In February 2025, Salida residents awoke to the iconic white “S” on Tenderfoot Mountain transformed into a giant dollar sign using white sheets. The anonymous artist’s note read: “In a time of ever increasing price gouging, greed and wealth, we’ve corrected the S to better reflect what Salida has become. Behold. Money Mountain. Dedicated to those of us struggling to make a living in this overpriced town.”
This temporary, harmless installation sparked widespread discussion across Chaffee County and beyond. Salida Officials quickly called it “vandalism” and removed it by 9:15 a.m. The artist(s) stayed anonymous, likely fearing prosecution for minor mischief.
Mayor Dan Shore’s response: “(I’m) still trying to process it. It’s obviously, disappointing that someone would vandalize an iconic feature of this community. I would say, I understand and can empathize with some of the frustration; Salida, since COVID, has become remarkably expensive. Lots of impacts on workforce. Unfortunately, local government has little to no ability to influence market forces. We live in a really desirable place and a lot of people have discovered and so, I get that … there’s angst out there, but this was not the way to address it … . Only other thing I would say is it sure would be nice to channel this type of energy productively, get involved with boards, commissions – (there is a) more productive way to go about things than vandalism … .”
Shore’s deflection highlights a larger problem in Salida, Chaffee County, and Colorado: officials’ refusal to admit how their policies—higher taxes, restrictive zoning, and burdensome codes—have worsened the housing crisis and cost-of-living surge. Government interventions have often driven up prices, priced out workers, and favored investors. We’d be better off with less meddling. Future pieces will examine these policies in detail.
The Money Mountain’s real impact was the near-universal public support it received, crossing political lines. From far left to far right, residents embraced it as a sharp critique of greed and government bad/in action. This bipartisan outrage reflects declining quality of life under unchecked Democrat majorities at every level, where one-sided policies face little scrutiny and residents suffer the consequences. To show this broad support, I reviewed hundreds of comments on the Mountain Mail’s Facebook post and selected these 10 insights. They range from left-leaning critiques of capitalism and tourism greed to right-leaning calls for deregulation and blame on subsidies/immigration, plus neutral pleas for community over profit. All revealing a community desperate for accountability.
- Jared Bradford (critiquing government hypocrisy, artistic bent): “Vandalism is defined as intentional damage to property. This was not damage. This was easily removed sheets. I applaud the artist who did this! Wasn’t Christo going to use sheets and leave a drastic impact on the landscape but was championed by the city? Weird that since it’s not a money making scheme the city would be so dramatic about it. Seems that makes it all the more poignant.”
- Myka Daugherty (left-leaning, focusing on economic crisis and inequality): “Absolute creative genius… As someone that’s been looking for housing in Salida (as a LOCAL) since last year, someone HAD to say something. And I’m tired of the rich people and politicians of Salida brushing off the common people’s needs/ concerns. We aren’t sensitive snowflakes, this is a genuine economic crisis! I’m an unmarried/childless able-bodied worker, and I still have to rely on the kindness of my family to survive.”
- Daniel Flanders (artistic and economic critique, challenging “free market” narrative): ““vandalize”!? Are we a city of art or not? This is the most brilliant art I’ve seen in Salida. The actual vandals have allowed housing costs to exceed 60-70%+ of what a worker can make in this town.”
- Steve Young (right-leaning, blaming subsidies and immigration): “Not a free market. Americans are competing for housing with illegal immigrants that receive subsidies to live in ‘workforce housing’. There are no Americans in workforce housing. Americans are grifted to pay a rigged market rate.”
- Scarlett Campbell (community pride): “Now this, this is what makes me proud to be a Salidian. A brilliant way of bringing attention to an issue that has been plaguing our community for far too long.”
- Kiva Brumbaugh-Berkenkotter (long-time resident displaced): “I’ve been here since 1973 and was pushed out from the cost of housing. My son graduated salida and can’t afford to live here. It’s all so sad… If I wanted to live in aspen I would’ve moved there.”
- Mark G Corrales (government influence on markets): ““Unfortunately, local government has little to no ability to influence market forces.” This is an absolute falsehood! Building codes, Zoning restrictions, Land Use restrictions all have a direct effect on the lack of available housing and the cost of new housing.”
- Savannah Watkins (art vs. vandalism): “vandalism? this is art. nothing was destroyed… whats vandalism is our arts council buying a giant rabbit for $80,000 when that money could have done so much other good for our community.”
- Renee Carter (worker shortages): “This person is not wrong and to say it’s because of Covid is a lie. You have people driving an hour to work in the town… These small towns will shut down if the cost of living does not go down.”
- Kim Jackson (mayor’s inconsistency): “I’m confused! Mayor said, local govt has little to no ability to influence the market while in the same breath encouraged whoever did this that a better use of their time would be to get involved with boards and commissions.”
#10. Kim Jackson wins the prize for keen observation of government’s inconsistency: after years of demanding resources and policy changes to facilitate housing, Mayor Shore finally admits they can’t really do anything…but you should pay your taxes without reservation, join their boards and support the fruitless effort anyway! These comments show a community united in frustration, regardless of politics: the left blames corporate greed, the right overregulation and subsidies, moderates just want affordability and accountability.
Yet, nearly 1 year after the creation of Money Mountain , nothing has changed. Salida, Chaffee County, and Colorado’s elected officials and staff remain overwhelmingly left-leaning, dedicated to escalating the same failed policies that got us into this mess. How can voters on the left ignore that their chosen leaders bear responsibility for the conditions behind Money Mountain? Skyrocketing rents, 16.7% poverty rates (well above average), struggling businesses, and long commutes for workers make the failure clear.
The most plausible explanation is an information gap. Voters lack time to dig into policies. They instead rely on local media, which has largely failed by offering near-blind support of local government, sometimes even stooping to censorship of dissenting public opinion.
That’s why the High Country Advocate matters: a platform to amplify all voices, spark real debate, and hold power accountable. Colorado and Chaffee County are on a downward spiral without public engagement. Upcoming investigations will expose the true costs of current policies, who benefits, and real solutions. Money Mountain was quickly removed, but its message endures: a bipartisan rallying cry for change. Voters must demand better from their elected leaders.
Vince Phillips
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