Be a part of the equation

We all like to think that small town government is a little different from big city government. It is. Those elected to represent us in Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte and Gunnison County are literally our neighbors. Chances are good that you will see a mayor or councilperson or commissioner at the softball game, Alpenglow, the bar or a school play. And that is different from a lot of places. That is a good thing for the small town fabric. But you have to participate to make a difference. You have a chance now with two specific topics—art and weed.

This Monday, the Town Council of Crested Butte will be talking about an idea to allow the Center for the Arts board to tear down or at least get rid of the current building and start over with a new facility. The board has plans to expand the 7,000-square-foot building to 24,000 square feet. The concept is to make the center into more of a community arts center. The theater space isn’t expected to grow much in the expansion but rehearsal spaces, studios and meeting rooms would all be grown.
When the idea was floated to the council June 3, the town reps listened to the arguments for and against demolishing the current building. Then the council made it clear they wanted public feedback on the idea. So they gave it a month.
The discussions I’ve heard are split. About 49 percent of the people say the building should stay, while another 49 percent make the case to just tear it down and put a super sweet performing arts center at the spot. A few people have noticed that Mt. Crested Butte is trying to get into the performing arts business and the downtown space could probably hold a swimming pool and covered ice rink.
Some have argued we should be happy with what we have. But even those on that side argue that if there is going to be an expansion, the current performance space should grow to hold 400 or more seats instead of 250. A few have argued for eliminating the stage altogether and making it a broader community center so the proposed Mt. Crested Butte Performing Arts Center can focus on a larger, more sophisticated performance space.
But that’s the point. There are all sorts of perspectives. In a representative government, the ones on the council should be given every argument and they should analyze those perspectives based on facts and money and timing—then make an informed decision. But they have to hear from their constituents to start the equation.

The second example comes from the county. The three county commissioners have passed the first reading of an ordinance that would ban the sale, growing and manufacturing of marijuana in the county. It’s the opposite of the recently passed Colorado Amendment 64 that basically legalizes recreational marijuana in the state. The county’s move wouldn’t impact an individual’s right to grow or possess marijuana for personal use. It takes a second reading to become law and the commissioners have decided to add some time before the second reading to get more public feedback on the issue. Instead of two weeks, the commissioners will look at the second reading on August 6. That is appreciated.
Now it seems to me that the voters sent a pretty clear and overwhelming message last November when Gunnison County voted 5,811 to 2,727 in favor of Amendment 64, which essentially made the recreational use, growing and manufacturing of marijuana legal for adults.
The commissioners seem hesitant to follow that obvious will of the people. They frequently cite an as-of-yet unmade threat by the federal government to pull funding to entities that allow legal marijuana.
The weed is still classified illegal under federal law and considered to be in the same category as heroin, LSD and ecstasy. That of course is ridiculous but it’s where it stands in Washington, D.C., despite the fact President Barack Obama said federal authorities have “bigger fish to fry” than recreational drug users in states like Colorado and Washington.
According to the county manager, “The county has not received any correspondence stating that the federal government will reduce or eliminate our funding if we implement the new state law on medical marijuana.”
That’s not to say it won’t happen in the future. Some grants received by the county require the county to sign assurances that they uphold federal laws (such as the Drug-Free Communities Act).
The rightfully conservative county administration and legal team have expressed a worry that the grants are discretionary and competitive and “it would be naïve to think that the feds might not deny funding based on the county’s actions with regard to the recreational marijuana issue,” according to county manager Matthew Birnie. It is the county management’s job to look at every angle and make clear the potential pitfalls.
No one is too worried about the Obama administration focusing on a marijuana crackdown but a conservative president could get elected in a few years and things might shift. And the Rockies might win the World Series this year, we might get 400 inches of snow next winter and direct flights from L.A., New York and Atlanta might start up in 2014. Anything could happen, but…
It just seems the commissioners are tilting toward a policy on the opposite end of the voters based on “mights.” And it sure seems from a societal standpoint, the demonization of marijuana is softening across the country.
 
But again, that’s how politics work in a small town. You get to make your case on every side of the argument with your elected representatives. They should then take in the information, check out the facts, look at the risk-value assessment and make a decision.
That sounds fair. Now you have time to tell your county commissioners and town councilmen what you think they should do here in the valley and the town. They are consciously giving you the time and opportunity to tell them what you think. Don’t blow off this opportunity, whether it’s about a new Center for the Arts or how to follow up with recreational marijuana. Reach out to your legislators. You are the first part of the equation and in a small community, that really can make a difference.