sensetalk2000
Registered: 11/10/08
Posts: 109
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| #1 |
Is Pagosa now on the cusp of redefining itself? Meetings, planning and more meetings about development, new development and where to put it all, arguably seems to be focused on attracting people with disposable income, not jobs. Reading newspapers from all over the U.S., I see that local governments are focused, now more than ever, on attracting and maintaining jobs for their current citizens. People who work want to have a living wage and don't want the label of being compartmentalized into "work force" housing. The American dream is not working for a little better than minimum wage and living in cubicles designated for them. People want to achieve, do better, improve their lifestyle and move up in life. Who is going to provide such opportunites in Pagosa? There simply has to be more business and industry, like it or not. Too many good people are leaving.
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Ded
Registered: 10/05/08
Posts: 39
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| #2 |
No, Pagosa is not looking forward to employing any of the local workforce, and has not since the sawmill closed at the junction of US Hwy's 160 and 84. There has never been a concerted effort to attract business to Pagosa except those that you mentioned in yuour inquiry, the money laden tourist.
If you ask why, read the Sun. No big box retailers wanted in the county, no other jobs that could employ numbers of people exist, skiing may be great, but Pagosa is basically isolated so Durango gets the majority of skiers. Despite large quantities of coal and possibly new sources of gas and oil, the NIMBY syndrome will prevent this from becoming any kind of employment. In closing, my suggestion is you make lots of wind chimeds, T-shirts and geodes for the summer tourist rush...if it comes. You can never have too many geodes.
Ded
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sensetalk2000
Registered: 11/10/08
Posts: 109
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| #3 |
How many of you can name all the people and families that have left Pagosa in the past five years, or even just this past year? Do you constitute these losses as just normal, everyday life or something more serious, a symptom of where Pagosa has been headed for years? Assuming that our life is based on relationships, families and friends , is this transiency possibly killing the very soul of Pagosa. If continuity in government, business ,neighborhoods and families brings peace to our lives, does disorder promote disintegration? |
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JSR
Registered: 10/07/08
Posts: 10
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| #4 |
Sometimes it would seem that if the ones with discretionary income are the ones who are attracted to Pagosa then perhaps encouraging more of that type of person, one who is tired of the rat race and some one who wants to get to know their neighbor is exactly what Pagosa needs. The more of those type people move into the area the more they will support the local economy -mom and pop stores, grocery, agriculture(small farms but farms just the same). Who knows perhaps someone may build and donate a bowling alley to the city like they did in Westcliffe.
__________________
my wife and i and my daughter are moving in the spring. we are very excited! |
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sensetalk2000
Registered: 11/10/08
Posts: 109
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| #5 |
To the contrary, these people with "discretionary" income have been arriving in Pagosa country for years now, full of excitement and awe, not even aware of the steady procession of others headed out of Pagosa. It is evident to me and many others, that the "middle class" is slowly but surely being squeezed out of Pagosa. I am deeply saddened by the impact on the Pagosa "natives".
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sensetalk2000
Registered: 11/10/08
Posts: 109
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| #6 |
It appears in reading our only two sources of printed news, that officials and planners are sticking with the concept of putting all our eggs in the tourism basket. Accordingly, if the tourists and part-timers come in masses, we will be in "high cotton" again. This idea, arguably, suggests that tourism means prosperity for all the people of Pagosa. Are planners gambling on a return to the flurry of late 90's to 2007?
If we are in for hard times, as all local, state and national indications suggest, would it be the wisest thing to rely on folks showing up in Pagosa with plenty of extra cash? Would it not be reasonable to think that a lot of those people are going to "hunker" down and try to hold on to what they have? It is clearly evident that the "boon" faucet can turn off just as quickly as it opens?
Does Pagosa need to re-invent itself?
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sensetalk2000
Registered: 11/10/08
Posts: 109
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| #7 |
Here we go again. Now, the lame-duck BOCC wants to throw a ton of money into a multi-purpose arena, an out-of-the-blue, project, nobody has voted for or requested. This comes right on the heels of a gloomy, economic forecast for Colorado and certainly seems questionable in light of the local economy and deplorable infrastructure. Why not throw every dime you can get into improving the road system for everyone and attracting jobs for the working class? The BOCC says that this arena will "benfit everyone". Seems they said that about our fancy airport, which is probably used by less than one percent of the population.
I have a better idea. Lets Get the roads up to modern standards, attract business of any size and create jobs, before you build airports, massive reservoirs and multi-purpose arenas.
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Sherrill
Registered: 12/11/08
Posts: 98
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| #8 |
Pagosa cannot redefine itself. The definition and personality of Pagosa are well defined: stuck in the mud. There will be no improvement, no thriving, loving community and nothing to keep it alive EXCEPT tourism. If you were here in the 1970's you know how the town suffered when the sawmill closed. In today's economy the town will decline for a few years and slowly return to the disengaged, non-community, tourist town it has been for many years. |
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sensetalk2000
Registered: 11/10/08
Posts: 109
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| #9 |
If the previous post is correct, it is so unfortunate but completely avoidable. Pagosa doesn't have to be disconnected, isolated and nothing but a tourist town. I know that we, somehow, can change that.
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Sherrill
Registered: 12/11/08
Posts: 98
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| #10 |
Pagosa will not grow and will not progress; it will not thrive. Pagosa Springs will remain a little spot on the highway where tourists stop to get gas, grab a burger and travel on to other towns. Unless the town and county governments seriously find ways to entice clean, productive businesses which create jobs, our future is the same as our past. Brighton, Eagle and other small Colorado towns are rejuvenating themselves by welcoming clean industry employing hundreds. Why won't Pagosa pursue the same? I sound pessimistic but I'm realistic. I've seen Pagosa stay the same for decades, "led" by short-sighted politicians who fight change, progress and growth. The deluded citizens feeling hopeful are out of touch with the way this town (doesn't) work. |
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sensetalk2000
Registered: 11/10/08
Posts: 109
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| #11 |
It really doesn't appear that local leaders fight progress and growth, they just want it to be mostly new homes, condos and townhouses. This will supply the fuel needed to prosper those involved in such things. That is why Pagosa needs to be re-invented to approach a standard definition of a normal town. |
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Sherrill
Registered: 12/11/08
Posts: 98
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| #12 |
"Normal" doesn't apply to Pagosa. I wish there was anything, SOMETHING normal about this town. Those who seem to be able to find happiness and hope are lucky, not just deluded. My best to those people. |
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sensetalk2000
Registered: 11/10/08
Posts: 109
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| #13 |
I agree. I first heard this when I lived in Durango in the early 80's. I was told then that the only reason to go to Pagosa was to drive through there on the way to Wolf Creek.
Years later, I heard of the Pagosa curse, unsubstantiated, initiated by the Native Americans in the area. There were rumors of several businesses being built on sacred ground. Someone also suggested there should be caution signs placed on the highways, stating that you are now entering or leaving the "twilight zone". Whatever the case, there has to be a reason for some of the behaviors, decisions and happenings around Pagosa country.
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Sherrill
Registered: 12/11/08
Posts: 98
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| #14 |
Since I can't think of anything good to say about Pagosa, I'll follow some good advice from long ago and not say anything! |
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sensetalk2000
Registered: 11/10/08
Posts: 109
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| #15 |
That is good advice. I will heed it and say that Pagosa is a beautiful place any time of the year and is very safe. I will try and think of something else today. |
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