The Red Ant

Issue #39 ------- Aspen's Marketing Mishap-- Vail's Idea?

2009-10-28T01:09:49Z

"Out of the bosom of the Air, Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken, Over the woodlands brown and bare, Over the harvest-fields forsaken, Silent, and soft, and slow Descends the snow."
-- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"But where are the snows of yester year? -- Francois Villon

MARKETING ASPEN WITH NO SNOW?

In these quiet days of the off-season, everyone in Aspen eagerly awaits the start of ski season, hoping that our lifeblood - SKIING - brings the tourism and related revenues to save jobs and businesses at our hotels, restaurants and shops.

But while our competitors in Utah are sending out email blasts (read here) that tout their abundance of new snow and the front range resorts are making snow (of course, Arapahoe Basin is already open for skiing), what does Aspen do? The City and the SkiCo jointly organized an event over the weekend that screamed to the world in expensive photos that Aspen's slopes are brown,

Issue #38------- $130 Movie Tickets!

2009-10-27T01:18:00Z

"This film cost $31 million. With that kind of money I could have invaded some country." Clint Eastwood

Tonight's Council agenda includes a staff proposal for expansion of the Wheeler Opera House -- a $3 million line item for expansion planning in 2010. The expansion itself is estimated to cost $30 million.

The Ant did a quick "big picture" overview of the Wheeler numbers and we need to say "thanks" to all of you for taking us to the movies! With operating losses averaging around $2.5 million per year* for the past few years and with roughly 19,000 tickets sold, YOU are subsidizing the Ant's movie-going at about

Aspen May 2009 Election Matters

2009-10-25T18:00:00Z

After false and inappropriate accusations against Marilyn Marks were made by former Council member Jack Johnson, Marilyn submitted this letter to the council and for the public record:

http://theredant.squarespace.com/storage/JohnsonAllegationsCC1027.pdf

See the webcast of the 10.26.09 City council meeting beginning at the 44 minute mark for Johnson's remarks and Marilyn's response.

http://aspenpitkin.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=177

Marilyn's repsonse to the allegations concerning Election Commission:

http://theredant.squarespace.com/storage/SmokeAndFire.pdf

Feel free to post comments or questions about any Aspen election topic below.

Issue #37 ------More Ant Bytes

2009-10-20T01:26:00Z

"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." --Ronald Reagan, 1986

INVEST 61 CENTS IN DEMOCRACY!
If you are reading The Red Ant, you care about local government. Don't fail to exercise your democratic right to vote in the Pitkin County election before November 3rd with your mail-in ballot, which you should have in your mailbox by now. Call the County Clerk at 920-5180 if you haven't received yours yet. Remember that the materials don't tell you that it takes 61 cents postage to mail back your ballot!

MICK MAKES DREARY PREDICTIONS
He's an adjustment hearing officer, working for Pitkin County to evaluate your property valuation challenges. (This, despite his duty to the City of Aspen to ensure that

IRV -- Aspen Reconsiders on November 3 (Don't Forget to Vote)

2009-10-14T11:02:10Z

DON’T FORGET THAT 61 CENTS POSTAGE IS REQUIRED ON YOUR RETURN BALLOT

Aspen voters will tell City Hall how they feel about continuing to use the IRV method for municipal elected office, which was used for the first time in May.

Whether or not you liked the outcome, you probably have views on the methodology. Did you understand it? Do you know whether yours was one of the 17% of the ballots not counted in the Council race runoff?

This site will be used to collect information

YouTube Videos on Instant Runoff Voting Consequences

2009-10-12T16:43:00Z

An election integrity activist has produced some videos which are actually fun to watch about IRV and its problems.

Click to see their descriptions and click through to watch....

CO Court Asked to Order Release of Election Records

2009-10-10T17:46:10Z

Colorado State District Court Asked to

Order Release of Digital Ballot Images

October 9, 2009 Aspen, Colorado

Marilyn Marks, a local citizen activist, filed documents yesterday with Colorado State District Court in an action to compel the City of Aspen to release the photographic images (TIFF files) of ballots cast in the May 2009 election. The filing also requests that the court require the City to preserve those election records, as the City has stated that those records are facing destruction on November 5. The filing comes in response to a multi-month dispute over the City’s denial of Marks’ Colorado Open Records Act request.

Marks was a mayoral candidate in the election and did not contest the election, but chose to research and advocate for future election reforms, including the repeal of Instant Runoff Voting.

Marks began making formal public document requests for a copy of the City’s CD of these digital files on June 1, and states that

New Posting Policy for THE RED ANT

2009-10-10T13:33:00Z

Your comments and opinions are welcome and encouraged!

We want to provide a place for

MILLARD ZIMET ... Do They Know How You Voted? (Aspen Daily News Op-Ed)

2009-10-08T19:33:00Z

Can they find out  how you voted?

Aspen Daily News

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Mick! Marilyn! SEX! Now that I’ve got your attention, let’s talk about your rights under the Colorado Constitution to have a secret ballot election.

I recently filed a complaint asking the Aspen Election Commission to determine whether Aspen’s May 2009 election was a secret ballot election. I want to talk to you about that, and not about Mick or Marilyn (or sex).

They know where you voted and they know when you voted. Each precinct has a log,

Historic Preservation Task Force Issues: Public Comment Needed

2009-10-07T18:45:06Z

Don't assume that you and your neighbors are not affected by the latest in potential land use code changes - in the form of Historic Preservation of Post World War II properties - until you read through this summary.

Many property owners make the mistake of thinking that new soon-to-be-determined Historic Preservation rules won't apply to their properties because they do not own mining era Victorian properties, or they own condos/multifamily, or live in the East End or West Aspen. Everything is back on the table---including your neighborhood, if within the City Limits---possibly affecting you directly or indirectly---depending on how Council responds to the immediately upcoming Task Force recommendations.

I've said for almost 20 months now that I would keep you informed as the Historic Preservation Task Force prepared its sure-to-be-controversial final recommendations for City Council, in the still messy and confusing aftermath of ill-conceived emergency Ordinance 30. NOW (this Thursday, October 8) is your final chance for