16th Street story failed to include the voices of these supporters
Sunday’s front page Greeley Tribune article about the 16th Street Enhancement Project had that rare quality you sometimes find in reporting: something to offend everyone — from business owners to city staff to project contractors.
As owners whose property and business were pictured — Margie’s Java Joint — we were dismayed to have our building photographed with a caption describing our “frustration.” In fact, we were never contacted by any reporter or photographer for this story.
If the Trib’s staff had done so, they would have heard from us that we’ve been supportive of this project for years. We’re appreciative of the proactive and responsive outreach from city staff who’ve informed us and maintained contact throughout the project thus far. In addition, we’ve been impressed and grateful for the professionalism of the contractors who’ve worked hard to keep services operational as they replaced aged water and sewer lines — an incredibly valuable improvement to all of the16th Street properties and businesses.
Instead, it was easier to write a story by quoting two baristas on the block who, no doubt, heard from customers about the temporary difficulty of finding a parking place. Unfortunately, those gripes made for a lazy and negative story — always easier than searching out the real sources. Have our businesses and customers been impacted? Of course — and we’re happy to have access and parking restored for a bit until the next phase begins.
But this work is about the longer view of improving this corridor as a vital area for the community and the university. The 16th Street improvement project is finally happening, and for this, we’re grateful. Our “frustration” is with a factually flawed Tribune story that got front page placement. The real story won’t get that kind of play, of course, but we’d like to set the record straight, anyway.
Margaret Thompson, owner Margie’s Java Joint
Ron and Linde Thompson, owners Campus Pharmacy Building, Greeley
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