Edo is now Tokyo, Constantinople is now Istanbul, New Amsterdam is now New York and on April 3 Commerce City could be on its way to a new name like those great cities. Commerce City's name focuses on one part of the city at the expense of the rest of the community, drawing attention away from the other valuable things the city has to offer. The present name of Commerce City does little to reflect the diverse nature and mission of the city. Few citizens in any community get to choose the new name and direction of their city.

What was once prairie with buffalo on it became a cattle ranch run by a man named John Henderson. Fortyyears later small towns by the name of Derby, Adams City, Irondale, Rose Hill, Dupont, Hazeltine and Henderson grew up around the railroads that ran from Cheyenne and Omaha to Denver. During WWII large farms were taken by the Army to use in the production of weapons for war. Not until Denver wanted to annex the refinery and present day South Commerce City, did the town of Commerce Town come to exist. All of the previous 100 years of farming and ranching history were wiped away by this new ethos of Commerce and Capitalism as superior to the rise of Socialism around the world. In the 1950's it was the time of Duck and Cover in schools, black lists in Hollywood as well as McCarthyism in Government. Even "under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance to illustrate the Godlessness of Communism.

I simply think that a mistake was made during those years of the Red Scare. In an attempt to highlight what was considered noble for its time, the city fathers condemned subsequent generations to a name that is considered synonymous with smoke stacks and semi-trucks. They obscured the history that once was, in hope of creating a city of the future. What had been an agricultural area for most of its history was reworked into a town that focused on one aspect of its existence, commerce.

Commerce will always be a part of the city no matter what the name is. Just as Denver, Golden, Arvada and Aurora have light and heavy industry, they didn't choose to erase their past names and heritage to focus on one aspect of life in their city. Commerce City has many things to offer its citizens other than just commerce. It has one of the largest urban wild life refuges in its heart were buffalo will again roam. People live in the city and enjoy parks and recreation.

The S. Platte and Sand Creek rivers run by it, to the north Barr Lake State Park and Adams County Parks provide open space and wildlife habitat. The Parade of Homes, featuring residences selling for two million dollar, was in the Reunion neighborhood. A new Quebec Pkwy. will run past a new high school, civic center and state of the art soccer stadium. The city has two innovative school districts, with hard working teachers in both. It has great mountain views, a fine golf course & easy access to Denver and DIA.

A name helps create an image. Just ask John Denver or Madonna. If Washington D.C. was instead Government City, most would assume it was nothing more than government buildings full of bureaucrats. If Boulder had been renamed University City when awarded C.U. in 1876, for the past 130 years most would associate the town with college students instead of the diverse business community, rich array of recreation opportunities and quality of life it has to offer. Commerce City's motto is "quality community for a lifetime." Who is a part of this community? Is it solely commercial interests that drive the city? Changing the name in order to better reflect the history, nature and mission of the community is a small yet bold step that will work to remake the image of what is now Commerce City in the decades to come.

Kevin Priola