Local and State Government in Colorado, especially Ft. Collins area (Denver: buy, taxes) - Fort Collins area - (CO) - City-Data Forum

Deacon Riley · 02-02-2009, 03:42 PM

My wife and I have recently retired and are planning to move to the Ft. Collins/Loveland area sometime during the fall of this year. I have not seen any comments on State and local government on the forum and so my question is about whether or not Colorado/Ft. Collins/Loveland has good government, that is, honest government that is relatively free of corruption and scandal. Thanks to anyone who can provide an honest answer.

bproven · 02-02-2009, 06:51 PM

I guess it is as honest as government can be. Of course "honesty" and "government" can be considered incompatible words IMO.

If you mean flagrant, public, prosecuted corruption, no. I am originally from New Orleans LA area so I can talk about corruption and this area is on the other side of the spectrum compared to that. Then again that could mean that corruption is hidden a bit more here than in LA too.

esya · 02-02-2009, 08:21 PM

I work extensively with local governments in Colorado. I have not seen much corruption or conflict of interest issues except, in my opinion, the Denver structure is very old and seems to be more prey to the influence of lobbying esp law firms and developers.

However part of the reason is that govts here are very underfunded for the most part so there is more ineptitude and inexperience.

What I always say is, you put a pile of money down and it will attract a pile of crooks. We have neither but we also have very little in the way of safety nets so it's a hard scrabble sort of atmosphere.

cobmw · 02-03-2009, 08:43 AM

The state appears to be undergoing a change from red to blue. This includes Fort Collins. Hope it's not permanent. The legislature in Denver is pushing to make CO more like California.

cobmw · 02-03-2009, 08:49 AM

Also the FC government is not business friendly. They are absorbed with liberal causes and don't give a darn about businesses who are trying to grow. Lots of nonsensical regualtions and fees to get a business established here. That's from my experience running a business in FC with 100 employees for the last 10 years. We need larger facility and are looking forward to moving out of the city of FC to find a new location.

bluescreen73 · 02-03-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobmw

Also the FC government is not business friendly.

Ya know I'm glad someone else mentioned this. I've been watching Ft. Collins as a fly-on-the-wall since I graduated CSU and moved away. They've lost tons of commercial opportunities to Loveland because the city can't or won't work with developers. Meanwhile the city's only mall is a dilapidated wreck, and the mall's owner, General Growth Properties, doesn't have the funds necessary to renovate it.

Deacon Riley · 02-03-2009, 03:43 PM

Thank you to everyone who responded and for your insights. We have lived in Rhode Island for 30 years and over that period of time the corruption, scandal, and conviction and jailing of mayors, judges, general assembly members, and an assortment of governmental aids and workers has never stopped; only the names change. It looks like Colorado will be a pleasant change. I do wonder, however, why some in Colorado want it to become like California; why would they want to duplicate the failure of government, sky-high taxes and high cost of living that California is noted for?

bproven · 02-03-2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon Riley

Thank you to everyone who responded and for your insights. We have lived in Rhode Island for 30 years and over that period of time the corruption, scandal, and conviction and jailing of mayors, judges, general assembly members, and an assortment of governmental aids and workers has never stopped; only the names change. It looks like Colorado will be a pleasant change. I do wonder, however, why some in Colorado want it to become like California; why would they want to duplicate the failure of government, sky-high taxes and high cost of living that California is noted for?

The only ones that really want that are the Californians that have moved to Colorado (as far as I can tell).

Tom Emmerling · 02-03-2009, 09:10 PM

I think there is corruption in all government, however I think ours here is less than other places like California and RI.

golfgod · 02-04-2009, 09:15 AM

We moved to Loveland from TX and I can tell you that the state and our local gov't are miles ahead of anything in TX insofar as honesty and openness are concerned. TX is well noted for having the "best legislature that money can buy (or rent)". As a result of that attitude in Austin the county and city officials seem to emulate the state. I've found CO to be the opposite.

I guess the "anti growth" attitude of FoCo is what caused HP and the other tech companies to decide to locate there. As far as malls go, that is not what makes a city vibrant, but if they'd like to have Centerra (everything overpriced) or the Outlet Mall (failing) lots of us would say "take it with our blessing". Besides the "big mall" concept is kind of passe from what I've seen. There are plenty enough failed retailers about without adding to the burden.

golfgod