Excellent story on Gunnison County, Colorado told through the lens of a county commissioner race. Public health, property rights, housing, classism, tourism and a fight over who gets to call a place home. https://www.hcn.org/issues/53.1/south-economy-when-covid-hit-a-colorado-county-kicked-out-second-home-owners-they-hit-back

I spent most of my summers growing up in eastern Gunnison County, in a tiny ghost town called Tincup. My grandparents built a log cabin there in the 1950s.

The story accurately describes Gunnison as (for some) “just a stop to buy gas and groceries.” Gunnison was ‘Town’ to us, where we’d get two weeks of groceries at Safeway and dry ice to keep things cool on the ride back. Maybe eat at Mario’s Pizza too.

Crested Butte was a whole other experience. Great park for kids, outdoor patios everywhere, a river running through downtown, shops galore, backward parades (and before my time: naked backward parades).

It was (and still is) a glorious place to me. I’ve loved taking my wife and kid there occasionally the last decade or so. It’s always at the top for me for a vacation spot and I can’t wait to get back there.

Crested Butte always had this feel though of a big chasm between rich folks, tourists and the townies. I’m sure every tourism-heavy town does, but it really seems pronounced there. This story encapsulates that feeling perfectly. Kudos, @npbowlin and @highcountrynews.