Now is the strangest time to contemplate public service and write on it as I have done monthly since starting in this role November 1, 2016, coinciding with the election. That concurrence was a boon for framing blogs. A golden thread weaves through my writings; fear of erratic, irrational, Read more
To: Colorado Governor Jared Polis From: Jon Stavney, Executive Director Northwest Colorado Council of Governments Date: December 15, 2023 Re: (Written for a class at University of Colorado Denver School of Public AffairsPUAD 5005 Policy Memo🙂 Colorado Broadband Office to Manage Existing Regional Networks and Develop into a Colorado Read more
“Everybody knows we cannot mess this up, kill it with too much process, too many costs; that is just not an option. If possible, we don’t want to be the reason (our own affordable housing project) doesn’t happen.” -John Cattles, Assistant County Manager, Gunnison County Many factors imperil a housing Read more
If you are a housing director or local elected official battling to address the region’s top issue, be aware of some things on your flank – expiring LIHTC properties for one. While negotiating deals for new housing units, the potential for large numbers of existing affordable housing units to turn Read more
Underway in federal court, a class action suit takes aim at one impediment to affordable housing: the fees charged by realtors. I’ve always found realtors ironic and disingenuous listening to them opine on the “free market” when, they stand protected behind one of the largest collectively bargained, price-fixing schemes in Read more
During the 1-hour interviews NWCCOG performed in early 2023 of 31 managers across the region, I was curious if they had noticed an increase in incivility in their day-to-day operations. They were asked 1) if Incivility is an issue in the public realm, meaning meetings and events, 2) if their Read more
A variety of factors common to other businesses and unique to health care make running a rural hospital in the U.S. perilous right now. Many are reducing services while others are shutting doors. In the Colorado high country, hospitals fortunate enough to be located near ski areas have one key Read more
In the last installment we reported that competition for wages has bloated local law enforcement budgets, causing policing to absorb larger and larger portions of General Funds in 2023. That trend is on a collision course with the cost of insuring police. On March 2nd, 11 News’ reported Colorado Springs’ Read more
Colorado SB20-213 Attempts to address myriad issues in a Housing bill Twelve hours of hearings on Colorado Senate Bill 23-213 on April 6th included testimony from more than 25 leaders from across NWCCOG territory. For our constituents’, recommended edits are being coordinated by Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST) with Read more
2023 April Manager Insights #2: Is The Housing Issue Really Different Now? Government housing? Don’t blink, if that is the future, then many of our towns are already there, and if cannibalism of staff between neighboring entities is a sign, then “yes,” the staffing crisis and housing gap is different Read more