Boulder Tomorrow Survey Helps to Broaden Scope of Public Debate

Author: Gary Myre

Controversy is alive and well in Boulder, and whether you like it or hate it, it seems to be a fact of life in this community.

When Boulder Tomorrow released the results of its survey of Boulder voters in late August, the organization was plunged into the center of controversy, fueled primarily by the media and their desire to make interesting reading.

The real story is what we learned from the survey: citizens are not happy with the way elected officials are managing the city, and controlling growth is not the only concern on people's minds.

The survey showed that citizens are concerned about the effects Boulder's growth control efforts have had and continue to have on business growth and the economy - a sentiment echoed by members of BT.

Another interesting finding from our survey: with the City close to build-out, citizens are interested in seeing the focus shift back toward providing basic services (police, fire, water, libraries, etc.). Citizens also want a more realistic focus on strengthening the local economy.

The issue is not just growth versus no growth. It's not "do we want to be Boulder or L.A." It's about maintaining the economic viability of our community without compromising our quality of life.

Controversial or not, simple or not, Boulder Tomorrow is helping to change the tone of the debate. More people in this community are recognizing that what is good for business is good for the community. We're excited about the possibilities.