The future

We will recover from this economic downturn, and at some point in the very near future we need to ask ourselves: what do we want to be as a city? There are some great efforts out there right now: Dream City: Vision 2020, Project 6035, and there are several other groups of citizens laying out a map for our future. However, there are voices missing from these discussions - the voices of those who stand to inherit whatever it is we pass on - the voices of our youth.

For the past three years I have had the great priviledge of serving on the local Congressional services academies nomination boards, and the vision, strength, and leadership of the students applying for these nominations never ceases to amaze me. I want our high school students to get involved with creating the Colorado Springs of the future. As mayor, I'm going to ask our high school senior classes to come up with their own ideas - a ""Liberty Vision 2020", or "Palmer Vision 2020". Work with your teachers - write down your ideas, do the research, and I want your plan presented in front of the city council. It is my hope this project will do three things: first, city planners will gain a different perspective on our city of the future; second, it will help to create a more informed voter, as these students turn 18 and become voters; and third, it is my hope that this sort of project will create an even greater sense of community, pulling us closer together as a city.

There are two dates that are of critical importance to our future: the first is the 4th of July, 2011. That's the day the first official practice round of the LPGA Open at the Broadmoor. The international spotlight will shine brightly on Colorado Springs (remember the bear at last year's Senior Open?). We need to start thinking today - how will our city be portrayed in that spotlight? The last few weeks have been hard on our city - the media has portrayed us as mean-spirited, and I'm disappointed in the non-response from our city leadership (that won't happen on my watch!). We need to regain our sense of pride, and over the next few months I'll be offering my ideas on this.

The next date is July, 2012 - the day the Summer Olympics start in London England. During the past few weeks the Winter Olympics have played out in Vancouver, but you would have been hard-pressed to see the important linkage Colorado Springs has with the Olympic community. Anyone recall seeing anyone wearing an Olympic sweatshirt downtown? As your mayor, I want to create a sort of "Celebrate the Dream" festival tied to the 2012 Olympics. Let's come together and show our pride in our Training Center and the USOC Headquarters. I'm thinking a parade for our atheletes, and tie-ins with businesses all over the city. For instance, a restaurant might post the Olympic logo on their door with "I am Celebrating the Dream". People coming in wearing Olympic gear during the festival might qualify for, say, a 5% discount on their meal.

I am sure there are others out there with similar ideas. It's time to refocus on the goodness of the people in our community and to realize just how lucky we are to live in this beautiful city.