Not all of us make resolutions, but it is a nice tradition. It is a time to reflect on the year past and look ahead.
For the Opinion Page, our steadfast resolution remains to provide a forum for diverse expression and commentary on news and current events, to foster a climate in which civil, intelligent and informed debate about local issues and constructive change can occur in order to help make our community a better place.
In this past year it has been hard, at times, for people of differing viewpoints to talk to one another, but communication is essential to a thriving community and democracy. We hope some of the community engagement plans we are crafting will help lower some of those walls.
In 2017, to enhance the quality of our pages, we will reinstate regular community conversations and hold them at times working people can attend. We will also create an editorial advisory board to be more inclusive of diverse perspectives on topics that deserve attention.
We do know our community will continue to grapple with numerous issues in several key areas like energy and the environment, planning and transportation, county revenue and community health. What we do not yet know is how a new presidential administration will affect our state and region, particularly as it applies to public lands.
Energy and environmental issues will continue to command our community’s attention. The Environmental Protection Agency will kick off Superfund implementation near Silverton, and new directives may be forthcoming from the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service that call for increased gas and oil development on more of our public lands.
Recreation-based businesses and conservationists will be certain to examine those developments closely, as drilling, fracking and the methane hotspot in our region are major concerns. At the same time, we must recognize these resources are finite and the revenue decline from gas and oil is detrimental to the county; our tax base is tipping over on its one-legged gas-supported stool. As a community, we must continue to work to develop new revenue sources and advocate for public policies that support a transition to a renewable energy future.
City and county community planning efforts will continue into 2017, as will opportunities to participate in them. New comprehensive, “character district,” multi-modal and housing plans must establish priorities and be coordinated in their implementation.
In particular, we hope to see progress on affordable housing and a pedestrian underpass for Camino del Rio. The city’s housing plan must identify solutions as far ranging as providing permanent supportive housing for some of our homeless population to providing young professionals and aging baby boomers with affordable housing to rent or own. In anticipation of significant reductions in state funding and the failure of the mill levy, sustainable funding for city transit services and county roads and bridges, respectively, must be found.
In an April election, we will be seeking continued good leadership on Durango City Council with three seats up for grabs and a possible referendum on fluoride in the city’s water. This summer, we hope for the opening of Lake Nighthorse to recreation with some provisions for quiet use, and a fully-functional whitewater park on the Animas River.
With the uncertainty around any undoing of the Affordable Care Act, and concerns about the prevalence of suicide in our region, access to mental and physical health care for our residents will remain a serious issue about which something more must be done.
Meanwhile, the Arc of History is history. We like its successor and hope the city decides to let the unicorn stay; let’s see what else shows up in 2017.
Our community is only as successful as your participation in it. Resolve to be involved. Our collective future depends upon it.
Happy New Year!
