We came for the recreation. We’re voting for streets.
We visited Durango last April to confirm that our research and intuition were correct about Durango possibly becoming our new home. The quality and obvious level of investment in things like the Rec Center, Animas River Trail and Horse Gulch convinced us; we moved here in August and haven’t looked back!
The 2015 Sales Tax vote to fund and maintain new parks, open space, trails and other recreational projects (which passed with 70 percent voting in favor) specifically stated that the funds were not to be used for any other purpose. Believing that maintaining our city infrastructure as well as our recreational assets are essential to the overall health of our community, we voted for the November ballot initiative to fund our infrastructure needs, in part to avoid the possibility of being forced to use recreation funds for other purposes.
It was defeated. The infrastructure needs haven’t gone away; the City Council, after soliciting voter feedback, has included initiative 1A on this April’s ballot to fund street improvements: it’s simpler (just a sales tax, which means tourists will contribute); it’s shorter (10 years instead of 25); it’s specific (just streets).
Let’s give the new City Council some financial breathing room to let them focus on creating a long-term plan for addressing not just street improvements and recreation, but a comprehensive, holistic plan for our future. I’m voting YES on 1A.
Rick Cobb
Durango
