thedenverpost--2020-04-24--Aurora cop won’t be charged for shooting man holding an AR-15 rifle

An Aurora Police Department officer made the best decision possible when he shot a man holding an assault rifle because he was responding to a scene where reported gunshots had been fired and other officers and bystanders were at-risk , the 18th Judicial District Attorney ’ s Office determined .
Officer Joseph Carns will not face criminal charges in connection with the Oct. 20 shooting of Oscar Lucio-Vazquez , who was severely injured by multiple gunshot wounds , according to a DA ’ s decision letter released Friday .
Lucio-Vazquez ’ s gun was not loaded , but the Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not matter in her decision .
“ I do not find the fact that the AR15 was unloaded to be relevant .
I do not believe this would have been evident to a person given the distance , movement , darkness and brief interaction .
Therefore , I do not believe this is a factor in whether Officer Carns ’ belief was reasonable , ” Ferrin wrote in the letter .
Carns was responding to a report of a fight at an apartment complex in the 9100 block of East 14th Avenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a knife , and while driving to the complex Carns heard a report that two sets of shots had been fired , the letter said .
As Carns was walking toward the building , two women ran in his direction , shouting that a man had a gun .
Carns saw a man holding an AR-15-rifle while climbing out a window .
Carns yelled for the man to drop the gun , but he instead turned toward Carns , the women and other officers and lowered the weapon toward them , the letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Glock 34 9mm .
The shooting was recorded by Carn ’ s body camera , but Ferrin said it was not helpful in determining what happened because the scene was too dark .
Lucio-Vazquez later told investigators that his rifle was not loaded but he had a loaded ammo magazine .
He said someone had broken his apartment window in the earlier fight and he had the gun to defend his family , the DA ’ s letter said .
Lucio-Vazquez is charged with one count of felony menacing in connection with @ @ @

An Aurora Police Department officer made the best decision possible when he shot a man holding an assault rifle because he was responding to a scene where reported gunshots had been fired and other officers and bystanders were at-risk, the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office determined.
Officer Joseph Carns will not face criminal charges in connection with the Oct. 20 shooting of Oscar Lucio-Vazquez, who was severely injured by multiple gunshot wounds, according to a DA’s decision letter released Friday. Lucio-Vazquez’s gun was not loaded, but the Chief Deputy District Attorney Amy Ferrin said that did not matter in her decision.
“I do not find the fact that the AR15 was unloaded to be relevant. I do not believe this would have been evident to a person given the distance, movement, darkness and brief interaction. Therefore, I do not believe this is a factor in whether Officer Carns’ belief was reasonable,” Ferrin wrote in the letter.
Carns was responding to a report of a fight at an apartment complex in the 9100 block of East 14th Avenue. A 911 caller said someone had a knife, and while driving to the complex Carns heard a report that two sets of shots had been fired, the letter said.
As Carns was walking toward the building, two women ran in his direction, shouting that a man had a gun. Carns saw a man holding an AR-15-rifle while climbing out a window. Carns yelled for the man to drop the gun, but he instead turned toward Carns, the women and other officers and lowered the weapon toward them, the letter said.
Carns fired five shots from his Glock 34 9mm.
The shooting was recorded by Carn’s body camera, but Ferrin said it was not helpful in determining what happened because the scene was too dark.
Lucio-Vazquez later told investigators that his rifle was not loaded but he had a loaded ammo magazine. He said someone had broken his apartment window in the earlier fight and he had the gun to defend his family, the DA’s letter said. Lucio-Vazquez is charged with one count of felony menacing in connection with the incident.


thedenverpost--2020-04-24--From guns to GoPros, Asian Americans seek to deter attacks amid coronavirus pandemic

When Eddie Song leaves his Manhattan home , it can feel like heading into battle .
The Korean American startup founder and avid rider dons his armored motorcycle jacket , motorcycle gloves , a skull face mask and a GoPro camera .
“ The GoPro is on all the time whenever I leave the house now .
Basically it ’ s a rolling camera , ” Song said .
“ With the combination of looking intimidating and having the camera — if they pick a fight with me , they know I ’ m prepared.
” As the coronavirus first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Asian Americans are continuing to wrestle with a second epidemic : hate .
Hundreds of attacks on Asian people have been reported , with few signs of decline .
Rather than feel helpless , many are filming their interactions or carrying guns .
Others are training in deflection instead .
Many Asian Americans say they want to safely confront racist bullying and harassment , and grassroots groups are sharing — virtually , of course — ways to defuse abuse .
Song , 41 , made the camera a fixture after a middle-aged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shopping cart outside an Upper East Side Costco in February “ because your people are the reason coronavirus is happening.
” His Thai American wife , a nurse , goes out in scrubs in hopes of better treatment but also carries pepper spray .
Becky Gerhardus , a Cambodian American in Portland , Oregon , bought a handgun two months ago after reading about anti-Asian attacks , including a stabbing that wounded a Texas man and his two children .
An Asian woman in her 20s , Gerhardus feared being stereotyped as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , I might be the only person that can keep myself safe in a bad situation , ” said Gerhardus , who often went shooting at a range before buying a weapon herself .
Using the gun would absolutely be “ the last resort , ” she said .
Background checks required to buy firearms hit an all-time high in March , according to FBI data .
The agency doesn ’ t track background checks by race , but several media outlets have reported Asian Americans making up a large portion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the last two months .
The demand surprised Alvin Lin , a Taiwanese American who shoots competitively and is a licensed instructor in Louisville , Kentucky .
All of his Asian friends have asked him about owning a firearm or weapons training .
People who are serious about getting a gun should be committed to learning how to use it , said Lin , 31 , who also owns a restaurant group .
“ It would be incredibly irresponsible to let a 16-year-old just buy a car and let them drive without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of how a car works , ” he said .
“ Same thing with a firearm.
” Lin said many of his friends partially blame President Donald Trump using the phrase “ Chinese virus ” for giving the “ go ahead ” on racism .
The onslaught of anti-Asian attacks has evoked parallels to how Muslim Americans were treated after 9/11 .
However , the president ’ s response made a difference .
Six days after the 2001 terrorist attacks , President George W. Bush spoke of unity at a Washington , D.C. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went down , according to Brian Levin , director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University , San Bernardino .
“ He made a point of not criminalizing Muslims and their religion and their community — and really making a distinction between those committing violent acts and just people of faith who were wholly American , ” said Rachel Gillum , author of “ Muslims in a Post-9/11 America : A Survey of Attitudes and Beliefs and Their Implications for U.S. National Security Policy.
” During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center has received nearly 1,500 reports of racist abuse against Asians nationwide since it launched March 19 .
Stay-at-home orders mean in-person run-ins are down somewhat but vandalism of Asian-owned homes and businesses is up , according to the advocacy groups running the portal .
It ’ s difficult to predict whether incidents will dramatically drop once society goes back to “ normal , ” Levin said , because the pandemic is unprecedented .
“ Generally when there ’ s a catalytic event , hate crimes tend to decline and have a bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But that presupposes a singular catalytic event as opposed to a rolling one.
” Levin , a former NYPD officer , cautioned to only stop an attack if it can be safely done .
Asian Americans Advancing Justice is promoting just that with bystander training .
The civil rights organization teamed with anti-harassment group hollaback !
to hold videoconferencing sessions over the next month .
They were overwhelmed when more than 1,000 people registered for the first training two weeks ago , said Marita Etcubañez , one of the coordinators .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks can be , often the person is further traumatized when they feel like people who were around could have helped but did not , ” Etcubañez said .
Most people say they don ’ t step in because they don ’ t know what to do or are afraid of making things worse , organizers found .
Bystanders can try diverting attention from the person being harassed , get help or confront the perpetrator — but only if there ’ s no danger .
That support has turned to action in San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In New York City , a Facebook group pairs people with Asian Americans afraid to venture out alone .
Song , who gears up when he goes out in New York , wants to use his GoPro to document harassment against others .
In a Facebook video posted this month , he criticized a white woman for calling another Asian man “ corona.
” It ’ s received thousands of views .
He ’ s optimistic he won ’ t have to be as vigilant once some normalcy returns .
“ My theory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where they feel they have a higher probability of getting away with it , ” Song said .
“ With more people around … they ’ re more likely to be called out on being a jerk .
”

When Eddie Song leaves his Manhattan home, it can feel like heading into battle. The Korean American startup founder and avid rider dons his armored motorcycle jacket, motorcycle gloves, a skull face mask and a GoPro camera.
“The GoPro is on all the time whenever I leave the house now. Basically it’s a rolling camera,” Song said. “With the combination of looking intimidating and having the camera — if they pick a fight with me, they know I’m prepared.”
As the coronavirus first seen in China now ravages the U.S., Asian Americans are continuing to wrestle with a second epidemic: hate. Hundreds of attacks on Asian people have been reported, with few signs of decline. Rather than feel helpless, many are filming their interactions or carrying guns.
Others are training in deflection instead. Many Asian Americans say they want to safely confront racist bullying and harassment, and grassroots groups are sharing — virtually, of course — ways to defuse abuse.
Song, 41, made the camera a fixture after a middle-aged Latino man shoved him and demanded his shopping cart outside an Upper East Side Costco in February “because your people are the reason coronavirus is happening.” His Thai American wife, a nurse, goes out in scrubs in hopes of better treatment but also carries pepper spray.
Becky Gerhardus, a Cambodian American in Portland, Oregon, bought a handgun two months ago after reading about anti-Asian attacks, including a stabbing that wounded a Texas man and his two children. An Asian woman in her 20s, Gerhardus feared being stereotyped as an easy target.
“In these crazy times, I might be the only person that can keep myself safe in a bad situation,” said Gerhardus, who often went shooting at a range before buying a weapon herself.
Using the gun would absolutely be “the last resort,” she said.
Background checks required to buy firearms hit an all-time high in March, according to FBI data. The agency doesn’t track background checks by race, but several media outlets have reported Asian Americans making up a large portion of those in long lines at gun shops in the last two months.
The demand surprised Alvin Lin, a Taiwanese American who shoots competitively and is a licensed instructor in Louisville, Kentucky. All of his Asian friends have asked him about owning a firearm or weapons training.
People who are serious about getting a gun should be committed to learning how to use it, said Lin, 31, who also owns a restaurant group.
“It would be incredibly irresponsible to let a 16-year-old just buy a car and let them drive without any sort of training and any understanding of how a car works,” he said. “Same thing with a firearm.”
Lin said many of his friends partially blame President Donald Trump using the phrase “Chinese virus” for giving the “go ahead” on racism.
The onslaught of anti-Asian attacks has evoked parallels to how Muslim Americans were treated after 9/11. However, the president’s response made a difference. Six days after the 2001 terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush spoke of unity at a Washington, D.C., mosque and hate crime reports noticeably went down, according to Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.
“He made a point of not criminalizing Muslims and their religion and their community — and really making a distinction between those committing violent acts and just people of faith who were wholly American,” said Rachel Gillum, author of “Muslims in a Post-9/11 America: A Survey of Attitudes and Beliefs and Their Implications for U.S. National Security Policy.”
During the pandemic, an online hate reporting center has received nearly 1,500 reports of racist abuse against Asians nationwide since it launched March 19. Stay-at-home orders mean in-person run-ins are down somewhat but vandalism of Asian-owned homes and businesses is up, according to the advocacy groups running the portal.
It’s difficult to predict whether incidents will dramatically drop once society goes back to “normal,” Levin said, because the pandemic is unprecedented.
“Generally when there’s a catalytic event, hate crimes tend to decline and have a bit of a half-life,” he said. “But that presupposes a singular catalytic event as opposed to a rolling one.”
Levin, a former NYPD officer, cautioned to only stop an attack if it can be safely done.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice is promoting just that with bystander training. The civil rights organization teamed with anti-harassment group hollaback! to hold videoconferencing sessions over the next month. They were overwhelmed when more than 1,000 people registered for the first training two weeks ago, said Marita Etcubañez, one of the coordinators.
“As hurtful and harmful as hate attacks can be, often the person is further traumatized when they feel like people who were around could have helped but did not,” Etcubañez said.
Most people say they don’t step in because they don’t know what to do or are afraid of making things worse, organizers found. Bystanders can try diverting attention from the person being harassed, get help or confront the perpetrator — but only if there’s no danger.
That support has turned to action in San Francisco, where volunteers patrol Chinatown. In New York City, a Facebook group pairs people with Asian Americans afraid to venture out alone.
Song, who gears up when he goes out in New York, wants to use his GoPro to document harassment against others. In a Facebook video posted this month, he criticized a white woman for calling another Asian man “corona.” It’s received thousands of views.
He’s optimistic he won’t have to be as vigilant once some normalcy returns.
“My theory is that these are purely opportunistic people where they feel they have a higher probability of getting away with it,” Song said. “With more people around … they’re more likely to be called out on being a jerk.”


thedenverpost--2020-04-24--Colorado reports 674 coronavirus deaths as state continues to add older fatalities to tally

Colorado reported as many as 674 deaths from the new coronavirus Friday as state health officials continue to tally older deaths attributed to the respiratory illness .
The overnight addition of 122 deaths is the result of the state ’ s Department of Public Health and Environment combing through death certificates , which include previously unreported COVID-19 deaths from four to five weeks ago , but are only now being entered into the state ’ s database .
Of the 674 total deaths , 121 are considered “ probable ” deaths , which include people who did not have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death certificate lists the cause of death as “ COVID-19 ” or equivalent , the public health department said .
There have been 2,366 people hospitalized since the outbreak was first confirmed in the state last month , but only 866 people were in Colorado hospitals with symptoms of the illness as of Friday afternoon , state data shows .
At least 72 people since Thursday either went home or were transferred to a lower level of care , like a rehabilitation facility .
More than 12,200 people have tested positive for or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highly infectious respiratory illness causes by the virus — though health officials have said between 65,000 and 75,000 have likely had the disease .
Officials recorded nearly 5,400 tests on Thursday , though it ’ s unclear if all of them were conducted on the same day .
Gov .
Jared Polis said Friday that the National Guard tested 900 people at three nursing homes around the state as health officials try and contain concerning levels of outbreaks at senior living facilities .
There have been 134 outbreaks at contained facilities such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factories and jails — four more than the previous day .
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced Thursday that COVID-19 fatalities will be higher this week as officials tally previously unreported deaths .
Deaths related to the new coronavirus were expected to jump by 130 this week as officials review death certificate data for unreported cases , health officials said , noting that these deaths did not all occur this past week , but were only just now entered into the state ’ s database .
The state health department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and confirmed cases based on what ’ s reported up from Colorado ’ s counties ; though the deaths and positive test results may be announced on a particular day , they may have occurred any time in the past and are just now being reported to the state .
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox .

Colorado reported as many as 674 deaths from the new coronavirus Friday as state health officials continue to tally older deaths attributed to the respiratory illness.
The overnight addition of 122 deaths is the result of the state’s Department of Public Health and Environment combing through death certificates, which include previously unreported COVID-19 deaths from four to five weeks ago, but are only now being entered into the state’s database.
Of the 674 total deaths, 121 are considered “probable” deaths, which include people who did not have a lab-confirmed positive test result, but their death certificate lists the cause of death as “COVID-19” or equivalent, the public health department said.
There have been 2,366 people hospitalized since the outbreak was first confirmed in the state last month, but only 866 people were in Colorado hospitals with symptoms of the illness as of Friday afternoon, state data shows. At least 72 people since Thursday either went home or were transferred to a lower level of care, like a rehabilitation facility.
More than 12,200 people have tested positive for or are believed to have COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory illness causes by the virus — though health officials have said between 65,000 and 75,000 have likely had the disease.
Officials recorded nearly 5,400 tests on Thursday, though it’s unclear if all of them were conducted on the same day. Gov. Jared Polis said Friday that the National Guard tested 900 people at three nursing homes around the state as health officials try and contain concerning levels of outbreaks at senior living facilities.
There have been 134 outbreaks at contained facilities such as nursing homes, long-term care facilities, factories and jails — four more than the previous day.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced Thursday that COVID-19 fatalities will be higher this week as officials tally previously unreported deaths. Deaths related to the new coronavirus were expected to jump by 130 this week as officials review death certificate data for unreported cases, health officials said, noting that these deaths did not all occur this past week, but were only just now entered into the state’s database.
The state health department announces new totals daily of coronavirus deaths and confirmed cases based on what’s reported up from Colorado’s counties; though the deaths and positive test results may be announced on a particular day, they may have occurred any time in the past and are just now being reported to the state.
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-04-25--“My body, my choice”: Inside Colorado’s growing anti-shutdown movement

Joe Oltmann , of Castle Pines , is the 45-year-old CEO of a data company .
He ’ s also a leader and financier in the nascent but growing movement of Coloradans demanding an end to stay-at-home orders .
“ I recognize there is a risk and I recognize people could get sick , ” Oltmann says of reopening the state ’ s economy .
“ Those are all things I recognize .
But I also recognize that hunger can kill people .
Despair can kill people.
” “ If I choose the wrong way and it ends up killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but I made a choice .
I took all the information that I did know and I made an educated choice affecting me , while at the same time respecting that other people deserve the right to feel safe , ” he said in an interview over Zoom on Wednesday .
Impatient frustration at the state ’ s stay-at-home-order , which boiled over last weekend at a Capitol protest , simmered under the surface for much of April .
Among leading Colorado Republicans , it is becoming conventional wisdom , and a rallying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the order is set to expire Sunday and be replaced with a “ safer-at-home ” phase , Gov .
Jared Polis says this shouldn ’ t be considered a grand reopening of the state .
The process to lift restrictions is more gradual than anti-shutdown advocates prefer .
The chair of the Colorado Republican Party had suggested the governor ’ s stay-at-home order was “ Marxist.
” The top Republican in the Colorado House said it leads to a “ Gestapo-like mentality ” and attended a shutdown protest .
A Republican fundraiser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police State.
” “ Let ’ s get rolling and start undoing what we ’ ve done , getting people back to work and getting this country opened up again , ” said Lou Vallario , the Republican sheriff of Garfield County , during a Facebook Live segment he called “ Just the Facts ” on Monday .
Colorado Republican lawmakers have questioned many of the restrictions throughout the stay-at-home order , and House Republicans sent the governor a letter on Monday urging that he switch from a statewide model to a county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Coloradans can figure out how to protest safely during the pandemic , then they can also return to work safely .
They called the nonessential business shutdown unreasonable and wrote that they “ strongly object to the arbitrary nature of the current executive orders.
” “ Coloradans are done with mass quarantining , ” the letter stated .
Rep. Larry Liston , R-Colorado Springs , said his constituents say they ’ ve been trying to be safe and abide by the orders , but it has gone on too long .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , ” he said .
“ For some people , this is the so-called ‘ cure is worse than the disease . '
” Critics of the shutdown come from a range of perspectives and political persuasions .
Many are conservative supporters of President Donald Trump ; others are farther to the right or libertarians untrusting of government statistics .
But still others are Democrats or apolitical citizens who have lost their jobs , their businesses , their ability to provide for a family .
They ’ re anxious , worried .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is happening , ” said Mary Conley , a Jefferson County woman who attended Sunday ’ s protest .
She added , “ My body , my choice .
We can get back to work.
” Philip Varley , a 61-year-old retired accountant in Jefferson County , has sent hundreds of emails to Polis and news outlets as part of a spirited citizen crusade against the shutdown .
Two weeks ago , he spent one day sitting outside Denver-area emergency rooms with a video camera to gather evidence the hospitals are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday , he protested alongside many others .
“ This mass unemployment caused by government action has forced people into poverty and the deaths that will come long-term from that will far exceed any deaths of people from COVID , ” Varley said .
“ So , on a net basis , I don ’ t believe we will have saved any lives .
On a temporary basis , we may have postponed a few.
” Anti-shutdown advocates , though gaining in numbers , remain a minority within the American public and within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A national April 17-19 survey found 22 % of Americans , and 36 % of Republicans , supported anti-shutdown protests .
A poll from April 16-20 found 12 % of Americans , and 22 % of Republicans , believe restrictions are too onerous .
And now , as the Colorado governor has decided not to extend the state ’ s stay-at-home order , he is receiving pushback from some who say it ’ s too early to lift restrictions .
Those who oppose shutdown efforts say it ’ s not still enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado Libertarian Party , says the party began protesting Polis ’ state-at-home order on the March day it went into effect , beginning with a petition and followed by the first protests .
The message from libertarians was simple : This is an unconstitutional constraint on civil liberties .
“ We said , ‘ Let ’ s do something , we have to do something .
Because if we don ’ t do something , who is going to take the lead on this ?
’ ” Reynolds recalls thinking .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement grow from a few people , to hundreds , to thousands protesting at the Capitol .
The governor criticized the anti-shutdown protests the day after he agreed to let it expire but repeated a common refrain from protesters , telling NBC , “ Every business is essential .
Everything that people do is essential.
” Weld County resident Lesley Hollywood , a leader in the pro-gun “ Rally for Our Rights ” movement , calls the anti-shutdown movement “ very organic.
” As a libertarian , Hollywood agrees the solution isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has led to a ripple effect of unintended consequences and hobbled businesses .
“ You can have all the government orders in the world , but so much of it just comes down to personal responsibility , ” she said .
Polis touted the libertarian message of personal responsibility at his press conferences about the safer-at-home order this week .
The extent of his libertarianism is debated in Colorado politics , but many in the anti-shutdown movement have hoped to appeal to it .
Rep. Ken Buck , a Windsor Republican and chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it affected his decision-making .
“ I served for four years with Jared Polis in Congress .
Jared and I agreed many , many times on civil liberty issues .
I consider Jared a civil libertarian and I know that at his core , Governor Polis is also concerned about the impact on our civil liberties , ” said Buck , a civil libertarian and consistent critic of the shutdown .
The congressman , who was arguably the first elected official in Colorado to publicly oppose the stay-at-home orders , doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pre-coronavirus normalcy yet .
Waiters and waitresses may need to wear masks , restaurant tables may need to be spaced apart , and nursing homes must take extraordinary precautions to protect the most vulnerable .
But , he says , the economy should reopen soon , to protect lives rather than jeopardize them .
“ The reality is , shutting down our economy as we have costs lives .
We ’ re going to see in a few months that we had an increase in suicides , that we had an increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can ’ t get certain ( medical ) tests done and others can ’ t get certain tests done that prevent disease .
If you can ’ t get those tests , you ’ re going to see more deaths from other kinds of diseases , ” Buck said .
Polis expects to issue his “ safer-at-home ” order this weekend to take effect Monday — some businesses and retailers then can reopen through a phased approach .
They will have to abide by restrictions , such as limiting numbers and implementing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bars and restaurants will remain closed for now — a point of contention for critics of stay-at-home orders .
Some counties will have stricter regulations while others can apply for more flexibility if public health departments support the move .
But if an individual county does not have its own regulations , the statewide order remains .
Liston , the state representative , applauds a phased approach but believes more flexibility is needed , particularly for restaurants .
He thinks they should be allowed to open with precautions provided from health departments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bend over backwards for the sake of not only their employees but their customers , ” he said .
Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert said in a statement that Coloradans have adapted to social distancing by wearing masks and constantly washing their hands .
“ We understand the threat of COVID-19 and how it attacks different people in different ways , ” he said .
“ It ’ s time for government to take this measured step toward getting people back to work and restoring our economy while embracing the lesson we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oltmann , the Castle Pines CEO , says he will continue financing anti-shutdown protests and expects them to continue growing .
A slow , staggered reopening does not satisfy his movement ’ s demands , Oltmann says .
“ We ’ re not going to negotiate with the governor .
We ’ re not going to negotiate with county commissioners .
The Constitution does not allow for negotiation .
It ’ s very cut and dry , ” he said .

Joe Oltmann, of Castle Pines, is the 45-year-old CEO of a data company. He’s also a leader and financier in the nascent but growing movement of Coloradans demanding an end to stay-at-home orders.
“I recognize there is a risk and I recognize people could get sick,” Oltmann says of reopening the state’s economy. “Those are all things I recognize. But I also recognize that hunger can kill people. Despair can kill people.”
“If I choose the wrong way and it ends up killing me, I’m sorry, but I made a choice. I took all the information that I did know and I made an educated choice affecting me, while at the same time respecting that other people deserve the right to feel safe,” he said in an interview over Zoom on Wednesday.
Impatient frustration at the state’s stay-at-home-order, which boiled over last weekend at a Capitol protest, simmered under the surface for much of April. But even beyond that protest, criticizing the government’s shutdown is becoming conventional wisdom among leading Colorado Republicans, and a rallying cry in a Democratic-led state.
As the order is set to expire Sunday and be replaced with a “safer-at-home” phase, Gov. Jared Polis says this shouldn’t be considered a grand reopening of the state. The process to lift restrictions is more gradual than anti-shutdown advocates prefer.
The chair of the Colorado Republican Party had suggested the governor’s stay-at-home order was “Marxist.” The top Republican in the Colorado House said it leads to a “Gestapo-like mentality” and attended a shutdown protest. A Republican fundraiser asked Coloradans to oppose the “Polis Police State.”
“Let’s get rolling and start undoing what we’ve done, getting people back to work and getting this country opened up again,” said Lou Vallario, the Republican sheriff of Garfield County, during a Facebook Live segment he called “Just the Facts” on Monday.
Colorado Republican lawmakers have questioned many of the restrictions throughout the stay-at-home order, and House Republicans sent the governor a letter on Monday urging that he switch from a statewide model to a county public health approach. The lawmakers said if Coloradans can figure out how to protest safely during the pandemic, then they can also return to work safely.
They called the nonessential business shutdown unreasonable and wrote that they “strongly object to the arbitrary nature of the current executive orders.”
“Coloradans are done with mass quarantining,” the letter stated.
Rep. Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs, said his constituents say they’ve been trying to be safe and abide by the orders, but it has gone on too long.
“It’s been well over a month,” he said. “For some people, this is the so-called ‘cure is worse than the disease.'”
Critics of the shutdown come from a range of perspectives and political persuasions. Many are conservative supporters of President Donald Trump; others are farther to the right or libertarians untrusting of government statistics. But still others are Democrats or apolitical citizens who have lost their jobs, their businesses, their ability to provide for a family. They’re anxious, worried.
“Our country can’t afford what is happening,” said Mary Conley, a Jefferson County woman who attended Sunday’s protest. She added, “My body, my choice. We can get back to work.”
Philip Varley, a 61-year-old retired accountant in Jefferson County, has sent hundreds of emails to Polis and news outlets as part of a spirited citizen crusade against the shutdown. Two weeks ago, he spent one day sitting outside Denver-area emergency rooms with a video camera to gather evidence the hospitals are not overcrowded, he says. And on Sunday, he protested alongside many others.
“This mass unemployment caused by government action has forced people into poverty and the deaths that will come long-term from that will far exceed any deaths of people from COVID,” Varley said. “So, on a net basis, I don’t believe we will have saved any lives. On a temporary basis, we may have postponed a few.”
Anti-shutdown advocates, though gaining in numbers, remain a minority within the American public and within both major political parties, polling shows. A national April 17-19 survey found 22% of Americans, and 36% of Republicans, supported anti-shutdown protests. A poll from April 16-20 found 12% of Americans, and 22% of Republicans, believe restrictions are too onerous.
And now, as the Colorado governor has decided not to extend the state’s stay-at-home order, he is receiving pushback from some who say it’s too early to lift restrictions. Those who oppose shutdown efforts say it’s still not enough.
Libertarian roots
Victoria Reynolds, chair of the Colorado Libertarian Party, says the party began protesting Polis’ state-at-home order on the March day it went into effect, beginning with a petition and followed by the first protests. The message from libertarians was simple: This is an unconstitutional constraint on civil liberties.
“We said, ‘Let’s do something, we have to do something. Because if we don’t do something, who is going to take the lead on this?’” Reynolds recalls thinking.
In the month since, she has watched the movement grow from a few people, to hundreds, to thousands protesting at the Capitol. The governor criticized the anti-shutdown protests the day after he agreed to let it expire but repeated a common refrain from protesters, telling NBC, “Every business is essential. Everything that people do is essential.”
Weld County resident Lesley Hollywood, a leader in the pro-gun “Rally for Our Rights” movement, calls the anti-shutdown movement “very organic.”
As a libertarian, Hollywood agrees the solution isn’t government intervention, which she believes has led to a ripple effect of unintended consequences and hobbled businesses. She has criticized both sides of the argument for sounding heavy-handed — those who say the state must be shut down as well as those who say everything must reopen immediately — and would rather rely on individual and business decisions.
“You can have all the government orders in the world, but so much of it just comes down to personal responsibility,” she said.
Polis touted the libertarian message of personal responsibility at his press conferences about the safer-at-home order this week. The extent of his libertarianism is debated in Colorado politics, but many in the anti-shutdown movement have hoped to appeal to it. Rep. Ken Buck, a Windsor Republican and chair of the Colorado Republican Party, believes it affected his decision-making.
“I served for four years with Jared Polis in Congress. Jared and I agreed many, many times on civil liberty issues. I consider Jared a civil libertarian and I know that at his core, Governor Polis is also concerned about the impact on our civil liberties,” said Buck, a civil libertarian and consistent critic of the shutdown.
The congressman, who was arguably the first elected official in Colorado to publicly oppose the stay-at-home orders, doesn’t believe the state should return to a pre-coronavirus normalcy yet. Waiters and waitresses may need to wear masks, restaurant tables may need to be spaced apart, and nursing homes must take extraordinary precautions to protect the most vulnerable. But, he says, the economy should reopen soon, to protect lives rather than jeopardize them.
“The reality is, shutting down our economy as we have costs lives. We’re going to see in a few months that we had an increase in suicides, that we had an increase in other social pathologies. For example, I can’t get certain (medical) tests done and others can’t get certain tests done that prevent disease. If you can’t get those tests, you’re going to see more deaths from other kinds of diseases,” Buck said.
What’s next
Polis expects to issue his “safer-at-home” order by Monday, allowing some businesses and retailers to reopen through a phased approach. They will have to abide by restrictions, such as limiting numbers and implementing safety measures, including social distancing. Bars and restaurants will remain closed for now — a point of contention for critics of stay-at-home orders.
Some counties will have stricter regulations while others can apply for more flexibility if public health departments support the move. But if an individual county does not have its own regulations, the statewide order remains.
Liston, the state representative, applauds a phased approach but believes more flexibility is needed, particularly for restaurants. He thinks they should be allowed to open with precautions provided from health departments.
“I think most businesses are going to bend over backwards for the sake of not only their employees but their customers,” he said.
Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert said in a statement that Coloradans have adapted to social distancing by wearing masks and constantly washing their hands.
“We understand the threat of COVID-19 and how it attacks different people in different ways,” he said. “It’s time for government to take this measured step toward getting people back to work and restoring our economy while embracing the lesson we have learned over the past weeks.”
Oltmann, the Castle Pines CEO, says he will continue financing anti-shutdown protests and expects them to continue growing. A slow, staggered reopening does not satisfy his movement’s demands, Oltmann says.
“We’re not going to negotiate with the governor. We’re not going to negotiate with county commissioners. The Constitution does not allow for negotiation. It’s very cut and dry,” he said.
Denver Post staff writer Shelly Bradbury contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-04-25--Colorado Latinos grapple with increased risk of coronavirus infections

Her mother and brother joined her , and together they prayed in the hospital parking lot , facing the building .
Inside , Rodriguez ’ s father , Sergio , lay in an intensive care unit .
Nurses had warned the Rodriguezes they may need to prepare to say goodbye to the 58-year-old man they couldn ’ t imagine living without .
He ’ d contracted COVID-19 , the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus , two weeks earlier and became so ill , he was placed on a ventilator at the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crying , ” Crystal Rodriguez said .
“ It was the worst thing ever.
” Latino residents , who make up about 20 % of Colorado ’ s population , are becoming sick with the coronavirus at a disproportionately high rate , accounting for almost one-third of the state ’ s cases .
And at least in Denver , they are hospitalized more than any other racial or ethnic group , according to data from the state and city public health departments .
The numbers point to a pattern that people of color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a higher rate than their share of the population — are seeing elevated infection rates .
Although health experts caution the data is incomplete , they say long-standing societal , economic and health disparities are among the reasons the coronavirus is infecting people of color at higher rates .
“ You ’ re talking about decades of leaving behind communities of color , leaving behind the most marginalized of us , ” said Karla Gonzales Garcia , policy director of the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights .
“ Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the faces of everyone , the inequities that exist in our state.
” Advocates worry about increased risks to people of color , but it ’ s difficult to analyze all contributing factors without widespread testing , tracing and more data on individual cases , said Dr. Lisa DeCamp of the Latino Research and Policy Center at the Colorado School of Public Health .
“ We are concerned about the number of people infected in Colorado and across the country , ” she said .
“ We don ’ t have much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demographics and background information on where people may were infected , experts can ’ t know exactly how much of a role biological dispositions , underlying health problems , economic factors or social factors played in cases , DeCamp said .
On March 20 , when Sergio Rodriguez left the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley where he has worked since he was 18 , he was obviously ill. His daughter , Crystal who also worked at JBS , was scared because coronavirus appeared to be spreading throughout the plant .
She was afraid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and her son .
Her mom watched the boy while Crystal worked .
At his doctor ’ s visit , Sergio was told he likely had coronavirus , but he couldn ’ t get tested and should quarantine .
The rest of the family did , too .
A week later , Sergio ended up in the emergency room .
His COVID-19 infection was confirmed and he was admitted .
There have been delays in testing for the virus because of a national shortage of supplies , resulting in an initial backlog in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result , testing has mostly been limited to those hospitalized , health care workers and individuals most at risk for complications .
“ We ’ re not seeing comprehensive data in terms of testing and who is getting testing , ” said Dr. Richard Besser , a former acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who is now president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation .
“ And that could be very important to make sure resources are equitable.
” Factors that contribute to the difficulties in getting tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be contributing to the high rate of hospitalizations .
Latinos and Hispanics are the largest ethnic or racial group in the country to be uninsured , according to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2017 and some struggle with language or cultural barriers , according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health .
Those living in the country illegally also worry that testing positive could get them deported .
“ I do believe that people were not getting tests early on or because of a lack of health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mobile Intercultural Resource Alliance community connector for the Eagle Valley Community Foundation .
Advocates say people of color also struggle to get tested because of costs and transportation .
“ There ’ s too many steps in order just to be tested , ” said Crystal Mariscal , a consultant for Mesa County Public Health and a New Castle town council member .
Valsecia oversees MIRA Bus , which travels to neighborhoods in Eagle County and offers free COVID-19 testing and bilingual services .
Mira means vision in Spanish .
In the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ For most of the Hispanic community , this is their only option for being tested , ” she said .
Aracely Cordova , a 50-year-old Aurora resident who works for a company that offers deep cleaning services — much of which is now focused on coronavirus sanitation — hopes more free or low-cost testing becomes available .
She doesn ’ t have health insurance .
Cordova has been exposed to someone at her job whose family member was infected and she ’ s often tasked with cleaning areas where an infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or her husband , who ’ s a truck driver , could get the virus and pass it to the whole family .
“ We ’ re just really scared and there ’ s no protections and there ’ s no testing , and we ’ re just continually exposed , ” Cordova said , through a translator .
She ’ s been trying to stay home as much as possible , but her family depends on the money .
“ There really is no plan , no plan , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I get really sick , I ’ ll have to go to the emergency room.
” Sergio Rodriguez ’ s son , Rafael Hernandez , who has been vocal about work conditions at JBS during the pandemic , had temporarily relocated from his Denver home to the hospital parking lot in Loveland .
He slept in his car and pledged not to leave until his dad was released .
“ I stay here because I don ’ t want to leave him and I ’ m just scared , not knowing if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his voice again or see him look at you or be able to hug or kiss him again , ” Hernandez said .
By the time Rodriguez got to the Loveland hospital , he needed help breathing and could barely walk .
Medical staff didn ’ t know what to expect with his prognosis , as they often don ’ t with coronavirus patients .
“ It ’ s really like a shot in the dark , ” said UCHealth nurse Hannah Rossman , who worked with Rodriguez .
Research points to health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make people of color more vulnerable to complications from COVID-19 .
For Latino and Hispanic residents in Colorado , rates of diabetes , obesity and chronic liver disease were higher than in the general population in 2015 , according to the Colorado Office on Equity .
People of color also make up a large share of low-wage jobs , placing them at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19 .
The median household income for Hispanics and Latinos was $ 18,217 less than the median for all Coloradans with nearly twice as many living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Colorado Office on Equity shows .
The most common industry for Hispanic women in the U.S. is restaurants and for men , it ’ s construction , according to a 2016 report from the Center for Economic Policy and Research .
The most common occupation for Hispanic women is maid or housekeeper and most common for men is construction laborer .
They often work these jobs without benefits , Gonzales Garcia said .
And those that live in cities typically dwell in more densely populated — and polluted — areas , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ literally putting people of color in the most disadvantaged situations , ” she said .
“ If you don ’ t have access to any of those things , how are you going to be safe and healthy ?
” The state health department shut down the JBS plant until April 24 .
At least 43 tested positive for the virus before the company shut down testing .
Crystal Rodriguez was among employees who said it was a struggle to get the company to pay sick leave .
Amid all the bad news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reprieve .
On April 18 , about 30 people gathered at Medical Center of the Rockies , balloons in hand , as they held up signs of gratitude .
As the patient was wheeled out of the hospital , the well-wishers — most donning masks — clapped and cheered loudly .
Crystal Rodriguez looked forward to her “ second chance ” with her dad .
Sergio ’ s eyes lit up .
He was clearly smiling , despite the mask that covered his own mouth .
“ I love you so much , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He thanked Jesus and the “ angels ” — his nurses .
The hospital staff celebrated along with them .
“ I thought this day would never come , ” his wife , Yolanda Rodriguez said , before the two drove off .
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado .

Crystal Rodriguez fell to her knees.
Her mother and brother joined her, and together they prayed in the hospital parking lot, facing the building. Inside, Rodriguez’s father, Sergio, lay in an intensive care unit.
Nurses had warned the Rodriguezes they may need to prepare to say goodbye to the 58-year-old man they couldn’t imagine living without. He’d contracted COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, two weeks earlier and became so ill, he was placed on a ventilator at the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland.
“I couldn’t stop crying,” Crystal Rodriguez said. “It was the worst thing ever.”
Latino residents, who make up about 20% of Colorado’s population, are becoming sick with the coronavirus at a disproportionately high rate, accounting for almost one-third of the state’s cases. And at least in Denver, they are hospitalized more than any other racial or ethnic group, according to data from the state and city public health departments. The numbers point to a pattern that people of color — including black Coloradans who are dying at a higher rate than their share of the population — are seeing elevated infection rates.
Although health experts caution the data is incomplete, they say long-standing societal, economic and health disparities are among the reasons the coronavirus is infecting people of color at higher rates.
“You’re talking about decades of leaving behind communities of color, leaving behind the most marginalized of us,” said Karla Gonzales Garcia, policy director of the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights. “Now, this pandemic is just putting, in the faces of everyone, the inequities that exist in our state.”
Advocates worry about increased risks to people of color, but it’s difficult to analyze all contributing factors without widespread testing, tracing and more data on individual cases, said Dr. Lisa DeCamp of the Latino Research and Policy Center at the Colorado School of Public Health.
“We are concerned about the number of people infected in Colorado and across the country,” she said. “We don’t have much information on the baseline.”
Without detailed demographics and background information on where people may were infected, experts can’t know exactly how much of a role biological dispositions, underlying health problems, economic factors or social factors played in cases, DeCamp said.
Delays in testing
On March 20, when Sergio Rodriguez left the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley where he has worked since he was 18, he was obviously ill.
His daughter, Crystal who also worked at JBS, was scared because coronavirus appeared to be spreading throughout the plant. She was afraid for her dad but also for herself and her son. Her mom watched the boy while Crystal worked.
At his doctor’s visit, Sergio was told he likely had coronavirus, but he couldn’t get tested and should quarantine. The rest of the family did, too.
A week later, Sergio ended up in the emergency room. His COVID-19 infection was confirmed and he was admitted.
There have been delays in testing for the virus because of a national shortage of supplies, resulting in an initial backlog in the Colorado state lab. As a result, testing has mostly been limited to those hospitalized, health care workers and individuals most at risk for complications.
“We’re not seeing comprehensive data in terms of testing and who is getting testing,” said Dr. Richard Besser, a former acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who is now president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “And that could be very important to make sure resources are equitable.”
Factors that contribute to the difficulties in getting tested for COVID-19 are the same that could be contributing to the high rate of hospitalizations.
Latinos and Hispanics are the largest ethnic or racial group in the country to be uninsured, according to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2017 and some struggle with language or cultural barriers, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. Those living in the country illegally also worry that testing positive could get them deported.
“I do believe that people were not getting tests early on or because of a lack of health insurance,” said Melina Valsecia, Mobile Intercultural Resource Alliance community connector for the Eagle Valley Community Foundation.
Advocates say people of color also struggle to get tested because of costs and transportation.
“There’s too many steps in order just to be tested,” said Crystal Mariscal, a consultant for Mesa County Public Health and a New Castle town council member.
Valsecia oversees MIRA Bus, which travels to neighborhoods in Eagle County and offers free COVID-19 testing and bilingual services. Mira means vision in Spanish. In the first week, the group tested 95 people.
“For most of the Hispanic community, this is their only option for being tested,” she said.
Aracely Cordova, a 50-year-old Aurora resident who works for a company that offers deep cleaning services — much of which is now focused on coronavirus sanitation — hopes more free or low-cost testing becomes available. She doesn’t have health insurance.
Cordova has been exposed to someone at her job whose family member was infected and she’s often tasked with cleaning areas where an infected person worked.
She worries that she or her husband, who’s a truck driver, could get the virus and pass it to the whole family.
“We’re just really scared and there’s no protections and there’s no testing, and we’re just continually exposed,” Cordova said, through a translator.
She’s been trying to stay home as much as possible, but her family depends on the money.
“There really is no plan, no plan,” she said. “If something were to happen and I get really sick, I’ll have to go to the emergency room.”
Coronavirus hospitalizations
Sergio Rodriguez’s son, Rafael Hernandez, who has been vocal about work conditions at JBS during the pandemic, had temporarily relocated from his Denver home to the hospital parking lot in Loveland. He slept in his car and pledged not to leave until his dad was released.
“I stay here because I don’t want to leave him and I’m just scared, not knowing if you’re ever going to hear his voice again or see him look at you or be able to hug or kiss him again,” Hernandez said.
By the time Rodriguez got to the Loveland hospital, he needed help breathing and could barely walk. Medical staff didn’t know what to expect with his prognosis, as they often don’t with coronavirus patients.
“It’s really like a shot in the dark,” said UCHealth nurse Hannah Rossman, who worked with Rodriguez.
Research points to health inequities and untreated health conditions that could make people of color more vulnerable to complications from COVID-19. For Latino and Hispanic residents in Colorado, rates of diabetes, obesity and chronic liver disease were higher than in the general population in 2015, according to the Colorado Office on Equity.
People of color also make up a large share of low-wage jobs, placing them at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19. The median household income for Hispanics and Latinos was $18,217 less than the median for all Coloradans with nearly twice as many living under poverty in 2015, data from the Colorado Office on Equity shows.
The most common industry for Hispanic women in the U.S. is restaurants and for men, it’s construction, according to a 2016 report from the Center for Economic Policy and Research. The most common occupation for Hispanic women is maid or housekeeper and most common for men is construction laborer.
They often work these jobs without benefits, Gonzales Garcia said. And those that live in cities typically dwell in more densely populated — and polluted — areas, she added.
“All these things are literally putting people of color in the most disadvantaged situations,” she said. “If you don’t have access to any of those things, how are you going to be safe and healthy?”
The state health department shut down the JBS plant until April 24. At least 43 tested positive for the virus before the company shut down testing. Crystal Rodriguez was among employees who said it was a struggle to get the company to pay sick leave.
A homecoming
Amid all the bad news though, the Rodriguez family got some reprieve.
On April 18, about 30 people gathered at Medical Center of the Rockies, balloons in hand, as they held up signs of gratitude.
Sergio was going home.
Rossman called his progress “super rewarding.”
As the patient was wheeled out of the hospital, the well-wishers — most donning masks — clapped and cheered loudly. Crystal Rodriguez looked forward to her “second chance” with her dad.
Sergio’s eyes lit up. He was clearly smiling, despite the mask that covered his own mouth.
“I love you so much,” he said to his family. He thanked Jesus and the “angels” — his nurses. The hospital staff celebrated along with them.
“I thought this day would never come,” his wife, Yolanda Rodriguez said, before the two drove off.
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado.


thedenverpost--2020-04-25--Startup incubator aims to help veterans, military members chart own course

It ’ s never easy starting your own business , to say nothing of trying it in the middle of a global pandemic .
But a program that helps members of the military and veterans pursue their entrepreneurial dreams is moving ahead with its next session , whether that ’ s in person or online .
The Veterans in Residence program is scheduled to kick off July 1 .
Applications are being taken until Sunday .
The program is a partnership between WeWork and Bunker Labs , a national nonprofit organization that works with the military community , including military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starting their own businesses .
Denver is one of several cities across the country that is home to the startup incubators .
The program provides a workspace in Lower Downtown Denver and a network to support people as they come up with ideas for an enterprise and work to build it , Dan Biga , the regional executive director for Bunker Labs , said .
“ We have in-person events at our local chapters and then we also have a virtual presence and that virtual presence has definitely increased during the COVID-19 situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usual six-month business incubator program , Bunker Labs has started a campaign called # All_in to help business people survive the coronavirus pandemic .
The campaign is offering help on tapping the federal money available to businesses and weekly town halls with business leaders .
“ Entrepreneurship enables people to take their destiny in their own hands and I think a lot of people are experiencing the uncertainty associated with being at the calling of the others , ” Biga said .
“ So entrepreneurship is definitely a viable path for people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who leave the service want to start their own business , but only 4.5 % actually do , Biga said .
After World War II , 50 % of veterans started businesses , he said .
“ Veterans and military staff are uniquely positioned , based upon their experiences , to thrive in entrepreneurship , ” Biga said .
“ A lot of transitioning service members and military spouses simply don ’ t have the network they need to succeed.
” David Emanuel said he was on a path he hoped would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness “ turned my life upside down.
” He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2016 .
He was just 24 when the Air Force gave him a medical retirement .
Emanuel was freelancing , putting his science and analytical skills to work when he won a spot in one of the Bunker Labs ’ six-month sessions in 2019 .
He was asked to return to be an alumni captain , a kind of mentor , for the next class .
The experience has been an accelerant for his business , Emanuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which analyzes customer data for companies .
He has two business partners and works with four contractors .
“ When I first got started I was a freelancer , ” Emanuel said .
“ It was just me and my thoughts and working out of various coffee shops and libraries.
” When he was accepted into the Bunker Labs program , Emanuel joined other vets in space in LoDo provided by WeWork , the real estate and workspace-sharing company .
“ They ’ ve given us access to all of their amenities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the internet connectivity you could ever need.
” And there are plenty of opportunities to network with other people dealing with the same issues and people who are further along , Emanuel said .
“ Just being in that petri dish of entrepreneurship and the downtown Denver tech ecosystem , I ’ ve learned so many things , ” Emanuel said .
To learn more about the Veterans in Residence program , go to : https : //bunkerlabs.org/our-programs/veterans-in-residence/

It’s never easy starting your own business, to say nothing of trying it in the middle of a global pandemic. But a program that helps members of the military and veterans pursue their entrepreneurial dreams is moving ahead with its next session, whether that’s in person or online.
The Veterans in Residence program is scheduled to kick off July 1. Applications are being taken until Sunday. The program is a partnership between WeWork and Bunker Labs, a national nonprofit organization that works with the military community, including military spouses and National Guard members, on starting their own businesses.
Denver is one of several cities across the country that is home to the startup incubators. The program provides a workspace in Lower Downtown Denver and a network to support people as they come up with ideas for an enterprise and work to build it, Dan Biga, the regional executive director for Bunker Labs, said.
“We have in-person events at our local chapters and then we also have a virtual presence and that virtual presence has definitely increased during the COVID-19 situation,” Biga said.
Besides the usual six-month business incubator program, Bunker Labs has started a campaign called #All_in to help business people survive the coronavirus pandemic. The campaign is offering help on tapping the federal money available to businesses and weekly town halls with business leaders.
“Entrepreneurship enables people to take their destiny in their own hands and I think a lot of people are experiencing the uncertainty associated with being at the calling of the others,” Biga said. “So entrepreneurship is definitely a viable path for people in this moment.”
About 25% of people who leave the service want to start their own business, but only 4.5% actually do, Biga said. After World War II, 50% of veterans started businesses, he said.
“Veterans and military staff are uniquely positioned, based upon their experiences, to thrive in entrepreneurship,” Biga said. “A lot of transitioning service members and military spouses simply don’t have the network they need to succeed.”
David Emanuel said he was on a path he hoped would lead to becoming an astronaut when an illness “turned my life upside down.” He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2016. He was just 24 when the Air Force gave him a medical retirement.
Emanuel was freelancing, putting his science and analytical skills to work when he won a spot in one of the Bunker Labs’ six-month sessions in 2019. He was asked to return to be an alumni captain, a kind of mentor, for the next class.
The experience has been an accelerant for his business, Emanuel said. He started Ujima Digital, which analyzes customer data for companies. He has two business partners and works with four contractors.
“When I first got started I was a freelancer,” Emanuel said. “It was just me and my thoughts and working out of various coffee shops and libraries.”
When he was accepted into the Bunker Labs program, Emanuel joined other vets in space in LoDo provided by WeWork, the real estate and workspace-sharing company.
“They’ve given us access to all of their amenities,” Emanuel said. “We have all the internet connectivity you could ever need.”
And there are plenty of opportunities to network with other people dealing with the same issues and people who are further along, Emanuel said.
“Just being in that petri dish of entrepreneurship and the downtown Denver tech ecosystem, I’ve learned so many things,” Emanuel said.
To learn more about the Veterans in Residence program, go to: https://bunkerlabs.org/our-programs/veterans-in-residence/


thedenverpost--2020-04-25--Nuggets exit interview: Mason Plumlee’s consistent professionalism a luxury Denver may not be able t

Nuggets exit interview: Mason Plumlee’s consistent professionalism a luxury Denver may not be able to afford

EDITOR ’ S NOTE : The last in a series of Nuggets player evaluations for the 2019-20 regular season , which would have concluded April 14 .
Other evaluations : Jamal Murray , Gary Harris , Will Barton , Paul Millsap , Nikola Jokic , Michael Porter Jr. , Jerami Grant , Monte Morris and Torrey Craig .
Mason Plumlee is the type of player every coach wants on their team .
It ’ s a rare night that Plumlee will jump out of the box score , let alone overshadow all-NBA center Nikola Jokic , but you ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Every night Nuggets coach Michael Malone calls to sub in Plumlee , he knows his energy and his engagement won ’ t falter .
What ’ s more , Plumlee has been a starter on a playoff team ( Portland ) and is good enough to start at center on a handful of teams right now .
That makes his egoless approach even more impressive , and valuable .
The Nuggets ’ season more or less started with a gut-check loss to the Pelicans , in New Orleans , on Halloween .
Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , against a team that hadn ’ t won a game yet , was abysmal .
Still , during a tense postgame interview , Malone lauded Plumlee ’ s blue-collar approach .
Since he got traded to Denver in 2017 , it ’ s been a staple of Plumlee ’ s game .
After the 122-107 pounding to New Orleans , Plumlee was asked about the effort that Malone had questioned .
His answer revealed a lot about the standard he expected of himself and the Nuggets .
“ I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said succinctly .
As Jokic played below his All-Star standard through November , Plumlee did what he could to supplement Denver ’ s production at center .
He ’ s not the type to overpower an opposing second unit , but his rebounding , passing and transition finishing ( see : alley-oops ) were all a huge help for Denver ’ s reserves .
He was also a featured part of their defensive lineups given his strength and quickness on opposing big men .
Even in a contract year , Plumlee was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also the consummate teammate .
Unsolicited , he endorsed Will Barton for the All-Star team .
After Malik Beasley , who had to that point been a victim of a crowded roster , erupted for 27 points in Denver ’ s overtime win over the Warriors , Plumlee vouched for his professionalism .
“ Malik ’ s not going to fade on us , ” he said after the game .
It was just two games later , in Minnesota , where his season took an abrupt turn .
Plumlee injured his right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Timberwolves and came back in the second half before the extent of his injury was known .
Including the All-Star break , he ended up missing more than a month .
Over that time the Nuggets went 8-4 and largely survived on a heavy diet of Jokic , Jerami Grant and small-ball forwards .
It was an important sample size because of the decisions the Nuggets are facing this summer .
Three players – Paul Millsap , Grant ( player option ) and Plumlee – could be free agents , and financial constraints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three .
Plumlee might be expendable if the Nuggets feel they can survive the non-Jokic minutes with a smaller lineup .
If the season doesn ’ t return and free agency takes Plumlee in a different direction , he ’ ll be remembered as a vital fixture in the second unit , and someone whose value stretched far beyond the numbers .
Needs to improve : Shooting outside the paint *Opposing scout ’ s take : “ Solid backup 5 .
Plays extremely hard on both ends .
Knows his limitations and stays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and finisher at the rim off the catch .
Can ’ t score outside of the paint or make free throws .
Good decision-maker with the ball out of the high-post and off short rolls .
Athletic and can move defensively , but he ’ s an average rebounder at best.
” * Scouts from opposing teams requested anonymity so they could share their unvarnished opinion of players .

EDITOR’S NOTE: The last in a series of Nuggets player evaluations for the 2019-20 regular season, which would have concluded April 14. Other evaluations: Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Will Barton, Paul Millsap, Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr., Jerami Grant, Monte Morris and Torrey Craig.
Mason Plumlee is the type of player every coach wants on their team.
It’s a rare night that Plumlee will jump out of the box score, let alone overshadow all-NBA center Nikola Jokic, but you’ll never have to question his commitment. Every night Nuggets coach Michael Malone calls to sub in Plumlee, he knows his energy and his engagement won’t falter.
What’s more, Plumlee has been a starter on a playoff team (Portland) and is good enough to start at center on a handful of teams right now. That makes his egoless approach even more impressive, and valuable.
The Nuggets’ season more or less started with a gut-check loss to the Pelicans, in New Orleans, on Halloween. Their transition defense was laughable and their effort, against a team that hadn’t won a game yet, was abysmal. Still, during a tense postgame interview, Malone lauded Plumlee’s blue-collar approach.
Since he got traded to Denver in 2017, it’s been a staple of Plumlee’s game.
After the 122-107 pounding to New Orleans, Plumlee was asked about the effort that Malone had questioned. His answer revealed a lot about the standard he expected of himself and the Nuggets.
“I don’t consider effort a learning curve,” he said succinctly.
As Jokic played below his All-Star standard through November, Plumlee did what he could to supplement Denver’s production at center. He’s not the type to overpower an opposing second unit, but his rebounding, passing and transition finishing (see: alley-oops) were all a huge help for Denver’s reserves. He was also a featured part of their defensive lineups given his strength and quickness on opposing big men.
Even in a contract year, Plumlee was a luxury for Malone.
He was also the consummate teammate. Unsolicited, he endorsed Will Barton for the All-Star team. After Malik Beasley, who had to that point been a victim of a crowded roster, erupted for 27 points in Denver’s overtime win over the Warriors, Plumlee vouched for his professionalism.
“Malik’s not going to fade on us,” he said after the game.
It was just two games later, in Minnesota, where his season took an abrupt turn. Plumlee injured his right foot in the first half against the Timberwolves and came back in the second half before the extent of his injury was known. Including the All-Star break, he ended up missing more than a month.
Over that time the Nuggets went 8-4 and largely survived on a heavy diet of Jokic, Jerami Grant and small-ball forwards.
It was an important sample size because of the decisions the Nuggets are facing this summer. Three players – Paul Millsap, Grant (player option) and Plumlee – could be free agents, and financial constraints will likely prevent Denver from retaining all three. Plumlee might be expendable if the Nuggets feel they can survive the non-Jokic minutes with a smaller lineup.
If the season doesn’t return and free agency takes Plumlee in a different direction, he’ll be remembered as a vital fixture in the second unit, and someone whose value stretched far beyond the numbers.
Plumlee file
Contract status: Final year of three-year, $41 million deal
Stats: 7.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.4 apg
Needs to improve: Shooting outside the paint
*Opposing scout’s take: “Solid backup 5. Plays extremely hard on both ends. Knows his limitations and stays in his lane. Primarily a screener/roller and finisher at the rim off the catch. Can’t score outside of the paint or make free throws. Good decision-maker with the ball out of the high-post and off short rolls. Athletic and can move defensively, but he’s an average rebounder at best.”
* Scouts from opposing teams requested anonymity so they could share their unvarnished opinion of players.


thedenverpost--2020-04-25--Demand rising for delivery robots amid coronavirus

BEIJING — While other industries struggle , Liu Zhiyong says China ’ s virus outbreak is boosting demand for his knee-high , bright yellow robots to deliver groceries and patrol malls looking for shoppers who fail to wear masks .
Liu , CEO of ZhenRobotics Corp. , is among millions of entrepreneurs who are gradually getting back to work after China declared victory over the coronavirus that shut down the world ’ s second-largest economy .
ZhenRobotics ’ flagship model is the six-wheeled , 27-inch-tall RoboPony .
The self-driving cart is sold to retailers , hospitals , malls and apartment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other industries that face a long and uncertain struggle to recover , Liu said his orders have tripled since the outbreak began .
“ The epidemic made people aware of the fragility of human beings , ” Liu said .
“ Robots can make up for this vulnerability and provide services people can trust .
Trust in robots has been enhanced dramatically.
” Robots for use in factories and consumer industries are near the top of the ruling Communist Party ’ s wish list for technology development .
Chinese leaders see them as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make up for a shrinking workforce as the population ages .
Beijing has spent heavily to set up robotics departments at universities and research institutes .
Private sector developers can apply for research grants and other support .
ZhenRobotics , founded in 2016 , does its research and development in the Chinese capital ’ s Zhongguancun university district , a hub for tech companies .
Liu said the company gets a break on rent and other official support .
Its researchers are working on technologies including machine learning , computer vision and autonomous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a testing center in the southeastern province of Zhejiang , south of Shanghai .
Manufacturing is in Shenzhen , adjacent to Hong Kong .
One of its robots patrols Shanghai ’ s Taikoo Hui shopping mall .
It can spot customers with bare faces and remind them to put on a mask .
It gives out hand sanitizer and broadcasts anti-virus information .
The RoboPony has been used by Suning.com Group Ltd. , one of China ’ s biggest retailers , to delivery food and other necessities to households during the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government cut most access to cities with a total of 60 million people in late January .
Hundreds of millions more in other areas were to told stay home whenever possible .
The Beijing city government gave ZhenRobotics a marketing boost by including it on an official list of “ anti-epidemic new technology.
” The RoboPony , which is controlled through a mobile phone app , can carry 90 pounds and travel at up to 6 mph .
Liu declined to say what the robot costs .
After shutting down for the Lunar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to work Jan. 26 .
Other employees started to return on Jan. 30 .
Liu plans to step up research into disinfection by ultraviolet light and other possible hygiene-related features .
The company was planning to produce 90 robots between mid-March and late April or early May , Liu said .
“ We placed a large number of orders for our suppliers , ” he said .

BEIJING — While other industries struggle, Liu Zhiyong says China’s virus outbreak is boosting demand for his knee-high, bright yellow robots to deliver groceries and patrol malls looking for shoppers who fail to wear masks.
Liu, CEO of ZhenRobotics Corp., is among millions of entrepreneurs who are gradually getting back to work after China declared victory over the coronavirus that shut down the world’s second-largest economy.
ZhenRobotics’ flagship model is the six-wheeled, 27-inch-tall RoboPony. The self-driving cart is sold to retailers, hospitals, malls and apartment complexes.
Unlike airlines, hotels and other industries that face a long and uncertain struggle to recover, Liu said his orders have tripled since the outbreak began.
“The epidemic made people aware of the fragility of human beings,” Liu said.
“Robots can make up for this vulnerability and provide services people can trust. Trust in robots has been enhanced dramatically.”
Robots for use in factories and consumer industries are near the top of the ruling Communist Party’s wish list for technology development.
Chinese leaders see them as a profitable export and a way to make up for a shrinking workforce as the population ages.
Beijing has spent heavily to set up robotics departments at universities and research institutes. Private sector developers can apply for research grants and other support.
ZhenRobotics, founded in 2016, does its research and development in the Chinese capital’s Zhongguancun university district, a hub for tech companies. Liu said the company gets a break on rent and other official support.
Its researchers are working on technologies including machine learning, computer vision and autonomous navigation, according to Liu.
ZhenRobotics has a testing center in the southeastern province of Zhejiang, south of Shanghai. Manufacturing is in Shenzhen, adjacent to Hong Kong.
One of its robots patrols Shanghai’s Taikoo Hui shopping mall. It can spot customers with bare faces and remind them to put on a mask. It gives out hand sanitizer and broadcasts anti-virus information.
The RoboPony has been used by Suning.com Group Ltd., one of China’s biggest retailers, to delivery food and other necessities to households during the outbreak.
Demand for e-commerce soared after the government cut most access to cities with a total of 60 million people in late January. Hundreds of millions more in other areas were to told stay home whenever possible.
The Beijing city government gave ZhenRobotics a marketing boost by including it on an official list of “anti-epidemic new technology.”
The RoboPony, which is controlled through a mobile phone app, can carry 90 pounds and travel at up to 6 mph. Liu declined to say what the robot costs.
After shutting down for the Lunar New Year in January, Liu went back to work Jan. 26. Other employees started to return on Jan. 30.
Liu plans to step up research into disinfection by ultraviolet light and other possible hygiene-related features.
The company was planning to produce 90 robots between mid-March and late April or early May, Liu said.
“We placed a large number of orders for our suppliers,” he said.


thedenverpost--2020-04-25--Small businesses at starting gate for round two of the Paycheck Protection Program

Small businesses and bankers : On your marks , get set — and don ’ t go just yet .
At precisely 8:30 a.m. , Monday , the U.S. Small Business Administration will fire the starting gun on the second round of loan processing under its Paycheck Protection Program , which has received another $ 320 billion .
“ We encourage all approved lenders to process loan applications previously submitted by eligible borrowers and disburse funds expeditiously .
All eligible borrowers who need these funds should work with an approved lender to apply .
Borrowers should carefully review PPP regulations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtain a loan , ” SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a joint statement Friday afternoon .
PPP loans are intended to help small businesses struggling because of the pandemic cover payroll expenses for their employees through June .
If 75 % of the loan proceeds are used to cover employee costs , the loans will be forgiven .
Borrowers claimed $ 349 billion in PPP loans in just under 13 days .
Between April 3 and April 16 , Colorado lenders facilitated 41,635 loans worth nearly $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bumpy process .
Some lenders started on day one , while others delayed taking applications a few days , and some had to get approval to even make SBA loans .
Some banks took every application they could , even if they couldn ’ t process them all .
Others got overwhelmed , stopped to catch up , and then started again .
With the next round of $ 320 billion in stimulus signed into law Friday by President Trump , the expectation is that demand for the second disbursement will be even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next round of funding , even though it is a significant amount , again will go very quickly .
Most believe this will be out in a matter of days , ” Kelly Brough , president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce , told members on a webinar Thursday .
Thousands of small businesses and self-employed workers applied but didn ’ t get an SBA approval before the money ran out .
They and their bankers have had more than a week to square up and process applications .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopens .
“ We are just gearing up trying to make sure those applications we have in our queue are ready to go , ” said Thomas Ogaard , president and CEO of the Native American Bank in Denver .
“ We will be there.
” The bank , which has a focus on serving Native American communities , is experienced at making SBA loans .
It got 57 % of its applicants through to an SBA approval .
Employees kept working long hours to get the rest ready on the assumption there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank also took in new customers who were frustrated with their current banks .
Ogaard estimates there are enough applications backed up and ready to go that the next round of money will be exhausted as fast as the lenders can submit into the SBA system , called E-tran .
It literally will be a race .
The SBA could have in theory reopened E-tran on Friday .
But the first round of lending generated several complaints , including allegations that bigger customers received preferential treatment and that public companies and large restaurant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money received millions in loans .
The SBA tightened things up , which is what required the delay until Monday .
“ Complaints have been lodged over the structure , administration and fairness of the SBA programs , which permitted public companies to qualify for the small business loans intended for companies with fewer than 500 employees , ” Denver law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schrek , said in a note .
More than 100 public companies , including about a half dozen in Colorado , received approval for PPP loans , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firms have come under strong pressure to return the money , including from the U.S. Treasury Department .
Broomfield-based DMC Global received approval on April 14 for a $ 6.7 million PPP loan , with the intent of using the money to cover payroll costs for its 306 U.S. employees .
DMC Global said it was below the 500 employee cap the SBA uses to define a small business and met all requirements .
But it also has a market capitalization of $ 367 million .
“ While the PPP program allows for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all companies with as many as 500 employees , subsequent guidance from the SBA made after DMC had received the proceeds of the loan states that public companies may not be eligible for the program , ” DMC Global said Thursday in a press release .
“ In view of these new guidelines and to avoid any further disputes at a time when the business environment is the most difficult it has seen , the company has repaid the loan.
” Aside from clamping down on big company borrowers , the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for small financial institutions , including $ 30 billion for those with less than $ 10 billion in assets and $ 30 billion for those with $ 10 billion to $ 50 billion in assets .
The theory is that smaller banks and community lenders work with smaller businesses , and won ’ t have the temptation that the largest banks had to give more help to their bigger customers , whose failures would directly impact loan write-offs .
Denver-based DreamSpring , a nonprofit microlender formerly known as Accion , is among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it issued 21 loans totaling $ 591,000 to Colorado small businesses at an average of $ 28,000 each in the first round .
It estimates 122 jobs were saved .
“ DreamSpring is seeking to have even greater impact with this next wave of funding , ” it said .

Small businesses and bankers: On your marks, get set — and don’t go just yet.
At precisely 8:30 a.m., Monday, the U.S. Small Business Administration will fire the starting gun on the second round of loan processing under its Paycheck Protection Program, which has received another $320 billion.
“We encourage all approved lenders to process loan applications previously submitted by eligible borrowers and disburse funds expeditiously. All eligible borrowers who need these funds should work with an approved lender to apply. Borrowers should carefully review PPP regulations and guidance and the certifications required to obtain a loan,” SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a joint statement Friday afternoon.
PPP loans are intended to help small businesses struggling because of the pandemic cover payroll expenses for their employees through June. If 75% of the loan proceeds are used to cover employee costs, the loans will be forgiven.
Borrowers claimed $349 billion in PPP loans in just under 13 days. Between April 3 and April 16, Colorado lenders facilitated 41,635 loans worth nearly $7.4 billion, in what was a bumpy process.
Some lenders started on day one, while others delayed taking applications a few days, and some had to get approval to even make SBA loans. Some banks took every application they could, even if they couldn’t process them all. Others got overwhelmed, stopped to catch up, and then started again.
With the next round of $320 billion in stimulus signed into law Friday by President Trump, the expectation is that demand for the second disbursement will be even more intense.
“Most agree this next round of funding, even though it is a significant amount, again will go very quickly. Most believe this will be out in a matter of days,” Kelly Brough, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, told members on a webinar Thursday.
Thousands of small businesses and self-employed workers applied but didn’t get an SBA approval before the money ran out. They and their bankers have had more than a week to square up and process applications. They are ready to sprint once the SBA reopens.
“We are just gearing up trying to make sure those applications we have in our queue are ready to go,” said Thomas Ogaard, president and CEO of the Native American Bank in Denver. “We will be there.”
The bank, which has a focus on serving Native American communities, is experienced at making SBA loans. It got 57% of its applicants through to an SBA approval. Employees kept working long hours to get the rest ready on the assumption there would be a second round. The bank also took in new customers who were frustrated with their current banks.
Ogaard estimates there are enough applications backed up and ready to go that the next round of money will be exhausted as fast as the lenders can submit into the SBA system, called E-tran. It literally will be a race.
The SBA could have in theory reopened E-tran on Friday. But the first round of lending generated several complaints, including allegations that bigger customers received preferential treatment and that public companies and large restaurant chains who had other ways to raise money received millions in loans. The SBA tightened things up, which is what required the delay until Monday.
“Complaints have been lodged over the structure, administration and fairness of the SBA programs, which permitted public companies to qualify for the small business loans intended for companies with fewer than 500 employees,” Denver law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, said in a note.
More than 100 public companies, including about a half dozen in Colorado, received approval for PPP loans, according to the Wall Street Journal. Those firms have come under strong pressure to return the money, including from the U.S. Treasury Department.
Broomfield-based DMC Global received approval on April 14 for a $6.7 million PPP loan, with the intent of using the money to cover payroll costs for its 306 U.S. employees. DMC Global said it was below the 500 employee cap the SBA uses to define a small business and met all requirements. But it also has a market capitalization of $367 million.
“While the PPP program allows for loans of up to $10 million for all companies with as many as 500 employees, subsequent guidance from the SBA made after DMC had received the proceeds of the loan states that public companies may not be eligible for the program,” DMC Global said Thursday in a press release. “In view of these new guidelines and to avoid any further disputes at a time when the business environment is the most difficult it has seen, the company has repaid the loan.”
Aside from clamping down on big company borrowers, the second round of PPP reserves $60 billion for small financial institutions, including $30 billion for those with less than $10 billion in assets and $30 billion for those with $10 billion to $50 billion in assets.
The theory is that smaller banks and community lenders work with smaller businesses, and won’t have the temptation that the largest banks had to give more help to their bigger customers, whose failures would directly impact loan write-offs.
Denver-based DreamSpring, a nonprofit microlender formerly known as Accion, is among the small lenders who will benefit. DreamSpring said it issued 21 loans totaling $591,000 to Colorado small businesses at an average of $28,000 each in the first round. It estimates 122 jobs were saved.
“DreamSpring is seeking to have even greater impact with this next wave of funding,” it said.


thedenverpost--2020-04-25--Some remote workers in Colorado will return to a different world next month

Colorado will allow non-essential businesses to bring more employees back into the workplace come May 4 , and Denver is lifting its shelter-in-place order on May 8 .
It remains an open question of how many employers will take advantage of that , especially if remote arrangements are getting the job done .
But those who do return will find a much stricter work environment than what they left behind in March .
“ No one will feel comfortable coming into work until there is a cure or vaccine .
An overwhelming number of employees will want to continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington , market director for JLL Denver , a commercial real estate firm , during a webinar hosted by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon .
Gov .
Jared Polis and his administration will provide more detailed guidelines on reopening the economy next week during the next phase , which is called safer at home .
Betsy Markey , executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade , hinted at what some of the rules might look like during the webinar .
Occupancy will be limited to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic struck .
Workers must stay six-feet apart and any meetings must be limited to 10 or fewer people .
Workplaces will need to have signs about good hygiene practices , constantly sanitize all high-touch areas , and maintain healthy air ventilation , practices that were becoming commonplace before the state ’ s shelter-in-place order came down .
Workers will notice some differences .
More people will wear masks and will ask in muffled voices what happened to the water cooler .
Some employers will monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 , with temperature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You should have a mask on anytime you are in an enclosed office space , ” Markey advised .
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last month said employers aren ’ t violating a worker ’ s right by measuring body temperature .
On Thursday , the commission issued guidelines that allow employers to test workers for COVID-19 , overruling protections provided under the American with Disabilities Act .
Any tests must be “ job-related and consistent with business necessity.
” If a worker comes down with COVID-19 , it could result in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and require building sanitation , which can run $ 30,000 to $ 50,000 for a 25,000-square-foot facility , Washington said .
*The steps businesses take will go to instill customer confidence , ” Markey said .
“ I know that this business is taking precautions.
” Just because half of workers can return to a job site doesn ’ t necessarily mean that many should , Suzanne Rivera , a partner at the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company in Denver , said .
Employers will need to prioritize who really needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take place .
“ Ask who really needs to be on-site and what travel is essential , ” she said .
Older workers and those with health conditions face a greater risk if they come down with COVID-19 and should have priority for remote work arrangements .
Parents may also prefer to stay at home , given that K-12 schools aren ’ t starting back in May and childcare options are difficult to find and expensive .
And workers who rely on transit to get to work also face the risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the degree they can , employers are encouraged to allow workers who want to work remotely to continue to do so , the panelists said .
And they should try to bring in as few people back as required , not as many as the rules allow .

Colorado will allow non-essential businesses to bring more employees back into the workplace come May 4, and Denver is lifting its shelter-in-place order on May 8.
It remains an open question of how many employers will take advantage of that, especially if remote arrangements are getting the job done. But those who do return will find a much stricter work environment than what they left behind in March.
“No one will feel comfortable coming into work until there is a cure or vaccine. An overwhelming number of employees will want to continue to work at home,” predicted Paul Washington, market director for JLL Denver, a commercial real estate firm, during a webinar hosted by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon.
Gov. Jared Polis and his administration will provide more detailed guidelines on reopening the economy next week during the next phase, which is called safer at home. Betsy Markey, executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, hinted at what some of the rules might look like during the webinar.
Occupancy will be limited to half of what it was before the pandemic struck. Workers must stay six-feet apart and any meetings must be limited to 10 or fewer people. Workplaces will need to have signs about good hygiene practices, constantly sanitize all high-touch areas, and maintain healthy air ventilation, practices that were becoming commonplace before the state’s shelter-in-place order came down.
Workers will notice some differences. More people will wear masks and will ask in muffled voices what happened to the water cooler. Some employers will monitor for symptoms of COVID-19, with temperature checks becoming the new norm.
“You should have a mask on anytime you are in an enclosed office space,” Markey advised.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last month said employers aren’t violating a worker’s right by measuring body temperature. On Thursday, the commission issued guidelines that allow employers to test workers for COVID-19, overruling protections provided under the American with Disabilities Act. Any tests must be “job-related and consistent with business necessity.”
If a worker comes down with COVID-19, it could result in a period of self-quarantine for several other employees and require building sanitation, which can run $30,000 to $50,000 for a 25,000-square-foot facility, Washington said.
*The steps businesses take will go to instill customer confidence,” Markey said. “I know that this business is taking precautions.”
Just because half of workers can return to a job site doesn’t necessarily mean that many should, Suzanne Rivera, a partner at the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company in Denver, said. Employers will need to prioritize who really needs to come back and what trips really need to take place.
“Ask who really needs to be on-site and what travel is essential,” she said.
Older workers and those with health conditions face a greater risk if they come down with COVID-19 and should have priority for remote work arrangements. Parents may also prefer to stay at home, given that K-12 schools aren’t starting back in May and childcare options are difficult to find and expensive.
And workers who rely on transit to get to work also face the risk of greater exposure to the virus.
To the degree they can, employers are encouraged to allow workers who want to work remotely to continue to do so, the panelists said. And they should try to bring in as few people back as required, not as many as the rules allow.