Denver voters could force city to reduce stress

USA Today ^ | August 13, 2003 | Patrick O'Driscoll

[AntiGuv]

Stressed out? Then move here in time to vote in the November election.

A measure on Denver's ballot would order city government to "ensure public safety" by adopting and promoting "stress-reducing techniques or programs."

The anti-stress election proposal, believed to be a first in the nation, doesn't tell Denver's local government how to do it, merely to work for it. But the measure's author, Denver activist Jeff Peckman, suggests soothing music in public places, improved nutrition in school lunches and other calming steps.

Peckman, 49, compares his "Initiative for Safety Through Peace" to an alternative form of municipal garbage collection.

"This is a different kind of trash that needs to be hauled away," he explains. "A different kind of environmental contaminant. Like ozone levels or radon gas or anything like that, the city has a responsibility to alleviate that."

Denver, population 560,000, hardly seems a volcanic font of stress. The city is perennially near the top of various quality-of-life surveys and rankings. Crime rates are relatively low. It averages 300 sunny days a year. And some would say most Denverites already know where best to relieve stress: More than 60% of residents have public library cards.

Peckman, who grew up here, adds that "anyplace would be good enough" for an anti-stress program, "but Denver is my hometown."

The measure reached the ballot via a petition drive by a group of local peacemakers and Natural Law Party members. Thanks to an unusually low turnout in the 1999 mayoral election, the group needed only 2,458 signatures to qualify the proposal. It got 2,462.

Council members, who were forced this week to rubber-stamp the measure onto the ballot, aren't so calm about it.

"Voters didn't send us down here to deal with fantasy and frivolousness, and that's what this is," said Councilman Charlie Brown, who called Peckman's proposal "lunatic."

Councilwoman Rosemary Rodriguez added, "I'm getting stressed out over this bill."

[boris]

Valium in the drinking water...

[IYAS9YAS]

Sounds like a good way to force them into tax reform!!! That would reduce my stress.

[GladesGuru]

" -a different kind of trash that needs to be hauled away,"

The Natural Law party freak is right in this statement. Now where is the 'crat tasked to take this walking, talking, piece of political offal to the dump?

How silly of me to ask - on coffee break, no doubt!

[.cnI redruM]

and lithium in the toothpaste!

[LurkedLongEnough]

"Councilman Charlie Brown"

Maybe he should distribute fluffy blankets to all the Linuses in town.

[Agnes Heep]

and Viagra in the Bud Light.

[.cnI redruM]

Now how to the fine citizens of Denver get Harry Reams on the ballot for city council.

[=Intervention=]

Most, if not all, modern cities, are filled with stress -- idiots with bass-mobiles, blindingly-bright stoplights, roads in disrepair, etc, etc. This is all stress caused by the environment in which you live. They could plant plants along sidewalks, which not only beautify the street (and contribute to sense of balance and order, feng shui) but also eliminate pollutants. They could build more roads and/or better maintain the ones they have. They could punish people for "noise pollution" while on city streets. None of this is out-there new-age gobbledygook. Now does any of this have to use city funds? No. But is this a good use of city funds? Absolutely. Factor in the unknown and constant toll that stress takes upon every one of us (it's been said that stress is the silent killer) and the rewards you'd reap would far outweigh the investment -- provided it was done right and not just as another government boondoggle, which may be assuming too much. :o

[GladesGuru]

"MAY BE ASSUMING TOO MUCH? ? ? ? ?

There are reasons that our government was only allowed to do certain things. The road to the loss of the Republic is paved with things that aren't allowed, but " it won't really hurt and might do good".

Let the local populace do such things themselves but keep government within its proper bounds.

PS Feng Shu is merely the latest fad of the "three bong hit" crowd. What one calls "Stress, man" another may choose as a desired lifestyle. Such differences are why in America we keep government under strict control.

Until the New Deal, we did a fair job of keeping government from micromanaging our daily lives and every aspect of our environment. Please think!! If Fen Shi was allowed to become a government issue, that government would then have an excuse to control every aspect of our lives, down to the color paint used on damn near everything.

Are you some sort of closet Commie? Or just unfamiliar with both government and Feng Shu?

This whole concept has all the identifing characteristics of a Liberal (polite term for the old Commie Party,USA's bag of 'ideas') make-work scheme.

[Mr. Bird]

They could plant plants along sidewalks, which not only beautify the street (and contribute to sense of balance and order, feng shui) but also eliminate pollutants.

First of all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You may think lining sidewalks with plants would be nice; I think that it would wreak havoc. That would leave less space for pedestrian traffic, which is quite high is some areas. Spill over into the street could cause massive auto traffic issues....

And as for eliminating pollutants, they could start with all those emitted by the jackhammers breaking up the sidewalks in order to plant the pretty things and the trucks hauling the debris away.

And don't get me started on "soothing" music being piped in. You think Barbara Streisand is soothing? I can guaran-damned-tee you that someone would, and funnel that crap right into your ear...

[pabianice]

Why, banning firearms would certainly reduce stress...

[=Intervention=]

Uhm, hello? Who'se arguing TO disrupt pedestrian traffic? You ignore the main point I was making, which is that city life is inherently stressful and there are many things which cuase stress. Pretending that it's not isn't an answer. Ignoring basic psychological reactions to life, crowded spaces, and so forth also does not make the problems go away. Your response is a beautiful dodge.

[ChewedGum]

City council 'stressed out' over stress vote

Tuesday, August 12, 2003 Posted: 12:00 PM EDT (1600 GMT)

DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- Voters will get to decide this November whether the city should do more to reduce stress.

City council members said Monday they were forced to put the question on November's ballot because resident Jeff Peckman collected 2,462 certified signatures, slightly over the required number.

The council's only options were implementing the measure right away or sending it to the voters. The council voted 11-2 to put it on the ballot -- but reluctantly.

"Voters didn't send us down here to deal with fantasy and frivolousness and that's what this is," said Councilman Charlie Brown, who called the proposal "lunatic."

Councilwoman Rosemary Rodriguez quipped, "I'm getting stressed out over this bill."

Peckman said the council members should favor his proposal because it supports their duty under the U.S. Constitution to provide for the common defense and ensure domestic tranquility.

The measure doesn't advise how the city should reduce stress but requires the city to research the idea and scientifically prove which methods work. Some of Peckman's ideas include playing soothing music in public places and improving the quality of school lunches.

All he is saying, Peckman said after the meeting, is "Give peace a chance."

Gum