A tale of two Auroras?

Congratulations to the city of Aurora and the municipal employees and other representatives who helped land our fair city among the winners of the National Civic League's 2008 All-America City Award. (See Monday's Aurora Sentinel print edition for more on this story.)

Before I say anything, I should note that the award is based on a city's ability to address problems within the community utilizing "innovative solutions." In Aurora's case, the presentation was focused on the revitalization of the former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center site, the integration of immigrants into the community, and an after-school program through Aurora Public Schools.

Much will be said in the Sentinel and other publications and media outlets about the award. I am not one to say they are undeserving, but I do have an issue with how this all will play out with the public.

When the average person hears that Randomtown, USA is an 'All-American City,' they don't understand the criteria used to award the honor. Golden, Colorado — a city I spent some time working before moving to Aurora — failed in recent years to attain the same honor and distinction from the National Civic League, and few would argue that Golden is not among one of the finest places in the Denver metro area: Scenic, decent roads, plenty to do for visitors and residents alike. But Golden didn't win because other cities have better stories fitting in with the specific reasonings behind the All-America City Award.

City officials have been upfront about using the award in their marketing for the city — that Aurora will receive "national attention" because of the distinction. And while I'm not one to say Aurora is not deserving of greater attention and strong methods of marketing, I'm not one who thinks the ends always justify the means.

Putting up signs along the city-limit markers touting Aurora's All-America status is fine and good, but it's a convenient way to make people think the best of the city when there is still such a wide chasm between the areas surrounding Original Aurora and the growing developments in the southern section of the city.

While the neighborhoods in the immediate vicinity of the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora and Original Aurora have seen much-needed redevelopment, much of the city north of Sixth Avenue remains forgotten by many — they don't want to think about the economic and social issues facing many in the area until it comes time to review CSAP scores from the neighborhood.

I'm not trying to denigrate the city; think of me as the anti-Marc Athony: I come to praise Aurora, not bury it. But for every success story we see — the growing Town Center/Municipal Center area, Southlands, etc. — there are areas that still need improvement if every area within city limits is able to live up to what most of us consider an 'All-American City,' regardless of what the National Civic League says.
Please don't read into this that there are easy-to-decipher boundaries between Old Aurora and New Aurora, Poor Aurora and Rich Aurora, APS Aurora and Cherry Creek Aurora... or that these divergent classifications are even worthy of consideration. There is one Aurora with both strengths and weaknesses.

I've lived in an area of the Cherry Creek School District within walking distance of parks, great restaurants and mass transit that were absolutely unbearable because of the noise and lack of respect for public property. I've also lived in an area of the APS district that's not near any parks, good restaurants or mass transit that suits me just fine because it's quiet and there's a sense of community and pride. While it may seem that I'm suggesting there are simple ways to think about this city, its people and its civic values, nothing could be farther from the truth.

Perhaps this award will bring the recognition to both the city's achievements and faults so that we can build upon the first and improve upon the latter. If that happens, I will be glad to help lead the cheers for Aurora; for now, I'll try to stay as even-handed in my praise for the city as I am in my criticisms.

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Life with Bo Diddley

I can't recall the number of times I've breezed down the interstate or cruised through the downtown of a city I'm unfamiliar with, all set to the soundtrack of Bo Diddley's self-titled, debut album. A lot of the greats (most of them punk outfits) never do better than their first album (The Clash, The Ramones, The Sex Pistols), but that doesn't make them any less amazing in their later years.
"Bo Diddley" the album is the best piece of vinyl, tape, CD or digital album you could ever get from the legend. It plays like a greatest hits record because, in a way, it is (the album is a collection of his early singles).
Lots of people have covered "Who Do You Love?", but only Diddley owns the amazing track. The same can be said for "I'm a Man," a track that made it onto the debut album of another amazing musical talent, The Who, in the form of a cover.
And how many times has a musician or band put out a song named after him/her/themselves to stay on the charts for the better part of four and a half months? The song is "Bo Diddley," if you hadn't guessed by now, with its hambone-ish patted juba beat.
If not for that first album and it's place firmly entrenched in history, I take a little comfort today, in which the world loses one of its great musicians, that Bo Diddley's place in musical lore is pretty safe. He won't be relegated to the back pages as the guy with the rectangular guitar. No one can overlook how the man, born Ellas Otha Bates, took to changing the face of American music, in no small thanks to the late, great John Lee Hooker and a bigger share of God-given talent than most will ever dream of or desire.
Rest in peace, Bo Diddley.

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In case you missed it: Political edition

North Carolina: This guy wants to be your next governor.

While you were out rejoicing at the re-opening of neighborhood pools and dousing your charcoal with way too much kerosene to start your Memorial Day grilling efforts, the Libertarian Party held its national convention at the Sheraton hotel in downtown Denver. While I was unable to attend thanks to copious amounts of painting and packing required of yours truly, I managed to catch C-SPAN's coverage of the various events once I put the brushes and boxes away.

Some highlights from the presidential candidates debate held over the weekend:

• Everyone in the Libertarian Party and their disapproving mothers are looking to convince the rabid political base of former LP presidential candidate Ron Paul to join with them to help make sure they don't vote for Barack Obama or John McCain come November. More than a few candidates touted their abilities to win over this bit of the electorate as reasons they should be the party's standard bearer going into the general election.
• Dr. Mary Ruwart, former LP presidential candidate and longtime activist, played the gender card, saying (in so many words) that a lot of female voters will be disaffected when they go to the polls and Hillary Clinton's name doesn't appear on the ballot; thus, Dr. Ruwart is sure to bring millions of new voters into the fold because she, in fact, is a woman.
• LP presidential hopeful George Phillies, best renowned up to this weekend as a big player in the Libertarian Party of Massachusetts, seemed to think that just putting a campaign together makes you more qualified to run for president than anyone else. How many times did he tout the fact that he sends out press releases to thousands of people and media organizations? I've got news for Mr. Phillies, and it goes beyond the fact that he strikes most people in the same way that their weird uncle does: Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., is really good about spreading their message, too. But that doesn't mean I'm voting for Fred Phelps anytime soon.

• Is there anyone who doesn't trust Steve Kubby when he talks about marijuana policy and bringing reform to the Food and Drug Administration?
• If you're in one of the 28 states slated to have the Libertarian ticket listed on your ballot, you have the opportunity to vote for two former Republicans, one of whom (Bob Barr) whose congressional voting record (including being the writer of the Defense of Marriage Act and a major proponent of the war on drugs) should make any Libertarian cringe, or at least something of the magnitude of Obi-Wan Kenobi's response when the planet Alderaan blew up in "Stars Wars." ("...as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.") A big point during the debate involved noting with subtlety that the goal of the campaign is to bring in new voters and increase the party's prominence (i.e. They don't have a snowball's chance of winning the White House this year or anytime in the next decade); however, it seems that they've taken that mantra as far as it can go, short of drafting Ron Paul to run under their banner, to leach off GOP voters -- most of them, in my estimation, already dismayed at the prospects of a McCain presidency -- who can live with standing alongside pro-lifers and hippies if it means lower taxes and protecting the Second Amendment.
• Wayne Allyn Root should grow his hair out; it's a little too polished and clean, a la Mitt Romney, these days. I've never trusted an oddsmaker without a mullet.
  

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