Roses and Thorns

Thorns to the ones, on both sides of the Aspen Art Museum debate, using vitriolic language to make their point. Name-calling is sophomoric and bush-league, and it doesn’t advance the discussion. The Aspen community should be able to have reasoned debates about any topic of concern without getting nasty, which will overshadow any logical argument being made.

Roses to members of the Basalt Downtown Business Association and Basalt Chamber of Commerce for organizing the five-day Basalt Live event last week. Bricks and mortar alone won’t revive vitality in downtown Basalt. People need a reason to stay, shop, eat and hang. In a word, a place needs to be “cool” and make people want to visit. The creation of Basalt Live seems to signal that fact is recognized.

Thorns to political candidates who fail to remove yard signs after an election, leaving it to others out of annoyance. There are lots of offenders, but the latest is Eagle County Sheriff Joe Hoy. He left some signs up in the midvalley after losing in the Republican primary in June.