Hal Bidlack
As my regular readers will recall, I spent four years on the staff of Colorado Senator Michael Bennet. Senator Bennet is someone I personally respect greatly and admire for his contributions to our state and country. My day-to-day work for Senator Bennet consisted primarily of handling his military and veterans casework. The rest of my time was spent on a variety of less glamorous but important tasks to improve the lives of Coloradans.
This is often the case infrastructurea word that most Americans have no interest in, as it is perhaps one of the most boring yet important areas of government activity. Infrastructure, simply put, is: structure The infrastructure that powers our society. Our roads and bridges need to be in good condition, our power grids and water treatment plants all need to function at a high level. Yet too few Americans think about our infrastructure on a regular basis, and when a piece of it is compromised, we too often resort to ad-hoc solutions to fix the problem when a major rework is needed.
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I was reminded of the importance of this work when I recently read an article in Colorado Politics Out West about a mudslide in our neighbor to the north, Wyoming. I spent the first five years of my active duty Air Force career at F.E. Warren Air Force Base outside Cheyenne, Wyoming, and I have a lasting warmth for the Cowboy State. The mudslide mentioned was large enough to completely block a vital road for commuters connecting the Jackson, Wyoming area with eastern Idaho.
Now, you might be wondering why a remote road near Yellowstone is so important. Yes, Jackson is a very nice city, with lots of cool shops and lots of rich people living there. The average single-family home in Jackson recently exceeded $7 million. A few years ago, I did an Alexander Hamilton show (hamiltonlives.com) in one of those homes in Jackson and was impressed that there are rich people out there.
Most of the people working in Jackson’s high-end stores, bakeries, banks, etc., cannot afford to live in the area and so have to drive 30 minutes each way to get to more affordable housing. And guess what the only direct road to those homes is? That’s right, the collapsed road.
For example, my friend’s commute to Jackson is about 2 hours one way The direct route has been lost, a significant and monumental increase in time and expense, but our friends are stranded until the road is repaired.
Infrastructure is important, folks. If you don’t believe me, just ask the people who depended on a bridge in Baltimore that collapsed after being hit by a freighter.
Jackson, Wyoming, and other affluent communities will face hard times if the workers who keep their municipalities running cannot get to work with reasonable convenience. Some affluent cities, like Aspen, have a long history of building affordable housing in their communities. Many of these communities, including Jackson, have housing programs, but if a single two-lane road through a mountain pass is that important, it’s clear that affordable housing opportunities are not enough.
Perhaps it’s time to consider affordable housing as a key part of any infrastructure plan, nationwide. Some people already do, but more needs to be done. Here in Colorado, we have a spectacular and dangerous drive called Phantom Canyon Road. I’ve driven it twice, but I don’t drive it anymore because it’s as stressful as it is beautiful. That said, some people who work at the casinos and shops in Cripple Creek use it as their main commute to find more affordable housing in the Penrose area. This daily commute makes me uneasy, but for some, it’s the difference between working and poverty.
“Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper are strong supporters of infrastructure investment and we should be proud of our U.S. Senators in the Senate in that they supported President Joe Biden’s major infrastructure bill several years ago. That money is now reaching our communities and will hopefully be invested in the tedious repairs and maintenance that keep our communities running.”
Oh, and interestingly, many Republican senators voted. Against States that opposed the bill have announced (and claimed credit for) the money that will flow to their states under the bill they opposed. Former football coach and current terrible senator Tommy Tuberville tweeted his joy that Alabama was getting $1.4 billion for high-speed internet, but didn’t mention that he voted against the bill. Against That’s the prize. I’m no longer shocked by the Republican Party’s astounding hypocrisy, but it still irritates me.
Infrastructure is boring to most people. about Infrastructure is probably boring (Ed: Yes, it is…), but just because it’s boring doesn’t mean it’s unimportant. Infrastructure issues need more public attention, or else the news will continue to be filled with stories of collapsed bridges and washed-out roads.
Hal Bidlack is a retired political science professor and former Air Force lieutenant colonel who taught at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs for more than 17 years.
