Simons: Lawrence leaders need to restore city’s positive momentum

“Some in Lawrence want the city to remain and act like a small, slow-paced, cozy college community. They don’t want Lawrence to be a larger city. Like it or not, Lawrence IS a larger city; there is no way to go back.

“Unless the city and its citizens address today’s challenges, as well as its opportunities – the challenges associated with a larger city, competing with nearby even-larger cities – the community is going to slide down a dangerous path, with the city’s infrastructure in disrepair, serious housing troubles, a tax base out of kilter and fewer and fewer bright young people wanting to make Lawrence their home.”

This was the observation and opinion of one of Kansas University’s most prominent and nationally recognized faculty members. It wasn’t an idle comment but was made with great concern.

Lawrence was fortunate to have leaders and concerned residents who got the city off to a good start in the years right after World War II. Prior to that, Lawrence was, indeed, a nice, pleasant, small college town, relatively isolated from Kansas City and Topeka.

Now, the picture is totally different. Lawrence enjoyed excellent and sound growth from the late 1940s until the mid to late 1990s and into the early 2000s. Lawrence had good leadership from sound-thinking city and county commissioners. Its residents were excited and enthused about more jobs, better housing, improved city services and a superior school system. The leadership, respect, vision and drive of former Kansas University Chancellor Franklin Murphy in the 1950s helped set the stage for Lawrence, as well as the rest of the state. He was a unique leader, a great asset for the city, university, higher education and the state.

A relatively small group of local residents, more interested in the development of Lawrence than in lining their own pockets or posturing for special interests, were highly successful in attracting top-flight industry and investment in the community.

Residents developed great pride in their community. There was an environment of success and a feeling that Lawrence was a leader. Other cities sent representatives to Lawrence to learn the secret of the city’s development. Young men and women living elsewhere were writing to Lawrence acquaintances, local bankers and Chamber of Commerce officials asking about job opportunities in Lawrence and the possibility of buying into existing businesses. They wanted to be a part of the excitement and success of Lawrence.

Lawrence blossomed in every respect. KU was a big part of this story, with Murphy being succeeded by another outstanding chancellor, Clarke Wescoe. As the late Midwest Research Institute leader Charlie Kimball used to say, “Lawrence and KU could be, and should be, the bright, shining, powerful lighthouse of the vast Midwest prairie area.” Murphy put it another way, saying there would be “a great forest of fine universities in the trans-Mississippi West, but among this forest of universities, there would be a few giant redwoods” and KU should be one of the redwoods.

Sadly, this sense of excitement, pride and vision seems to have faded into the background. The question of growth vs. no-growth, zoning and land-use battles, candidates for public office representing special interests rather than the interests of the city as a whole, residents trying to keep the city as it was rather than acknowledging growth is inevitable, poor morale among too many at KU, a loss of respect for the university throughout the state, a growing crime rate and other situations have opened up some disappointing, if not ugly, cracks in the picture of a united, prospering, visionary and fun place to live called Lawrence.

The forward motion Lawrence enjoyed for many years has slowed considerably, in fact, to a dangerous level. Too many in Lawrence apparently believed the good times would continue regardless of the actions and attitude of many local residents. They believed Lawrence could continue to enjoy its specialness despite the bickering, infighting and special interests entering the picture.

Once forward momentum is lost, it is hard – and takes time – to get started again. In recent years, too many in Lawrence and at KU have developed a cocky, complacent and arrogant attitude, and that is the surest way to weaken the city and university.

There is nothing automatic or guaranteed about the city’s or university’s continued growth and excellence.

This is why the upcoming city elections, as well as all local and state elections, are so important. These elections are one of the few ways residents can have a voice in how they want their city, school system, county and state to grow and develop.

Voter turnout in Lawrence in recent years shows anything but a group of residents that is interested and forward-looking. It is an embarrassment. It is puzzling that more eligible voters choose not to take advantage of this very special right. There are far too many residents who think the good times will continue to roll regardless of their laziness, complacence or “why get involved?” attitude.

If individuals have an “investment” in the city, they should be concerned. A house, a store, a business, a child attending Lawrence schools, a piece of property, a job – all represent an investment in Lawrence. If the city starts to slide backward, with crumbling infrastructure, higher taxes, unaffordable housing, poor K-12 school leadership, escalating tuition and fees for KU students, a lack of jobs and other issues, residents are likely to see a substantial drop in the value of their investments.

The upcoming city elections are important, and the outcome will send a strong signal as to what kind of city Lawrence will be in the next 10 to 20 years. The policies and actions of our city commission and school board, set by those elected in the upcoming election, will determine what kind of city and school system we have for a period far longer than the terms these candidates are elected to on April 3.

Is Lawrence going to blossom in the coming years or become more like an unkempt garden with a couple of pretty, colorful flowers surrounded by dead bushes and dried-up blooms? It’s up to the voters. Know what the candidates stand for and vote!