The year now ending was in many respects dominated by the nomination and election of Donald Trump. Even without that, however, it was an interesting year, full of meaningful events.
Four things that stand out include the down-ballot part of the election, ongoing efforts to follow up on the Gold King Mine spill, the flap over the Arc of History and the tragic death of Marine Capt. Tim Kuss, a Durango native and member of the Blue Angels, the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron. Each in its own way illustrated and shaped 2016 in Durango.
Of course, there were lots of other issues as well. Those ranged from silly to serious, with many simply being familiar.
There was a question of whether to allow a part of the old Francisco’s building that has been a downtown fixture for decades. The food truck phenomena intrigued diners and perplexed officials. And the methane hotspot put regulation of the gas industry in the spotlight.
Many of the issues of 2016 were old favorites. We still cannot get Denver TV. The city still cannot get grass to grow on a Fort Lewis College soccer field. Housing is too costly, while rising home prices are celebrated. The city and the county are redoing their comprehensive plans. And nobody knows what to do about panhandlers.
But for all that, we still had the time – and the money – to fight over a piece of rock art in an intersection. While that might seem silly, it reflected both officials’ intent to continually improve the atmosphere of Durango and the passion local residents feel for their community. Nobody’s life was on the line, but it was an issue nonetheless.
No one questions the significance of the Gold King spill or its aftermath. While the actual spill happened in 2015, its effects rippled through 2016 and will continue going forward. Not only is a lot of money involved, it represents the local tip of a massive problem. The legacy of hard-rock mining across the West includes environmental degradation, costly cleanups, legal wrangling and bureaucratic confusion.
That the Gold King saga neither started nor concluded in 2016 is irrelevant. Its impact continued throughout the year.
The death of Capt. Tim Kuss, practicing for a Tennessee air show, was felt far beyond the circle of his Durango friends and family. The loss of such a talented and respected man was a reminder of the fragility and impermanence of life. It also showed that while we often think of Durango as isolated, even insulated, we are all interconnected. A death is a tough way to relearn that, but it is an important lesson nonetheless.
At the local level, the election lacked the drama of the presidential race. There was only one contest on local ballots in which the challenger unseated an incumbent – state representative in the 59th District. Voters also approved additional funding for Bayfield and Durango schools, while rejecting money for La Plata County roads and the airport.
As the second loss for roads and bridges, that vote was both inexplicable and problematic. But the defeat of the airport measure – by 24 percentage points – was so decisive that airport backers immediately began looking at alternative funding mechanisms. That could speed the progress.
A lot happened in 2016. We expect no less from 2017.
