What used to be a tightly knit community has slowly come unraveled amongst the pointless, unproductive and countless intrigues manipulations and dramas that has become Estes Park.
Estes Park has broken down and splintered into Valley wide enclaves of HOA’s, self serving nonprofits, covens of retirees, and seasonal motel owner associations. Decades of a constant cycle of tired desperation and civic stupidity have led us here. The Town of Estes Park has been lost in the shuffle that occurs out of extreme anxiety - to few seats in the life boat.
We have found ourselves in a public argument over renewing a corruption infested, subsidy gravy train, called EPURA. Town Trustees argue that growth cannot occur without blight subsidies to local contractors, is an idiot’s argument and reeks of a lack of credibility. Let's be honest here it's about the ability to borrow money without voter approval and lots of insiders want a piece of the action.
As you know the Park Theater Mall burned to the ground, this tragedy received national attention. The news media was very critical of our town government because; (1) there was a glairing lack of fire codes in Estes Park and (2) the media could not locate town officials to respond to questions (news media on air complaint). The Mayor dogged out on being mayor during a crisis, jumped down the rabbit hole, and pushed his wife in front of the microphones.
In 2004 the “Natures Own” shop on Elkhorn Ave. burned, accompanied by the inevitable asbestos clean up. At the time the Town and EPURA was queried about the Town’s and EPURA’s position on assisting with the asbestos issue. The then trustee Sue Doylan stated “to bad… what do you want us to do about it (referring to the town)?” After the Mall fire, a town administrator (Lowell Richardson) declared the town to be contaminated with asbestoses for the next twenty years, and the only hope to deal with the issue is EPURA. What happened during the intervening five years?
The Answer - Politics!
EPURA needs the public vote to continue living, and they will stoop to any level to win, even causing a public health panic. That is unconscionable and irresponsible behavior, and jobs should be on the line, unless of course your politicians put them up to it, spin doctoring in the background.
The Town Trustees are now attempting to make the mall owner’s business a public circus, and somehow perceive the details of this private business tragedy to be public domain. Meanwhile, all Town Trustee business is conducted in private, in the clandestine darkness of secret meetings and executive sessions. Don’t you find that queer?
Urban Renewal failed Estes Park, even the director Will Smith took off running the first chance he got.
Here are the opinions of 220 national travel professionals, urban planners and travel destination marketing experts on the culmination of twenty five years of Estes Park Urban Renewal blight eradication, urban planning and “beautification”.
The National Geographic Traveler:
"RMNP is Deep Blue glacial lakes and majestic mountain views" a "totally overstressed" park. "Traffic, condo developments, and noise around the sappy, touristy town of Estes Park lessen appeal."
“Estes Park, of course, continues to exemplify what gateway communities should avoid."
"Neighboring communities (Estes Park) are becoming overcrowded and geared mainly to serving the tourist trade. This is robbing them of their authentic character."
Urban Renewal has had twenty five years and all the money they needed, and they failed, empty rhetoric of local politicians ring hollow, its time for a new direction and serious change.
We are in the tourist business, attracting people into our village to spend money is our only economy. It is crucially important what the world thinks of Estes Park. Of course the local politicians will tell you they are spending all of our tax dollars and achieving wondrous results. What really matters is how the rest of the world views us. Sadly the world thinks we have evolved into a sappy joke. Real estate agent/politicians preach they need EPURA to keep Estes beautiful, the same real estate agent/politicians who act as broker selling EPURA property, conflict…do ya think?
We need leaders in town hall not group think followers. People that can lead, not hide behind their wives when the pressure is on. Five trustees voted to renew EPURA, the same five trustees voted to prevent the citizens of Estes Park the right to petition their government. They send staff, commissioners, and their wives out to defend their behavior while they hide in executive session.
Eric Blackhurst
Jeff Miller
John Ericson
Dorla Eisenlower
Chuck Lavine
The Estes Parkian – A Home Rule of One!
