Empty Spaces, New Trends and Places

Dorothy Rupert Looks Back ... and Ahead

By Dorothy Rupert
Former State Sen. D-Boulder

Looking back 30 years to a 1970s Boulder? Hmmm ... I can do that and much longer, of course. It is more my nature to look forward, but I do like a wide perspective, so here goes.

I really miss empty spaces. Sometimes it seems as though all of the oxygen is being used up with everything being built on and filled in. Yes, I know that it is good urban planning to have us be compact, but I still miss the open lots and crooked paths. In fact, I feel a loss when I am in an older Boulder neighborhood with homes that have been lovingly cared for and thoughtfully added on to and all seem to fit together when I am jarred by a gigantic intruder perched where a home once was, but was scraped away. Thank goodness for the foresight of investing in our Open Space and keeping Chautauqua as a great tribute to public-private working together and holding onto the “Blue Line” and passing the 50-foot height limit, etc. Being identified as tree huggers was not a positive at one time, but as the economy grew for Boulder, others began looking at Granola Town through a different lens. Yes, part of the flip side is the pricing out of our town the diversity needed to be a “real” community. Many of us could not afford to buy a home in our own home town had we not done it many years ago.

Coffeehouses and food! Oh, the wonders of it all. Never could I have dreamed of the choices in tastes and restaurants and types of coffee and places to meet friends and—wait, what are all of those lighted screens and phones in front of many faces? Strange! The old Gondolier on Broadway, with its beautiful espresso machine from Italy and an expensive 75-cent cappuccino, was never like this. While there will never be a place for me quite like the old Dot’s Diner, with its shady picnic tables under real trees—big ones, too—I must say there is pure joy in strolling through the Farmers’ Market with organics of everything to feast on and tables of causes that fill me up. I love walking Pearl Street; yes, the West End and the East End and the fabulous mall in between, with the Tea House as the anchor. Maybe I will get used to that appendage dropped in where Crossroads is supposed to be, but there is much to prove that they are worth my time and money. I have a hard time understanding why they chose to cut out Boulder youth and expect them to go to FlatIrons to shop. I guess that is what they consider good marketing, especially when both malls are owned by the same corporation. But hey, there is a great Mac store in 29th Street, and it is certainly different from Pearl Street.

And movie houses. There once were many, and with wide choices in film. Now, except for the extraordinary foreign film showings at CU and at least for the time being the much-appreciated Landmark, we are on hold until the new complex opens at 29th Street. Please stay in Boulder, Landmark!

Let’s see, the psychiatric professionals finally determined in the ‘70s that homosexuality was no longer a mental illness. With “enlightenment” came much more openness and acceptance, and Boulder and LGBT folk seem to be more comfortable together, though there are still too many “incidents” to believe that we have made it as a community. Progress is measurable, with the young people coming along as they seem to get it. With the inclusion in our schools of the forward-thinking Safe Schools Curriculum, our community has the opportunity to learn much from each other. And the quite wonderful and intelligent and dedicated kids in Boulder will lead the way.

Speaking of schools, where I spent many great years as an English teacher and counselor at both Fairview and Boulder high schools: I am troubled by the loss of neighborhood schools and by the constant struggle to keep the welfare of our children and of our democracy uppermost as we work unceasingly for investment in our public schools. Boulder does believe in education, and it shows. We cannot give up working for more access across the board. Education for all and a truly open press/media are essential for keeping our fragile democracy; yes, even in Boulder, as I see significant erosion since the ‘70s.

Race relations in Boulder continues to be a difficult and challenging wall that we don’t seem to be able to get through or to understand. There are numerous individuals and groups that are giving much time, love and energy to breaking down the wall, but it seems as though not a lot has changed since the time of Mayor Pen Tate, Boulder’s first and so far only black mayor. I feel sad that Boulder’s not an inviting place for people of color to live. I want to live long enough to see that greatly changed for the better.

Thirty years ago it was considered a bit unusual to have a massage or acupuncture or be Rolfed or really to have any “alternative” therapy. Now it is everywhere. Great! I think that the dedication to health in our bodies, spirits, minds and environment keeps Boulder being the young vibrant place that it is, with full acceptance of us 80+ year olds. Good for us all.

Oh yes, there are many other changes, but others will most likely talk about those, i.e., politics, the labyrinth in the basement of the First Methodist Church, etc. My wish is for Boulder to be forever weird, wonderful and strong, leading the way to stop the current war and prevent any others ever.

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