I AM THE MASTER OF MY PLAN
April 11, 2008
After numerous efforts to be appointed to a board I must admit I was losing faith. Not in GOD - but being appointed to any board by those that rule the land we call Aspen.
I don’t think I’m very popular with the current city council. Actually, one member told me in confidence, that a three-story above ground parking garage in the middle of Wagner Park had a better chance of being built then me being appointed to anything.
Over the last year I applied for numerous boards only to be shunned at the gate. To tell the truth who could blame this council? Certainly, not me – after all I am a boisterous critic, add in my yet to air film satire, “That’s Historic”, and constantly asking unpopular questions, no wonder I can’t get appointed to a board. But, I sleep at night – although I do double lock my door.
Last week, to my surprise and "might I add delight", I was appointed to the Lift One COWOP Task Force as one of the 22 voting members assigned to look at the Master Plan for the Lift One area. I was excited. Although, according to the Daily News, Mick Ireland said, “voting on the task force is over-rated” when it comes to input. Damn – finally appointed to something and my vote is already deemed over-rated.
What I find interesting about the committee members who can vote, is with the exception of the principle parties, Centurion Partners, Chaffin & Light, the City of Aspen, and SkiCo, there is not much in the way of “Master” planning expertise in the group.
Joining me on the task force is Debbie Braun, the reigning Queen of ACRA. I like her and she is a planner of sorts – ACRA is looking to expand. Then there’s Derek Johnson, a retailer and part-time football coach. No one can argue that planning is very important in the final result when it comes to a football game – and based on the success of Aspen’s football team last season, Derek fits. Add Allyn Harvey to the mix - he’s planning to write a book, and this should be interesting.
Which brings me - back to me. When I was on the Commercial Core & Lodging Commission we planned - then expanded the Farmers Market, which had only fourteen vendors, to the current Saturday Market, with over fifty vendors. I think I can say with confidence that the plan worked. The biggest other plan I worked on was the Bruce Smith Celebrity Softball Game, over ten years ago, a game in which guys named Dan Marino, Troy Aikman, Bernie Kosar, and Jim Kelly swung a bat while being pitched to by O.J Simpson, a week before he killed two people… allegedly.
I don’t think they can vote me off, even if I do ask a tough question or two? Can they?
