Can a leopard change his spots?
Kingman, Arizona.
What do you think of when you hear those words?
The first thing I think of is... Terry Nichols.
I think of a whole city of angry ... anti government ... zealots.
I must not be alone.
The Kingman Daily Miner reports...
Has your home recently been engulfed in flames, blown to pieces in a hurricane or crumbled by an earthquake? If so, Kingman wants you.
That is one of the messages a group of community leaders plan to send as part of the long-existing and recently revived Route 66 Association.
About 20 people met Tuesday evening in the old Elks building downtown to come up with ideas to attract new residents and new commercial development, end the squabbling in city government and do whatever they can to help revive the struggling local economy and to bring back Kingman's positive image.
The problems over land deals and government policies that have caused so much controversy the last few years admittedly can't be fixed overnight, but having all the major players in the room was a start, the organizer said.
All agreed that the political turmoil of the last several years and the continual back and forth between various factions in the community have tarnished Kingman's image. One city councilman recently cited a resident who called the twice-monthly public meetings "the best reality TV show (people) had ever seen."
(Kingman isn't alone there. I believe every city's Council meetings are great reality shows.)
Led by business owner and reformed government critic Scott Dunton, the local leaders - including city officials and their watchdogs, developers and their critics - discussed ways to "accentuate the positives and de-emphasize the negatives," as Kingman developer and Scottsdale resident Richard Campana put it.
The residents of Kingman have their work cut out for themselves. I wish them good luck.
Where do they start?
As for immediate action, Dunton and the growing Route 66 Association plan to throw a party and possibly a street dance downtown.
Get drunk and party.
Good Start!
Al Arnold
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