Dear Loveland Magazine Readers,
I am a little surprised that The Amazing Race is asking for an apology from the City of Loveland. (An Open Letter to City Hall From Loveland’s Amazing Race)
Why does this event exist? Does it exist to provide needed monies for Charitable organizations, or for its own aggrandizement? If the former, then I highly recommend that the Race Board let go of the politicking and work as hard as necessary to provide for the charities it claims to serve. If that means cultivating additional sponsors to cover the expense of a permit, then do it.
I sincerely doubt you are going to hold the City hostage by either threatening to take the race elsewhere, or threatening to not have the race at all. The fact is there is NO other local community more perfectly suited to act as a host for this event. You aren't going to move this. And if you simply decide to end it, then shame on you for trying to teach the City a lesson at the expense of your charities.
The fact is, we have a huge gaping hole in the middle of downtown Loveland with a single aged building on it. Why Shickle is delaying on the sale is unknown; but if he cares about the City as much as all of this posturing suggests, then sell the building and let's get on with the Loveland Station development.
I wonder if any of the players here are really considering the long-term good and growth of the city? I would submit that in this case, very likely the only one who is is Tom Carroll. Tom has been pioneering the Loveland Station project for as long as I have known him, and I defy anyone to look back a decade and claim that Historic Loveland was better off then, with its blocks of dilapidated buildings, failing businesses, and so on. His sole job is to usher the City of Loveland into a more solid future. As best I can tell, that is happening. Frankly, I would gladly pay the guy cost of living 4% for that.
Does Loveland Magazine have the city's best interests in mind? Doubtful, based on the highly slanted nature of the way these stories are skewed. ("City Manager gets raise for looking for another Job") (City Manager Gets 5% Pay Hike for All of 2012) (Council Set to Raise City Manager Salary).
Doubtful that Martin Shickle does. As a business owner, his motivation is and has to be profit.
Doubtful the Amazing Race does, because they are now posturing for an apology or threatening to leave.
So to the board of directors of Loveland's Amazing Race: put your charities first. Open registration. Surcharge the registration fee if you need to or find more sponsors. You will cover the permit fee with ease.
To Martin Schickle: sell the d** building. Is there some buried treasure in there you need to retrieve first? If so, grab it and sign the deed. Let's get the Loveland Station rolling.
To Loveland Magazine: News. Reporting. Facts. Your agenda is about as transparent as a piece of Saran Wrap. Really care about the City of Loveland? Then stop trying to scuttle it.
End of rant.
Sincerely,
Pat McCarty
Loveland Resdident
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