Cascadia is Martin Lind’s dream — not Greeley’s. If he believes in it, let him finance it himself.
My love for Greeley runs deeper than geography — it’s legacy. My family has been part of this town since the beginning. We’re listed on the original settlers’ document. This isn’t just where we lived — it’s where we built, served, mourned and hoped, generation after generation.
My grandmother owned a small business here. Her father — my great-grandfather — was Greeley’s fire chief. My grandfather worked at Greeley Monument Works, carrying headstones for grieving families before becoming a police officer. He was the first Greeley officer featured in the Tribune for installing seatbelts in his patrol car — a quiet act of foresight that said a lot about his character.
My mother’s father also wore a badge, but on weekends, he carried the piano into the old Wanoco roller rink so families could skate to live music. These may seem like small acts, but they reflect a spirit of service passed down through generations. My parents both served in the Weld County Sheriff’s Department. My father also had the honor of serving in President Kennedy’s Honor Guard. What I remember most is how he mentored men after incarceration — helping them reenter society with dignity in a town that too often forgot them.
That’s what my family gave Greeley. Not just service — but soul. Not just duty — but compassion. We’ve carried pianos. We’ve carried headstones. We’ve carried responsibility and hope.
So when billionaires and outside developers look at Greeley and see dollar signs, I see my family. I see working hands and loving hearts that built this town. I’m not against growth — but I’ll fight against greed that erases the people who gave Greeley its heart. Martin Lind’s dream is profit — not community. Cascadia is not a vision for hardworking families like mine. We are the backbone of this city.
Greeley stands at a crossroads. We can invest in what already makes us strong — our world-class water system, historic downtown, and resilient people — or we can bankroll Cascadia: a $1.1 billion private development 25 minutes west of downtown.
Let’s be honest — Martin Lind isn’t doing this to help Greeley. He’s already profited from RainDance and Pelican Lakes. Cascadia is just the next piece of his growing empire.
If he believes in it, he should fund it.
Instead, city leaders propose using public buildings — assets we already own — to finance Lind’s private project. If it succeeds, Lind profits. If it fails, we, the taxpayers, are left holding the bag. That’s not economic development. That’s corporate welfare.
Meanwhile, our downtown — the true heart of Greeley — struggles. Local businesses fight to survive. Storefronts sit empty. Rather than pouring millions into a speculative project for one developer, let’s invest in revitalizing downtown, where growth supports families, boosts our tax base, and keeps dollars circulating here at home.
Cascadia’s backers talk about job creation and tourism — but where are the guarantees? There are no binding promises for local hiring, living wages, or community reinvestment. Without those, the benefits will leave with the developer.
And then there’s water — our crown jewel. Greeley’s drinking water is among the best in the nation, sourced from Rocky Mountain snowmelt and treated to the highest standards. Expanding infrastructure to meet Cascadia’s demands risks straining a system we’ve spent generations perfecting.
I’ve lived in Greeley nearly all my life. I raised my children here. I know this town, and I know its people. We deserve development that builds on our strengths — not a flashy gamble that mortgages our future.
Let’s protect what truly makes this city strong — and invest in ourselves, not someone else’s empire.
Mary Metzger is a Greeley resident, descended from some of the founders of the city, who raised her four children in the community, only to see two of them leave the city for other states when they could not afford to live here. She has worked in child care and education.
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