How to save the Springs. You're welcome..

Colorado Springs seems to be in a bit of a flux lately- well, I could say that is true for the entire 20 years or so I have lived here. And I have been in a bit of a flux about how I feel about this city that entire time.To be honest, not so much flux on my part- I spent many years trying to figure ways to get out of here.

 Yes, yes, I know it is beautiful. The weather is pretty fantastic , minus those occasional cold snaps in the winter , but overall it's a physically beautiful place. 

D o you remember the infamous neutron bombs of the 70s? They were hydrogen bombs that would basically leave a site standing, just get rid of the humans. For a long time as I watched the politics of COS get more and more right wing nutjob/libertarian selfish, I would dream of a neutron bomb that could hone in on everyone except my friends here.

At some point I will post about my views on the City for Champions projecthttp://www.cityforchampions.com/ (isn't that exciting?) but for now I have to share my why doesn't everyone just listen to me idea on how  this city can get out of being a political laughingstock and become what all cities these days seem to want to be- a place for creatives (does that word suck or what), for working class people to have real jobs that actually pay, and for old liberal people like me to want to stay in.

So what, you ask, needs to be done?

Okay, UCCS or CU the Springs or Colorado,Colorado Springs- whatever your marketing team has decided is your moniker this year, go out there and GROW. Yes, you have the new medical school extension and there is an art building coming soon, but I mean, really expand. The engineering school is rated high by all of the magazines that seem to know- number 9 in the country for public non PhD granting institutions. So go with that. Boulder is already maxed out- but here in Libertarian Springs there is room to expand. Push more into computer engineering, bring back the glory days when COS actually had some computer industry. Buy up North Nevada Ave from Fillmore to I-25- leave all the cool old restaurants that have been there forever, but buy the rest of that sucker right up . Yes- just take it over.Fumigate the 1950s motels and turn them into student housing. Make over the old greyhound track into an  athletic stadium. Turn Monument Creek behind University Village into a beach and a rapids area. Attract students who will remember their years here so fondly they will want to stay and start new companies with all that expertise they learned.  There is an urban renewal plan for this area but let's make it an education zone. Can you imagine  what it would be like if the first thought people had when they thought of COS was NOT what a political /religious toerag that town is ?http://www.csurbanrenewal.org/csuranorthnevada.html

Beth El nursing is highly rated- get some nurse practitioner programs going. Get some liberal arts advanced degrees that mean something beyond Powers Blvd. Endow some chairs and find someone worthwhile to sit in them.How about a law school? Jeesh, don't make me do all of the deciding on this, UCCS. I have faith in you.

For god/dess sake stop having your president prattle on against recreational marijuana. It's a good thing as far as most college students choosing a school and it is not going away. 

And as an added bonus all of that building and constructing and remodeling will keep the builders and their l̶a̶c̶k̶e̶y̶s̶ political partners happy.

Just remember to ask me the next time this town needs some planning done...