If not art, then what else - or else...

Winslow recently received some attention in the Arizona Republic on Sunday, Nov. 26 ‹ over a whole page in the travel section. The article highlighted La Posada, Mayor Allen Affeldt, his wife Tina Mion, and the potential for Winslow to become a great southwestern destination. This article, too, announces that change is on the horizon for Winslow. The question is how and when.

One of the most commonly heard public relations mantras ‹ is that Winslow is up and coming and affordable enough to have the opportunity to create something new, and this is true to some extent. There is even an underground river of talented artists and unique people in Winslow that do not seek to promote themselves. But whatever Winslow becomes, it is dependent on what the residents believe.

Art is not the one and only answer to Winslow's problems, as most artists never make it and everyone knows that; however, Winslow has attracted some exemplary characters in that field and we should capitalize on that ‹ the center of this being La Posada.

What other things can Winslow do to compliment or even harness this energy?

Well, the Snowdrift art space is one answer, but it is not for everybody. So that beckons the question ‹ What else should Winslow become? Because it will change, like it or not. And everyone knows that.

Moreover than giving people a reason to visit Winslow, we need to give them a reason to move to Winslow and stay in Winslow, not to look down on it, laugh at it or despise it. Art is only one facet to this change as there are many other important things to consider about what makes a community a desirable place to live. This is what we all want ‹ a better quality of life. Right?

So to get there, those not interested in art can help those who are by building other desirable and unique characteristics to the community, and together we can all benefit. It can be anything ‹ unique and quality housing; more trees and gardens; quality food; a sports venue fitting of this town's love for them; entertainment; area history and culture; events, etc.

Many people focus on kids. And kids want to be happy and healthy. Educated kids make prosperous adults, too. Have we ever really sat down with the kids in Winslow and asked them what they would like for Winslow? And not told them, "Oh, we cannot do that," or "That's too expensive," or "It will never work in Winslow." And the kids aren't the only ones that have heard this.

For too many years this attitude has prevailed, and all because of a highway bypass. Well, Interstate-40 is 1,000 times busier than Route 66 ever was and it goes through town like 66 does, so there is nothing stopping Winslow from pulling people in off the interstate and offering them something. Already, big companies have a head start because they always build off the interstates, so when someone takes that exit, their business is the first one the customer will see.

We need to watch out and not lose our opportunity for control over this direction of what the town will become. Corporations hedge their bets on this, and it is a cancerous scourge that is making communities less and less interesting as local flavors disappear.

Whatever our towns used to be ‹ no longer exist in most places as sons and daughters choose not to continue ranching and farming. Old industries like the railroad, timber and factories have pulled out for the most part. New industry emerges, but in countries with cheap labor and little regulation. America's economy has been and is further shifting to be a service economy.

We lose our control economically and eventually politically, when local business and community leaders fall asleep at the wheel and allow corporate chains move into the vacuum created by the lack of vision from the preexisting conditions of a town's business community.

When the products or services becomes so bad or so few, customers become desperate for something decent or different and will accept a place like "Chili's" hand-over-fist. Many locals have been lamenting their food diversity in Winslow so much that they would love to see a Chili's or Olive Garden go in next to Wal-Mart. And where is the profit margin going? Not to a local owner.

So now that Winslow is on the tipping point, we need to either push ourselves in the direction we want to go or else we will just fall where corporate America has been pushing us for the last decade or more.

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