05/04/2021
Susan Gutowsky: Promises made become promises kept, but it takes patience mindful action
We in local government stand on the shoulders of giants. As a City Council member, this realization came to me as I recently toured the future site for the new Vine/Lemay overpass project. After years of planning, the overpass will alleviate the city's most extended train-related delays caused by the BNSF switching yard. For as long as Fort Collins has experienced growth, residents have expressed safety concerns about trains blocking emergency services from reaching them during a time of crisis — or feeling trapped in their neighborhood.
Big projects do not happen overnight. The Vine/Lemay overpass project has been a part of the community conversation since the 1980s. In Fort Collins, we have a transportation master plan developed after studying land use, population projections, transportation trends, environmental impacts, and so on. Budgetary limitations and changing times need to be considered. One single council member cannot, with the wiggle of their nose and a nod of their head, make a bike path, overpass or new park appear because it is needed now; however, council members can serve mindfully and participate in the relay race that is our work. We are, after all, the voice of our constituents. This is the council's role in our representative democracy.
I feel so proud to be on the City Council bringing this project to fruition. Ninth Street will remain but will be restored from an arterial street to a quiet neighborhood street — as it was before growth overwhelmed that neighborhood. This will improve the quality of life for the people living there and improve connectivity for the entire community.
It's easy to be short-sighted when you care deeply about a single problem and are hyper-focused on simplistic solutions. In leadership, one learns to be present, look around, see what's going on and consider the big picture. You realize that it makes sense to be patient, understanding that slow and steady wins the race. Progress may sometimes seem slow, but it is happening. A council member must be steadfast and resolute to see the people's business through. Sometimes we must pass the baton to our successors to continue our work.
City Council is not for the faint of heart. We are in session year-round. The city, too, is always open, working around the clock to ensure that we are providing world-class service to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the people of Fort Collins.
Should you choose to honor me with a second term representing you on the Fort Collins City Council, I will continue to listen and protect the values that we have cherished for years. We will continue to strive to make sure all people feel welcomed, and have the opportunity to thrive in safe, clean, livable neighborhoods — and enjoy a free-flowing Poudre River!
-Susan Gutowsky, Fort Collins City Councilmember District 1
"In leadership, one learns to be present, look around, see what's going on and consider the big picture."
