Opinion: Marcia Martin--YES on 3B: Public Amenities and Social Justice

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

I fully support Ballot Issue 3B, a Pool and Ice facility for Longmont. Personally, I believe this proposal is good for Longmont in every way. Economically, sure, but also for social equity. (Also please note that the Longmont City Council has passed a resolution urging voters to support 3B.)

I don’t think anyone in Longmont takes issue with the City Council Vision:

1. PEOPLE:  In 20 years, Longmont will be the world’s greatest village, where children are most fortunate to be born and raised, where people will have access to food and shelter, and where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and feel that they belong.

• PLACES:  In 20 years, Longmont will have a developed Main Street from Pike Road to Highway 66 and a river corridor that stretches from the sugar mill to the fairgrounds providing a vibrant economic, residential, cultural and entertainment epicenter that is sustainable and respects the natural environment.

The italics are mine. I affirm the PLACES vision not because I like cool stuff in my town (though I do) but because I deeply believe in the PEOPLE vision. Most fortunate children are those who thrive and belong. To me, that’s more than food and shelter. It’s never standing with your nose against the glass. It’s never watching a video about another child’s life and knowing it’s something that you will miss out on.

So, what does it take to make a rich life for Longmont’s children? It means creating opportunity locally. Why? Primarily, because having to travel for fun and learning is exclusionary. It’s more costly in time and money than using a facility in town. It means only kids whose parents have time and money to enroll them in private club sports can play. And more and more, club sport kids are the ones who get the college sport scholarships. That’s a trend we’ve got to reverse.

Longmont has vibrant programs for helping kids get through high school when their families lack the resources they need to help. It has fine and admirable college scholarship programs. I’ve talked to local businesses and they are thrilled with how Front Range Community College is preparing local youth for work. Council has made pre-K education a priority. We support the 529 Jump program because students who have savings for college are so much more likely to attend than those who don’t.

Creating amenities to enrich the lives of these students isn’t an OR, it’s an AND. Because we are already creating the basic opportunities, just as hard and fast as we can. The Aquatic Center won’t be for elites, as some are suggesting. It will be for everyone. (How many readers know that children 18 and under can get free passes to Longmont recreational facilities for the asking, if their family doesn’t have one?)

Making water and ice sports accessible to everyone benefits everyone. It gets us all out of our bubble. It would eliminate economic segregation, not create or reinforce it. We know that diverse teams, whether in schools, sports, or the workplace, are stronger. Let’s take this opportunity to create diversity and strength in Longmont.

Bucking the national trend, St. Vrain Valley School District doesn’t put aquatic sports facilities in its high schools. They rely on Longmont, and Longmont’s current facilities are inadequate and aging away. SVVSD has committed to extremely generous support for the new facility. Our students as well as all residents who swim or skate or just need another place to train deserve better than we have.

Let’s give it to them. The world’s greatest village is full of fun and opportunity. Please vote YES on Ballot Issue 3B.

Marcia Martin is a member of the Longmont City Council, and a Dreamer Sponsor through I have a Dream Foundation of Boulder County. This opinion is her own and does not necessarily represent the opinion of the City, the Council, or the Foundation.