I get asked about almost everything Estes.
I am asked to intervene on issues or change the course of projects and activities related to the schools, the hospital, and parks and rec.
I am asked about The Stanley, Rocky Mountain National Park, Salud, Safeway, and downtown.
I am asked to help resolve neighbor disputes, HOA challenges, code enforcement disagreements, political corruption—but not in Estes, I should point out!
Many come to me about challenges with public works projects or parking or development or immigration. Much of it is positive: can we make X happen? But a good part of them are requests for problem-solving.
It is humbling but invigorating to have this faith placed in the power of the mayor’s voice. While my words are amplified by the office of the mayor, the power to directly make change outside of Town policy, resolutions, ordinances, etc., is limited.
The mayor can’t command change in many areas, but I can build relationships, communicate, often help nudge, and adjust the course of events.
“We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline…I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character…Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
That voice does have weight, so I try to be judicious. My comments and votes are closely watched by many. If I support certain ideas, I need to ensure that that support is used properly. The mayor’s endorsement can give a boost in some quarters, but it can also be misused in fashions that are neither my style nor intent.
I will offer some thoughts on some of our institutions and issues. This won’t fit in a single article; this first time around, I’ll touch on health-related items.
Estes Park Health: As a citizen and mayor of Estes Park, I am excited for our hospital to become part of the UCHealth system. In my years at EPH, I witnessed the positive and supportive culture that UCHealth brings to all aspects of their organization. They have an enlightened leadership team that helped Estes many times in crisis and in good times. I expect not only long-term financial stability with UCHealth at the helm, but evolution to their standards and best practices.
During the 2013 flood aftermath, UCHealth arranged to helicopter physician specialists up to Estes on a regular basis while the roads were destroyed. In 2018, we agreed to install Epic, the premier medical record system, and in November 2019, when we went live, UCHealth sent an army of support staff to get us through the transition.
When EPH would run into challenges with various clinical or support environments, UCHealth would always be there to offer potential services from their stable of resources. During the fires of 2020, UCHealth employees offered extra rooms in their houses for some of our staff members. Their leadership will be a very good thing for our hospital and town.
In my opinion, the best thing that can happen is to consummate this formal relationship as soon as possible. I’ll remain supportive and positive in spirit to complete the deal. Let’s get it done!
Salud: I am very concerned about the potential loss of that facility due to the deep Medicaid cuts and de-enrollments. They provide a necessary, often critical service to our lower-income and workforce residents, without which many of them would find Estes Park even harder to live in. We need just one multi-millionaire — or a lot of sub-millionaires — to understand the plight and solve it. Help them if you can and will.
Schools & Parks & Groceries & Things: Stay tuned for future columns.
Postscripts: Some folks take interest in what I’m studying and reading. Some give me assignments. I was sent a video of the “Earthshot Report.” Earthshot is a group that awards creative ecological progress, including biodegradable plastic replacements, like the company Notpla; fabrics made from pineapple leaves, like Ananas Anam); Roam “next generation electric motorcycles; and many more. May they all succeed in their efforts to repair the world!
I recently finished the last section of Carl Jung’s opus, “Mysterium Coniunctionis.” It’s a strong treatise on the value of psychological integration of the whole, whether talking about an individual or society. Good lessons for a time when we most need to rediscover unity in our social engagement.
And finally, since I’m writing this on the morning of January 20, 2025, the day after attending the First Peoples Festival in Estes Park, I’ll quote from perhaps one of the greatest speeches of the twentieth century: “We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline…I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character…Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado.”