As American cities continue to erode due to infrastructural decay and underfunding, public leaders are finally beginning to address the issues of sustainable living and accountable government in public forums. Those in positions of power who continue to ignore these topics should take note. This generation faces a number of serious problems that could easily turn America into a second-tier economy much …
Since the Colorado Springs City Council banned retail marijuana sales and the subsequent regulation that would come with it, citizens have been disgruntled, to say the least. When the votes were counted, 4,947 votes were ignored in lieu of political and corporate interests. However, the Springs’ citizenry didn’t stop after …
The infinite is no longer Than a slice of sky that slipped, Stealthy, behind the apple of your eye. The universe gifted me with insignificance, And no matter how grateful she made me, I still wanted to peer into your navel. When wind slaps wet palms against pages And tempos …
I caught Colorado Springs Councilwoman Jill Gaebler rushing from a television interview. Her eyes glinted with excitement and a bit of mischief as she described a few techniques the makeup artist had used, but after a few moments, we sat down and moved to the business at hand. As a community …
In 2012, Colorado Springs, Colorado leaders combined two local organizations, the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Corporation, into one entity, the Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance (RBA). Many are hoping this change will end cronyism and usher in a new era of meritocracy. Joe Raso, President and CEO of the RBA, …
At the Deerfield Community meeting on August 14, 2013, Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach and city employees attempted to explain his upcoming budget and proposed Economic Revitalization Plan (if you’d like to read a brief summary of the budget, click here). The city’s efforts to simplify the message certainly showed some inspiration. For instance, …
Colorado Springs, Colorado is in the throes of a severe and under-reported budget crisis that needs economic triage as soon as possible. Mayor Steve Bach’s recent Town Hall Meeting on August 14, 2013 addressed this looming disaster, but how many people really listened? Although the Springs is a mere two to four years away from utter insolvency, …
City Councilwoman Jan Martin has been a pivotal figure during recent debates in Colorado Springs regarding cannabis retail regulation and sales. Currently, she is well into her second term as an at-large city representative. Martin has also served on several boards and commissions, to include the Citizens Project, Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum Foundation (Vice President), and Ronald McDonald House Charities Board (President). …
Lindsay Deen continues her discussion regarding the retail cannabis ban in Colorado Springs, CO. She deftly exposes Mayor Bach’s deceptive reasoning. He pushed City Council to opt out of retail cultivation, manufacturing, sales, and testing, and his policies go against the will of the majority. Unable to display content. Adobe …
“[T]he people are the rightful masters of both Congresses, and courts-not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it. . . .” -Abraham Lincoln, from the Lincoln Papers, Notes for Speech in Kansas and Ohio, p2. In July of 2013, Colorado Springs City Council decided to …
In this video about Marijuana Reform, USR columnist and editor Lindsay Deen explores government officials’ reactions to Amendment 64 and, in her opinion, their attempts to ignore the will of the majority. She offers thoughtful commentary and detailed evidence to support her claims. Check it out today! Click here to access the interactive …
As a ten or eleven-year old kid, I went on a trip to Colorado’s State Capitol with our school’s PTA to help lobby for education funding. All the kids who went signed up to speak with one of our senators. Nervous, I approached a hard-eyed man who looked down at …
In many ways, Colorado Springs provides a microscopic sample of our national demographic. We have the serious ultra-conservative right-wing Republicans, fun but slightly insane Democrat fanatics (like the ones dancing in the streets after Obama won), a strong Libertarian front dedicated to creating and maintaining freedoms, and the rest of …
The Black Forest Fire acted as a beacon, calling a community well-acquainted with the isolation of suburbia together despite our separation for a common cause. After watching the Springs community come together in both the physical world and online, perhaps reconnecting suburban landscapes via the Internet can create a more …
Like most others in the Pikes Peak Region, I’ve been following the Black Forest Fire closely. Many people are writing commentary regarding the causes, which is understandable, but maybe we should already begin spending more time looking at the effects of the disaster. At the writing of this article, the fire is under …
After my last article, I wanted to discuss ways we can show compassion easily and every day. I’ve included ten different ideas, and I’ve used several of these techniques on a daily basis, so I’m pretty sure they work. While I’m no Dalai Lama, I have increased my awareness of …