NOREEN: Manitou's most definitely not Colorado Springs
More than 140 Manitou Springs residents attended a town hall meeting Monday night.
Considering that only about 1,500 voters are expected cast ballots on Election Day, it was quite a turnout. They heard council and mayoral candidates speak and they listened to a discussion about a town charter amendment.
Councilwoman Aimee Cox spent $35 of her own money for cookies and bottled water. Adam’s Mountain Cafe provided the coffee.
Even though the little town faces the same kind of tough budget decisions as Colorado Springs does, the event underscored the huge differences in the way the two municipalities conduct their politics.
The differences between the cities flow from some pretty basic stuff.
Manitou, with a population of about 5,100, is the enclave that is very happy to remain an enclave. Surrounded by Colorado Springs and a national forest, it won’t grow.
That means there isn’t much money to be made through building subdivisions. And that means Manitou’s political landscape is not dominated by Bulldozer Uber Alles, Inc.
No, like thousands of other small towns, Manitou’s politics often are influenced by small business owners. The town’s leaders aren’t going to be people interested in annexing their way to Kansas; a council member is more likely to be someone who sells turquoise jewelry and rubber tomahawks.
Sure, Manitou probably has the highest per capita number of dream catchers anywhere east of Berkeley. Go ahead and laugh at Manitou’s quirkiness. They don’t seem to mind much.
It’s political sacrilege to say this in Colorado Springs, but there are obvious advantages to Manitou’s lack of growth.
“Because we don’t have a lot of room to grow, our issues are about quality,” Cox said.
Mayoral candidate Rick Barry talked about having “a vision for what we want Manitou to be.”
Mayoral candidate Marc Snyder discussed keeping the town as a sustainable community.
“Sustainable” is not a buzz word in Manitou. There is a collective recognition simply maintaining the town’s uniqueness is important.
Council candidate Matt Carpenter scanned the big turnout and said, “This is what makes Manitou — being involved.”
Manitou’s mantra is that it most definitely is not Colorado Springs.
Manitou resident Anne Hyde, took the microphone to ask if the town should consider a tax increase.
“I would never ask this question in Colorado Springs,” Hyde said, “but here, maybe it’s something we should talk about.”
Some truth: In part, Manitou can be what it is because it is a bedroom community. Many of its citizens work outside of town.
A little more truth: There might be some things the big city could learn from the little one.
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