Durango, in southern Colorado, has become a mountain
biking mecca and popular stop on the Southwest tourist loop. But
can you make a living there? For both newcomers and old-timers
working in the town’s restaurants, bars and shops, the answer is
“barely,” according to a report by two nonprofit groups, Grassroots
First and the San Juan Citizens Alliance. “If I didn’t get child
support I could never make it in Durango,” said a woman who has
worked in the town’s restaurants for almost 20 years. The report,
based on 150 interviews, placed most service workers in the “very
low income” bracket, and found that few receive any benefits.
Meanwhile, rent prices have skyrocketed. The report recommends
publishing a consumer’s guide to promote responsible businesses,
and enlisting local government to give preference in contracts to
businesses that pay adequate wages. It also suggests that
organizing would increase workers’ bargaining power. Dan Randolph,
who helped with the project, hopes that the report will start a
community dialogue about improving working conditions. For more
information or a copy of the six-page report, Working in Durango,
Colorado, contact the Western Colorado Congress at P.O. Box 2461,
Durango, CO 81302, or call
970/259-3583.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Overworked and under-appreciated.
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