TBD Colorado brings the discussion of this state's future home

As the Colorado Senate begins debating gun bills, the Capitol should be filled with enough opinions today to blow the dome right off. But you can shoot your mouth off on the future of this state without even leaving your couch or kitchen table: Starting today, TBD Colorado is bringing...

By Patricia Calhoun

March 4, 2013

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As the Colorado Senate begins debating gun bills, the Capitol should be filled with enough opinions today to blow the dome right off. But you can shoot your mouth off on the future of this state without even leaving your couch or kitchen table: Starting today, TBD Colorado is bringing the discussion to you.

TBD Colorado -- the acronym stands for "To Be Determined" -- is a nonpartisan, collaborative effort created by the governor to inspire constructive conversations among Coloradans without expending state dollars. Last year, TBD Colorado held seventy meetings across the state, attracting more than 1,200 residents to the discussion. Their top concerns? Transportation and education, which are the focus of a new web tool just rolled out this morning: www.eTBDColorado.org.

Today through Monday, March 25, Coloradans can log onto the site to answer assorted questions related to education and transportation challenges that emerged during phase one of TBD Colorado. Here's the welcome on the site that just went live:

Help Improve Colorado: Join Our Community

Welcome to TBD Colorado's online public engagement! On this site you can learn about important issues, interact with others, and propose and refine creative ideas to move Colorado forward.

The site asks such questions as whether the state should increase its support for local and regional transit, and whether all Colorado children have access to full-day kindergarten. So pour yourself a big cup of coffee, log in and start thinking.

TBD officials will use information gathered through this site to work on potential policy changes. But the project isn't done with face-to-face gatherings, either: TBD Colorado will host two public meetings this month.

From 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, TBD Colorado will be at History Colorado Center; the meeting is open, but you have to register here.

And from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, March 18, TBD Colorado will be at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction; register here.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

Contact: Patricia Calhoun

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