Saturday, July 30, 2011

Citizens for Responsible Aurora Government becoming too effective?

I've cited and admired the Citizens for Responsible Aurora Government (CRAG) on this site before. Now it appears as if their professional PowerPoint presentations at Council meetings are becoming so effective that the "Aurora Mayor Ponders Turning off the TV".


July 30, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(Aurora) – Before Citizens For Responsible Aurora Government (CRAG) commenced their second slideshow at the Aurora City Council on July 25th, Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer apparently suggested council consider turning off the TV cameras when citizens come to testify before city council.

As noted by an Aurora Sentinel editorial writer, (link) on July 28th, the mayor was not keen on CRAG testifying before council, using Power Point slides that Aurora voters could view on the local Channel 8 TV. The CRAG presentation on July 25th dealt with the massive taxpayer subsidy for the Gaylord Entertainment complex to be located near DIA.

As noted below, CRAG member, Greg Golyansky, has submitted an open letter to the mayor requesting a response to this alleged attempt to stifle free speech in Aurora.

OPEN LETTER TO HONORABLE ED TAUER, MAYOR OF AURORA, COLORADO.

Your Honor,

On July 28th, an editorial writer with the Aurora Sentinel noted that you recently expressed a desire to put an end to TV coverage for citizens using power point slides while presenting at city council. In fact, the writer implied that this action was directed specifically at the Citizens for Responsible Aurora Government - CRAG.

It was noted that it appeared this suggestion came about because of the critical nature of CRAG calling council to task for its actions on various issues.

CRAG’s most recent presentation on the Gaylord affair and our contention that it is "gaming the system" and not "economic development" apparently got your ire.

CRAG thinks these issues ought to be discussed publicly, in an open forum, and not behind closed doors. Taxpayers are the ones footing the bill for the million dollar TV production facilities at Aurora City Council. To deny us access to the same video capabilities as council members would be an abuse of council authority.

Because of the importance of this issue, I have chosen the "Open Letter" venue and will release this letter to the press.

If you choose not to answer my letter or to end the TV coverage of the public comment portion of the City Council meetings your actions will speak volumes in their own right.

Respectfully,

Gregory N. Golyansky - member, Citizens for Responsible Aurora Government

For more info on CRAG contact:

Info@cragaurora.com

Phil Goodstein - North Side Story: Denver’s Most Intriguing Neighborhood

Aug 22 2011 7:30 pm

Colfax Avenue: Colorado historian, prolific local author, and Denver tour guide Phil Goodstein will discuss and sign his new history of Denver, North Side Story: Denver’s Most Intriguing Neighborhood ($28.95 New Social Publications). Once treated as the community’s stepchild, North Denver has experienced a renaissance since the 1970s. It is filled with distinguished manors, churches, schools, and long-lived businesses. North Side Storydiscusses these developments and institutions, and shows that the area is the epitome of the American urban experience.
Request a signed copy: books@tatteredcover.com
Location: 

2526 East Colfax Avenue
Denver
Colorado
80206
United States

Tree Applications available NOW

The Park People’s Annual Denver Digs Trees Fall Shade Tree Distribution

Apply Online: www.theparkpeople.org or contact The Park People at 303-722-6262

Deadline for applications: September 1

Tree pick-up: October 1

These trees are strictly in your yard (on private property),
NOT along the street in the public right-of-way.
(For street-side trees, consider our spring street tree program.)

Trees are only $25 each and Free to residents in our target neighborhoods
(Trees this size usually sell for $100+)

Denver Digs has provided more than 42,000 affordable and free trees to Denver residents over the past 20 years. We offer a variety of beautiful trees that make our communities healthier, more livable places.

Target neighborhoods: Athmar Park, Baker, Barnum, Barnum West, Chaffee Park, Clayton, Cole, Elyria-Swansea, Five Points, Globeville, Green Valley Ranch, Jefferson Park, Lincoln Park, Montbello, Northeast Park Hill, Ruby Hill, Skyland, Sunnyside, Sun Valley, Valverde, Villa Park, West Colfax, Westwood, and Whittier. While trees for all other neighborhoods cost $25, “Treeships” are available for those with financial hardship.

Uptown crime report

One of our neighbors was attacked and mugged on the 1600 block of Vine Street. Two females and two males came out of hiding near a house as she walked on the west side of the street late at night. The females assaulted her and the males robbed her. The only descriptions I have been given are that the assailants were very tall and all black and similar in age to the Post article. If you have different information or an actual police report please forward it.

Go here for more...Police warn of street robberies in Capitol Hill area

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

The State of Education

The State of Education
Via: OnlineEducation.net

Don't get drunk at home (in Park County)

Press Release

Park County Sheriff
On July 23, 2011 at 00:32 hours a Park County Deputy was advised of an unresponsive male party at 38178 Park County Road 77. Deputies arrived on scene and made contact with four unsupervised children. Upon further investigation, two intoxicated adults were found within the residence. They were identified as Kendal Klug and Joni Coleman; both are employees of the Teller County Sheriff’s Office. The children were turned over to responsible adults. Both of the intoxicated parties were later issued summonses for misdemeanor child abuse.
For Further information please contact the Park County Sheriff’s Office at            (719) 836-2494      .

Monday, July 25, 2011

Dems Picnic

VERY IMPORTANT PUBLIC COMMENT JULY 29 DEADLINE – COMMENT NOW!

From CINQ via email:
Greetings,

There was an important U.S. Fish & Wildlife (USFW) meeting last week regarding the sale of Rocky Flats land for the transportation corridor. Below is a good letter from Margot Zallen from Plan Jeffco that gives more detail.

We have learned some important information.
USFW is NOT looking at potential impacts OUTSIDE the refuge border.
USFW is NOT planning to study possible Plutonium contamination caused by road construction at Rocky Flats. Apparently, USFW is satisfied with the EIS that was done in 2004 that said the refuge is “clean.”

HOWEVER, according to NEPA , federal agencies are required to include the direct and indirect impacts of its actions in its NEPA documents. By looking at only refuge impacts, USFW is ignoring this important NEPA requirement, and denying environmental justice to our community.

Indirect impacts by a toll road may include:
increased traffic on Hwy 93
loss of natural grass lands and habitat
non-compete agreement on Indiana/McIntyre and SH93 causing more traffic congestion, noise and air pollution
potential plutonium contamination to downwind communities caused by road construction at Rocky Flats. These are just a few of the indirect impacts.

Also, the impacts of a toll road versus a bike path are very different in intensity. Non-refuge impacts must be compared for a toll road versus a bike path.

USFW should reconsider the scope of the environmental assessment according to NEPA, and include the impacts on the lands, plant and wildlife habitat, people and roads in areas outside of the refuge system that will be impacted by the disposal of a transportation corridor.

Please enlarge the scope of your NEPA analysis.

Rob Medina, CINQ, Citizens Involved in the Northwest Quadrant, info@gothebetterway.org, www.GoTheBetterWay.org

PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENT NOW! FEEL FREE TO UTILIZE MY LETTER, OR MARGOT ZALLEN’S LETTER BELOW, OR WRITE IN YOUR OWN WORDS. SEND EMAILS TO: rockyflatsea@fws.gov

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Internal Report

In case you've been wondering about the slower pace on this site recently, be advised that things have been out of kilter here at Denver Direct since March when our associate Adrienne Anderson was stricken with a lethal glioblastoma multiforme, a rare brain tumor. Having been instructed by and collaborating with this amazing person for the past three years, I had the wind knocked out of my sails here as a result, and settled into a deep depression, sprinkled with many hospital visits. Adrienne has now finished her radiation and chemo and is resting at home.

Then I went into surgery myself for a total hip replacement. My left hip had been grinding to a halt for some time and Dr. Ted Parks, the ortho guy at Western Orthopedic (and rated #1 by 5280 Magazine), said I was a great candidate for the full pop. I had mixed feelings and took a couple of weeks to decide. At that time I was limited to about a one-block walk and that was greatly limiting my ability to get out and shoot video.

Avoiding TMI, I'll keep the report brief – the operation was a great success, the hospital stay (4 days) was almost intolerable, not so much from the pain but from the side-effects of the pain killers which had me freaking from lack of sleep. With the help of my steadfast partner Pat, I was able to survive (thanks to Dr. Parks for accommodating my difficulties) then and at home on day five and thereafter. At-home physical therapy from Angels Care Home Health for the next few weeks got me up and walking, climbing stairs, and driving.

I always wondered if you got an implant such as this if you could feel it as an alien robot part inside your body. The answer is yes, but as it gets incorporated into the structure, less and less. I'm guessing that eventually you forget about it. I do have an image of my left leg thundering down the highway while the rest of my shriveled body hangs on for the ride.

Other new upgrades:
 - new speed-demon computer (i7) with 3 terabytes of memory
 - new Sony NEXVG-10 camera
 - Vegas Pro editing software

So for now, I should be flying high, but the depression lingers. Here's hoping, and thanks for continuing to stop by. Your visits are appreciated.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Denver Human Services is now accepting naming proposals for the new Eastside Building

DENVER, CO ­— July 20, 2011 — Denver Human Services is currently accepting proposals to name the new, full service Eastside Human Services Building, located at 3815 Steele St. Denver, CO 80205. Anyone who has an idea of a member of our community that should be honored or another idea for naming the building, is encouraged to submit a proposal. Proposals must include the sponsor’s contact info, the proposed name, a statement of rationale, and a petition with 100 names including addresses and phone numbers, per the requirements below. All proposals will be submitted to Denver City Council for consideration.

Proposed names may be submitted on or before Friday, August 19, 2011 to:

Denver Human Services
Attn: Administration - Naming Proposals
1200 Federal Blvd.
Denver, CO 80204

The proposal shall contain:
The name, address, e-mail address and telephone number of a person who can be contacted in regards to the proposal
The name proposed for the building
A statement setting forth a rationale and basis for the proposed name
A petition, signed by at least one hundred (100) residents or business owners in the area, users of the structure, or persons interested or involved in the use of the structure

The petition shall contain:
The name, address and telephone number of each person signing the petition
The statement required in Paragraph 3 above, setting forth the rationale and basis for the proposed name
The name, address and telephone number of the sponsor of the proposal
The name, address and telephone number of the circulator of the petition, if different from the proposal sponsor
A certification by the circulator that the parties signing the petition to the best of his or her knowledge are residents or business owners in the area, users of the structure, or persons interested or involved in the use of the structure

Please contact Denver Human Services, 1200 Federal Blvd., Denver, CO 80204, 720-944-1422 or e-mail revekka.balancier@denvergov.org with questions.

Political statement

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Death in Denver

This weekend on Animal Planet’s show, “Pit Boss,” Shorty Rossi will be exploring Breed Specific Legislation in Colorado. Shorty is a client of the Animal Law Center and filmed with me when he was here. This should be a very exciting and fun show to watch and will open your eyes to the awful breed-specific issues in Colorado. Don’t miss it! The episode is called “Death in Denver.” It is on Animal Planet this Saturday the 23rd of July at 10pm EDT and 8pm MDT.



To learn more about the show, click on the links below…
http://animal.discovery.com/tv/pit-boss/
http://animal.discovery.com/tv-schedules/series.html?paid=15.15894.132999.39417.x

Thanks for the support,
JENNIFER REBA EDWARDS, ESQ.


Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Job Fair for Retail Positions at Denver International Airport

DENVER, CO ­— July 19, 2011 — PROVENZANO RESOURCES, INC. is sponsoring a job fair on July 25, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Kiosk and Retail Merchandise Unit (RMU) operators at Denver International Airport. Expected to be one of the largest RMU programs in the airport industry, with 24 RMU’s and 14 kiosks, DIA projects the new retail locations will add $13 million in concession revenue in the program’s first year, generate an additional $500,000 in annual sales tax and create 120 jobs.

The Job Fair will be held on:

Monday, July 25, 2011
10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
In the main Jeppesen Terminal at Denver International Airport
(City Conference Room on Level 6 West)
Kiosk/RMU operators are actively seeking to hire retail sales associates and managers.
Some of the Merchants participating include:
Taxco Sterling/Sterling Works
New York Collection Eyewear
Luxor Fragrances
Breckenridge Hat Company
Ayala’s Concessions
Hammond’s Candies
Climax Jerky
Summit Sports Shades
Wystone's World Teas

IMPORTANT:
All applicants MUST pass a 10-year background check to be eligible for employment at the airport.
Applicants should bring a resume, dress to impress, and be prepared to sell their skills to employers.
Parking will NOT be validated. Be prepared to cover your own transportation and/or parking costs. (DIA parking maphttp://flydenver.com/parking, RTD/bus information http://www.rtd-denver.com/)
For more information please contact:
Irene Pierpont
PROVENZANO RESOURCES, INC. (PRI)
Director of Special Projects
DIA RMU/Kiosk Program
720.878.5278
Mobile: 727.560.6296
Irene@ProResourcesInc.Com
www.proresourcesinc.com

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

The Triumph of Political Prostitutes

Editorial by Phil Goodstein

Michael Hancock has never made any secret of his thorough commitment to the corporate establishment. At no time since his rise from his poverty-stricken youth has he been associated with the politics of insurgency. The mayor-elect was never part of groups fighting city hall or questioning business as usual. Indeed, his "positive" campaign primarily emphasized that he was ready to do the bidding of the masters of the economy.

The mythmakers have painted Hancock's rise as the epitome of success for a poor boy as he has sold himself to those with power and influence. Poor girls, in contrast, who sell their bodies, are condemned as prostitutes. Frenzied morals campaigns are endless against them and the men who patronize them. Missing is any larger understanding about the unhappiness, loneliness, and frustration that fuel the commercial sex industry. Politicians such as Hancock have been in the forefront of pious moral crusades against prostitution.

The level of hysteria about whether Hancock might have patronized a high-class prostitution service is in inverse relationship to its importance. This is typical of a media that do not have the slightest grasp of power. If they did, they would observe that Hancock's advisers and lawyer in the affair show how pliant a tool he is of 17th Street. His attorney, for example, Bruce James, is the managing partner of Brownstein Hyatt Farber. A co-chairman of his transition team is Cole Finegan, a former Brownstein operative who has moved over to Hogan Lovells, a rival lawyer/lobbyist firm. Other key representatives on his transition team are from CRL, the most nefarious city lobbying firm which, in some ways, virtually controls city council. Hancock has made it known that a prime prerequisite for the leaders of his inauguration committee is their ability to deliver money for the event, i.e., it is not to be a people's celebration, but a bash of the bourgeoisie.

This is the real prostitution scandal: someone who sells his/her heart and soul for the seeming prestige and honor of a high elected or appointed post. The entire brouhaha over the supposed Hancock prostitution ties is designed to cloak this. In such a manner, no questions have been asked about why corporate interests have virtual complete control of the mayor-elect as he seeks to assure that they, not the citizenry, will retain their lock on city hall. If anything, the timing of the scandal also allowed the completely empty coverage of the municipal election to pass unnoticed. The rumor was current prior to the polling; the media only pushed it after Hancock's victory. By so focusing on it, the pundits were silent on the way very few Hispanos rallied to the candidate of their supposed leaders, Federico Pena and James Mejia. The reportage on the election never mentioned the obvious: that rank-and-file voters had the good sense to stay away from the abysmal farce. The only good thing about the election is that Mejia, Chris Romer, and other scoundrels as bad as Hancock went down to defeat.

Monday, July 18, 2011

The Electric Universe - an Introduction

I've been following the development of the Electric Universe for the past 4 years and firmly believe that it makes a lot more sense than the current batch of inventions by the proponents of so-called "standard cosmology" with its big bang, black holes, dark matter and dark energy. See for yourself.

Calling all cyclists


There are TWO KEY meetings on the Jefferson toll road, however, BOTH MEETINGS ARE ON THE SAME DAY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 20. Because of this date conflict, it will be important to turn out more people and have more voices heard. You may also submit comments in writing, but the comment period is very limited, please ACT NOW! Instructions are below. Please forward this email to your friends and neighbors. Thanks, Rob

July 20
Meeting #1 – Golden’s Proposal for a Bike Path, US Fish & Wildlife
Meeting #2 – Soil Disturbance at Rocky Flats, Dept. of Energy (see below)

Meeting #1 – Golden’s Proposal for a Bike Path, US Fish & Wildlife
If you support Golden’s proposal to build a bike path, come to this meeting - US Fish & Wildlife Meeting, July 20, 2011, 5PM-8PM, Westminster City Park Recreation Center, 10455 Sheridan Blvd. Westminster, CO 80031

Golden’s Proposal: The City of Golden has submitted a bid to purchase a corridor of land, presently owned by the U.S. Department of the Interior as part of the Rocky Flats Wildlife Refuge, along Indiana Avenue. http://cityofgolden.net/News.asp?NewsID=867

CINQ’s position to USFW – (Please feel free to use these points in your comments)
We urge government officials to accept Golden’s proposal to build a bike path. This plan will have less impact on the Refuge, protecting important habitat and wildlife. Golden’s plan also offers the federal government more revenue than the competing proposal. A bike path also supports a more sustainable community by lessening carbon emissions, limiting noise, slowing sprawl and limiting water use. A bike path also serves as alternative transportation, which is needed in our community. Biking promotes recreation and health. Please support Golden’s Bike Path.

Cyclist- Special Message
From Margot Zallon, Plan Jeffco - Perhaps, you are unaware of the opportunity presented to our community by the proposed environmental assessment process for the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge in northern Jefferson County. This process is to review competing proposals for the use of a transportation corridor on the east side of the Refuge. The City of Golden has proposed acquiring the right-of-way for use as a regional bicycle corridor just west of Indiana Street to provide better north-south bike connectivity instead of a toll highway corridor (see the attached maps). In short, such a corridor could ultimately provide access for a bike way between Boulder County and Jefferson County. If you would think this a good notion, and would use such a corridor, please attend the US Fish and Wildlife Open House on July 20, 2011. In addition, please use the email contacts for US Fish and Wildlife, provided immediately below, to make your opinion known. They will not be taking public comment at the meeting so sending an email is the only way FWS will know your views. Most importantly, please spread the word on this important issue to your fellow cyclists.
Greetings Golden Biking Community,
From Rob Medina, CINQ - I am writing regarding a very important issue surrounding the proposal TOLL ROAD north of Golden. The City of Golden has submitted a competing bid to buy the land on the Rocky Flats Refuge, and build a BIKE PATH rather than a toll road. The primary location of Golden’s proposed bike path would be on the east edge of Rocky Flats. More info: http://cityofgolden.net/News.asp?NewsID=867 If Golden is successful, this could mean miles of added bike lanes and bike access. IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE CYCLING COMMUNITY GET INVOLVED TO SUPPORT THIS IDEA AND DEMONSTRATE A NEED FOR THIS BIKE PATH to officials with U.S. Fish & Wildlife, who control Rocky Flats. Please come to this meeting. People may also respond via email to the USFW contacts below. I have been asked by city officials to reach out to people in the community like you - your help is appreciated. Please forward this email to your customers, business associates, friends and neighbors. Thanks, Rob

NEWS RELEASE
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region, 134 Union Boulevard, Lakewood, Colorado 80228
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Host Public Meeting Regarding the Potential Expansion of Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Public Scoping Comments will be accepted until July 29, 2011 Pursuant to the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Act of 2001, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is to make available a parcel of land up to 300' wide from the existing Indiana Street right-of-way on the eastern border of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge for the sole purpose of transportation improvements. The Service has received proposals that include proposed exchanges of the transportation corridor for property known as Section 16 on the southwest corner of the existing Refuge. The Service has also received a request to transfer the 300' wide parcel in fee for transportation purposes. The Service also proposes to expand the western edge of the approved acquisition boundary of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Expanding the refuge boundary would allow the future acquisition of environmentally important land, including critical habitat for the Preble's meadow jumping mouse. The land within the proposed boundary also includes xeric tall grass prairie, a globally rare vegetation type, and would provide an important corridor between the Refuge and existing regional open space to the west.
The Service wants to hear from the community and will hold a meeting about the proposed boundary expansion and a potential land exchange at the Westminster City Park Recreation Center on Wednesday July 20, 2011. The meeting will be in an open house format, so you will be able to meet with Service personnel, learn about the proposal, and provide input. The meeting will be a forum for sharing ideas and concerns regarding the potential expansion of the Refuge. The Service also encourages the public to comment through letters, emails, or phone calls to the contacts listed below. Comments and information received will help determine the appropriate level of environmental review required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to expand the refuge boundary. NEPA requires federal agencies to integrate environmental values into their decision making processes by considering the effects of their proposed actions on the quality of the human environment. Whether you are an individual or a group representative, please do not hesitate to call, write, or request information on upcoming meetings with Service staff to discuss the proposal and your perspective. The service will accept public scoping comments until July 29, 2011. There will be an opportunity to comment on the resulting NEPA document in late summer/early fall of 2011.
Open House, July 20, 2011, 5PM-8PM, Westminster City Park Recreation Center, 10455 Sheridan Blvd. Westminster, CO 80031
Mike Dixon, Division of Refuge Planning, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 25486, DFC, Denver, CO 80225
RockFlatsEA@fws.gov 303-236-8132
Bruce Hastings, Deputy Refuge Manager, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, 6550 Gateway Road, Building 129, Commerce City, CO 80022
RockyFlatsEA@fws.gov 303-289-0533
Meeting #2 – Soil Disturbance at Rocky Flats, Dept.of Energy
If you are concerned with Plutonium at Rocky Flats, come to this meeting. The DOE is considering allowing soil disturbance BELOW 3 FEET WITHOUT FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT. This change would be dangerous and irresponsible. The Jefferson Parkway would need to dig down deeper than 3 feet, which is the motivation to make this change. Digging anywhere at Rocky Flats could release contaminated dust into the air, endangering public health.

Public comment sought on Rocky Flats proposal — Public comment is being sought on proposed changes to the soil disturbance requirements at the former Rocky Flats site. The changes proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy would allow soil disturbance below 3 feet without further public comment. The City of Westminster believes that this soil should not be disturbed without significant public input and comment. A public meeting on the proposed changes will be held on Wednesday, July 20, at 6 p.m. at the DOE Legacy Management Westminster office, 11025 Dover St., Suite 1000. Comments on this proposed action are being received until Tuesday, Aug. 2, and can be emailed to: rfinfo@lm.doe.gov with ‘Rocky Flats Site Proposed Plan Comments” in the subject line

From LeRoy Moore, Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center - Your help is needed to STOP construction of the Jefferson Parkway and City of Golden Bikeway, both proposed for a strip of land at Rocky Flats that is contaminated with plutonium. Urge DOE to make no land available for either project until it does an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS must determine the quantity of plutonium in soil in the area of any intended construction and the extent to which construction of either project could stir up clouds of plutonium-laden dust potentially harmful to construction workers, nearby residents and others. For more details, go to: Rocky Flats Nuclear Guardianship, http://www.rockyflatsnuclearguardianship.org/facebook/your-help-needed/

CINQ’s position to USFW – (Please feel free to use these points in your comments)
We have serious concerns about possible Plutonium contamination at Rocky Flats based on several credible studies (see www.GoTheBetterWay.org) While government contends that Rocky Flats is “clean”, it may not be. It is more than possible that the government’s past standards were/are inappropriate, and conclusions regarding risk are backed by poor science. The DOE needs to re-examine the risk by adopt more modern scientific methods to determine risk. DOE should reject a proposal to allow soil disturbance below 3 feet without further public comment. We also demand that the DOE conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to protect public health. Rocky Flats is a time bomb waiting to explode if soil is disturbed. Why risk public health?


Rob Medina
info@gothebetterway.org
www.GoTheBetterWay.org
720.261.2058
CINQ - Citizens Involved in the Northwest Quadrant
PO Box 715 Golden CO 80402

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Denver's Image


Thanks to Westword and to photographer Brandon Marshall for bringing us this new iconic photograph from the protest march (Saturday, July 9, 2011) of the murder of Marvin Booker while in police custody.

 

Friday, July 8, 2011

Thursday, July 7, 2011

If I Owned the Stock Show (and I sorter do)

Editorial by Tom Anthony

If I owned the National Western Stock Show-NWSS- (and since they pay the Denver Taxpayers $1 a year for their old, dilapidated buildings that are about 100 years newer than mine, I sorter do) I’d have an Urban Equestrian program for the inner city kids to learn about animal husbandry. Since NWSS sits on the historic packinghouse yards next to the Platte River, it wouldn’t be hard to make a horse trail through Riverside Cemetery along the river, and into the big open spaces in Adams County and conduct “urban horseplay” tours to Barr Lake and back.

If the management were feeling “squeezed fer space” I’d look into how to integrate the 80 acre ASARCO site in Globeville, which Region 8 EPA wants to make a permanent toxic waste disposal site, into some additional horse trailer parking or some such, and connect that site to the main site with the Elyria Loop Bus in the Elyria 2020 Vision Plan which loops through Globeville past the 38th and Blake station in Cole Neighborhood to the NWSS Station (did you know that the Taxpayers were already going to build a train stop at 48th and Brighton Blvd called the NWSS Station? They are.) That would make the NWSS “public transit accessible” and easy to attend the “Model Train Show” the “Exotic Bird Show” the “Curly Haired Dog Show” and the “Motorcycle Swap Meet” although who’d want to ride commuter rail to a motorcycle swap?

I’d turn the old Stock Pens, which are used only during the Stock Show itself in January, into Denver’s biggest outdoor public market, weekends only, and make room for 750 small business booths where anybody from tamale builders to artists to garage salers could showcase their wares to 40,000 metropolitan proletarians weekly amid the screechings of Bluegrass and Flamenco.

I’d make it so the Denver County Fair could run for a week or maybe two, so all the new hen and rooster raisers could really get someone’s goat. We’d make side trips to the Denver Impound Auction on the one side and River North Art District on the other, while conducting Urban Pioneering Tours of Swansea and Globeville, with side trips to Sunnyside and Chaffee Park.

If I owned the Stock Show (and I sorter do) I’d go ahead and make 4H and Westernaires available to Denver Public Schools, and the kids could get there via the RTD commuter rail line to Elyria. I’d have my kids riding and roping and curry combing and manure pitching; all the things that build character and connect the human spirit to the wind. I’d take the RiverWalk concept from Houston and Glendale and put it along Denver’s only river, behind the dirt parking lots at NWSS.

If I owned the Stock Show (and I sorter do) I’d bring the wild west to life here in Denver. As far as Aurora, well, they’ve got the Borealis. Let’s keep it that way.

The possible impact of fracking on Denver’s water supply

Wes Wilson, retired EPA analyst seen in the award winning documentary Gasland, and Phil Doe, Envorinmental Issues Director, Be The Change U.S.A., will lead a discussion of Hydro-Fracking. This evening program will cover the following topics:

Overview of the Hydro-Fracking process
The new Bureau of Land Management Leases in South Park
The possible impact on Denver’s water supply

When: 7PM-8:30PM, Saturday, July 9

Where: Columbine Unitarian Universalist Church, 6724 South Webster Street, in Littleton

Price: Free