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Churches and synagogues mark Labor Day vowing to curb wage theft

Posted on September 1, 2012 by FRESC Good Jobs

This weekend, dozens of metro area churches and synagogues are taking action to help their members and other Coloradoans recover wages their employers stole from them. Congregations ranging from Jewish to United Methodist will be saying prayers, conducting wage theft surveys, directing impacted congregants to the appropriate government agencies and legal services. At least two Unitarian Universalist communities will be taking up special collections to support the cause of ending wage theft.

“This Sunday, I will reflect on Deuteronomy 24:14-15, which states in part: ‘You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy laborers,'” stated Rev. Daniel Klawitter of Burns Memorial United Methodist Church in Aurora.

Hudak to Host Veterans’ Town Hall Saturday

Posted on August 16, 2012August 16, 2012 by Colorado Pols

We’ve previously written about State Senator Evie Hudak’s propensity to take advantage of one of the perks of incumbency: hosting patently apolitical town halls — in line with her duties as an elected official — which also bolster her name identification and profile on the campaign trail. Every constituent, after all, is a potential voter.

Take, for example, Hudak’s upcoming forum for veterans:

ARVADA-State Senator Evie Hudak (D-Westminster) is hosting a community forum to inform veterans and community members in her district about the state and local services available to veterans. The Colorado Division of Veteran Affairs and Arvada American Legion Post 161 will be there to present and answer questions from the audience. All of Senator Hudak’s town halls are free, nonpartisan, and open to the public.

Senator Hudak is a strong voice for veterans and active service members at the Capitol. Over the past 4 years, she has supported ten legislative initiatives for veterans, active service members, and their families. Most recently, Senator Hudak voted to support an amendment that garnered $1 million to support veteran job training, mental health services, and homelessness prevention.

Senator Hudak offered the following comment about the upcoming forum:

“Without veterans and active service members, we would not be able to enjoy the rights we do as Americans. That is why I am hosting an event to help them get connected to the resources that can help make their lives a little easier. It’s the least I can do.”

WHAT: Forum for veterans

WHO: State Senator Evie Hudak

WHEN: Saturday, August 18, 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Standley Lake Library, 8485 Kipling Street, Arvada

It’s hard to criticize the senator for hosting a forum for vets and military families. To her credit, Hudak takes part in more constituent outreach than many other members of the Senate. Even in years she’s not running for re-election, Hudak tends to host multiple community events a month.

Still, just as before, the invite from the Senate Majority office reads just like campaign literature. Why emphasize that Hudak is a “strong voice for veterans” and “garnered $1 million to support veteran job training, mental health services, and homelessness prevention?”

Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Republican opponent Lang Sias has spent nearly thirty years in the military and served as “national veterans director” on John McCain’s 2008 presidential bid.

Veterans and those who serve in the military tend to vote Republican anyway, but Sias’ lengthy resume and ability to speak their language gives him a leg up on the incumbent with this particular voting bloc.

Although this town hall is valuable for SD-19 veterans to learn about “local services,” it also serves as a reminder that, while Sias may be a veteran, Hudak has at least done some work for veterans.

Then again, “topgun instructor” probably sounds a lot better to vets than “voted for an amendment.”

Denver Crime Lab: A Monument to Mitch Morrissey’s Expertise

Posted on August 15, 2012August 15, 2012 by Colorado Pols

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and United States Senator Michael Bennet yesterday toured the city’s recently-dedicated, 77,000 square foot crime lab, using the facility as a backdrop to push for the passage of Bennet’s bipartisan SAFER act.

From Bennet’s office:

Denver, CO – TODAY, Monday, August 13, at 9:30 AM MT, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet will tour the newly-opened Denver Crime Laboratory, joined by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. Immediately after the tour, Bennet and Hancock, along with Karen Moldovan of the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault and two sexual assault survivors will hold a press conference to highlight the SAFER Act.

In May, Bennet introduced the SAFER Act with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), which would help states and local governments conduct audits of rape kits in law enforcement storage facilities and increase available funds for crime labs to process those kits through testing and capacity building. According to prominent victim’s rights groups, there is a national backlog of at least 400,000 rape kits sitting untested across the country . The City of Denver has conducted its own recent audits of DNA evidence and has proven to be a leader in ensuring that rape kits are handled efficiently and effectively to bring perpetrators of sexual assault to justice, a model which SAFER seeks to support and expand to cities around the nation. The bill is paid for through repurposing of existing federal funds and will not add to the deficit.

The 2007 voter-approved Better Denver Bond Program budgeted $36 million for the new Denver Crime Laboratory. The lab opened in June 2012 and currently employs 50 people to complete forensic analysis on cases and other duties. Bennet has supported several federal grant applications to support the work of the crime lab.

It’s fitting that Bennet chose the Denver Crime Laboratory to highlight his federal rape kit legislation. Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey, after all, is one of the nation’s foremost experts on DNA evidence and pushed heavily for the lab’s construction. Although Morrissey has another four years left as DA — he’s currently running unopposed for a third term — he cemented his legacy in the office the very second the Denver Crime Laboratory opened its doors. And, with the SAFER Act slowly working its way through Congressional committee, Morrissey’s leadership on the issue may soon be codified into a national model.

That’s rewarding in and of itself for the prosecutor, sure, but the DA’s innovations in public safety will also help him politically. Morrissey’s law and order image will lend itself well to a CD-1 bid (pending Diana DeGette’s eventual retirement) or even something bigger.

Morrissey is more than happy to spend another 4 years in his current job, but his leadership within that office opens doors for him when term limits regrettably force him out. Mitch loves being DA. If and when the opportunity arises, however, he’s positioned himself perfectly to leap to another high-profile perch of public service.

Hancock to Deliver State of City on Monday

Posted on July 14, 2012July 14, 2012 by Colorado Pols

It’s been a big year for Denver Mayor Michael Hancock since his swearing in last July. Is Denver on its way to hosting the 2022 Olympics? Well, no. But Denver’s Civic Center might just become a National Historic Landmark. And hey, at least nobody can “camp” there anymore!

After two communications directors, hundreds of press releases describing Denver as a “world-class city,” and a year as mayor, Hancock will be delivering his second-ever State of the City address on Monday. In his first such address, delivered just a month after his swearing in, Hancock simply parroted many of the talking points that got him elected — par for the course, considering he didn’t have the time to, you know, actually accomplish anything yet.

In this year’s speech, however, Hancock has a year’s worth of decisions, successes, and failures to discuss. He’ll also take the opportunity, if he’s anything like predecessor John Hickenlooper, to announce new initiatives.

Here’s the media advisory from Hancock’s office:

DENVER – Mayor Michael B. Hancock will deliver the annual State of the City Address at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on Monday, July 16, 2012. The Address will lay out the Administration’s work and accomplishments from the first year in office and present priorities for the future.

WHO: Mayor Michael B. Hancock

City and County of Denver Elected Officials

WHAT: 2012 State of the City Address

WHERE: South Atrium of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science at 2001 Colorado Blvd.

WHEN: Monday, July 16, 2012 at 10 a.m.

Michael Chertoff in Denver Tonight

Posted on July 12, 2012July 12, 2012 by Colorado Pols

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock will once again be sharing the stage with a Bush-era official — though, this time, not with Dubya himself. Hancock will be joining former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff this evening for the ribbon-cutting of a new exhibit at Larry Mizel’s Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab’s (CELL) museum.

From Hancock’s office:

DENVER – The Honorable Michael Chertoff, former Secretary of Homeland Security will join Mayor Michael B. Hancock, Larry A. Mizel and more than 700 participants in celebrating the opening of the Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab’s (CELL) new exhibit on July 12, 2012.

In honor of the lives lost on 9-11, the CELL worked diligently to bring a girder from one of the fallen World Trade Center towers to Colorado. This memorial is one of the seventeen sections within this unique exhibit that teaches visitors about terrorism awareness and prevention. To learn more, visit www.theCELL.org.

WHO: The Honorable Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security from 2005 to 2009, and Co-Hosts Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Larry A. Mizel.

WHAT: Grand Exhibit Opening and Speaker Series Program: Terrorism in Our Times: Emerging Threats

The Speaker Series Program will feature former Sec. Chertoff (bio upon request).

The key note speech, entitled Terrorism in Our Times: Emerging Threats, will address new global security concerns, national security strategy and public-private partnerships that can enhance public safety (synopsis available upon request).

WHEN: Thursday, July 12, 2012

WHERE: 5:00 p.m. – Exhibit Tour at the CELL, 99 W. 12th Ave.

6:30 p.m. – Speaker Series Program

The Denver Art Museum – North Building

No word if Bush’s disastrous FEMA director, and now NewsRadio 850 KOA talking head, Michael “Brownie” Brown will also be in attendance. Hopefully not: three high-profile Michaels at any event is probably too many.

Just imagine the small talk. “Hey Michael, you’re doing great stuff with the City of Denver.” “Thanks, Michael, we’re proud to have installed some of your full body scanners at DIA. Oh, and Michael, how are you liking Denver? Not many Arabian horses around here, I bet!” “Sadly no, Michael, but at least I’m not being blamed for all the fires.”

Just How Many People Are Watching Internet Public Access, Anyway?

Posted on July 7, 2012July 7, 2012 by Colorado Pols

Although JBGTV — shorthand for “Jefferson County Business Guide TV” — is certainly an innovative way to broadcast video footage from community events around the county, the fact of the matter is that no amount of innovation can make public access television any more gripping or, well, entertaining.

Sure, it’s novel that JBGTV captured, for example, Jefferson County Commissioner Don Rosier creepily reading books to children. And it’s probably important that somebody filmed the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 40 West Arts District.

Still, no matter how many quirky events JBGTV puts on tape and offers online, it’s highly unlikely that anybody’s actually watching anything on its website.

How many people, for example, would spend over an hour of their day playing the June 6th meeting of the Alameda Gateway Association? There are probably 20 or so people in the world who even know what the Alameda Gateway Association is, and they were all at the meeting. Even worse, why would anybody choose to take part in that meeting remotely and after the fact? At least if you attend in person you get free pizza and soda.

JBGTV claims that they’re “now reaching over 63,000 viewers and growing.”

That’s impossible.

Lakewood (where JBGTV seems to have the deepest roots) has roughly 142,000 residents. That means that, according to the website’s estimates, nearly half of all of Lakewood’s citizens are regularly watching recorded townhall meetings and dry speeches from low-level area politicians.

Considering the fact that only about 24,000 people voted in the 2007 mayoral election in Lakewood — the most competitive race in recent memory — JBGTV is either the widest-reaching and most influential local news outlet in the area or is straight out lying about its numbers.

Which do you think is more likely? A poll follows.

Guzman, Steadman, Ferrandino: Grand Marshals at PrideFest this Weekend

Posted on June 15, 2012June 15, 2012 by Colorado Pols

Denver’s annual PrideFest is set to kick off tomorrow, with Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli fame headlining Saturday’s festivities at Civic Center Park — or at least doing an admirable job of pretending to headline, as it were.

The 80s lip-syncing pop star aside, however, this year’s PrideFest promises to be even more politically charged than usual in the wake of the contentious civil unions battle at the State Capitol last month.

While Democrats have long participated in the PrideFest parade, they’ll likely receive the warmest reception to date because of their forceful and repeated attempts to pass civil unions legislation in the face of House Speaker Frank McNulty’s machinations.

It’s fitting, then, that the Senate and House sponsors of the civil unions bil — Denver Democrats Pat Steadman and Mark Ferrandino, respectively — will be the parade’s grand marshals this year, joined by the legislature’s two other openly gay lawmakers: Denver Senator Lucia Guzman and Wheat Ridge Representative Sue Schafer.

While Steadman and company would’ve no doubt preferred this to be the first PrideFest following Colorado’s adoption of a civil unions law, this may very well be the last celebration without one: the speaker’s boneheaded impetuousness has all but assured that Democrats will have the majority they need to pass the bill next session.

Perhaps, then, it would’ve been more fitting for McNulty to be grand marshal.

Szabo Banks $42,530; Allport Still in the Hunt

Posted on May 30, 2012May 30, 2012 by Colorado Pols

We’ve previously written that the viability of Democrat Tim Allport’s campaign against Republican Representative Libby Szabo hinges on Allport’s fundraising numbers. The GOP hold an 8% lead in voter registration within the district, so Allport needed to outraise — or at least come close to — the incumbent Szabo.

Szabo had an average period, adding $11,000 to her massive $34,500 war chest. Spending nearly $3,000, Szabo’s left with about $42,530 on hand.

While it would’ve been impossible for Allport to narrow such a colossal fundraising gap, the labor activist posted a respectable $9,400, adding to the $3,500 he previously held. He spent about $4,300 of that, leaving him with just under $8,700 on hand.

Szabo holds an incredible fundraising advantage, there’s no question. HD-27 is a difficult seat for any Democrat to win, and while Allport hasn’t yet proven that he can raise enough money to do it, he has shown that he’s a credible candidate — noteworthy for any Democrat faced with such a steep uphill battle. That Allport came within $1,600 of Szabo’s numbers shows that he’s connected and charismatic enough to elude being labeled a “sacrificial lamb.” Allport’s legitimacy as a candidate is self-perpetuating; proving that he can raise money will bring more money in.

More importantly, it may also draw outside attention (and money) into the race. Given Szabo’s predilection for religious zealotry and loyal opposition to this year’s civil unions effort at the Capitol, she makes a pretty target for wealthy LGBT donors who have already promised to do whatever it takes to give Democrats the speaker’s gavel. Because Allport has proven his electoral credibility, the path to a Democratic majority for these outside groups might go straight through HD-27 — if only because of the sheer symbolic weight of a Szabo defeat.

Urban Camping Ban in Effect, “Grace Period” for Now

Posted on May 30, 2012May 30, 2012 by Colorado Pols

While Denver’s controversial urban camping ban technically went into effect yesterday at midnight, the Denver Police Department — with the blessing of Mayor Michael Hancock — is holding off on enforcing the ordinance during a “grace period” during which officers and residents alike will be informed of its provisions.

The reluctance to enforce the ban highlights the difficulty in communicating the effects of the law to a homeless population which, by definition, often lacks the means of direct communication.

Westword’s Kelsey Whipple reports:

Today marks the announced effective date of Denver’s new urban camping ban, an ordinance that makes it illegal to camp on public or private property without permission. After months of debate, followed by a two-week implementation period, both Occupy Denver and the homeless community prepared for its first day in action. They’re still waiting. “We are not enforcing the ordinance right now,” says Denver Police Department spokesman John White.

So far, the spokesman has not heard of any official warnings being given, and any verbal ones are considered routine as the department approaches enforcement. “We got our word from (Denver Police Chief Robert) White that we are not to enforce it yet,” says the detective. Although the ban went into effect at midnight, he did not outline a specific date for enforcement to begin. Instead, the department is exercising a grace period while officers and residents learn more about the ban.

Over the past two weeks, officers have been trained in the ban’s enforcement protocol, which requires both a verbal and written citation in addition to several layers of assessment before any action takes place. Officers also visited several area homeless shelters to discuss the ban’s implications and protocol with providers before it goes into effect, Detective White says.

Although this “grace period” may indeed ameliorate some of the humanitarian criticisms lodged against the ordinance, it also arms critics with some powerful ammunition.

After all, the DPD’s hesitation to enforce the ban — and the difficulty in enforcing it at all — can be framed as an indication that the ordinance was poorly thought out and rushed through the City Council without due diligence paid to its potential implications.

One such unintended consequence is, of course, the incentivization for “campers” to, well, break the law:

At least one occupier plans to stay in the park until he is removed by police officers. “I don’t care if they arrest me on the sidewalk,” says Tommy, who asked that his last name be withheld. “At least I won’t be homeless anymore.”

Poll: Who Will Win the District 2 Commissioner Seat?

Posted on April 24, 2012April 24, 2012 by Colorado Pols

Faye Griffin is set to breeze through election year. Democrats failed (or were unable) to draft a candidate to run against her, so she’s a lock for re-election. Given that Griffin’s the only sitting commissioner displaying any modicum of common sense, perhaps that’s for the best.

District 2 Commissioner John Odom, however, is left alone to defend his seat from Democratic attorney Casey Tighe. Make no mistake: it’s an uphill battle for Tighe. Odom’s incumbency will lengthen his fundraising lists, and as a Democrat, Tighe’s already starting out behind in a county which favors the GOP for countywide offices. It doesn’t help that Odom, unlike his predecessors, is more or less untouched by scandal. At least, scandal that we know of.

Still, Odom’s never won an election before. He was appointed to his current position in the wake of Kevin McCasky’s now-controversial resignation last year. His only electoral qualification, in fact, is his failed bid against Cheri Jahn in 2010.

We want to know: who do you think will be the next Jefferson County commissioner from District 2, John Odom or Casey Tighe? Remember, vote for the candidate you think will win, not the candidate you’d like to win.

Search Results for: at least

Churches and synagogues mark Labor Day vowing to curb wage theft

Hudak to Host Veterans’ Town Hall Saturday

Denver Crime Lab: A Monument to Mitch Morrissey’s Expertise

Hancock to Deliver State of City on Monday

Michael Chertoff in Denver Tonight

Just How Many People Are Watching Internet Public Access, Anyway?

Guzman, Steadman, Ferrandino: Grand Marshals at PrideFest this Weekend

Szabo Banks $42,530; Allport Still in the Hunt

Urban Camping Ban in Effect, “Grace Period” for Now

Poll: Who Will Win the District 2 Commissioner Seat?

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