Colorado Springs Derangement Syndrome
I’m proud to call Colorado Springs home for myriad reasons — quality of life, cost of living, terrific schools, physical beauty, Fort Carson, the Air Force Academy, and great cultural amenities. For starters. The city leans conservative to libertarian, but is no monolith. There are “progressives” and Big Business statists and everything in between. Most importantly, politics does not poison and saturate every breath of the people who live here. They do not live to work. They work to live — bike, run, ski, climb, hike, play, explore, and enjoy their families.
Taxpayers in the Springs also happen to want to keep more of their hard-earned money away from government’s paws. They want the government to make do with less. Just like everyone else.
Which has led liberal outsiders to decry the city as it grapples with tough economic times.
The Denver Post and the Huffington Post both recently attacked our “anti-tax bastion” as a selfish conservative “nirvana” where social services and public jobs are getting cut mercilessly.
My friend, neighbor, and City Councilman Sean Paige (who also runs the Colorado blog Local Liberty Online) rebuts the anti-Springs slurs with inconvenient truths:
Colorado Springs is suffering through a severe budget crunch. In that, it’s no different than most American cities. The source of the problem isn’t the fact that we’re a bastion of Republicanism, or that we’re the birthplace of the Taxpayer’s Bill Of Rights (TABOR) or that we’re the home town of TABOR author Douglas Bruce. Things are tight because we’re a sales tax dependent city in the midst of an economic downturn. It’s really that simple. The problem is falling revenue, not TABOR spending limits or the dreaded “ratchet effect.” We might hit up against our TABOR limits in four or five years, if the economy begins booming tomorrow. But the city can ask voters to keep the excess revenues, if that happy day arrives. And it’s not unprecedented that they would say “yes,” contrary to caricature.
Voters could have helped the city out several months back, by approving a property tax increase. But they declined to write the city a blank check. Voters here are reluctant to approve tax hikes without detailed plans for what the new funds will be used for (which I see as a virtue, not a vice). And there were other factors at play, including widespread economic anxiety, the city’s controversial use of taxpayer money to buy the U.S. Olympic Committee a headquarters building and a sense that City Council (to which I was appointed late last year) is out of touch with average people.
…Colorado Springs is selling its police helicopters, as the Post reports. But they were only a year or two away from being grounded due to old age. Our relatively low crime rate makes them a luxury we can do without. Transit system hours have been reduced — but that’s because we grew the system beyond what was sustainable when we were flush with cash. A number of police and fire jobs will go “unfilled,” as the Post reports, but many were sparred the budget ax (despite the fact that the police and fire payroll constitute roughly 55 percent of the city budget).
[Liberal HuffPo columnist David] Sirota decries the “tent ghettos” that have sprung up, made up of what he calls “newly homeless residents,” all while “the city’s social services are being reduced.” But he’s just making stuff up. We don’t know whether the camps are populated by “newly homeless,” or the chronically homeless who are taking advantage of the city’s compassion. Unlike the cold-hearted caricature Sirota draws, we have allowed the camps to grow (grow out of control, in the eyes of many locals) out of humanitarian impulses. Many here believe it’s the abundance of social services (public and private) in Colorado Springs, not the lack, that’s making the town a magnet for the homeless.
Many of our parks may brown-up this summer (depending on the weather), for lack of water. But we’re working on ways to deal with that and a new city-county parks district is in the planning stages. Mowing parks every other week doesn’t constitute a citywide calamity.
Community centers, swimming pools and a number of other city-owned facilities have been granted three months funding, in the hope that we can find a more self-sustaining operating model. Many are forming promising new partnerships with outside individuals and organizations. The Denver Post focused on the possible closures, but declined to mention that several of the facilities already have found adequate private support a stay open, while others are making headway in that direction.
This is a city with above-average rates of volunteerism and charitable giving. We don’t look reflexively to government to do things citizens can do themselves. And we’re counting on that can-do spirit and civic-mindedness, along with a willingness to consider out-of-the-box solutions, to see us through this budget crunch.
…Downsizing city government is painful — but it’s made a little easier by the fact that we keep government in check to start with. Functions performed by government in many cities are performed by the private sector here. We have privatized garbage collection. Our excellent zoo and philharmonic, our Fine Arts Center and the World Arena, operate independently, with no taxpayer funding. Keeping government reined-in allows us to keep our taxes and cost of living relatively low, making this a city where people of modest means can live relatively well and reach for the American dream.
Self-reliance. Privatization. Thrift. Fiscal accountability.
The liberals in Denver and Washington could learn something from our Mountain West spirit if they could just get over their Colorado Springs Derangement Syndrome.
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This is another example of how taking the power from the Fed and returning it to the state can help our country. Just as with the USSR, the unsustainable models will reveal themselves if allowed to fail. Then the fixes can be made. Repeal income taxes now. Limit the FedGov to specified duties under the constitution.
Colorado…hmmm….
Interesting, that Colorado is where the producers, inventors, contributors, etc. “went Galt” in “Atlas Shrugged”.
Wish I and mine could move there…!
I lived there for two years and loved every day of it. It is a great city. Let the Left scream away. The people who live there are squared away.
A brilliant example that there is subtlety and nuance in many decisions that are ignored by people who tell stories.
Yes, the negative should be reported, as well as the positive. A full revealing examination of the facts is critical to making the best decisions possible, and which to base opinions upon.
Details matter, substance matters and it all should be backed up by facts. Questions should be asked and addressed.
Knee jerk responses and ridicule are unhelpful. It is irresponsible to take Colorado Springs to task without providing the who, what, where, when, and why, as to the course of action they are taking.
The reality is, that superficiality rules the day, and that is unfortunate.
It is a great read. I wish more politicians would be so practical.
Democrats can’t imagine a government that is responsible by cutting waste.
They also imagine some other-worldly rich guy who they can tax to get all the money for government. They want the government to not only provide essential services, but luxury services too.
What do you mean health care costs money?! The government will pay for it. That’s the mentality of the Democrats.
If you don’t have the money, you can’t spend it. It sounds like Colorado Springs is doing what every municipality should do. Instead most states and cities won’t cut because they expect the government to give them more stimulus dollars.
All wells run dry eventually.
(sigh) A big sigh from Taxachusetts.
Sirota is a frequent guest on Dave Ross’ radio show here in the Pacific Northwest.
Together they pooh-poohed this effort in the Springs a couple weeks ago in their typical, leftist smug fashion.
Because “of the people, by the people, for the people” doesn’t always resolve itself nicely and cleanly with a government solution, it must not be the right direction.
Thank you, Michelle. Oh how I love the sound of squealing “Progressives (to tyranny)” attempting to defend their “Liberal Socialism” in the face of increasing overwhelming opposition.
I had thought I (and my surrounding area) was like everyone else…then came November, 2008.
They are upset because The Springs isn’t Boulder. I love Garden of the Gods, if anyone takes a trip to the Springs, this is a must see. My in laws live out in the Black Forest area, and they are retired Military. They sent me an El Paso for McCain/Palin t -shirt during the campaign, and photos from Sarah Palin Campaign stump.
That is what the Progressives don’t like.
The Springs is not Boulder, Thank the Lord.
I’ll bet all of those privatized services are running more smoothly and efficiently than ever before. And there’s an incentive to stay private because of profit (!) and the great service provided by non-government agencies. John Stossel showed that is his book Give Me A Break.
To sum up the posting one must only turn to the old adage:
Give a man fish you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
This link states that Colorado Springs unemployment as of Dec 2009 was at 24 % followed by unemployment rate 7.9% unless I am reading this wrong.
http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.co_coloradosprings_msa.htm
Imagine gubmint having to tighten it’s belt in these economically tough times! I heard a news report this weekend of Houston’s fire dept charging a citizen 15k for putting out his housefire (lightning strike). It seems in Houston, the fire dept is paid by taxpayers to sit in the firehouse and polish their engines. But heaven forbid they actually have to go squirt water on a fire. 55% of the city budget is fire and cops. Can you say rip off. To all the cops and firemen, I defy you to put a dollar number per real crime arrest and real fire action divided into the budgets and pensions of these two departments. When I was on the fire board in Webster Groves, every fire where water was squirted, cost the city nearly 2 million bucks. There was no house in Webster which cost 2 million bucks. Cities have to start prioritizing their budgets. Cops who give out tickets, they are revenue agents, not cops. Detectives are cops. How many detectives are in your department versus how many revenue generators driving around watching for traffic violators? And in big cities like St Louis, the meter maids even outnumber the patrol revenue agents, and we wonder when they make a tv show like Parking Wars.
What a unique IDEA!!! A government that pares it’s spending to it’s anticipated REVENUES!!! Good GRIEF, be careful COLORADO SPRINGS, an IDEA like that just might catch on with the general POPULACE!!!
I used to live in the Peoples Republic of Castle Rock, just North of Colorado Springs – with all the Californicators moving in it went to hell rapidly. Still, nothing like taking a drive up Pikes peak way.
I think you’re reading it correctly.
Unemployment 24(thousand-omitted) out of labor force of 302.7(thousand-omitted) gives a percentage unemployment rate of 7.9%.
Nowhere does it state that the employment and unemployment numbers were “in thousands”, as charts typically do, if they are meant to be convenient and useful.
One could see this as another example of why government should do the minimum – people/organizations that have no fear of getting canned if they deliver a lousy product/service have no incentive to “get it right”.
If a private company put out confusing/inconvenient/you-have-to-take-the-time-and-dig-some-to-figure-it-out charts that in the first place are supposed to be clear, quick illustrations of data/info; well, I would expect that company to be not long for this world, unless it cleaned up its act…or, got a government subsidy, or got taken over by the government.
Great story. Could they be a model for the rest of America? I hope so. Problem is that big government is a formidable and self-serving foe once it reaches a certain size. Maybe state a city referendums are an option to get a leg up on the problem of oversized government.
Too bad that is not an option re: the federal government. I believe the People would carve it down to size in no time.
That’s why I like Oklahoma City. Tulsa is somewhat more liberal. Tulsa recently laid off a bunch of policemen because of budget problems. OKC has problems, too. But, because of more Conservative policies, it’s doing much better.
Denver Post – When your city is operating smoothly via your liberal idealogy, then perhaps you may question other cities’ methods. ‘Till then put a sock in it.
Huff Po – When you…oh h**l, just put a sock in it.
Lib’s go bonkers when they see fiscal conservatism and limited government working well. Doesn’t fit their script.
Interesting that Focus on the Family and several other significant Christian organizations chose Colorado Springs for home base. A place where genuine “religious tolerance” exists.
Laree,
The 24.0 is the number, in thousands, of unemployed. The RATE is 7.9%. You read it wrong.
I live in the Springs now and love it!
Footnote 1.
As another one of Michelle’s neighbors here in COS, I love it here having also fled from the coast.
I’m very thankful for those Denver post and Huffpo articles, as hopefully it will keep folks away who aren’t responsible enough for their own welfare from this wonderful city.
Liberal government always falls into these traps. In the salad days they grow, tax, and spend like drunk sailors. DuVal and Madison county Florida are prime examples. High property taxes and nothing in return for the working folks.
They assume life will always be easy for them and their constituents, and when it is not, it is the fault of Conservatives or anyone but themselves.
You’re right.
I didn’t bother to go to the bottom of the table.
I clicked on the “1″, “2″, “3″ next to the items, and got nowhere.
Could be seen as supporting my earlier comment.
Why not put “in thousands” after or immediately below the item in the chart, as I have so very often seen in charts over the decades, rather than below the chart? (Footnotes, indeed!)
But, you’re right, I missed the footnotes.
I live in Colorado Springs as well – great place to live (unless you are from California in which case you wouldn’t like it). The politicians tried to get around TABOR (citizens must vote on all tax increases) by passing “fees” (Stormwater fee was really a tax of course). The deception and dishonesty is what bothered us the most I think, and not the $15/quarter. Politicians need to know that we are fed up with them and that our wallets are not their wallets!
How dare you people cut spending when there are still “rich people” who could be soaked!
There are several of us in town here. We should have a Springs Malkin Registered Posters get together one of these days.
Yes. We must condemn the liberal method of attacking fiscal responsibility.
Another Springs (OK Falcon, but close enough) reader here! Michelle, don’t give away our secrets!
I used to live in Denver in the late 70′s and early 80′s. I used to spend many weekends in Colorado Springs and the surrounding area.
With publicity like this the Progressives will make it a point to buy property and move to Colorado Springs and ruin that beautiful city.
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We always visit the beautiful Colorado countryside when we visit family members in Denver. Estes Park, Royal Gorge, beautiful old mining towns, etc.–it really is God’s country.
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And sitting in the Rockies baseball stadium and seeing the still snow covered mountain peaks in the distance is a beautiful view. Enjoy!
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A lot of my Mexican Wife’s family has legally immigrated there over the last 3 decades. Most found much better lives for themselves and their children. But work is harder to find now, although most of them–even the good Christians–still believe in and support Comrade Obama and his agenda.
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Rocketman
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Hi Dex – I’m in. Let’s exercise our Freedom to Assemble (maybe at Johnnies over a cold one).
I’m still a fairly recent transplant. “Johnnies”?
Southside Johnnies — live music and no cover charge. It’s a well-known bar south of downtown (on Tejon I believe). Lot’s of Harleys in the summer.
Marxist, Communist “nirvanas,” such as New York and Califronia are in far more trouble than any economically responsible, politically/socially conservative community.
and
are a joke – I couldn’t believe how terrible “public services” and public servants” were when I arrived in New York. Such work only stagnates an economy.
Roger, that. We don’t get downtown much. We live in the north of the city near the Pine Creek area. Now, if you had said “Champps”…
It’s nice to give credit for great ideas…
Woo hoo! Keep it rolling!
Sounds like a great place to live Michelle, now wonder you left the congestion and liberal minded, over taxed east coast.
I’m in one of the darkest blue states, Oregun(correct pronunciation), been thinking of moving, I’m so sick and tired of the left wing garbage that goes on in this state, locally and west portion of the state that dominates the political arena.
I left Utah 14 years ago due to cold winters(hate the cold) I’m thinking more and more about going to an environment more conducive to my political leanings…even if they do have winters…not like the winters are balmy here either. May just run into you at the local food barn in the near future.
Best of luck to you and your family in your new city of residence.
Hey Dex -
I’m not too far from you either (Briargate) and know Champs as well (next to PF Changs) — watching some beautiful snow fall today.
Yes, but driving to work this morning was sporting. Not much snow, but it were slippery!
Michelle Malkin moved to Colorado Springs? I must have missed a day or missed the announcement.
My mother in law used to take me up to this great little Italian restaurant in Castle Rock – Pinos but she said the lady who ran it retired and when she did the food went down hill.
My mother in law belongs to a dressage club, and she would go up to Castle Rock to pick up Award trophies. It’s sad to hear there are so many transplants changing the area.
Our folks are retired we want to end up back in the Springs area. I am from Montana so I am already predisposed to loving living in the Mountains. There are so many great places to go in old town. I love Meadow Muffins
Yeah, I was surprised myself. Two fewer votes (presuming Mr. Malkin votes conservatively) for our side, particularly in that part of the state. We on the Eastern Shore and over in western Maryland can hold our own, but need more help on the I-95 corridor.
But to each his or her own – sounds like Michelle’s found the place for her and her family.
We could use some of that common sense her adopted hometown is exhibiting, even locally with a spendthrift county executive.
I’m glad to hear you’re settled in, welcome home!
Now you know why we love it (and don’t tell too many others) but it does seem increasingly fragile. Even obama tried to radicalize us TWICE, at least. First the DNC coronation w/plastic Greek towers, then the nearly ONE TRILLION DOLLAR porkulus signing at the Denver Museum Solar panel fiasco…green energy that will take 110 years to pay for itself and the museum wouldn’t pay for it because….IT WOULDN’T MAKE SENSE
HUH? not me?
…feelin a little crushed here, but very glad you and your family are here and enjoying the Springs.
We sure need your voice.
Lived in the Springs about 12 years ago & loved it. Sorry I left. I would dearly love to move back. I keep hearing how much all the west has changed, but maybe it hasn’t radicalized as much as I’ve been told. Guess I need to make a trip & check it out for myself.