Doug Lamborn Stands Up for Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Did you hear the news? Last week, Congressman Doug Lamborn stepped up and publicly endorsed internationally-acclaimed artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Over the River project.
Click here for the KKTV story.

A quick disclaimer: The project falls a bit outside of COPPeR's boundaries (we define the Pikes Peak Region as El Paso and Teller counties) but to me it's a no-brainer that the project will provide myriad potential benefits to all of Southern Colorado, as well as for the entire state!

Artists and community leaders have been working for many years to try to change the perception that the arts are not part of our daily lives here in Colorado. With the attention that would arrive with Over The River, Colorado would earn its rightful position as one of the great arts destinations in the United States.

Meet your wrappers: Christo and Jeanne-Claude have an impeccable record of respecting the environment, being forthright with officials and government, valuing local residents and rural communities, and working tirelessly to address any and all concerns that arise during the planning stages of their work. Moreover, their commitment to fully financing the project means that they will bring tourists to the state without creating a negative impact on funding for localized artists and projects. Folks, that means we don't pay for it! We get all the benefit with none of the cost!

Like with all of their projects, the artists have put a tremendous amount of thought into how to execute the work. Their respect for the natural environment is tantamount to the success of the work, and they have done a tremendous job embracing environmentally-sound practices for their piece. The economic impact through increased tourism could bring estimated millions of dollars. The opportunity to spotlight Colorado’s breath-taking natural environment and its cultural assets on a global scale is unprecedented.

So naturally, Lamborn is getting some flak for his decision to support the project. If you would like to tell him you think he did a very good thing for the state of Colorado and the Pikes Peak region, please visit his website or give him a call at (719) 520-0055.