thedenverpost--2020-06-08--“Pandemic within a pandemic”: Coronavirus and police brutality roil black communities

WASHINGTON — When Mike Griffin , a black community organizer in Minneapolis , took to the streets in protest , he was grieving for two black men taken during the turmoil convulsing the country : George Floyd , who died after gasping for air under the knee of a white police officer , and his own godfather , who succumbed to COVID-19 .
“ I ’ m just as likely to die from a cop as I am from COVID , ” he said .
In Providence , Rhode Island , graduate students and alumni of color at the Brown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their professors take a strong stand against police violence — and direct research dollars to study it .
And in Baltimore , a city still reckoning with the 2015 death of Freddie Gray in police custody , Rajikh Hayes , an activist , said protesters were acutely aware that they were risking exposure to the coronavirus , which is far likelier to kill black people than white people , and of the suffering COVID-19 had caused in their community .
“ It ’ s really a simple question : ‘ Am I going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or am I going to let the system — the police ?
” he said .
“ And if something is going to take me out when I don ’ t have a job , which one do I prefer ?
Folks who don ’ t have much else to lose — they understand that this system isn ’ t built for black people .
And that ’ s why people are in the streets.
” As protests over police brutality continue to roil cities , this is an extraordinary moment of pain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans who are bearing the brunt of three crises — police violence , crushing unemployment and the deadliest infectious disease threat in a century — that have laid bare long-standing injustice .
Public health experts , activists and lawmakers say the triple threat requires a coordinated response .
“ These are interrelated crises — the crisis of racism and inequality that is now converging with the crisis of COVID-19 , ” said Dr. Leana Wen , who was Baltimore ’ s health commissioner when Gray died and who testified before Congress on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There is no playbook for what you do for addressing public health impacts of civil unrest.
” The precise toll that the coronavirus has taken on people of color remains unknown ; not every state collects data .
The Trump administration , under pressure from Congress , announced Thursday new requirements for states to do so .
But an analysis of data from 40 states and the District of Columbia , released last month by the nonpartisan APM Research Lab , found black Americans are more than twice as likely as whites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the coronavirus .
In some states , the disparity is much greater .
Devastating job losses are also “ hitting black workers and their families especially hard , ” according to a recent report by the Economic Policy Institute , a liberal think tank .
The unemployment rate for black Americans is 16.8 % , compared with 12.4 % for white Americans , according to federal data released Friday .
And while the economy is showing hints of recovery , African Americans are being left out ; the black unemployment rate rose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 2 points for white workers .
On Capitol Hill , lawmakers are trying to respond .
Rep. Barbara Lee , D-Calif. , introduced legislation last week calling for the creation of a “ truth , racial healing and transformation commission ” to examine the legacy of slavery and systemic racism .
Black Americans , she said , are suffering “ a pandemic within a pandemic.
” Floyd is a case in point .
He died with coronavirus antibodies in his blood , surviving infection only to die in police custody .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death , many of them black and brown , state and local health officials are bracing for a fresh wave of coronavirus infections .
( BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM . )
The mass incarceration of black people has only worsened the pandemic ’ s heavy toll on minorities .
Black Americans are incarcerated in state prisons at five times the rate of whites , according to the Sentencing Project , a Washington advocacy group .
Prisons are breeding grounds for the coronavirus , and jails pose a particular threat because people cycle in and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The actual incarceration , housing of people , is only part of it , ” said Nickolas Zaller , a public health professor at the University of Arkansas who studies the relationship between health and the criminal justice system .
“ When people are released , what job opportunities do they have ?
What is their housing situation ?
All of these other factors relate back to the current pandemic.
” Trevor Noah , the South African-born host of “ The Daily Show , ” connected the dots from Amy Cooper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an African American bird watcher of threatening her , to the death of Floyd .
All are playing out “ against the backdrop , ” he said , of a public health crisis that has left Americans of all races frustrated , uncertain and stuck inside .
“ While everyone is facing the battle against coronavirus , black people in America are still facing the battle against racism and coronavirus , ” he said in a recent 18-minute monologue , adding , “ Coronavirus exposed all of it.
” ( END OPTIONAL TRIM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests , the pandemic is deeply personal .
Some have lost friends or family members to the coronavirus .
Others have lost jobs or are front-line workers — in grocery stores , hospitals , mass transit systems — putting themselves at risk of infection .
“ We ’ ve had a lot of volunteers come out and just tell us how they ’ re unable to work right now , and they just can ’ t sit home and do nothing , ” said Jacqueline LaBayne , 23 , of Freedom Fighters D.C. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Capitol in recent days .
“ Even local businesses , they can ’ t take customers , and they are donating meals .
It ’ s honestly incredible , the support we ’ ve gotten in these circumstances , because so many people are affected by COVID.
” ( BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM . )
In New York , Rashid Shabazz , chief marketing officer of the online organization Color of Change , displayed symptoms of the coronavirus for several weeks , he said , but was unable to get tested .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the dying words — “ I can ’ t breathe ” — of Floyd and another victim of police violence , Eric Garner , who was put in an illegal chokehold .
Shabazz wrote about it in a column for The Root , a black news and opinion site , under the headline “ We Can ’ t Breathe : COVID-19 and Police Injustice Are Suffocating Black People.
” At the Brown University School of Public Health , about 20 students and recent graduates in the department of behavioral and social sciences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanding a “ response to police brutality and anti-blackness , ” citing the coronavirus and the recent killings of three African Americans : Breonna Taylor , killed by police in Louisville , Kentucky ; Ahmaud Arbery , shot in south Georgia after being pursued by armed white residents ; and Floyd .
The letter has prompted painful conversations , both students and professors say .
Don Operario , a professor , said he convened a meeting of those who wanted to “ transform this inner reflection to actual words and action.
” School @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ tackle these inequities.
” The students want more than talk .
Arjee Restar , who just received her doctorate , said the group wanted to break “ silence and a lack of investment in anti-black police brutality work.
” Ashley Gomez , a doctoral student , said professors who were quick to “ adapt their research ” to study the coronavirus needed to apply for grants to study racism as well .
( END OPTIONAL TRIM . )
At Thursday ’ s virtual hearing before Congress , witnesses told lawmakers that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of institutions — at work in the pandemic were also fueling the protests against police violence .
Dr. Uché Blackstock , a doctor in New York whose company , Advancing Health Equity , works to address racial disparities in health , said many of her black patients who had the coronavirus did not get tested out of either a reluctance to see a doctor or a lack of available testing .
One patient , seeing the protective gear that covered Blackstock ’ s skin , asked if she was black , she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his concerns would be taken seriously .
She said she worried that COVID-19 would become a disease of marginalized communities , just as AIDS was in the late 1990s , when white Americans had access to new medicines and health care while many black Americans , with fewer economic resources , did not .
“ I ’ m worried about black communities and other communities of color being stigmatized , as those are the people with coronavirus , ” she said , adding , “ We need to equitably allocate resources to black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James Clyburn of South Carolina , the No .
3 House Democrat , who oversees the select committee examining the federal response to the pandemic and led the hearing , said he intended to make sure that the trillions of dollars Congress appropriated for coronavirus relief was spent “ efficiently , effectively , equitably — and I ’ m particularly interested in the equitable part of it.
” But he also said he intended to “ nudge my caucus ” to pass legislation banning the police tactics used to detain Floyd .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , now a public health professor at George Washington University , declared racism a public health issue , which she said “ raised a lot of eyebrows at the time.
” More people are thinking that way now .
In North Carolina , where African Americans account for 28 % of coronavirus cases but only 22 % of the population , the state health secretary decried “ structural racism ” last week .
In Ohio , where black people account for 18 % of COVID-19 deaths but 13 % of the population , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a public health crisis .
( STORY CAN END HERE .
OPTIONAL MATERIAL FOLLOWS . )
Lee , the congresswoman , said she intended to ask her county to make such a declaration .
Despite the turmoil — “ It ’ s an emotional roller coaster right now , ” she said — she feels optimistic .
“ This is a transformative moment , ” she said .
“ I ’ m sad , I ’ m angry , but I have hope.
” Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON — When Mike Griffin, a black community organizer in Minneapolis, took to the streets in protest, he was grieving for two black men taken during the turmoil convulsing the country: George Floyd, who died after gasping for air under the knee of a white police officer, and his own godfather, who succumbed to COVID-19.
“I’m just as likely to die from a cop as I am from COVID,” he said.
In Providence, Rhode Island, graduate students and alumni of color at the Brown University School of Public Health are demanding their professors take a strong stand against police violence — and direct research dollars to study it. And in Baltimore, a city still reckoning with the 2015 death of Freddie Gray in police custody, Rajikh Hayes, an activist, said protesters were acutely aware that they were risking exposure to the coronavirus, which is far likelier to kill black people than white people, and of the suffering COVID-19 had caused in their community.
“It’s really a simple question: ‘Am I going to let a disease kill me, or am I going to let the system — the police?” he said. “And if something is going to take me out when I don’t have a job, which one do I prefer? Folks who don’t have much else to lose — they understand that this system isn’t built for black people. And that’s why people are in the streets.”
As protests over police brutality continue to roil cities, this is an extraordinary moment of pain for the nation, especially for black Americans who are bearing the brunt of three crises — police violence, crushing unemployment and the deadliest infectious disease threat in a century — that have laid bare long-standing injustice. Public health experts, activists and lawmakers say the triple threat requires a coordinated response.
“These are interrelated crises — the crisis of racism and inequality that is now converging with the crisis of COVID-19,” said Dr. Leana Wen, who was Baltimore’s health commissioner when Gray died and who testified before Congress on Thursday about racial disparities in the pandemic. “There is no playbook for what you do for addressing public health impacts of civil unrest.”
The precise toll that the coronavirus has taken on people of color remains unknown; not every state collects data. The Trump administration, under pressure from Congress, announced Thursday new requirements for states to do so. But an analysis of data from 40 states and the District of Columbia, released last month by the nonpartisan APM Research Lab, found black Americans are more than twice as likely as whites, Latinos or Asian Americans to die from the coronavirus. In some states, the disparity is much greater.
Devastating job losses are also “hitting black workers and their families especially hard,” according to a recent report by the Economic Policy Institute, a liberal think tank. The unemployment rate for black Americans is 16.8%, compared with 12.4% for white Americans, according to federal data released Friday. And while the economy is showing hints of recovery, African Americans are being left out; the black unemployment rate rose slightly in May despite a decline of nearly 2 points for white workers.
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are trying to respond. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., introduced legislation last week calling for the creation of a “truth, racial healing and transformation commission” to examine the legacy of slavery and systemic racism. Black Americans, she said, are suffering “a pandemic within a pandemic.”
Floyd is a case in point. He died with coronavirus antibodies in his blood, surviving infection only to die in police custody. With so many people protesting Floyd’s death, many of them black and brown, state and local health officials are bracing for a fresh wave of coronavirus infections.(BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM.)The mass incarceration of black people has only worsened the pandemic’s heavy toll on minorities. Black Americans are incarcerated in state prisons at five times the rate of whites, according to the Sentencing Project, a Washington advocacy group. Prisons are breeding grounds for the coronavirus, and jails pose a particular threat because people cycle in and out, spreading disease in their neighborhoods.
“The actual incarceration, housing of people, is only part of it,” said Nickolas Zaller, a public health professor at the University of Arkansas who studies the relationship between health and the criminal justice system. “When people are released, what job opportunities do they have? What is their housing situation? All of these other factors relate back to the current pandemic.”
Trevor Noah, the South African-born host of “The Daily Show,” connected the dots from Amy Cooper, a white woman who falsely accused an African American bird watcher of threatening her, to the death of Floyd. All are playing out “against the backdrop,” he said, of a public health crisis that has left Americans of all races frustrated, uncertain and stuck inside.
“While everyone is facing the battle against coronavirus, black people in America are still facing the battle against racism and coronavirus,” he said in a recent 18-minute monologue, adding, “Coronavirus exposed all of it.”
(END OPTIONAL TRIM.)For many involved in the protests, the pandemic is deeply personal. Some have lost friends or family members to the coronavirus. Others have lost jobs or are front-line workers — in grocery stores, hospitals, mass transit systems — putting themselves at risk of infection.
“We’ve had a lot of volunteers come out and just tell us how they’re unable to work right now, and they just can’t sit home and do nothing,” said Jacqueline LaBayne, 23, of Freedom Fighters D.C., which led hundreds in a march to the Capitol in recent days. “Even local businesses, they can’t take customers, and they are donating meals. It’s honestly incredible, the support we’ve gotten in these circumstances, because so many people are affected by COVID.”(BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM.)In New York, Rashid Shabazz, chief marketing officer of the online organization Color of Change, displayed symptoms of the coronavirus for several weeks, he said, but was unable to get tested. He said the respiratory illness reminded him of the dying words — “I can’t breathe” — of Floyd and another victim of police violence, Eric Garner, who was put in an illegal chokehold.
Shabazz wrote about it in a column for The Root, a black news and opinion site, under the headline “We Can’t Breathe: COVID-19 and Police Injustice Are Suffocating Black People.”
At the Brown University School of Public Health, about 20 students and recent graduates in the department of behavioral and social sciences wrote the predominantly white faculty a letter demanding a “response to police brutality and anti-blackness,” citing the coronavirus and the recent killings of three African Americans: Breonna Taylor, killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky; Ahmaud Arbery, shot in south Georgia after being pursued by armed white residents; and Floyd.
The letter has prompted painful conversations, both students and professors say. Don Operario, a professor, said he convened a meeting of those who wanted to “transform this inner reflection to actual words and action.” School administrators followed up with a statement pledging to “tackle these inequities.”
The students want more than talk. Arjee Restar, who just received her doctorate, said the group wanted to break “silence and a lack of investment in anti-black police brutality work.” Ashley Gomez, a doctoral student, said professors who were quick to “adapt their research” to study the coronavirus needed to apply for grants to study racism as well.
(END OPTIONAL TRIM.)At Thursday’s virtual hearing before Congress, witnesses told lawmakers that some of the same forces — distrust of institutions — at work in the pandemic were also fueling the protests against police violence. Dr. Uché Blackstock, a doctor in New York whose company, Advancing Health Equity, works to address racial disparities in health, said many of her black patients who had the coronavirus did not get tested out of either a reluctance to see a doctor or a lack of available testing.
One patient, seeing the protective gear that covered Blackstock’s skin, asked if she was black, she said, because he wanted to make sure his concerns would be taken seriously. She said she worried that COVID-19 would become a disease of marginalized communities, just as AIDS was in the late 1990s, when white Americans had access to new medicines and health care while many black Americans, with fewer economic resources, did not.
“I’m worried about black communities and other communities of color being stigmatized, as those are the people with coronavirus,” she said, adding, “We need to equitably allocate resources to black communities as quickly as possible.”
Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, the No. 3 House Democrat, who oversees the select committee examining the federal response to the pandemic and led the hearing, said he intended to make sure that the trillions of dollars Congress appropriated for coronavirus relief was spent “efficiently, effectively, equitably — and I’m particularly interested in the equitable part of it.” But he also said he intended to “nudge my caucus” to pass legislation banning the police tactics used to detain Floyd.
After the Baltimore unrest in 2015, Wen, now a public health professor at George Washington University, declared racism a public health issue, which she said “raised a lot of eyebrows at the time.”
More people are thinking that way now. In North Carolina, where African Americans account for 28% of coronavirus cases but only 22% of the population, the state health secretary decried “structural racism” last week. In Ohio, where black people account for 18% of COVID-19 deaths but 13% of the population, officials in Franklin County have declared racism a public health crisis.(STORY CAN END HERE. OPTIONAL MATERIAL FOLLOWS.)Lee, the congresswoman, said she intended to ask her county to make such a declaration. Despite the turmoil — “It’s an emotional roller coaster right now,” she said — she feels optimistic.
“This is a transformative moment,” she said. “I’m sad, I’m angry, but I have hope.”
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado.


thedenverpost--2020-06-08--Letters: Exploiting meat and poultry workers (6/8/20)

Meat and poultry companies are taking advantage of the American people by not only exploiting the prices of meat but also exploiting their employees by forcing them to work in unsafe and unsanitary conditions , which have become even worse amid the coronavirus .
Now Congress is debating whether to immunize these corporations from lawsuits .
According to a recent Oxfam report , even before the pandemic hit , poultry workers found themselves under such pressure to keep up with break-neck processing speeds that many resorted to wearing diapers on the production line due to infrequent bathroom breaks .
Is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take sufficient safety measures to prevent their workers from COVID-19 ?
We as a society need to demand that meat and poultry companies protect innocent , hardworking people and their communities from falling ill and dying .
We must also ask the government to do its job by not letting companies off the hook when their behavior is negligent and instead enforce the laws that require safe and healthy workplaces .
A generation ’ s warning comes back to haunt it Re : “ Proud to be a Boomer , ” May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s letter was delightfully clever throughout .
His “ facial threads ” cracked me up .
Thanks .
I needed that .
I couldn ’ t help thinking , though , as I read that letter ( several times ) , how wry it is that the generation which once espoused the slogan “ Never trust anyone over 30 ” is now more than a bit annoyed to find itself on the wrong end of that goad and regularly dismissed with the rejoinder “ OK , Boomer.
” It looks like it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Aquarius .
So to all of the Boomers who find themselves marginalized , disdained , discounted and discarded , especially in these times of such very troubled waters , I would add one note of encouragement to the letter writer ’ s parting words : “ Keep the faith , Baby !
” Re : “ Denver Public Schools : Police may be asked to leave , ” June 6 news story As a retired Denver Public Schools middle school and high school teacher who worked actively to bring police resource officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80s , I think removing them would be a huge mistake .
I saw firsthand the good that comes from the interaction of police officers and students getting to know each other in a school setting rather than confronting each other on the streets .
When I taught government , having the school resource officer come into my classroom several times during the semester to talk about police procedures and answer student questions about laws was extremely valuable to students .
When kids saw the police resource officer in various places around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who could talk to them about a problem .
There has been some public discussion about arming teachers to keep kids safe in school , which I think is not a good idea .
I suppose that when I was a teacher , as a former Marine Corps sergeant , I could have handled a weapon well enough to handle that kind of “ teaching duty.
” A police school resource officer is a far better person to be armed in a school setting than a teacher .
To send a letter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail .

Exploiting meat and poultry workers
Meat and poultry companies are taking advantage of the American people by not only exploiting the prices of meat but also exploiting their employees by forcing them to work in unsafe and unsanitary conditions, which have become even worse amid the coronavirus. Now Congress is debating whether to immunize these corporations from lawsuits.
According to a recent Oxfam report, even before the pandemic hit, poultry workers found themselves under such pressure to keep up with break-neck processing speeds that many resorted to wearing diapers on the production line due to infrequent bathroom breaks. Is it any surprise that these companies failed to take sufficient safety measures to prevent their workers from COVID-19?
We as a society need to demand that meat and poultry companies protect innocent, hardworking people and their communities from falling ill and dying. We must also ask the government to do its job by not letting companies off the hook when their behavior is negligent and instead enforce the laws that require safe and healthy workplaces.
Abby Maxman, Boston
Editor’s note: Maxman is president & CEO of Oxfam America.
A generation’s warning comes back to haunt it
Re: “Proud to be a Boomer,” May 31 letter to the editor
The writer’s letter was delightfully clever throughout. His “facial threads” cracked me up. Thanks. I needed that.
I couldn’t help thinking, though, as I read that letter (several times), how wry it is that the generation which once espoused the slogan “Never trust anyone over 30” is now more than a bit annoyed to find itself on the wrong end of that goad and regularly dismissed with the rejoinder “OK, Boomer.”
It looks like it’s twilight time for the Age of Aquarius. So to all of the Boomers who find themselves marginalized, disdained, discounted and discarded, especially in these times of such very troubled waters, I would add one note of encouragement to the letter writer’s parting words: “Keep the faith, Baby!”
J. Sheppard, Denver
Keep the resource officers
Re: “Denver Public Schools: Police may be asked to leave,” June 6 news story
As a retired Denver Public Schools middle school and high school teacher who worked actively to bring police resource officers into DPS in the 1970s and ’80s, I think removing them would be a huge mistake.
I saw firsthand the good that comes from the interaction of police officers and students getting to know each other in a school setting rather than confronting each other on the streets.
When I taught government, having the school resource officer come into my classroom several times during the semester to talk about police procedures and answer student questions about laws was extremely valuable to students.
When kids saw the police resource officer in various places around the school, they had a police friend who could talk to them about a problem. There has been some public discussion about arming teachers to keep kids safe in school, which I think is not a good idea. I suppose that when I was a teacher, as a former Marine Corps sergeant, I could have handled a weapon well enough to handle that kind of “teaching duty.” A police school resource officer is a far better person to be armed in a school setting than a teacher.
John Dellinger, Aurora
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-06-08--Ask Amy: Courtesy questions in the time of COVID-19

Dear Amy : Here ’ s a typical scenario : I am walking on a trail that is only a few feet wide .
Someone is coming toward me .
Neither of us is wearing a mask .
I step off the trail to give the other person ( and myself ) space .
The other person walks by without saying anything .
Am I wrong in thinking I should receive a “ thank you ” for moving aside ?
Or , I ’ m in a market with the aisles marked as one-way and a person with a cart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is coming in the other direction .
I ’ ll either retreat from the aisle or face the shelves to allow the person to get by .
I passingly wonder if I should remind the person that they are walking the wrong way , but again , a “ thank you ” would be nice .
And then there are masks in general , the wearing of which seems to be devolving into a political statement .
I wear a mask in public ( especially indoors ) , not because it protects me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not prevent airborne viruses from getting through ) , but because it protects other people .
If we were going to be courteous to other people , wouldn ’ t we all wear a mask ?
I realize that courtesy and etiquette in the age of COVID-19 is a minor issue ( and it is a minor issue to me ) .
But I think things would be a little better if we were more courteous with each other ( and less political ) .
Am getting too worked up about nothing ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ some perspective .
I wonder if for every instance of rudeness , there might be two or three of people demonstrating social kindness .
But — rudeness takes up a lot of space .
In every instance you cite , I agree that you are being courteous , and the other person should acknowledge your courtesy .
But — people don ’ t always behave in optimal ways .
In American culture , we don ’ t seem to have a very rigid code of social conduct .
This means that some people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to behave however they want , claiming a sort of sovereign rule over what should be shared public space .
( This is how going without a mask somehow becomes a political statement , rather than one of protecting public health . )
Also — lots of people weren ’ t raised as well as you may have been .
Or — they ’ re having a bad day , are stuck in their heads , or distractedly walking the wrong way down an aisle accidentally .
One minor tip from me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wish for a verbal acknowledgment from a maskless person if they are also maskless .
As you know , the virus seems to be spread primarily through aerosolized particles expelled when people speak , cough or sneeze .
A silent wave , thumbs up or head nod might be preferable to a verbal “ thank you.
” Dear Amy : My wife and I moved to Florida 15 years ago .
We have many friends here and realize that politics and religion are two subjects to avoid .
Unfortunately , given the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen .
A couple we have known for six years visited for five days during the Super Bowl last winter .
We have enjoyed many moments with this couple , but unfortunately we have not communicated since their visit , when a short political discussion took place .
To go from frequently talking to zero is very confusing and disappointing .
My question is which path should we pursue : My wife thinks we should drop them and move on , as she feels disrespected .
I think we should have some closure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you have not received an acknowledgment or even a pro-forma “ thank you for hosting us ” from this couple after you hosted them in your home for five days , then I ’ m with your wife .
However , if you have something YOU want to express to them — then you should go ahead and do so .
If you know you offended someone , then maybe you should apologize , but you have the right to discuss politics and shouldn ’ t regard it as a “ slip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in your home disagrees with you .
Dear Amy : I loved your answer to “ Georgia on my Mind , ” a self-professed “ Larry David-type ” who wants his wife to change her life for him .
Thank you for suggesting that these two live apart for a few weeks .
His wife deserves a break !
Dear Fan : My heart went out … to her .

Dear Amy: Here’s a typical scenario: I am walking on a trail that is only a few feet wide. Someone is coming toward me. Neither of us is wearing a mask.
I step off the trail to give the other person (and myself) space. The other person walks by without saying anything.
Am I wrong in thinking I should receive a “thank you” for moving aside?
Or, I’m in a market with the aisles marked as one-way and a person with a cart (with or without a mask) is coming in the other direction. I’ll either retreat from the aisle or face the shelves to allow the person to get by.
I passingly wonder if I should remind the person that they are walking the wrong way, but again, a “thank you” would be nice.
And then there are masks in general, the wearing of which seems to be devolving into a political statement.
I wear a mask in public (especially indoors), not because it protects me (most masks available to me will not prevent airborne viruses from getting through), but because it protects other people.
If we were going to be courteous to other people, wouldn’t we all wear a mask?
I realize that courtesy and etiquette in the age of COVID-19 is a minor issue (and it is a minor issue to me). But I think things would be a little better if we were more courteous with each other (and less political). Am getting too worked up about nothing?
I’d appreciate your thoughts.
— Seeking Too Much Courtesy?
Dear Seeking: You might benefit from some perspective. I wonder if for every instance of rudeness, there might be two or three of people demonstrating social kindness. But — rudeness takes up a lot of space.
In every instance you cite, I agree that you are being courteous, and the other person should acknowledge your courtesy. But — people don’t always behave in optimal ways. In American culture, we don’t seem to have a very rigid code of social conduct. This means that some people interpret their own personal freedom as license to behave however they want, claiming a sort of sovereign rule over what should be shared public space. (This is how going without a mask somehow becomes a political statement, rather than one of protecting public health.)
Also — lots of people weren’t raised as well as you may have been. Or — they’re having a bad day, are stuck in their heads, or distractedly walking the wrong way down an aisle accidentally.
One minor tip from me, to others: People should not necessarily wish for a verbal acknowledgment from a maskless person if they are also maskless.
As you know, the virus seems to be spread primarily through aerosolized particles expelled when people speak, cough or sneeze. A silent wave, thumbs up or head nod might be preferable to a verbal “thank you.”
Dear Amy: My wife and I moved to Florida 15 years ago.
We have many friends here and realize that politics and religion are two subjects to avoid.
Unfortunately, given the current state of affairs, a slip-up can happen.
A couple we have known for six years visited for five days during the Super Bowl last winter.
We have enjoyed many moments with this couple, but unfortunately we have not communicated since their visit, when a short political discussion took place.
To go from frequently talking to zero is very confusing and disappointing.
My question is which path should we pursue: My wife thinks we should drop them and move on, as she feels disrespected. I think we should have some closure to our relationship.
— Confused in Florida
Dear Confused: If you have not received an acknowledgment or even a pro-forma “thank you for hosting us” from this couple after you hosted them in your home for five days, then I’m with your wife. However, if you have something YOU want to express to them — then you should go ahead and do so.
If you know you offended someone, then maybe you should apologize, but you have the right to discuss politics and shouldn’t regard it as a “slip up,” just because a guest in your home disagrees with you.
Dear Amy: I loved your answer to “Georgia on my Mind,” a self-professed “Larry David-type” who wants his wife to change her life for him.
Thank you for suggesting that these two live apart for a few weeks. His wife deserves a break!
— A Fan
Dear Fan: My heart went out … to her.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)


thedenverpost--2020-06-08--Letters: What if more had knelt with Kaepernick? (6/7/20)

What if more had knelt with Kaepernick ?
On Sep. 1 , 2016 , Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem in protest of the continued racism in our country that keeps taking the lives of black people .
Many refused to hear the message and condemned the messenger .
Since then , many more people have taken a knee in protest , and sadly many more black lives have been lost to the systemic racism that infects our nation .
Some people called for the firing of these men peacefully protesting the injustice in our country — called them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were angry that someone would dare do this to our flag , forgetting the Pledge of Allegiance says “ with liberty and justice for all.
” These men and all the people of color just want this country to live up to that promise .
One person , in particular , unleashed a torrent of condemnation .
Just imagine for a moment if this person had made a different choice and attended a football game , stood with the players on the field and then took a knee because he understood the message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change that is so desperately needed .
It could have been the first step in a very long journey towards ridding our nation of this cancer of racism .
Perhaps , on May 25 , 2020 , George Floyd would have made it safely home to his family .
What would be happening now if more of us had followed Colin Kaepernick ’ s example ?
What if more athletes and other people in the public eye had taken a knee ?
Kaepernick ’ s peaceful protest was met with scorn , derision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have ?
What ye have sown , so shall ye reap .
Broncos coach in need of training Re : “ Sports heroes can no longer stick to sports , ” June 3 commentary and “ Fangio clariﬁes remark about racism in the NFL , ” June 4 news story .
The Broncos aren ’ t ready for the season , and training camp won ’ t help .
The problem is they have a blind spot , and it ’ s not an issue at left tackle .
The blindspot is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see , and it ’ s not because he ’ s in need of new glasses .
Vic Fangio believes the NFL has “ no racism at all.
” Yet , it ’ s shocking to believe Colin Kaepernick doesn ’ t have a job because his athletic skills don ’ t merit one .
It ’ s equally shocking to imply few black men have worked hard enough to merit a coaching position .
Fangio quickly issued an apology after social media erupted in criticism over the remarks .
Yet an apology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And the words he used simply reiterated his ignorance : Fangio said there is “ no color in the locker rooms.
” But his locker room is filled with color .
A leader who refuses to see his players ’ racial identity also refuses to acknowledge the challenges black men face every day .
Athletes know strength and change come through hard work and training .
A team meeting won ’ t fix a coach ’ s ignorance .
Pledging to listen to players won ’ t change his mindset when he refuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and equity training is now every bit as important for the Broncos as sprints and out routes .
Fangio may be a veteran in the NFL , but he still has much to learn about the league .
His players and the Broncos will benefit from his education .
Understanding the message of the protesters I am a 63-year-old white woman and I get why people are rioting now .
Let me explain : When my children were young and they would do something wrong , I would say , “ Please stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop , so I would firmly say , “ Stop it right now !
” But they still wouldn ’ t stop .
Finally , I would scream , “ STOP IT !
” Then they would say , “ You don ’ t have to yell at us !
” And I would say , “ Obviously , I do.
” Black people in this country have been protesting peacefully and asking and asking for justice in police brutality incidents for decades with no effect .
Now people say , “ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Obviously they do .
I think we should listen this time .
Recently , I received a note from a friend who said her daughter , living in Oakland with her 2-year-old and husband , was afraid .
They were boarding up businesses on her street in preparation for a possible violent protest .
And then my friend added — as a young woman who is not a person of color , she is fearful for the first time in her life .
I thought that was brave for a mother and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ability within her own anxiety to acknowledge the fears of mothers and grandmothers of color who have watched for generations as their children ( young men in particular ) left the house on any given occasion , with a lump in their throat .
It seems to me that each of us needs to feel a lump in our collective throats for all the mothers and grandmothers of color out there .
Enough is enough .
We must have structural reform so that courts and departments of Internal Affairs and police unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are racially biased and use that bias to commit violence and murder on all our children and grandchildren .
Useful , important change comes from major crises Crises have a way of producing change or at least promoting it .
The catastrophic horror brought on Europe by the Black Death changed the way buildings were constructed in Europe so that rats , a common vessel of plague-carrying fleas , could not as easily enter .
The Black Death also forced the economy of Europe to change as many guilds needed to grant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations , and it prompted the questioning of Catholic authority that eventually culminated in the Protestant Reformation .
Other crises have encouraged and forced changes , both within the United States and beyond .
The attacks of Pearl Harbor and September 11 changed how the United States intelligence and defense services conduct their missions .
The Hindenburg disaster forever altered the perception of zeppelin travel and the use of hydrogen fuel .
And following the successful Sputnik program by the USSR , the federal government invested heavily in educational pursuits of math and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans could win the Space Race .
The COVID-19 pandemic has already forced American society to change , but more lasting changes are required .
NATO should develop special task forces specifically focused on identifying potential disease threats .
The promotion of scientific and medical learning must be implemented by the federal government through the creation of scholarships and educational shifts to provide the American public with more doctors , nurses , and other medical professionals .
This crisis is nowhere near over , but the pursuit of preventing a similar one should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final straw that should push our legislature and governor to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to allow online initiatives and referenda .
We citizens should be able to carefully read an initiative or referendum ’ s language on our computers , consider its pros and cons , and then endorse it in the comfort of our homes .
And we should not have to hire hundreds of paid circulators to physically gather over 100,000 signatures , as the corporate and special interests can do , just to get something on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The secretary of state would put all initiatives on its website , allowing anyone to read the full language and pro and con statements submitted by the state government , just as in the current Blue Book .
( Special interest statements could also be allowed . )
Then voters would sign in using their driver ’ s license number and last four digits of their Social Security number , just as they currently do to register to vote , and endorse one or more petitions .
It ’ s that simple .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ too easy ” and there would be “ too many initiatives , ” the legislature could increase the number of required endorsements to a relatively high level , like 10 % of voters in the last election .
The legislature could also make statutory initiatives more secure — and reduce the need for constitutional amendments — by requiring that any legislated amendments be consistent with the original initiative ’ s stated purpose ( as Boulder does . )
I feel the need to correct comments made by Joshua Sharf in his guest commentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ balance of power.
” There is absolutely no evidence that the public health emergency is over .
The reason the infection rates and hospitalizations have dropped is because the lockdown , social distancing and mask usage have worked .
It is yet to be determined how things will progress as society begins to slowly reopen .
Until this virus loses its virulence , or until we have viable medications and vaccinations , the emergency will continue to exist .
Second , the economic emergency created here was not caused by Gov .
Polis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus called SARS-CoV-2 .
Attempting to politicize a deadly infectious disease is irresponsible and dangerous .
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail .

What if more had knelt with Kaepernick?
On Sep. 1, 2016, Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem in protest of the continued racism in our country that keeps taking the lives of black people.
Many refused to hear the message and condemned the messenger.
Since then, many more people have taken a knee in protest, and sadly many more black lives have been lost to the systemic racism that infects our nation.
Some people called for the firing of these men peacefully protesting the injustice in our country — called them traitors, called them un-American. They were angry that someone would dare do this to our flag, forgetting the Pledge of Allegiance says “with liberty and justice for all.” These men and all the people of color just want this country to live up to that promise.
One person, in particular, unleashed a torrent of condemnation.
Just imagine for a moment if this person had made a different choice and attended a football game, stood with the players on the field and then took a knee because he understood the message and wanted to help bring about the change that is so desperately needed.
It could have been the first step in a very long journey towards ridding our nation of this cancer of racism.
Perhaps, on May 25, 2020, George Floyd would have made it safely home to his family.
Laszlo Soos, Littleton
What would be happening now if more of us had followed Colin Kaepernick’s example? What if more athletes and other people in the public eye had taken a knee? Kaepernick’s peaceful protest was met with scorn, derision and threats. And now what do we have? What ye have sown, so shall ye reap.
Suzanne Welles, Littleton
Broncos coach in need of training
Re: “Sports heroes can no longer stick to sports,” June 3 commentary and “Fangio clariﬁes remark about racism in the NFL,” June 4 news story.
The Broncos aren’t ready for the season, and training camp won’t help.
The problem is they have a blind spot, and it’s not an issue at left tackle.
The blindspot is a head coach who can’t see, and it’s not because he’s in need of new glasses.
Vic Fangio believes the NFL has “no racism at all.” Yet, it’s shocking to believe Colin Kaepernick doesn’t have a job because his athletic skills don’t merit one. It’s equally shocking to imply few black men have worked hard enough to merit a coaching position.
Fangio quickly issued an apology after social media erupted in criticism over the remarks. Yet an apology doesn’t change his mindset. And the words he used simply reiterated his ignorance: Fangio said there is “no color in the locker rooms.” But his locker room is filled with color. A leader who refuses to see his players’ racial identity also refuses to acknowledge the challenges black men face every day.
Athletes know strength and change come through hard work and training. A team meeting won’t fix a coach’s ignorance. Pledging to listen to players won’t change his mindset when he refuses to see their racial identity. Diversity and equity training is now every bit as important for the Broncos as sprints and out routes.
Fangio may be a veteran in the NFL, but he still has much to learn about the league. His players and the Broncos will benefit from his education.
Michael P. Mazenko, Greenwood Village
Understanding the message of the protesters
I am a 63-year-old white woman and I get why people are rioting now. Let me explain:
When my children were young and they would do something wrong, I would say, “Please stop that.” But they wouldn’t stop, so I would firmly say, “Stop it right now!”
But they still wouldn’t stop. Finally, I would scream, “STOP IT!”
Then they would say, “You don’t have to yell at us!” And I would say, “Obviously, I do.”
Black people in this country have been protesting peacefully and asking and asking for justice in police brutality incidents for decades with no effect. Now people say, “They don’t have to riot!”
Obviously they do.
I think we should listen this time.
Carole A Branstetter, Broomfield
Recently, I received a note from a friend who said her daughter, living in Oakland with her 2-year-old and husband, was afraid. They were boarding up businesses on her street in preparation for a possible violent protest. And then my friend added — as a young woman who is not a person of color, she is fearful for the first time in her life.
I thought that was brave for a mother and grandmother to say. That she had the ability within her own anxiety to acknowledge the fears of mothers and grandmothers of color who have watched for generations as their children (young men in particular) left the house on any given occasion, with a lump in their throat. It seems to me that each of us needs to feel a lump in our collective throats for all the mothers and grandmothers of color out there.
Enough is enough. We must have structural reform so that courts and departments of Internal Affairs and police unions no longer impede justice for police officers who are racially biased and use that bias to commit violence and murder on all our children and grandchildren.
Judith Pettibone, Denver
Useful, important change comes from major crises
Crises have a way of producing change or at least promoting it. The catastrophic horror brought on Europe by the Black Death changed the way buildings were constructed in Europe so that rats, a common vessel of plague-carrying fleas, could not as easily enter. The Black Death also forced the economy of Europe to change as many guilds needed to grant greater benefits to their workers to continue operations, and it prompted the questioning of Catholic authority that eventually culminated in the Protestant Reformation.
Other crises have encouraged and forced changes, both within the United States and beyond. The attacks of Pearl Harbor and September 11 changed how the United States intelligence and defense services conduct their missions. The Hindenburg disaster forever altered the perception of zeppelin travel and the use of hydrogen fuel. And following the successful Sputnik program by the USSR, the federal government invested heavily in educational pursuits of math and science so that a new generation of Americans could win the Space Race.
The COVID-19 pandemic has already forced American society to change, but more lasting changes are required. NATO should develop special task forces specifically focused on identifying potential disease threats. The promotion of scientific and medical learning must be implemented by the federal government through the creation of scholarships and educational shifts to provide the American public with more doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals. This crisis is nowhere near over, but the pursuit of preventing a similar one should commence immediately.
Jackson D. Belva, Colorado Springs
Re: “Pandemic disrupts initiatives,” April 9 news story
The coronavirus is the final straw that should push our legislature and governor to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to allow online initiatives and referenda.
We citizens should be able to carefully read an initiative or referendum’s language on our computers, consider its pros and cons, and then endorse it in the comfort of our homes. And we should not have to hire hundreds of paid circulators to physically gather over 100,000 signatures, as the corporate and special interests can do, just to get something on the ballot.
The technology is straightforward. The secretary of state would put all initiatives on its website, allowing anyone to read the full language and pro and con statements submitted by the state government, just as in the current Blue Book. (Special interest statements could also be allowed.) Then voters would sign in using their driver’s license number and last four digits of their Social Security number, just as they currently do to register to vote, and endorse one or more petitions. It’s that simple.
Regarding concerns that this would be “too easy” and there would be “too many initiatives,” the legislature could increase the number of required endorsements to a relatively high level, like 10% of voters in the last election.
The legislature could also make statutory initiatives more secure — and reduce the need for constitutional amendments — by requiring that any legislated amendments be consistent with the original initiative’s stated purpose (as Boulder does.)
Steve Pomerance, Boulder
Don’t politicize virus
Re: “Polis’ power grab threatens balance of powers,” June 3 guest commentary
I feel the need to correct comments made by Joshua Sharf in his guest commentary entitled “Polis’ power grab threatens balance of power.” There is absolutely no evidence that the public health emergency is over. The reason the infection rates and hospitalizations have dropped is because the lockdown, social distancing and mask usage have worked. It is yet to be determined how things will progress as society begins to slowly reopen. Until this virus loses its virulence, or until we have viable medications and vaccinations, the emergency will continue to exist. Second, the economic emergency created here was not caused by Gov. Polis; it was caused by an RNA virus called SARS-CoV-2. Attempting to politicize a deadly infectious disease is irresponsible and dangerous.
Mark Berman, Englewood
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-06-09--Antonio Alfano has path to return to CU Buffs football team

Antonio Alfano may have a chance to play for the Colorado Buffaloes after all .
On May 29 , CU told BuffZone.com that Alfano , a former five-star recruit who transferred from Alabama in January , was no longer enrolled in school and no longer on the team .
Head coach Karl Dorrell told BuffZone , however , that Alfano remains indefinitely suspended and there is a path for him to return to active status if he chooses to take it .
Dorrell declined to specify the steps Alfano needs to take in order to return .
According to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a medical withdrawal from school for the spring semester .
Alfano , a 6-foot-5 , 280-pound defensive lineman , enrolled at CU in January , recruited to Boulder by former head coach Mel Tucker .
In early March , Dorrell , who was hired Feb. 23 , told BuffZone that Alfano had been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules .
In the 2019 recruiting class , Alfano was once rated the nation ’ s No .
1 prospect by 247Sports.com and he signed with Alabama , enrolling in January of 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crimson Tide spring game last year and went through fall camp before leaving the team in September and entering the NCAA transfer portal in October .
Tucker , who spent just one season at CU , recruited Alfano while at Georgia and reached out to him in October .
In November , Alfano announced he was transferring to Colorado , becoming the most highly-anticipated newcomer to the program in more than a decade .
Dorrell and college coaches of all sports around the country have gone from Zoom novices to experts over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin the process of returning to campus this month , Dorrell said the Buffs will continue to conduct meetings virtually .
“ When we finally found a groove as to how it works and how we can make it a useful tool for us on a day to day basis … it ’ s been actually very , very good , so we plan to use the virtual meetings , even through this summer , ” he said .
“ We ’ re that comfortable with it .
It ’ s been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to team meetings , coaches have had to recruit virtually , and could continue doing so in the future , even after the college football world becomes “ normal ” again .
Dorrell said the staff has conducted at least 30 virtual visits and tours with recruits in the past few months and he realizes it could be an easy alternative if needed down the road .
“ It is something that I think we have in our back pocket , ” he said .
“ There ’ s nothing that takes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have an official visit and they ’ re on campus and you ’ re having eye contact and direct contact with families and the student athletes.
” Dorrell didn ’ t name specific players , but said there are members of the team emerging as leaders .
“ We have identified some people that are specific candidates for leadership positions for our team , ” he said .
“ We have not discussed ( naming captains ) in a team setting yet so those are things that we ’ ll probably be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July and August as we go through camp .
”

Antonio Alfano may have a chance to play for the Colorado Buffaloes after all.
On May 29, CU told BuffZone.com that Alfano, a former five-star recruit who transferred from Alabama in January, was no longer enrolled in school and no longer on the team.
Head coach Karl Dorrell told BuffZone, however, that Alfano remains indefinitely suspended and there is a path for him to return to active status if he chooses to take it. Dorrell declined to specify the steps Alfano needs to take in order to return.
According to a source close to Alfano, he received a medical withdrawal from school for the spring semester.
Alfano, a 6-foot-5, 280-pound defensive lineman, enrolled at CU in January, recruited to Boulder by former head coach Mel Tucker. In early March, Dorrell, who was hired Feb. 23, told BuffZone that Alfano had been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules.
In the 2019 recruiting class, Alfano was once rated the nation’s No. 1 prospect by 247Sports.com and he signed with Alabama, enrolling in January of 2019. He had two sacks in the Crimson Tide spring game last year and went through fall camp before leaving the team in September and entering the NCAA transfer portal in October.
Tucker, who spent just one season at CU, recruited Alfano while at Georgia and reached out to him in October. In November, Alfano announced he was transferring to Colorado, becoming the most highly-anticipated newcomer to the program in more than a decade.
Zooming into the future
Dorrell and college coaches of all sports around the country have gone from Zoom novices to experts over the past three months. Even as players begin the process of returning to campus this month, Dorrell said the Buffs will continue to conduct meetings virtually.
“When we finally found a groove as to how it works and how we can make it a useful tool for us on a day to day basis … it’s been actually very, very good, so we plan to use the virtual meetings, even through this summer,” he said. “We’re that comfortable with it. It’s been a pleasant surprise for us.”
In addition to team meetings, coaches have had to recruit virtually, and could continue doing so in the future, even after the college football world becomes “normal” again.
Dorrell said the staff has conducted at least 30 virtual visits and tours with recruits in the past few months and he realizes it could be an easy alternative if needed down the road.
“It is something that I think we have in our back pocket,” he said.
“There’s nothing that takes the place, though, of when you have an official visit and they’re on campus and you’re having eye contact and direct contact with families and the student athletes.”
Leaders developing
Dorrell didn’t name specific players, but said there are members of the team emerging as leaders.
“We have identified some people that are specific candidates for leadership positions for our team,” he said. “We have not discussed (naming captains) in a team setting yet so those are things that we’ll probably be able to work on and get accomplished between July and August as we go through camp.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-09--Cripple Creek casinos to begin reopening June 15

Casinos in Cripple Creek can begin reopening in a limited capacity on June 15 after regulators approved a variance to @ @ @ @ @ guidelines submitted by Teller County .
Casinos will be limited to a 50 % capacity @ @ @ @ @ masks upon entry and practice social distancing .
Slot machines will be available for play @ @ @ @ @ not , according to the variance .
“ I ’ m very happy we ’ @ @ @ @ @ said Matt Andrighetti , general manager for Wildwood Casino .
“ I just want to @ @ @ @ @ way that we ’ re responsible and don ’ t have to close again.
” @ @ @ @ @ mid-March to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus , causing a substantial economic toll @ @ @ @ @ On Sunday , the state also gave Gilpin County the green light to begin reopening @ @ @ @ @ Central City on June 17 .

Casinos in Cripple Creek can begin reopening in a limited capacity on June 15 after regulators approved a variance to the state’s safer-at-home guidelines submitted by Teller County.
Casinos will be limited to a 50% capacity, and guests must wear masks upon entry and practice social distancing. Slot machines will be available for play, but table games will not, according to the variance.
“I’m very happy we’re getting to open, said Matt Andrighetti, general manager for Wildwood Casino. “I just want to do it in such a way that we’re responsible and don’t have to close again.”
Colorado closed its casinos in mid-March to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus, causing a substantial economic toll on its gaming towns. On Sunday, the state also gave Gilpin County the green light to begin reopening casinos in Black Hawk and Central City on June 17.


thedenverpost--2020-06-09--Colorado state senator apologizes for “step on the neck” remark

State Sen .
Rob Woodward apologized on the Senator floor Monday for referring to “ colored people ” and complaining that a bill would “ step on the neck ” of Coloradans .
Woodward , a Loveland Republican , said he uttered the words “ colored people ” on the Senate floor Saturday only because they had been incorrectly written by a Senate staffer into a transcript of floor proceedings that day .
“ They are not words I ’ ve ever used before .
In a split second , I plowed through and read what was on the paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
He added that he was wrong to say a bill would “ step on the neck ” of anyone given that George Floyd just died in Minneapolis when an officer stepped on his neck .
“ I realized mid-sentence that I was about to say something that was too raw , ” Woodward said .
“ In my mind , I stopped before I ’ d finished that phrase .
As I watched video this weekend , I saw that my mouth was faster than my brain .
You saw me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But I clearly uttered the phrase.
” His statement concluded , “ I will work to do a better job .
If I screw up , call me on it .
Help me learn and understand .
I ’ ll do my best to grant you the same grace .
”

State Sen. Rob Woodward apologized on the Senator floor Monday for referring to “colored people” and complaining that a bill would “step on the neck” of Coloradans.
Woodward, a Loveland Republican, said he uttered the words “colored people” on the Senate floor Saturday only because they had been incorrectly written by a Senate staffer into a transcript of floor proceedings that day.
“They are not words I’ve ever used before. In a split second, I plowed through and read what was on the paper in front of me,” he said.
He added that he was wrong to say a bill would “step on the neck” of anyone given that George Floyd just died in Minneapolis when an officer stepped on his neck.
“I realized mid-sentence that I was about to say something that was too raw,” Woodward said. “In my mind, I stopped before I’d finished that phrase. As I watched video this weekend, I saw that my mouth was faster than my brain. You saw me stumble to stop and say something else. But I clearly uttered the phrase.”
His statement concluded, “I will work to do a better job. If I screw up, call me on it. Help me learn and understand. I’ll do my best to grant you the same grace.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-09--Potential role for Broncos’ Andrew Beck: Part fullback, part tight end, all special teams

When the Broncos traded Andy Janovich to the Cleveland Browns in March , only five months after he signed a three-year contract extension , it was a non-verbal acknowledgment that new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur ’ s system won ’ t require a full-time fullback .
That made Andrew Beck the biggest winner of Janovich ’ s departure because the Broncos envision him as equal parts backup tight end , situational fullback and core special teams player .
“ Opportunities like this don ’ t present themselves all the time in the National Football League , ” Beck said last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m obviously looking forward to taking advantage of it.
” If Shurmur feels two-back personnel is his best course in a certain week , Beck will be his fullback .
If he believes a multi-tight end look is beneficial the next week , Beck will be back at his college position .
And every week , he will be on special teams , basically inheriting Janovich ’ s role there , too .
Beck ’ s versatility means extra learning and studying of the playbook .
“ Right now , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it ’ s just where we are with the install of the offense , ” he said .
“ In another week or so , I ’ ll transition to the running back room and start working with those guys .
The coaches have been really up front with me and letting me know what they want me doing and what they expect from me .
They ’ ve been a huge help , which is always nice.
” Last year , Beck played 233 snaps of offense ( nine catches for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 197 special teams snaps because of Janovich ’ s preseason pectoral injury and Week 11 season-ending dislocated elbow .
The whole season was a whirlwind for Beck .
He signed with New England last year as an undrafted free agent and worked at fullback during training camp .
That made him attractive to the Broncos .
Claimed off waivers eight days before the season opener , the initial take was once Janovich returned , Beck ’ s roster spot would be tenuous .
Instead , he overtook Troy Fumagalli for the third tight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final five games .
“ Coming in off waivers in Week 1 , it was an incredible learning curve to get ready to be on the field , ” Beck said .
“ I was learning as the year went on .
The last couple of games , I was playing a good amount of snaps ( 70 in final three games ) and that helps because there ’ s no better way to ( learn ) than by actually doing it.
” Beck established a fullback foundation last year , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new system .
“ It ’ s kind of building on the experience I gained and what I learned last year and trying to match it up with the new offense , ” he said .
“ ( Fullback ) isn ’ t much of a finesse position .
And then communication is a big thing because as the tight end , you turn to your side and there ’ s the tackle and you can talk to them .
At fullback , you can ’ t hear a thing so you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there.
” To aid the learning , Beck said he and other Broncos offensive players , led by quarterback Drew Lock , have gathered at local parks to “ walk through and talk through , ” the offense — a product of not being allowed at the facility due to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ We ’ re doing a good job of leaning on each other , knowing we ’ re learning at the same time , ” he said .
Beck has followed the pandemic closely because his fiancée , Hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treated coronavirus patients at her hospital in Austin , Texas .
“ So much ( admiration ) , it ’ s unbelievable , ” Beck said .
“ Everybody in that field , they ’ re so selfless and you have to be .
Growing up , my mother was a nurse so I ’ ve been exposed to people in that field my entire life and they ’ re so compassionate .
It ’ s reassuring to know we have a group of people fighting on the front line.
” Once she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will move to the Denver area within a month to look for a job .
Beck and Woodby are scheduled to be married July 4 and may choose a small service and push the reception to after the season .
And what an interesting season it could be for Beck .
“ It ’ s always exciting when you go into a new offense and see what roles people are going to get thrown into , ” he said .
“ With the altered schedule , it ’ s going to come down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think I have as good a chance as anybody to make a mark for the coaches and see if they trust me in a larger role .
”

When the Broncos traded Andy Janovich to the Cleveland Browns in March, only five months after he signed a three-year contract extension, it was a non-verbal acknowledgment that new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s system won’t require a full-time fullback.
That made Andrew Beck the biggest winner of Janovich’s departure because the Broncos envision him as equal parts backup tight end, situational fullback and core special teams player.
“Opportunities like this don’t present themselves all the time in the National Football League,” Beck said last week in a phone interview. “I’m obviously looking forward to taking advantage of it.”
If Shurmur feels two-back personnel is his best course in a certain week, Beck will be his fullback. If he believes a multi-tight end look is beneficial the next week, Beck will be back at his college position. And every week, he will be on special teams, basically inheriting Janovich’s role there, too.
Beck’s versatility means extra learning and studying of the playbook.
“Right now, I’m doing mostly tight end things and it’s just where we are with the install of the offense,” he said. “In another week or so, I’ll transition to the running back room and start working with those guys. The coaches have been really up front with me and letting me know what they want me doing and what they expect from me. They’ve been a huge help, which is always nice.”
Last year, Beck played 233 snaps of offense (nine catches for 90 yards and one touchdown) and 197 special teams snaps because of Janovich’s preseason pectoral injury and Week 11 season-ending dislocated elbow.
The whole season was a whirlwind for Beck. He signed with New England last year as an undrafted free agent and worked at fullback during training camp. That made him attractive to the Broncos.
Claimed off waivers eight days before the season opener, the initial take was once Janovich returned, Beck’s roster spot would be tenuous. Instead, he overtook Troy Fumagalli for the third tight end role and re-assumed fullback duties for the final five games.
“Coming in off waivers in Week 1, it was an incredible learning curve to get ready to be on the field,” Beck said. “I was learning as the year went on. The last couple of games, I was playing a good amount of snaps (70 in final three games) and that helps because there’s no better way to (learn) than by actually doing it.”
Beck established a fullback foundation last year, which can translate even though he is learning a new system.
“It’s kind of building on the experience I gained and what I learned last year and trying to match it up with the new offense,” he said. “(Fullback) isn’t much of a finesse position. And then communication is a big thing because as the tight end, you turn to your side and there’s the tackle and you can talk to them. At fullback, you can’t hear a thing so you’re bouncing ideas off yourself back there.”
To aid the learning, Beck said he and other Broncos offensive players, led by quarterback Drew Lock, have gathered at local parks to “walk through and talk through,” the offense — a product of not being allowed at the facility due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re doing a good job of leaning on each other , knowing we’re learning at the same time,” he said.
Beck has followed the pandemic closely because his fiancée, Hope Woodby, is a pediatric nurse who treated coronavirus patients at her hospital in Austin, Texas.
“So much (admiration), it’s unbelievable,” Beck said. “Everybody in that field, they’re so selfless and you have to be. Growing up, my mother was a nurse so I’ve been exposed to people in that field my entire life and they’re so compassionate. It’s reassuring to know we have a group of people fighting on the front line.”
Once she completes a quarantine in Texas, Woodby will move to the Denver area within a month to look for a job. Beck and Woodby are scheduled to be married July 4 and may choose a small service and push the reception to after the season.
And what an interesting season it could be for Beck.
“It’s always exciting when you go into a new offense and see what roles people are going to get thrown into,” he said. “With the altered schedule, it’s going to come down to how everybody performs in camp and I think I have as good a chance as anybody to make a mark for the coaches and see if they trust me in a larger role.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-08--Arapahoe deputy justified in shooting man who used truck as weapon, review finds

An Arapahoe County sheriff ’ s deputy will face no criminal charges for shooting a man who was attempting to flee arrest and who used a stolen pickup truck as a weapon , pinning another deputy between two trucks , seriously injuring the deputy .
The Jan. 22 officer-involved shooting happened at the IMT Cornerstar Ranch apartments near South Parker Road and South Chambers Way , according to an investigative review of the incident .
Deputies were at the location investigating Diego Gallegos , who was allegedly delivering drugs there , according to the 18th Judicial District review dated Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deputies Alan Wilson and Trevor Cuaz were attempting to contact Gallegos when the suspect backed a Chevrolet Silverado into Wilson , pinning the deputy against a Ford F-150 truck and an SUV parked next to it , according to the review .
Gallegos then drove forward , in an attempt to flee , hitting an electrical box .
He then drove forward back toward where Wilson had been pinned and injured , the review said .
Cuaz then fired eight shots “ to protect Deputy Wilson and himself , ” according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a bullet grazing his head and his chest , and one bullet penetrating his left arm .
He was arrested and survived the shooting .
“ Deputy Cuaz ’ s actions were reasonable and justifiable based on Diego Gallegos ’ s actions , ” the review said .
“ I find that Deputy Cuaz reasonably believed that Mr. Gallegos posed an imminent threat of deadly physical force to Deputy Wilson and himself when he drove towards the deputies .
“ As such , I find that Deputy Cuaz was justified in using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defend Deputy Wilson and himself from the imminent use of deadly physical force .
No criminal charges will be filed against Deputy Cuaz.
” The review letter was signed by Chief Deputy District Attorney Jason Siers .
Gallegos has been charged with multiple felonies , including assault of a peace officer , assault with a deadly weapon , vehicular eluding and aggravated motor vehicle theft , according to court documents .
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 18 .

An Arapahoe County sheriff’s deputy will face no criminal charges for shooting a man who was attempting to flee arrest and who used a stolen pickup truck as a weapon, pinning another deputy between two trucks, seriously injuring the deputy.
The Jan. 22 officer-involved shooting happened at the IMT Cornerstar Ranch apartments near South Parker Road and South Chambers Way, according to an investigative review of the incident.
Deputies were at the location investigating Diego Gallegos, who was allegedly delivering drugs there, according to the 18th Judicial District review dated Monday and addressed to Sheriff Tyler Brown.
Deputies Alan Wilson and Trevor Cuaz were attempting to contact Gallegos when the suspect backed a Chevrolet Silverado into Wilson, pinning the deputy against a Ford F-150 truck and an SUV parked next to it, according to the review.
Gallegos then drove forward, in an attempt to flee, hitting an electrical box. He then drove forward back toward where Wilson had been pinned and injured, the review said.
Cuaz then fired eight shots “to protect Deputy Wilson and himself,” according to the review.
Gallegos was hit three times, a bullet grazing his head and his chest, and one bullet penetrating his left arm. He was arrested and survived the shooting.
“Deputy Cuaz’s actions were reasonable and justifiable based on Diego Gallegos’s actions,” the review said. “I find that Deputy Cuaz reasonably believed that Mr. Gallegos posed an imminent threat of deadly physical force to Deputy Wilson and himself when he drove towards the deputies.
“As such, I find that Deputy Cuaz was justified in using deadly physical force against Diego Gallegos to defend Deputy Wilson and himself from the imminent use of deadly physical force. No criminal charges will be filed against Deputy Cuaz.”
The review letter was signed by Chief Deputy District Attorney Jason Siers.
Gallegos has been charged with multiple felonies, including assault of a peace officer, assault with a deadly weapon, vehicular eluding and aggravated motor vehicle theft, according to court documents. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 18.


thedenverpost--2020-06-08--Clock ticking on 2020 MLB season as owners and players remain at odds

Two weeks ago , there were hopes that spring training 2.0 would open Wednesday .
Instead , the action remains limited to board rooms , where owners , player representatives , league officials and lawyers are attempting to save the 2020 season .
On Monday , Major League Baseball issued its latest proposal to the MLB Players Association that included a 76-game season that would guarantee players 50 % of their prorated pay with the opportunity of earning 75 % of their salaries if there is a postseason .
Also , multiple reports say that the plan includes the potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per league .
Rockies all-star outfielder Charlie Blackmon declined to comment on the particulars of the latest negotiations but did express optimism that a deal can be reached .
“ I think baseball will be played , ” Blackmon said via text .
“ I think baseball is facing an amazing opportunity to help bring this country out of a tough time .
I hope we can come through.
” However , according to another Rockies player , the new proposal is viewed by many players as a “ step backward ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Meanwhile , the clock is ticking .
There were hopes that MLB would begin its truncated season July 4 , complete with fireworks , red-white-and-blue bunting and plenty of good cheer .
That hope is gone .
“ If the players desire to accept this proposal , we need to reach an agreement by Wednesday , ” MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem wrote in a letter to union negotiator Bruce Meyer that was obtained by The Associated Press .
“ While we understand that it is a relatively short time frame , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we are to have sufficient time for players to travel to spring training , conduct COVID-19 testing and education , conduct a spring training of an appropriate length , and schedule a 76-game season that ends no later than Sept. 27.
” While there remains hope that a compromise can be reached , the two sides remain at an impasse .
The main sticking point is money .
From the start , players haven ’ t wavered from their belief that they agreed to a full , pay-per-game proration of their 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that prorated salaries were not part of the deal without fans in the stands .
Washington Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle weighed in on Twitter , writing : “ It ’ s frustrating to have a public labor dispute when there ’ s so much hardship .
I hate it .
But we have an obligation to future players to do right by them .
We want to play .
We also have to make sure that future players won ’ t be paying for any concessions we make.
” MLB ’ s latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It would eliminate the loss of draft picks for teams that sign qualified free agents this fall .
That would be valuable for some high-profile players entering what ’ s expected to be a tight free-agent market .
There have been multiple proposals batted back and forth over the last two weeks .
MLB originally proposed an 82-game season with a sliding scale that would require the highest-paid players to take huge pay cuts .
The MLBPA called it a “ non-starter.
” The union countered with a 114-game season with the players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MLB rejected that idea because the plan would extend the regular season through October and MLB is concerned about bad weather and worried that a second wave of the coronavirus would endanger the postseason — when MLB is scheduled to receive $ 787 million in broadcast revenue , according to The Associated Press .
If no agreement is reached , MLB believes it has the right to implement a 48-to-54-game schedule that will pay players their full prorated salary under the March 26 agreement , according to ESPN .

Two weeks ago, there were hopes that spring training 2.0 would open Wednesday. Instead, the action remains limited to board rooms, where owners, player representatives, league officials and lawyers are attempting to save the 2020 season.
On Monday, Major League Baseball issued its latest proposal to the MLB Players Association that included a 76-game season that would guarantee players 50% of their prorated pay with the opportunity of earning 75% of their salaries if there is a postseason.
Also, multiple reports say that the plan includes the potential to expand the postseason to eight teams per league.
Rockies all-star outfielder Charlie Blackmon declined to comment on the particulars of the latest negotiations but did express optimism that a deal can be reached.
“I think baseball will be played,” Blackmon said via text. “I think baseball is facing an amazing opportunity to help bring this country out of a tough time. I hope we can come through.”
However, according to another Rockies player, the new proposal is viewed by many players as a “step backward” and “not what we had hoped for.”
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. There were hopes that MLB would begin its truncated season July 4, complete with fireworks, red-white-and-blue bunting and plenty of good cheer. That hope is gone.
Now, a new deadline looms.
“If the players desire to accept this proposal, we need to reach an agreement by Wednesday,” MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem wrote in a letter to union negotiator Bruce Meyer that was obtained by The Associated Press. “While we understand that it is a relatively short time frame, we cannot waste any additional days if we are to have sufficient time for players to travel to spring training, conduct COVID-19 testing and education, conduct a spring training of an appropriate length, and schedule a 76-game season that ends no later than Sept. 27.”
While there remains hope that a compromise can be reached, the two sides remain at an impasse. The main sticking point is money. From the start, players haven’t wavered from their belief that they agreed to a full, pay-per-game proration of their 2020 salary. The owners’ counter-argument is that prorated salaries were not part of the deal without fans in the stands.
Washington Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle weighed in on Twitter, writing: “It’s frustrating to have a public labor dispute when there’s so much hardship. I hate it. But we have an obligation to future players to do right by them. We want to play. We also have to make sure that future players won’t be paying for any concessions we make.”
MLB’s latest offer does include a major concession. It would eliminate the loss of draft picks for teams that sign qualified free agents this fall. That would be valuable for some high-profile players entering what’s expected to be a tight free-agent market.
There have been multiple proposals batted back and forth over the last two weeks. MLB originally proposed an 82-game season with a sliding scale that would require the highest-paid players to take huge pay cuts. The MLBPA called it a “non-starter.” The union countered with a 114-game season with the players receiving their full, prorated salaries. MLB rejected that idea because the plan would extend the regular season through October and MLB is concerned about bad weather and worried that a second wave of the coronavirus would endanger the postseason — when MLB is scheduled to receive $787 million in broadcast revenue, according to The Associated Press.
If no agreement is reached, MLB believes it has the right to implement a 48-to-54-game schedule that will pay players their full prorated salary under the March 26 agreement, according to ESPN.


thedenverpost--2020-06-08--Colorado’s COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths increase slightly amid general downward trend

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 in Colorado , which have declined steadily since late April , increased slightly on Monday , with 25 additional people hospitalized with the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus .
As of Monday , 229 people currently were in the hospital for COVID-19 , which was up from 204 individuals on Sunday , according to the latest data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment .
Reported deaths also increased after staying flat for a couple days , with 18 more people having died directly from the illness .
There were 1,292 deaths as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the latest data from the state .
Reports of deaths to the state health department can lag for days or even weeks , meaning the number of new fatalities announced on a given day does not mean those people all died the previous day .
While the number of hospitalizations and deaths increased , it ’ s too soon to know if that ’ s an indication of a spike in deaths and hospitalizations — both numbers provide an indication of the severity of the pandemic .
It can take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — which include fever , cough , shortness of breath , sore throat , loss of taste or smell and nausea — to appear .
As of Sunday , 28,183 people in Colorado have tested positive for the new coronavirus .
In total , 1,543 people have died with COVID-19 in their system — up 16 from the day before , according to the health department .
Those deaths can ’ t all be directly attributed to the coronavirus .

Editor’s note: Due to a data entry error on the Colorado Department of Health Environment’s website, it appeared there had been a one-day increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in Colorado. That was not the case. This story has been updated to reflect the change in data, and the Colorado Hospital Association said in a statement that CDPHE’s database has been corrected.
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 in Colorado continued to decline on Monday, with the number of people hospitalized with the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus dropping by six.
As of Monday, 198 people were in the hospital for COVID-19, which was down from 204 individuals on Sunday, according to the latest data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Reported deaths also increased after staying flat for a couple days, with 18 more people having died directly from the illness. There were 1,292 deaths as of Sunday, up from 1,274 fatalities, according to the latest data from the state.
Reports of deaths to the state health department can lag for days or even weeks, meaning the number of new fatalities announced on a given day does not mean those people all died the previous day.
It can take two to 14 days for COVID-19 symptoms — which include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of taste or smell and nausea — to appear.
As of Sunday, 28,183 people in Colorado have tested positive for the new coronavirus. In total, 1,543 people have died with COVID-19 in their system — up 16 from the day before, according to the health department. Those deaths can’t all be directly attributed to the coronavirus.


thedenverpost--2020-06-08--Planned Parenthood shooting: Colorado Supreme Court rules lawsuit should go to jury

A jury will decide whether Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains shoulders any responsibility for a 2015 mass shooting at its Colorado Springs clinic , the state Supreme Court ruled Monday .
The court ’ s 4-3 decision strives to avoid creating a hard-and-fast rule for all liability cases in which mass shooters attack businesses , but dissenting justices worry the ruling will put an undue burden on business owners .
A district judge previously found that Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains couldn ’ t be held responsible for the shooting because the actions of confessed shooter , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wounding nine others in the November 2015 shooting were the overwhelming cause of the carnage .
But the state Supreme Court ruled Monday that the decisions should be made by a jury , not a judge .
There is enough debate as to whether Planned Parenthood could have anticipated , prevented or lessened the severity of the attack through security measures that a jury should consider the evidence .
Justice Richard Gabriel wrote for the majority that it ’ s possible a reasonable juror would find Planned Parenthood responsible to some degree for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization “ had long been the subject of known threats of such violence , making the likelihood of an event like that which occurred less remote and arguably more foreseeable.
” Gabriel differentiated the Planned Parenthood attack from other mass shootings where the businesses were found not liable — like the 2012 attack at an Aurora movie theater — because of the ongoing and escalating threats to Planned Parenthood around the time of the shooting .
Justices Melissa Hart , Monica Marquez and Brian Boatright dissented , arguing that the court ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass shooters from the attackers to landowners .
“ The dangerous consequence of this move is to subject a landowner to liability for the irrational actions of a mass murderer , who has no concern about detection or death , ” Hart wrote .
She argued that the decision may also place additional liability on businesses that are politically controversial versus those that are not , creating an environment in which controversial businesses are “ uninsurable or require impossibly expensive fortifications.
” “ After today ’ s decision , antisemitic fanatics can impose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supremacists can inflict the same on Black churches or businesses , ” she wrote .
“ Threats of violence often precede acts of violence at these locations , as they did at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains .
I fear the consequences of today ’ s decision will be felt well beyond this litigation.
” Gabriel wrote that the court ’ s decision should not be interpreted that way .
The majority ’ s ruling is not intended to “ suggest either that different rules apply to what may be deemed ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one hand , and potentially ‘ incendiary ’ sites such as a women ’ s health clinic , on the other , ” he wrote , adding that mass shootings can happen virtually anywhere and potential targets do not need to build fortresses to protect against risk .
Rather , he wrote , the court ’ s decision is tailored specifically to the case at hand .
Kirk McCormick , an attorney for the victims of the shooting , said Monday the court ’ s decision is a “ reaffirmation of longstanding Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of lay people , to make these determinations.
” “ The jury will decide who caused our clients injuries and they ’ ll be able to decide in terms of a percentage out of 100 % what percent should be charged to Robert Dear and what percentage to Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains , ” he said .
“ And then separately how much money should be awarded to our clients in order to compensate them for their injuries and damages.
” A date has not yet been set for that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Rocky Mountains and an attorney for the group did not return requests for comment Monday .

A jury will decide whether Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains shoulders any responsibility for a 2015 mass shooting at its Colorado Springs clinic, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday.
The court’s 4-3 decision strives to avoid creating a hard-and-fast rule for all liability cases in which mass shooters attack businesses, but dissenting justices worry the ruling will put an undue burden on business owners.
A district judge previously found that Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains couldn’t be held responsible for the shooting because the actions of confessed shooter, who is accused of killing three people and wounding nine others in the November 2015 shooting, were the overwhelming cause of the carnage.
But the state Supreme Court ruled Monday that the decisions should be made by a jury, not a judge. There is enough debate as to whether Planned Parenthood could have anticipated, prevented or lessened the severity of the attack through security measures that a jury should consider the evidence.
Justice Richard Gabriel wrote for the majority that it’s possible a reasonable juror would find Planned Parenthood responsible to some degree for the attack — in part because the organization “had long been the subject of known threats of such violence, making the likelihood of an event like that which occurred less remote and arguably more foreseeable.”
Gabriel differentiated the Planned Parenthood attack from other mass shootings where the businesses were found not liable — like the 2012 attack at an Aurora movie theater — because of the ongoing and escalating threats to Planned Parenthood around the time of the shooting.
Justices Melissa Hart, Monica Marquez and Brian Boatright dissented, arguing that the court’s decision wrongly shifts the risk posed by mass shooters from the attackers to landowners.
“The dangerous consequence of this move is to subject a landowner to liability for the irrational actions of a mass murderer, who has no concern about detection or death,” Hart wrote.
She argued that the decision may also place additional liability on businesses that are politically controversial versus those that are not, creating an environment in which controversial businesses are “uninsurable or require impossibly expensive fortifications.”
“After today’s decision, antisemitic fanatics can impose additional costs on synagogues, and White supremacists can inflict the same on Black churches or businesses,” she wrote. “Threats of violence often precede acts of violence at these locations, as they did at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. I fear the consequences of today’s decision will be felt well beyond this litigation.”
Gabriel wrote that the court’s decision should not be interpreted that way.
The majority’s ruling is not intended to “suggest either that different rules apply to what may be deemed ‘politically neutral’ sites, on the one hand, and potentially ‘incendiary’ sites such as a women’s health clinic, on the other,” he wrote, adding that mass shootings can happen virtually anywhere and potential targets do not need to build fortresses to protect against risk.
Rather, he wrote, the court’s decision is tailored specifically to the case at hand.
Kirk McCormick, an attorney for the victims of the shooting, said Monday the court’s decision is a “reaffirmation of longstanding Colorado law that preserves the place of jurors, of lay people, to make these determinations.”
“The jury will decide who caused our clients injuries and they’ll be able to decide in terms of a percentage out of 100% what percent should be charged to Robert Dear and what percentage to Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains,” he said. “And then separately how much money should be awarded to our clients in order to compensate them for their injuries and damages.”
A date has not yet been set for that proceeding, he said.
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and an attorney for the group did not return requests for comment Monday.