A taste of reality

During a recent trip to Chicago, I got a heavy dose of reality vs. perception. Part of that is due to media coverage which, in my opinion, is part of why trust in the industry I love and value is at an all-time low.

FROM THE EDITOR

Before taking the trip with my husband and son, my brother, who lives in Texas, asked if I packed my bulletproof vest.

He was referring to the constant media reports about the shootings and crime in Chicago. Given some media reports — he thought you get o a plane and take cover.

I must admit, I didn’t know what to expect in getting the rental car and hitting the streets to head downtown where my son had some big dream of touching the famous massive bean sculpture. For context, it was from a YouTube video he had watched.

We got downtown and found the huge silver bean and my son touched it. We walked around, crossed streets, and did some shopping. e parks were lovely. e area where kids were playing in a fountain and splash pad were full and vibrant.

You see — the reality is Chicago is nothing like I had imagined from ongoing media reports over the last few years. In fact, I was sad in seeing a vibrant downtown Chicago and comparing it to Denver.

On a recent brewery hopping trip with my brother — Denver’s downtown did not instill any con dence. In our day of walking all over the area, from Coors Field to a few miles away — I saw a lot of problems.

For one, here in Denver, I saw people using drugs on the wide-open sidewalk. To say I was completely unnerved to see that needle and spoon is an understatement.

As kids played in the water and ran around the park in Chicago, I thought about how there is no way I will, at this point, take my children to downtown Denver. A favorite pastime for my family used to be heading down to the 16th Street Mall and exploring the stores and walking and enjoying a nice day.

Today — with boarded-up buildings and an unsafe atmosphere — I will not take my children to my own city’s downtown.

We sit back and hear media reports and judge other cities, but really, the reality is our own backyard needs attention. Downtown Denver and the region need true solutions to our homeless, crime and drug issues.

I feel like everything I write about these days leads right back to this — If our state does not start addressing growing problems in car thefts, drugs, homelessness, and cost of living — families are going to keep leaving.

I know the reality is Chicago probably has a “bad side of town” that I didn’t get to see. However, over three days of traveling to various ice-skating rinks and touring the city — I changed my tune about the Windy City and became a lot more concerned with my own.

elma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Time for mutual respect

For over two years, the Douglas County School Board has struggled with their equity policy. As a retired teacher, I’ve followed the debate with keen interest, and I’m glad to see that a resolution has nally come. e policy’s main aw was always language. What do key words mean? For example, diversity’s de nition was broadened to go beyond identity groups based on immutable characteristics to evolving skills such as diversity of thought that only comes through the encouragement of critical thinking.

Speaking of diversity, I’m sad to hear that one school board member resigned suddenly. Her voice matters, because diversity of thought is important to any group. Kudos to F.A.I.R. for their involvement in the process by linking the public into policy rough drafts and the submission of personal comments for board consideration. anks also to the board itself for allowing comments from a variety of stakeholders that lasted into the wee hours of the morning. Now that the equity policy changes have been approved, let’s work together to respect everyone in our public educational system.

Linda Mazunik Lone Tree