Business & Community Development
Continued...Changing the Face of Brighton
A lot of speculation has gone into the branding of Brighton. Is Brighton a “farming community”, per se, or is it becoming a growing Denver suburb with the same commercial identity as other suburbs? This decision, ultimately, could be made for us. The use of water is cause for some thought, yes, even concern. If this situation for the farmers continues, we may see less and less of them surviving in this whole northern corridor. Does development, new housing…bigger communities, mean enough to take away the life that has been Brighton and this northeastern area for so many years? The tradition of stopping to buy our healthy fruits and vegetables from known sources may become a thing of the past.
The irony of the situation is that we, the people, own the water. In the wettest year we can remember, our farmers can’t pump. Since the Legislature stonewalled farmer requests to use their wells this year and closed five days early, there’s nothing left to do but petition and call the Governor of Colorado and let him know that we want our water used to keep our farmers and their markets alive in Brighton. A governor’s task force is studying the issue this summer. The governor’s conclusion is critical. The charm of Brighton and its roots depends on this effort. The phone number for the Governor’s Office is 303-866-2471; fax 303-866-2003; or Governor.ritter@state.co.us for email. Call and let the Governor know that we want to keep our heritage and the farmers thriving along with the commercial growth that’s imminent. This total package is what defines Brighton, not a segment of it.