When will 20-somethings shape the valley?

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

By Sam Petri

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Local events and meetings that shape Jackson are consistently devoid of the 20-something set. Jackson’s active Baby Boomers fill the seats - after all, they have a stake in the valley and a reason to attend meetings that cause change. But even if you’re young and lived here just a minute, you should voice your opinion, too. Even if you rent, even if you live in your van, and especially if your views are different from everyone else, it’s your responsibility to get in the mix.

A pivotal meeting was held last week regarding Teton Meadows Ranch, the latest proposed 500-unit housing development south of Rafter J. It is planned to be 50 percent affordable housing - something renters should care about. Yet, the 20-somethings were out in Red Top at “one of the biggest parties of the season.” If you’re not at these meetings, your voice will not be heard. WTF, guys?

On Monday the Barack Obama presidential campaign hosted an organizational meeting at the Hard Drive Café. According to campaign staff, few Obama campaigners are over the age of 30. Most are 25. Even Obama’s main speechwriter is 26. Yet at the Hard Drive Café the audience was nothing but Boomers. The majority of the 20-somethings were behind the counter slinging coffee. There was one teenager in attendance.

Everyone my age - I’m 26 - is grinding their gears, trying to make their way in this expensive and competitive area. Everyone works a lot and doesn’t make enough money. And no one moved here to be political. But it is everyone’s responsibility - not just the Boomers’ - to take control and shape the direction of the world around them. You can participate on several levels. You can focus on the minutia and attend every local planning meeting there is, or you can focus on the bigge picture and simply register to vote and participate in the presidential election process.

You can even do both! For instance, at 4 p.m. this Friday at The Village Café there is an Obama party with free beer, a DJ, and a raffle for an Illuminati snowboard. In order to attend, you have to prove that you are a registered Democrat. You must register at the county admin. office before 5 p.m. on Friday in order to participate.

Something tells me this is something the 20-somethings might just rally around.

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When will 20-somethings shape the valley? | Planet JH News Article: Editorial

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