Unity theme spreads from Denver to Lincoln, Omaha

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BY DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal Star

DENVER — Time to come together.

Democrats came together here this week, and the mayors of Omaha and Lincoln say it’s time for Nebraska’s two cities to do the same.

“Nebraska is reinventing itself,” Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey says.

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Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey on the floor of the Democratic National Convention. (Joe Nigro)

Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey on the floor of the Democratic National Convention. (Joe Nigro)

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Lincoln and Omaha are becoming “more comfortable” with one another, he suggests, and that’s good news for the state.

“There’s a spirit of cooperation and that will help make sure Nebraska is prepared to be successful.”

“We are going to work together to seek opportunities to attract businesses and good jobs,” Fahey says.

Cooperation on development of the Interstate 80 corridor between the two cities is an example of that progress, he says.

Another example: The chambers of commerce of both cities travel together to Washington to meet with Nebraska’s congressional delegation and make contacts with the federal government.

Fahey says he’d like to see the voters of Lincoln approve construction of a new sports and entertainment arena in their city.

“That would be good not only for Lincoln, but for the state,” he says.

“We no longer should be focused solely on parochial interests, but on how we can help one another be successful.”

Fahey’s advice to Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler as he argues for a new arena in Lincoln’s Haymarket: “Be tenacious. These proposals never are an easy sell. Don’t give up. There will be roadblocks. These things are never easily done.”

Omaha voters approved construction of a new arena and convention center on the first vote.

Now, Fahey is spearheading construction of a new downtown baseball stadium and has his eye on launching construction of a new trolley system before he leaves office next spring.

“We have a plan of action,” he says. “It’ll be a public-private partnership, as all these projects need to be.”

Beutler embraces the movement toward a partnership between Omaha and Lincoln.

“We need to promote greater cooperation and a new vision for eastern Nebraska, recognizing we indeed will be one metropolitan community in the future,” he says.

“I think it behooves us to think of ourselves that way now.”

Beutler says both cities need to move beyond “old suspicions about each other” and shake old images.

“The image of us is we are a government town that doesn’t contribute enough to the economy,” Beutler says. “We are emphasizing economic development now. We want to build the private sector.”

In Omaha, there is a belief that Lincoln has not made use of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to build economic opportunities for Nebraskans in the way Omaha has made use of the Medical Center, the mayor says.

But Lincoln is engaged now with the state in building and expanding research opportunities through development of a university research park, Beutler says.

“I hope most of us understand that probably is key to our economic future,” he says.

“And I think the arena is a key piece of this idea of growth,” he says.

“If you don’t grow, you lose.”

In Lincoln’s case, that translates into future loss of the annual state high school basketball tournament, Beutler says, along with other events and opportunities.

“We need to compete,” he says. “And it’s not just that aspect. It’s about keeping your kids here. It’s an important piece of the recreation and entertainment aspects of our city.”

Beutler says the city needs to demonstrate it has “taken care of our current budget problems” before submitting the arena to a vote of the people.

“We’ve taken tough action,” he says. “The budget problem is getting solved.”

And, he says, a vote on the new arena next spring is the goal.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.