KLIN

Roger Larson Perspective

Hear Roger Larson's Perspective Tuesday & Thursdays at 7:10a & 5:35p

Lincoln Radio Legend Roger Larson Is Only On KLIN

For over 52 years, Roger Larson has been one of the Capitol City's most influencial and respected voices. From the Lincoln/Lancaster County Planning Commission to various community boards such as the United Way and Children's Museum and management of a local radio station, Roger has served this city well. Now, he brings his unique perspective to NewsTalk 1400 KLIN with his bi-weekly commentaries every Tuesday and Thursday.

Listen to NewsTalk 1400 KLIN at 7:10am and 5:35pm Tuesdays and Thursdays for Roger Larson's Perspective. Also, look for Roger's archived commentaries here on KLIN.com.

If you would like to comment to Roger about his Perspective, email to rogerlarson@klin.com or call 488-9479.

Big Red Moves Ahead (7-15-10)

Last week, an important announcement was made when the corps of engineers announced the new boundaries of the flood plain in the Antelope Valley, particularly in the center of our city.

As a result of the Antelope Valley Project which has been in the planning and construction phases for many years, our community will no longer be subject to the periodical damages and costs of floods occurring in and around 21st and O Street. We are now prepared to withstand the proverbial 100 year flood, which could happen next week or never, but for which we must be prepared.

So there are several possible benefits that may never be realized, but we're ready. However there are many benefits that will happen immediately. One was indicated at the announcement event in the emerging beautiful Union Plaza Park. The corps announced that over 700 residences will no longer be required to purchase flood insurance. The same is true for many small businesses in the area. This is a tremendous savings.

The change in the flood plain also makes over 50 acres of land now available for building adjacent to the University Campus, and will allow for new research buildings in the corridor near the already existing Beadle Center.

Already in progress is the construction of the $50 Million headquarters campus of the Assurity Life Insurance Company, which heretofore was impossible because of the flood threat.

The University of Nebraska, Lincoln has now added another major victory to its string of recent wins.

The Innovation Park is now under preliminary planning, the membership in the Big Ten Conference is secured, the new Arena will provide a new home for some of the UNL athletic teams, and now the Antelope Valley Project has made further research expansion possible.

So our greatest state asset, the University, is continuing to move up in the ranks of great Universities.

All of this is due to some great vision and a lot of hard work on the part of the city, the NRD, the University, and thousands of other organizations and individuals who made the effort to make this latest dream come true.

All of us should be proud and grateful for this continuing progress.

I'm Roger Larson, and that's the way I see it.

Time to Shine (7-13-10)

These next few days, we in Nebraska have a chance to prove to ourselves as well as the rest of the country what kind of great people we really are.

The opportunity is the manner in which we host the 2010 National Special Olympics Games, which will run from Sunday, July 18th through Friday, July 23rd. Of course, there will be many visitors in our city before and after those dates and we can demonstrate that we are a hospitable, tolerant, and welcoming community.

Much of the work has already been done by a relatively small staff assisted by a virtual army of volunteers who has been working for literally years to show that Lincoln has the capacity to carry out this tremendous national event.

So far, everything looks great. CEO Chuck Cooper and his staff have managed to prepare the organization, the facilities, and the community very well.

The question remains, however, whether we have the spirit needed to prove that this confidence by the National Special Olympics Organization is well placed.

It's time for all of us to reflect on our own good fortune, our wonderful city, and our open hearts and minds. One easy way is to attend one or more of the hundreds of events
during the games.

Let's show our visitors that we are truly a great city!

I'm Roger Larson, and that's the way I see it.

We Are Leading (7-8-10)

Many times, when new trends begin in our country, we in the Midwest are the last to be affected, which is not always bad.

But in a trend that I believe is finally developing, it seems that we in Lincoln and Nebraska are ahead of the rest of the country in our recognition and action surrounding the biggest problem of the day, which is living within our means.

The latest statement by Mayor Beutler is just such an example. He proposes privatizing the public parking enforcement, thereby saving significant money for the city while not jeopardizing the service, or endangering the security of the city.

In the meantime Governor Heinemann, with the help of leading Senators, has begun the process of meeting the next budget crisis by looking for ways to make further cuts in state spending. This practice has kept our state in better financial condition than almost every other state.

All of this is a part of a painful change in the way we live in America. We've been living beyond our means for decades, and it is time we realized that such extravagance cannot continue.

There will be citizens who will be forced to learn to live with less government assistance; there will also be federal and state programs which are thought to be essential, that must be cut or eliminated.

But in my opinion, we need a significant change in course. We cannot go on living on the backs of our successive generations. We owe them a better way of life, not an unbearable financial load to carry through their lives.

I'm Roger Larson, and that's the way I see it.

Confirmation (7-6-10)

Lincoln has always legitimately taken great pride in their Public School System. One of the most important ingredients of our good life has been the public investment in the schools, and the expectation that our system would be among the best in the nation.

So it is great to hear the latest report of some of the changes in proficiency in the classroom, announced as a last minute bit of pride by outgoing Superintendent Susan Gourley.

While it is dangerous to measure long term trends by the test results of one year, this latest news is great news for our schools. Today's educational challenges are greater than ever, given new immigrants, and always changing state and federal rules.

So let's send Superintendent Gourley off with a big vote of thanks for her service. But at the same time, the expectations just went up for her successor, who will fortunately keep the same fine staff of assistants, associates, and faculty that have been assembled through the years by previous administrations and elected boards. These are the real producers of this progress.

Most of all, the citizens of Lincoln deserve commendation for their ongoing commitment to quality education. It is one very important element of our claim to being a first class city.

I'm Roger Larson, and that's the way I see it.

Land Of Opportunity? (7-1-10)

Our country has always been the land where everyone in the world wants to come and live. For over two centuries, we have been able to regulate the inflow from other countries, and these immigrants have contributed mightily to the success of our democracy.

Now however, we find ourselves in a long-delayed problem of too much immigration, particularly from Mexico and Central America. Poor border control, lack of enforcement of existing laws and regulations, and the need for low-paid employees has caused a situation where there are more than 10 million illegal immigrants in our country, and solutions to the problem are impossible to imagine.

It is easy for us in Nebraska to criticize the recent passage of anti-illegal immigrant laws in Fremont. We all hate to be seen as an intolerant people unwilling to share the good life with these people who enter our country illegally and go to work for low-paying industries.

On the other hand, these people are here because they broke the law and should be deported. But how do we deport 10 million people?

This is another case of a horrible mess that has been delayed and deferred by the Federal government for decades, and now we are at a place where some way must be found to stop the inflow, deport the illegals who are committing crimes, and allow the remainder to seek American citizenship over time by meeting certain conditions.

All of these solutions will be met by strong opposition, but it's time we start recognizing this problem and act together in a legal, but humane way to correct it.

I'm Roger Larson, and that's the way I see it.

Let's Heed A Warning (6-29-10)

All of the news has been dominated lately by one story-The Gulf Oil Spill. It has been called the earth's greatest disaster since the Ice Age.

The most disappointing part is that it could have been prevented by better practices by the company involved, and better enforcement of regulations by the Federal Government.

We should have learned that deregulation is not always a good idea; that industries are not capable of self enforcement, and that Congress has been guilty of weakening what regulations we have by cutting budgets for those agencies involved, resulting in layoffs of enforcement personnel, and sloppy practices going unnoticed or ignored.

Now we have a situation right here in Nebraska that has the potential, however slim, of being a catastrophe as devastating as the Gulf disaster.

That is the possible building of a major oil pipeline directly across the Ogallala aquifer, which is the largest underground water body in our country. Many industries, cities, organizations, and people are very dependent on this body of water, and any risk, however small, that can be avoided, should be.

Surely we are not going to take any chance of losing this asset like we are losing another water resource, The Gulf of Mexico. Can't we learn from previous mistakes?

I'm Roger Larson, and that's the way I see it.

A Great Summer For Lincoln (6-22-10)

This has been a great spring for Lincoln, and the summer looks very promising also. Big projects are in progress, such as Antelope Valley, the Assurity Building, the Innovation Park, Union Plaza, and the Arena Plans.

There are also smaller but still important projects underway, such as the renovation of historic Sherman Field, which is in desperate need of some upgrading, and the Elliott School Playground and Park, which will further beautify that part of town and connect Elliott to the Antelope Valley.

Then consider all of the great activities that have happened or are planned for the community, such as the Meadowlark Music Festival, The Cornhusker State Games, the 52nd Nebraska Shrine Bowl, the Celebrate Lincoln festival, and the biggest event of all coming in July-the National Special Olympics!

This national event will be the biggest event in Lincoln this year, and will give us all a chance to [prove that we truly are a great city. If you haven't contributed or volunteered for the Special Olympics, don't miss the chance. It will make you feel like a hero when it's over.

So forget those old complaints that nothing ever happens in Lincoln, and never will. We are on a great track for the future, and all it needs to keep up momentum is for all of us to stay involved. Let's go, Lincoln!

I'm Roger Larson, and that's the way I see it.