Paul Reich

A Community to Come Home To A healthy community is not defined only by the absence of illness. It is defined by stability, access, and the conditions that allow people to live with dignity and security over time. In San Miguel County, community health is shaped by where people live, how they work, and whether essential services are accessible locally. Housing affordability, economic stability, education, healthcare, and environmental conditions are not separate issues. They are deeply...

The ski patrol strike has been resolved and the mountain has reopened, but the effects of the past month will linger. Workers lost wages. Small businesses lost revenue. Families postponed plans. Even as normal operations resume, many people are still feeling the aftershocks, and our community remains divided. What we experienced was not simply a labor dispute. It was a reminder of how interconnected and fragile life in San Miguel County can be, and how quickly decisions or disruptions beyond...

A Community to Come Home To Why this matters: A local economy is only strong if it can support stability when disruption occurs. A strong local economy is not measured only by visitor numbers, investment, or a good season. It is measured by whether people who work here can build stable lives here, whether small businesses can plan beyond the next month, and whether the community can absorb disruption without unraveling. The recent closure of the ski area has laid bare how fragile a...