A Difficult Choice

I love having a family that can act as a sounding board. I usually chat with my brother about personal issues, my dad about politics and sports, and my mom about everything else. Today I had to call my dad about Steamboat 700.

I wasn't calling to ask how to vote. And he never offered up a suggestion specifically as to how to vote. That is exactly the way it should be.

My dad and I are pretty similar in political sway and political thinking. Sure there are nuanced differences between us that may change over time, but the discussion method and approach is very similar. We listen, are able to see the issue and understand arguments. I like being that way. I thank my dad, even if it may tend toward paralysis and what may sometimes seem like a lack of direction or drive. But these are the reasons why I picked up the phone today. I needed to sound off and hear back. It was a way for me to become acute prior to voting.

Usually my mind is long made up come election day. But not this day, not this issue. It is too complex given the immediate impact to daily life, to property demand, supply, and values, to work related challenges and opportunity. This issue, unlike those at a national or even state level, will impact every member of the community - a tremendous number of the people that I consider friends. Throw on top the changing economic reality (only temporary?) of today and the fact that a community that (at least now?) you can wrap your arms around.

This issue isn't about my job. It isn't about my home value in downtown. Or is it?

It's not about whether the current plan on the table is a good deal. It's not about this vote being an up-or-down confirmation of the West Steamboat Area Plan - a document with deep roots in this town's master planning and long term visioning for the last two decades. This is only a blip in time. This is only one proposal out of many possibilities. West Steamboat might still be the long term place of growth. Or is it? South valley is an option right? Drinking water. In fill? I like that, but would it work? Strawberry Park? Really! Over my dead body will you cut down these willows to widen the road 4 feet much less put in some subdivision, rec center, blahdiddy blooo.

What are we doing in the world today? Are people still moving here? Are the empty commercial spaces, declining retail sales volumes, lack of real estate closings, tons of rental listings just a sign of the times or is it a new paradigm. Should we add a bunch of homes and commercial to a place that seems to be struggling? I just got back from Detroit and do you want to see what happens in a negative growth economy? GO TO DETROIT! Sure there are still oppurtunities in Detroit, and I met a ton of amazing people doing great things. But most people in Steamboat would be spinning in circles in a negative growth economic model. It isn't in our blood; we haven't endured 30 years of negative growth. Retail sales in Steamboat contracted 19% last year, on pace to contract 10% this year - Some real estate comparisons are down 50% in value from 2007 levels. Are we Detroit? I doubt it. Are we Steamboat in 2007? I doubt it.

I drove out to west steamboat, down RCR 42 and looked out over the proposed annexation area. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine a land of houses and roads and parks and people. I tried to think about a community being there. Is it something that I want there?

I've voted in every election for which I have been eligible. My background has cemented a civic minded responsibility that I should vote. I asked Dad, "What do you think? I can't make up my mind. Every time I think that I've convinced myself one way, five minutes later I argue myself back to neutral. I've gone both ways over and over. Should I just let this one go?" Dad's answer was "No way, you have to vote.", and he's right. At some point you have to make a decision. He said, "The likelihood that your one vote will determine the outcome is so small, that you don't need to stress out about it." I agree. The political scientist in me also knows that for every me, there are a bunch more out there. So if at the end of the day, I sway one way, it's likely that somebody swayed the other way. I can rest easy.

I left my dad with the closing statement - "....You just might never know how I voted!"

And neither will you!

Polls just closed. Tomorrow's future will be one path or the other - at least on paper. See you there, wherever that is.