Reporter's Notebook: Suffering extends beyond giving season

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

By Ben Cannon

While I was speaking with Mayor Mark Barron for this week’s somber cover interview (“A Walk with Mark,” page 12), he made it a point to say how many people were struggling after the difficult year that was 2009. He didn’t only mention that many families had suffered the greatest loss – losing a loved one – but also  that many more are hurting from economic reasons.

Losing a job beats losing someone any day, but many in Jackson Hole are going through difficult times.

Nearly 1,500 jobs were lost in Teton County last year. Businesses were shuttered; people moved away.

Yet there are residents who might like the thought of fewer people around.
But, as the Mayor said, we’re talking about people, not stats. This is about human lives, and it seems a little morbid to root on some sort of great, possibly mythical, equalization when economic livelihoods are ruined in the process. Sure, there can be some upshots to the malaise. Maybe, for example, someone out there will finally attain that home on the free market, although I’ve yet to hear many anecdotes about that kind of thing happening here.

And while local businesses got a needed boost with the surge of visitors over the holidays, the early reports I’ve heard indicate that many businesses are still way down, and hurting.

So go out and enjoy the new snow and get caught up in the optimism that comes with the New Year. Just remember that we’re not through the hard times yet.
– Ben Cannon
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Reporter's Notebook: Suffering extends beyond giving season | Planet JH News Article: Editorial

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