cannot change anything, only the society that is being written about can change themselves. Will the blog illuminate issues? Hopefully. Will the blog point out personal impressions of problems that face the community? Of course.
If nothing else has been accomplished, the one true thing that everyone has been made aware of is that this is a very divided and angry community. This is not a community that is at all like it seems on first impression. If someone sells their business they lie to prospective buyers, if someone asks about the good old home town feel of the place they are told it’s the perfect place. Yet, over and over people move here to start a business and if fails. People move here to enjoy their retirement and they don’t enjoy it and leave. Some people move here to take their kids out of a crowded metropolitan school system and find that there are bullying problems, drug problems and certain kids are treated special because of their parents; so the newcomer decides to home school, or they also leave.
Like it or not, the politicians have a stranglehold on this town and fervently protect it. They grow infrastructure where there is no need to do so, they spend money illegally without checks and balances that a Home Rule community would have, because not enough people care. Over and over it has been pointed out in this blogspace what should be done. Over and over dissenters say: “yes, but what do we do?” Sadly, if they were to drop a load in their pants someone would have to tell them to change their pants and then help them do it. In the meantime, there are a great number of full britches walking around.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Where Does All That Money Go?
Proving once again that the Town has no limits on spending, the expansion has begun on yet another distant parking spot at the trail head to the lake trail. In addition, there is a major construction project taking place at Bond Park, where they intend to put a kiosk for assisting visitors that aren’t able to park in the new CVB parking lot. Guess that will be all used up by folks who park there and take the bus into the National Park.
One can only think they are saying “no worries” to being an estimated $500K over budget on the CVB, with staff expenses at $200K over budget annually. What the hey, it’s only money and they have plenty of it.
How ironic that the kiosk is in the spot first used as the Chamber’s visitor center when they were given a donation by E.M.A. Foote to provide services to the visitors. It was the Town that moved them out, then they tore that building down for the new CVB, then they go back to the heart of the matter and do it all over again. Money, money, money; it must grow on trees around here, but the Town cuts those down too.
One can only think they are saying “no worries” to being an estimated $500K over budget on the CVB, with staff expenses at $200K over budget annually. What the hey, it’s only money and they have plenty of it.
How ironic that the kiosk is in the spot first used as the Chamber’s visitor center when they were given a donation by E.M.A. Foote to provide services to the visitors. It was the Town that moved them out, then they tore that building down for the new CVB, then they go back to the heart of the matter and do it all over again. Money, money, money; it must grow on trees around here, but the Town cuts those down too.
Rites of Spring
Being a fairly keen observer the Estes Parkian has noticed something that I find odd and need your assistance with.
The tram; shouldn’t it be running by now?
The test runs and such are a spring rite of passage for me and things have been oddly quite around tram central, even though the town was jammed over the weekend.
By the way tried to find a parking place this week end and as usual not one to be found, me and seemingly hundreds of others vehicles were trolling for parking spots, I couldn’t find one and went home to read my copy of the Parking Study to find out where I went wrong.
The tram; shouldn’t it be running by now?
The test runs and such are a spring rite of passage for me and things have been oddly quite around tram central, even though the town was jammed over the weekend.
By the way tried to find a parking place this week end and as usual not one to be found, me and seemingly hundreds of others vehicles were trolling for parking spots, I couldn’t find one and went home to read my copy of the Parking Study to find out where I went wrong.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
More On The Elk
The NBC news program of 5/10/2006 gave national exposure to the Wapiti issue in Estes Park and RMNP. You can read about it here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12724708/
On the same topic, there will be a public meeting to discuss the options that the Park has to solve the Elk crisis. They are calling a series of meeting for public input to determine the eventual plan for eliminating up to 1,000 elk. Don’t get your hopes up, Kyle Patterson, Information Ranger for the Park has been saying for weeks that the determination has been made to shoot the elk. This has been verified by speaking with other rangers as well, so the public input proposal is like those the Town holds. Tell us what to do and we’ll do whatever we want anyway. If you don’t like it – MOVE!
If you are interested, the meeting is:
The Estes Park session is Thursday, May 25 at the Holiday Inn, 101 South St. Vrain Ave.
On the same topic, there will be a public meeting to discuss the options that the Park has to solve the Elk crisis. They are calling a series of meeting for public input to determine the eventual plan for eliminating up to 1,000 elk. Don’t get your hopes up, Kyle Patterson, Information Ranger for the Park has been saying for weeks that the determination has been made to shoot the elk. This has been verified by speaking with other rangers as well, so the public input proposal is like those the Town holds. Tell us what to do and we’ll do whatever we want anyway. If you don’t like it – MOVE!
If you are interested, the meeting is:
The Estes Park session is Thursday, May 25 at the Holiday Inn, 101 South St. Vrain Ave.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
HEADS UP - ESTES PARK
Tonight there is a feature piece on controlling our Elk on NBC Evening News @ 5:30 PM.. May 10, 2006
Monday, May 08, 2006
AS IT SHOULD BE
The U.S. Supreme Court gave landowners a scare last year. In response, the Colorado state Legislature is moving to defend property rights. That is as it should be.
The state House of Representatives passed a bill to limit how local governments can exercise their power of eminent domain to seize private property. The state Senate and Gov. Bill Owens should likewise approve it.
House Bill 1411 raises the standard governments would have to meet in order to declare private land “blighted” and seize it. It also forbids the condemnation of private property for economic development or to increase a tax base.
That became a national issue last year when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that there is nothing in the Constitution that bars local governments from taking private property — even when the purpose of the seizure was to transfer the property to another private party to boost economic activity.
That case — Kelo vs. City of New London — turned on the “takings clause” of the Fifth Amendment, which says “nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.” That clause clearly envisions the need for the government to take private property sometimes, but just as clearly requires it to compensate the property owner for the loss.
What is not clear is the meaning of “public use.” That was the issue in the Kelo case.
Some public uses have long been recognized as legitimate applications of eminent domain. Without it, for example, it is doubtful the nation would have any urban freeways. But what the city of New London, Conn., had in mind was to take private property — including homes — in order to allow private developers to construct office buildings, upscale housing and other amenities such as a marina on 90 acres of waterfront property. The justification city officials offered was that the project would create hundreds of jobs and pump more than $600,000 of property tax revenue into city coffers.
The court deferred to state and local decision makers. The majority opinion, written by Justice John Paul Stevens, in essence said that neither New London nor Connecticut officials were out of line in construing economic development as a “public use.”
The case was a victory for city planners and developers looking to reinvigorate slums and decaying urban areas (and perhaps for investors seeking to build a proposed toll road on Colorado’s eastern plains). Property-rights defenders, though, were appalled.
Writing in dissent, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor said that the “specter of condemnation hangs over all property. Nothing is to prevent the state from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory.”
Nothing, that is, except the voters and their elected representatives. In Kelo the court said that state and local officials may define economic development as “public use.” It did not say they must.
In restricting that definition, Colorado lawmakers are in step with their constituents. The prospect of losing a home for an overarching community need is bad enough. Having it taken so that someone else can make a buck is wrong. That part of that buck might end up as tax revenue is no excuse.
The state House of Representatives passed a bill to limit how local governments can exercise their power of eminent domain to seize private property. The state Senate and Gov. Bill Owens should likewise approve it.
House Bill 1411 raises the standard governments would have to meet in order to declare private land “blighted” and seize it. It also forbids the condemnation of private property for economic development or to increase a tax base.
That became a national issue last year when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that there is nothing in the Constitution that bars local governments from taking private property — even when the purpose of the seizure was to transfer the property to another private party to boost economic activity.
That case — Kelo vs. City of New London — turned on the “takings clause” of the Fifth Amendment, which says “nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.” That clause clearly envisions the need for the government to take private property sometimes, but just as clearly requires it to compensate the property owner for the loss.
What is not clear is the meaning of “public use.” That was the issue in the Kelo case.
Some public uses have long been recognized as legitimate applications of eminent domain. Without it, for example, it is doubtful the nation would have any urban freeways. But what the city of New London, Conn., had in mind was to take private property — including homes — in order to allow private developers to construct office buildings, upscale housing and other amenities such as a marina on 90 acres of waterfront property. The justification city officials offered was that the project would create hundreds of jobs and pump more than $600,000 of property tax revenue into city coffers.
The court deferred to state and local decision makers. The majority opinion, written by Justice John Paul Stevens, in essence said that neither New London nor Connecticut officials were out of line in construing economic development as a “public use.”
The case was a victory for city planners and developers looking to reinvigorate slums and decaying urban areas (and perhaps for investors seeking to build a proposed toll road on Colorado’s eastern plains). Property-rights defenders, though, were appalled.
Writing in dissent, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor said that the “specter of condemnation hangs over all property. Nothing is to prevent the state from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory.”
Nothing, that is, except the voters and their elected representatives. In Kelo the court said that state and local officials may define economic development as “public use.” It did not say they must.
In restricting that definition, Colorado lawmakers are in step with their constituents. The prospect of losing a home for an overarching community need is bad enough. Having it taken so that someone else can make a buck is wrong. That part of that buck might end up as tax revenue is no excuse.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Hurray, Hurray, It's The Merry Month of May!
Didja notice the flowers blooming in the public areas around town? In many communities one could expect that the perennials would be blooming by now and the gateway to our town would be a profusion of color.
Realistically one could see elk tolerant spring plants, like daffodils, blooming and being enjoyed by all. Didja know that there are many kinds of daffodils? They come in colors, some have double petals, and some are white and yellow, dark yellow and other colors as well. Why do you suppose you haven’t enjoyed this profusion of spring color? Why, every year, year after year, the town decides to rip the beds to dirt and not have the good sense to plant perennials? Of course today we have a good reason, because of Pickering’s progeny, the head of landscaping. Poor kid can’t help it; there is nothing in the gene pool. But this has been going on for years. Isn’t it time that the town showed some common sense? Wouldn’t it be nice, just once, to have the daffodils lead us into spring?
Realistically one could see elk tolerant spring plants, like daffodils, blooming and being enjoyed by all. Didja know that there are many kinds of daffodils? They come in colors, some have double petals, and some are white and yellow, dark yellow and other colors as well. Why do you suppose you haven’t enjoyed this profusion of spring color? Why, every year, year after year, the town decides to rip the beds to dirt and not have the good sense to plant perennials? Of course today we have a good reason, because of Pickering’s progeny, the head of landscaping. Poor kid can’t help it; there is nothing in the gene pool. But this has been going on for years. Isn’t it time that the town showed some common sense? Wouldn’t it be nice, just once, to have the daffodils lead us into spring?