Group therapy

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jun 10, 2007

Now, at long last, we can put ourselves in Pueblo's shoes and feel Pueblo's pain, thanks to a forum put on by The Pueblo Chieftain at Colorado College on Tuesday. Water was discussed, as representatives of the warring cities earnestly talked past each other. But there was undeniably a psychological subtext to the scene that evening.

Perhaps we can fly in Dr. Phil for the next such forum, because both cities seem to need therapy. Colorado Springs, at least from Pueblo's perspective, suffers from narcissism and could use some sensitivity training, while Pueblo -- at least from our perspective - - needs to work on its inferiority complex and passive aggressive tendencies.

Perhaps this kind of "sharing" will lead to a thaw in relations. That will require moving beyond cathartic rituals and rationally discussing practical solutions. But when asked point blank by an audience member exactly what they wanted from Colorado Springs -- what we could do to clear away the hurdles they've erected to a water pipeline to Pueblo Reservoir -- specifics were in short supply.

That's because most of the Steel City's past demands are already being addressed. Colorado Springs Utilities is spending heavily on upgrading its already good wastewater system, and on Thursday cut the ribbon on the $10.5 million Fountain Creek Recovery Project, a sewage spill containment and diversion system on Fountain Creek. City Council, at great political peril to itself, rammed through a stormwater enterprise without a vote of the people, in large part to show solidarity with folks downstream.

Various task forces are meeting to talk about a bold new "vision" for a Fountain Creek greenway of sorts, that will turn it into an amenity for both communities. Colorado Springs has or is negotiating multiparty agreements with various downstream stakeholders, that invariably require significant concessions on our part. And we've paid hefty fines, and repeatedly apologized, for the sewage spills that happened.

Through both words and deeds, we've tried as a city to show that we take Pueblo's concerns seriously. But all attendees at Tuesday's forum heard from the panel of Puebloans was complaints, allegations, ultimatums and, of course, their pain.

Puebloans feel disrespected. Puebloans feel dumped on -- and have been on occasion, in a literal sense. Puebloans resent the fact that Colorado Springs grew and prospered, while the Steel City suffered setbacks. The people of Pueblo may not have many specific answers, but they "have a lot of emotion," Chieftain assistant publisher Jane Rawlings said. "We have needs, too, and we want you to hear them."

So we sat and we heard them.

Self-pity occasionally gave way to defiance and demands. None of the concrete steps Colorado Springs has taken quite measure up. We need to do more, spend more, tax our citizens more and move faster in order to satisfy Pueblo's "needs."

Yes, Puebloans are concerned about water quality in Fountain Creek -- and especially what will happen as more water flows back to the Arkansas River via Fountain Creek. And that's a legitimate concern. But something else is bugging them -- something that's harder to address. What they really want -- cue Aretha Franklin -- is R-E-S-P-E-C-T. And if we don't show the requisite level of respect, they'll do what they can to limit our access to the Arkansas River.

We in Colorado Springs seem to be engaged in a game of Whack-a- Mole. Each time we try to address one issue raised by downstream critics, another issue, and new demands, pop up. And these demands are becoming more extreme.

One of the panelists, Denver water attorney Ray Petros -- who represents nobody but those who pay his retainer -- has dreamed up a scheme to build a dam and reservoir on Fountain Creek between Colorado Springs and Pueblo. The second part of the Petros plan (which the shifty lawyer neglected to mention until called on it by Mayor Lionel Rivera) is for Colorado Springs to continually reuse the water stored there, instead of bringing better and fresh water in from the Arkansas or Pueblo Reservoir.

In effect, Petros wants Spring residents drinking their own effluent, and fore go accessing (via the pipeline) the much cleaner and better water we have rights to. And this completely outlandish idea -- which has never been seriously studied for its cost or feasibility, and is being pushed by a private lawyer who's making a good living exploiting water-related tensions between the two cities -- somehow has moved to the top of Pueblo's list of demands.

And people in Pueblo wonder why they aren't respected or taken seriously.

And so it went Tuesday night. When panelists weren't trying to shame Colorado Springs for its shortcomings and supposedly heavy- handed ways, they were reveling in the power they had to help choke off the water that is this city's lifeblood.

A little defensiveness crept in behind the dais when some in the audience (very respectfully, of course) attempted to insert and little balance and give the Colorado Springs perspective. Rivera, El Paso County Commissioner Sallie Clark and Colorado Springs Utilities CEO Jerry Forte all acquitted themselves well. But Puebloans were there to be listened to, damnit, and empathized with -- not challenged on distortions or asked what Pueblo is doing to correct its own water treatment shortcomings.