Opinion

I have been honored to serve Durango as Mayor for the last 11 months. One of the privileges that come with the office is this monthly column, an opportunity to explain some of the actions and needs...

Last Saturday was a typical day in Durango. Even during the holiday weekend, there were three significant events to engage people and, notably, all dealt with marginalized populations. Given the...

Climate change is real. In 2017, weather-related disasters in the United States alone cost more than $300 billion, part of a multi-decade trend in which loaded climate dice yield increasingly...

As we look beyond the holiday season to the New Year, the city of Durango plans a significant operational change for Durango Transit, beginning April 1. Public transportation systems across the...

Over breakfast each day, my wife and I give thanks for spending another day together in Durango and for the friends and family near and far who enrich our lives. The phrase “in Durango” is central...

Few topics are more yawn-inducing than budgets, but hardly any are more important for government at any level. So, have an extra cup of coffee and read on. Durango City Council is well into the...

This summer, Durango sustained three events that underscore the critical importance of swift and effective fire protection services: the 1111 Camino del Rio blaze, the tragic fire at Tercero...

In the middle of my seventh year on Durango City Council, I find that my attention has turned to strategic planning around long-term civic needs. This effort must occur even as the council and...

Recent City Council discussions have alternated between setting broad goals and addressing narrower issues, including climate change and sustainability, and housing and homelessness. At a recent...

My father used to say, “Someday, you will deal with budgets.” His career with Illinois Bell Telephone Co. spanned more than four decades, beginning out of high school as a messenger and culminating...

On May 17, I had the privilege of representing the city of Durango at the Chamber of Commerce forum on “The State of the Community.” I explained that the state of the city is evolving and building...